Counting down the top 20 anime of 2015 by their MAL scores as of the date of publication. The criteria are the anime must have started airing in 2015 and any DVD special episodes have been discounted.

Top 20 to 11

20: Prison School

MAL Rated 8.16, Ranked #357
Aired Summer 2015
Produced by J.C. Staff
Watch on: Funimation, Hulu, AnimeLab

This wackjob comedy about a group of underdog boys whipped (sometimes literally) by their female classmates in the former all-female school Hachimitsu Academy is sure to please.

19: Ore Monogatari!! (My Love Story!!)

MAL Rated 8.19, Ranked #312
Aired Spring 2015
Produced by Madhouse
Watch on: Crunchyroll, AnimeLab

Ore Monogatari!! is a saccharine shoujo romance with a twist: main character Takeo is by no means your typical bishonen character. He's tall, extremely buff, with a face that only his mother could love－until Yamato comes along, that is!

18: Durarara!!x2 Shou

MAL Rated 8.21, Ranked #286
Aired Winter 2015
Produced by Studio Shuka
Watch on: Crunchyroll, Hulu, AnimeLab

The continuation of the second season of the ever popular Durarara!! franchise about everyone's favorite Ikebukuro street gangs and headless horsewoman.

17: Working!!!

MAL Rated 8.22, Ranked #307
Aired Summer 2015
Produced by A-1 Pictures
Watch on: Hulu, Crunchyroll

Another sequel, Working!!! is the third season of the slice of life comedy about the oddball staff of the family diner Wagnaria.

16: Junjou Romantica 3

MAL Rated 8.22, Ranked #278
Aired Summer 2015
Produced by Studio Deen
Watch on: Funimation, Hulu, AnimeLab

Junjou Romantica is the most successful BL themed anime to date. It's no wonder that the third season, which covers the third year of Misaki and Akihiko's relationship, did so well.

15: Baby Steps 2nd Season

MAL Rated 8.25, Ranked #249
Aired Spring 2015
Produced by Studio Pierrot
Watch on: Crunchyroll

The second season of this tennis anime shows Eiichirou striving to become a professional player. While the other token tennis anime might be more famous, Baby Steps is probably more realistic in terms of actual gameplay.

14: Kamisama Hajimemashita◎

MAL Rated 8.26, Ranked #241
Aired Winter 2015
Produced by TMS Entertainment
Watch on: Funimation, Crunchyroll, Hulu

Will Tomoe finally realize his feelings for the regular-human-turned-deity Nanami in the second season?

13: Non Non Biyori Repeat

MAL Rated 8.30, Ranked #215
Aired Summer 2015
Produced by Silver Link
Watch on: Crunchyroll, Hulu

The second season of cute countryside girls doing nothing continues with them doing much of the same. And it's just as cute as the first season!

12: Diamond no Ace: Second Season

MAL Rated 8.31, Ranked #203
Aired Spring 2015
Produced by Madhouse, Production I.G.
Watch on: Crunchyroll

Another sports anime to have its second season make it on the top 20 shows of 2015, Diamond no Ace's second season finds its players preparing for the upcoming season in the heat of the Japanese summer.

11: Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Zoku (My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO!)

MAL Rated 8.34, Ranked #189
Aired Spring 2015
Produced by Feel
Watch on: Crunchyroll, Hulu, AnimeLab

This high school rom-com continues with the Volunteer Service Club doing their best to help their classmates with their problems! Even though they have ones of their own to deal with...

Top 10 to 2

10: Death Parade

MAL Rated 8.39, Ranked #158 | Aired Winter 2015 | Produced by Madhouse

A series which expands upon the world we only caught a glimpse of in its predecessor, Death Billiards, the short film created for Anime Mirai. This anime forced its viewers to confront both the dark and lighter sides of human nature and asked us whether a person can (or should) be judged by the actions they take when pushed to the brink.

Watch on: Funimation, Hulu, AnimeLab

9: Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works 2nd Season

MAL Rated 8.48, Ranked #108 | Aired Spring 2015 | Produced by ufotable

The epic conclusion to Unlimited Blade Works ended on a high note, ultimately topping its previous movie adaptation. First-time watchers will be shocked by the surprise twists which season two throws at them.

Watch on: Crunchyroll, Daisuki, AnimeLab

8: Owarimonogatari

MAL Rated 8.51, Ranked #98 | Aired Fall 2015 | Produced by Shaft

The latest installment of the controversial Monogatari series joins the rest of its brethren amongst the higher-ranked anime out there. Owarimonogatari was not without its critics but its final scoring suggests that there are plenty more fans than there are haters.

Watch on: Crunchyroll, Hulu

7: Noragami Aragoto

MAL Rated 8.60, Ranked #69 | Aired Fall 2015 | Produced by Bones

Following on from the first season, Aragoto pursues the Bishamon arc from the manga and teases with the promise of delving into the mystery which surrounds the masterless Nora spirits. Where season one deviated from the source material to introduce an original character, Aragoto mostly cleaves to the manga's original plotline.

Watch on: Funimation, Hulu, AnimeLab

6: JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken: Stardust Crusaders 2nd Season (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders)

MAL Rated 8.62, Ranked #57 | Aired Winter 2015 | Produced by David Production

Stardust Crusaders steps past its previous seasons to become the most well-received in its series! The crazy, zany action and explosive fights continue on from where the first season left off.

Watch on: Crunchyroll

5: Shokugeki no Souma

MAL Rated 8.69, Ranked 44 | Aired Spring 2015 | Produced by J.C. Staff

This anime blazes into fifth place with its intense plotline and strong character development. While the series is undoubtedly about Souma Yukihira and his quest to become the number one chef of his year, we are also drawn into the personal stories of those whom he meets on his journey.

Watch on: Crunchyroll, AnimeLab

4: Kuroko no Basket 3rd Season

MAL Rated 8.70, Ranked #38 | Aired Winter 2015 | Produced by Production I.G.

Kuroko no Basket slips into fourth place despite waning overall popularity. Season three continues to follow the story of Kuroko and the basketball team of Seirin High as they make their way through to the Winter Cup.

Watch on: Crunchyroll

3: Haikyuu!! Second Season

MAL Rated 8.88, Ranked #16 | Aired Fall 2015 | Produced by Production I.G.

Haikyuu!! slams into third place with its follow-up to an inconsistent first season. After the team's loss, they rally together to pursue a chance to go to Tokyo. But a new place comes with a new set of opponents...

Watch on: Hulu, Crunchyroll, AnimeLab

2: One Punch Man

MAL Rated 9.06, Ranked #11 | Aired Fall 2015 | Produced by Madhouse

Punching its way to second place is One Punch Man! This anime gained immediate popularity for its gag humour and fresh approach to the superhero genre. Instead of an everyday guy on a quest to become a hero, we have Saitama: an established, self-proclaimed "hobby hero" who can defeat almost every monster he meets with a single punch. A twelve-episode season was too short to show any character development for our protagonist, so here's to hoping that a second season is in the pipeline!

Watch on: Daisuki, VIZ, Hulu, AnimeLab

Top Anime of 2015

1: Gintama°

MAL Rated 9.15, Ranked #4 | Aired Spring 2015 | Produced by Bandai Namco Pictures

Capping off this countdown is, of course, Gintama! This series enters its third season this year and remains as popular as ever. Its comical gags and lack of any respect for the fourth wall will surely leave you in stitches!

Watch on: Crunchyroll

If you thought 2015 was amazing, why not check out some other banner years of anime?
Here are some of the best so far:
Top Anime 2014
Top Anime 2013
Top Anime 2012