Every Digimon Series Ranked From Worst to Best (2024)

The Digimon series is one of the most popular and well-known multi-media franchises in existence. For more than 20 years, Agumon and his friends have brought joy and entertainment to fans all over the globe. One of the main reasons why the franchise has remained in the public eye is the constant release of new adventures. When a series ends, followers do not have to wait long for a new show to take its place.

While Digimon as a franchise has remained beloved for many years, the same cannot be said for all the shows that have been released. Some entries in the series have received greatly more appreciation than others; while others have flown widely under the radar despite clearly being produced with a lot of ambition and love.

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Throughout the franchise's colorful and rich history, though, some adventures featuring the digital monsters clearly outweigh others.

10 Digimon Universe: Appli Monsters

A promising spin-off that failed to deliver

Likely, most older Digimon fans have never heard of Appli Monsters, a spin-off series set in the same universe as the rest of the franchise. As the title implies, the show does not center around Digimon, instead focusing on a new kind of digital monster called Appli Monster. The series tried to market Digimon to a newer audience by turning popular apps into sentient beings with whom the protagonists could go on adventures.

In the end, the series failed to capture the essence of what made Digimon so compelling. The Appli Monsters were not as charming and interesting, with only a few becoming popular among followers of the franchise. These characters ended up being forgotten by Bandai and only a few have made small appearances since the end of their show. It is hard to imagine that Appli Monsters will make a comeback anytime soon.

9 Digimon Fusion

Digimon Fusion put a new spin on "digivolving" that has been largely forgotten

Digimon Fusion, also known as Xros Wars, tells the story of Mikey, a regular boy who is transported to the Digital World to fight against the evil Bagramon. This season introduced a new concept known as Digixros, in which two or more Digimon join forces to become powerful new beings. This process is very similar to the creation of a Megazord from Power Rangers. While innovating, it was not received with the same enthusiasm as other alternative evolutions.

To this day, it is hard to find any reference to this evolution method in other anime or even games from the franchise. The final nail in Fusion’s coffin is that the show stopped being aired abruptly in the U.S. after two seasons. This decision prevented American fans from enjoying what is considered one of the saving graces of this series: the return of previous notable DigiDestined. This moment is one of the most significant in the franchise, with all the previous leaders joining forces to put an end to Bagramon’s plan.

8 Digimon Data Squad

Bandai's mature take on the world of Digimon was too much for its target audience

Data Squad was Bandai’s attempt to revitalize the franchise after four years without releasing a new anime. The show tried to present itself as a more grown-up version of the beloved franchise, with its protagonists being young adults instead of children. The premise of the show follows the titular Data Squad, a police force tasked with defeating Digimon that caused trouble in the human world. The show also dealt with more mature topics, like feelings of inadequacy, the fear of loss, and the weight of responsibility.

Bandai tried to keep some of the original charm by bringing back Agumon as the main partner, although this version is several times more feral than his predecessor. The series received several complaints about its use of physical violence, as the protagonist had to punch his enemies for his Digimon to evolve. Nonetheless, Data Squad did manage to create a lasting legacy in the form of Burst Evolution, a new mode change that became a staple of Digimon from that point forward.

7 Digimon Tri

This bittersweet continuation of the original cast's story almost hit the mark

Created as a celebration for Digimon’s 15th anniversary, Bandai created a series of movies that focused on the original DigiDestined as young adults. As they grew, the bond with their Digimon began weakening, as adults were not allowed to have a partner. To worsen their situation, evil beings kept appearing, forcing them to become stronger and putting their digital friends in mortal danger. The movies tried to reignite the same joy in their viewers as the original show by making continuous references to the previous adventures of our heroes.

In reality, the series failed to capture the same magic as its predecessor, with boring plots, overdesigned Digievolutions, and generic villains. The threat of Tai and his friends losing their Digimon was not well received, as it was already confirmed in Adventure 02 that the digital monsters would stay with their partners until adulthood. Nevertheless, the movie series did have amazing animation and introduced the missing Perfect Level Digievolutions that were never seen in the original.

6 Digimon Ghost Game

A promising series that turns Digimon into a supernatural thriller

Bandai's attempt at creating a horror thriller, Digimon Ghost Game is the most recent series in the franchise. The show tried to leave some of the childish elements of previous Digimon anime, focusing on episodic frightening mysteries that Hiro and Gammamon, the protagonists of the show, were tasked with resolving. Ghost Game tried to focus on the terrific nature of certain Digimon and how they could affect humans if they ever became real. The idea was genuinely intriguing, and the first few episodes managed to create a dedicated fandom around the series.

As the show kept going, audiences stopped tuning in, complaining about repetitive plots, generic characters, and a lack of direction. Worst of all, the show seemed to be a gigantic advertisem*nt for Bandai’s Vital Hero bracelet, their newest Tamagotchi-style toy. Most Digimon anime in the past have been used to advertise Bandai’s products, but this series took it a step too far by making it a key piece of the story.

5 Digimon Adventure (2020)

A near-perfect reboot that captured the magic of the original anime

Created as a reboot of the original show, Digimon Adventure (2020) is a retelling of Tai and his friend’s adventures in the Digital World. While some ideas were taken directly from the source, most of the story was completely new, featuring new enemies, new Evolutions, and new problems for the DigiDestined to solve. This version also revealed extensive lore for the Digital World, something that was seldom mentioned in the original. A lot of passion and love was put into this season, in hopes of bringing back fans of the original who distanced themselves from the franchise.

It accomplished its objective, inciting nostalgia in older viewers and reminding them why they loved the franchise so much. The show is not without faults, as the fanservice could feel too on the nose at times. Some episodes are driven more by nostalgia than by good writing, and the new villains introduced failed to become as iconic as previous enemies like the Dark Masters. Adventure (2020)was an innovative concept that could have worked better as its own series instead of riding on the coattails of the original.

4 Digimon Frontier

Digimon Frontier offered a truly fresh take on the franchise

In one of the most daring seasons of Digimon, Frontier decided to leave the idea of partner Digimon behind, instead turning the chosen children into digital monsters themselves. Takuya and his friends, the protagonists of the series, were chosen as the new Legendary Heroes, with the ability to become ancient Digimon. They accomplished this by utilizing strange devices called Digispirits, a concept that quickly became popular among followers of the franchise. The series also introduced the concept of the powerful and honorable Royal Knights, an idea that would become a staple of the franchise.

While the writing can feel a bit lackluster at times, the show did have some genuinely intriguing mysteries and plot twists as well as a compelling group of villains that could be genuinely terrifying at times. When it was first released, Frontier was not received with the same degree of acceptance as the previous series, but with time, it has become a beloved addition to the franchise.

3 Digimon Adventure 02

A rare and timeless "perfect sequel" to the original Digimon

A direct sequel to the show that started it all, 02 tells the story of a new group of DigiDestined, directly related to the previous one. Travis and a group of his classmates, which includes T.K. and Kari (two of the original DigiDestined), are brought into the Digital World to fight the evil Digimon Emperor. They do this thanks to the newly introduced Armor Digievolution, a fan-favorite transformation in which a Digimon becomes stronger by equipping an ancient set of armor.

02 is an incredible sequel, paying homage to the original without trying to copy its formula. The plotline feels fresh, with new threats, endearing characters, and an ending that is beloved by fans of all ages. The original cast acted as support for the newly chosen children, helping them become the heroes that they were destined to be. A small portion of the fandom was reluctant to accept the new protagonists for a few years, but these complaints have become almost nonexistent in recent years.

2 Digimon Adventure

The original Digimon anime is still one of the best the franchise has to offer

When thinking about Digimon, fans’ minds are likely to go directly to the original series. Adventureis considered by many as one of the greatest anime ever, not only for its innovative concept, but also because it is the one that introduced them to the Digimon franchise. The Digital World was in peril due to the increasing strength of evil beings trying to conquer it. Only Tai and his friends can stop this threat, becoming the legendary DigiDestined and joining forces with their assigned partner Digimon.

With a blend of comedy, action, and heartwarming moments, Adventure managed to capture the hearts of children and adults alike. To this day, this season is considered one of the most iconic anime of the 90s, rivaling heavy hitters like Pokémon. Its characters, villains, and story are amazingly well written, which makes it easy for viewers to enjoy it for hours on end. That being said, some episodes are a bit slow and the 90s inspiration is palpable, making it slightly less enticing for newer audiences.

1 Digimon Tamers

The best anime in the Digimon franchise blends everything that makes the series so great

Considered by many as the best season of Digimon, Tamerscreated a universe in which the Digital World and the human world are fused. After finding a strange device and awakening a Digimon of his creation, Takato becomes a Tamer, a chosen child who fights against the beings that cross over to the human world. Throughout his journey, he comes across new friends, rivals, and enemies that push him and his Digimon partner to their limits. This show has a perfect balance between joyful and terrifying scenes, dealing with topics that its predecessors strayed away from.

Not only did this series introduce the concept of Digimon cards to audiences outside of Japan, but it also revealed one of the most iconic DigiEvolutions. Matrix Evolution occurs when a child and their Digimon fuse to become a single and powerful being, like the fan-favorite Royal Knight Gallantmon. This evolution method quickly became popular, becoming an inspiration for the Digispirits that were introduced in the following show, Frontier. Even today, Digimon fans consider Tamers as an iconic and extremely well-written story, with many asking for a sequel or a reboot.

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