Before it was a popular Netflix series, One Piece was an immensely popular manga. In fact, it's the top bestselling manga of all time. In case you're not familiar with the series, One Piece follows Monkey D. Luffy, a young boy who dreams of becoming the Pirate King. Together with his crew—dubbed the Straw Hat Pirates—he sails the high seas, searching for the legendary treasure known as the One Piece.
Among fans, One Piece is known for its intricate worldbuilding, expansive plot, and enormous cast of quirky but lovable characters. The fights are creative, the reveals are shocking, and the narrative takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. In all honesty, there's really no manga like One Piece. Let's be real. It's difficult to encompass all these characteristics in one series. Still, you can probably get similar vibes in an area or two.
At more than 100 volumes and counting, One Piece is a serious time investment. But if you're caught up on the manga or a fan of the live action series and wants something like One Piece without making the commitment, here are a few suggestions.
Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest Vol. 1
Lucy wants to join Fairy Tail, a guild of powerful wizards. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have much luck finding the organization, let alone joining them. When her efforts land her in the company of a sketchy gang, Lucy crosses paths with a mysterious boy named Natsu. A so-called dragon slayer with a talking cat for a companion, she doesn’t know what to make of him. But maybe, just maybe, not only is he the new ally and friend she needs, he might even be the key to finding Fairy Tail.
One Piece popularized the Japanese word “nakama,” which can be best translated as "friend who’s just like family." If you’re into the found family vibes of One Piece, this manga is for you.
Ocean of Secrets, Volume 1
Lia is an orphan who lives by the ocean. One day, a storm sweeps her out into the sea but thankfully, a mysterious pair of sailors save her and take her aboard their flying ship. The duo—Moria and Albert—live life on the run, for they hail from a magical kingdom beset by terrible secrets. More specifically, the secret behind a murdered queen and her missing daughter. Moria and Albert merely seek the truth behind the tragedy, but there are forces that would rather keep it buried.
Now, Lia is embroiled in the intrigue and must choose exactly how much she’s willing to aid them in their quest. The setup is similar to what we see in One Piece, which is an epic adventure that hides long-running government conspiracy beneath the fun veneer.
Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic
Drawing heavily upon the many stories from One Thousand and One Nights, Magi takes place in world where there stand many castles known as "Dungeons." These Dungeons are filled with untold magic, countless treasures, and deadly traps. Oh, and at the heart of each one, awaits a djinn. Alibaba is a young man who wishes to conquer these Dungeons.
Together with his friend Aladdin, he does exactly that. But that's just the start of their journey. For Aladdin is a Magi, a rare class of magician, and Alibaba is his chosen one—someone with the potential to become a king. Pick this manga up if you enjoy the epic adventures of One Piece.
Tower of God, Vol. 1
Unlike the other titles on this list, Tower of God is a webtoon. But like One Piece was once a Big Three Manga alongside Naruto and Bleach, Tower of God was once considered one of the big three webtoons alongside Noblesse and The God of High School.
The premise is deceptively simple. Bam ascends a mysterious tower to find his friend, Rachel. Make no mistake, though. The tower is anything but simple. Each floor is enormous, sometimes embodying entire continents with their own unique cultures and languages. Not only that but each level tests Bam for his worthiness to reach the top. If you enjoy the wild worldbuilding and unique characteristics of each island that the Strawhat Pirates visit in One Piece, you need to check this series out.
Kingdom, Vol. 1
At first glance, Kingdom looks like it has nothing in common with One Piece. One Piece follows a pirate crew on a wild fantasy adventure. Kingdom portrays the Warring States period in China. But just like One Piece's Luffy aspires to be the pirate king, Kingdom's Xin dreams of becoming the greatest general in history. Both are boys from backwater villages with big dreams.
In fact, Xin is a war orphan. One day, his best friend is taken to the palace for reasons unknown. But when his friend returns on the verge of death, Xin learns the truth. His friend served as a body double for the king and was mortally injured in a battle for the throne. Enraged by his friend's death, Xin seizes the opportunity to help the real king regain control. And thus, begin his quest to achieve his dream.
Readers of One Piece are familiar with the epic vibes that it gives throughout the story, such as when Nami asks Luffy for help or when Robin screams to be taken to the sea. It's a feeling that very few manga can match. Kingdom, though, does offer those moments.
Soul Eater, Vol. 1
In many ways, Soul Eater has been overshadowed by Ookubo's more recent series, Fire Force. The manga follows Maka, a student at Death Meister Academy. She's a weapon meister and her partner is Soul, a boy who can transform into said weapon. In this case, his weapon form is a scythe. Maka's goal is to transform Soul in a death scythe, a weapon suitable for the academy's headmaster, who also happens to be the personification of death. But to do so, they must collect the souls of 99 evil humans and one witch.
Read this one if you love One Piece's diverse cast of characters and interesting fights.
Featured image: YouTube / Netflix / Crunchyroll
