I've been listening to my coworkers talk about anime for years and honestly I don't know where to start. I'm 28 years old and I like stories with good plots, it doesn't necessarily have to be action. What do you recommend that's accessible but actually worth watching?
Probably the best thing is to start with something that has a solid story but won't overwhelm you with anime jargon, and there "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood" is pretty much impossible to criticize - it's got a real plot, characters that actually develop, and the first episodes hook you without needing to know anything about otaku culture. If that doesn't appeal to you because it seems like too much action, then "Attack on Titan" is another option that works well for people your age, or even "Death Note" if you want something more focused on mystery and psychology than on fights. Either way, don't pay attention if someone tells you that you absolutely have to watch certain anime - what matters is finding what hooks you, because there's something for everyone in this medium.
Fullmetal Alchemist is good but it's pretty dense for someone who's never watched anime before - it's got a lot of subplots and characters. I'd say start with something shorter and more straightforward like "Jujutsu Kaisen" or "Attack on Titan" - they've got well-structured stories, they're not boring but they don't bombard you with fan references you won't get, and at 28 you're probably going to get more hooked on something with that level of narrative tension than with a classic shonen.
If you really want something accessible at 28 and with solid storytelling, try "Demon Slayer" - it's visually stunning, the first seasons are short, and the pacing is way easier to follow than Fullmetal Alchemist without being shallow. The trick nobody mentions: watch the first episode in the original language with subtitles, not dubbed; that way you actually feel what it's about without it seeming weird or forced.
Demon Slayer is visually incredible but honestly after watching quite a bit of anime, I think for someone your age looking for a solid plot it's gonna leave you wanting more - it's more aesthetic than deep. I'd go for "Attack on Titan" if you want something that really hooks you with mystery and complex characters, or if you prefer something without so much violent action, "Steins;Gate" is practically perfect: 24 episodes, closed-ended story (no loose ends), and the time travel concept is gonna have you thinking about it for days after. Neither of them overwhelms you with weird jargon and both have the kind of plot that appeals to you at 28, they're not childish stuff.
What if you tried something that hooks you without having to keep track of a thousand details about otaku culture? I'd go for "Steins;Gate" - it's got a sci-fi premise that works perfectly for someone your age, the plot is really solid and you don't need to know anything about anime to enjoy it. It's short (24 episodes), the pacing is brisk but not frenetic, and most people I know who didn't watch anime ended up hooked by the story. At 28 you're looking for a good story, not necessarily explosions, and this anime gives you that without being visually excessive or loaded with weird conventions that throw you off.
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