Updated on April 18, 12:30 p.m. (GMT+8): Improved relevancy.
On the hunt for an anime like Solo Leveling but not sure where to begin?
Solo Leveling has taken the world by storm with its satisfying power-up fantasy, where a weak protagonist grinds his way to become an overpowered badass.
In a world threatened by monsters emerging from dungeons, Sung Jinwoo, the weakest hunter, nearly dies in a raid.
Awakened by a mysterious program, he gains the unique ability to level up, unlike other hunters with fixed powers.
Through intense training and dungeon exploration, Sung Jinwoo transforms from a nobody to a fierce hunter, all while unraveling the secrets of the mysterious program and the origins of the dungeons.
If you’re down bad for another anime like Solo Leveling, here are five anime recommendations that can help to satisfy your cravings.
5 anime like Solo Leveling
- That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
- Shangri-La Frontier
- Tower of God
- Hunter x Hunter
- Sword Art Online
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Episodes: 48 + 5 OVAs
Studio: Eight Bit
If you enjoyed watching Sung Jinwoo’s drastic growth in power in Solo Leveling, you may like That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime.
This Fantasy anime follows the heroic tale of a tiny blue slime named Rimuru. Tragically murdered in his past human life, he finds himself reincarnated as a blue slime with all his human emotions and knowledge intact.
Though a simple slime, Rimuru discovers he has the unique ability to learn skills and grow stronger by devouring other creatures.
Seen as a monster in this new fantastical world, Rimuru quickly learns of the ongoing war between humans and monsters.
Wanting to end the needless fighting, Rimuru embarks on a journey to create a peaceful world where all creatures can coexist in harmony.
Though not as dark as Solo Levelling, you’ll appreciate Rimuru’s drastic rise in power and how he uses his newfound strength to make the world a better place.
Shangri-La Frontier
Episodes: 24
Studio: C2C
If you’re a sucker for more cool action-packed boss fights, Shangri-La Frontier is another anime like Solo Leveling that can scratch that itch thanks to its brilliantly executed build up and fast paced fights.
In a world where VR games are all the rage, Rakuro Hizutome prides himself on conquering the trashiest games on the market under the alias, Sunraku.
Convinced to play Shangri-La Frontier by a good friend, he soon learns why it’s classified as a God-tier game and quickly becomes addicted.
To keep things interesting as a veteran gamer, he chooses to play the game with no armor, relying on his own skill as a trash game master to outmaneuver and best his enemies, all while well below the recommended power level.
Though Sunraku may not start off as weak in the beginning of the anime like Sung Jinwoo in Solo Leveling, his risky all offense no-armor playstyle will keep you captivated during each battle.
Veteran gamers in particular are in for a treat with Sunraku’s unorthodox playthrough of Shangri-La Frontier.
Tower of God
Episodes: 13
Studio: Telecom Animation Film
Want an anime like Solo Leveling that’s also different at the same time? Tower of God’s own twist on powering up and progression may be right up your alley.
The anime begins with Bam, a boy who lived his entire life trapped beneath a mysterious Tower. His only friend, Rachel, suddenly disappears and Bam must go into the tower if he hopes to find her.
Inside, he faces a series of grueling tests alongside allies he meets on each floor.
As Bam climbs, he uncovers the Tower’s secrets, hidden motives, and his own unique connection to this colossal structure.
Tower of God delivers another underdog rising through a challenging floor system, with added layers of intriguing alliances, developing a deeper story for you to explore.
Hunter x Hunter
Episodes: 148
Studio: Madhouse
If you just want another anime like Solo Leveling, raid the kitchen cupboards and queue up Hunter x Hunter during your next binge anime session cause you’re in for a long ride.
Gon Freecss, a young boy, discovers his missing father is a legendary Hunter, sparking his quest to become one himself.
He takes the rigorous Hunter Exam and forges lifelong friendships while facing challenges that test his resolve.
Together, Gon and his companions embark on adventures, unraveling mysteries, encountering powerful enemies, and constantly pushing their limits to fulfill their individual goals.
Hunter x Hunter and Solo Leveling share a lot of similarities. Both have insanely powerful characters, feature thrilling high stakes fights and showcase a “Hunter” society.
The main difference between the two is that anime like Solo Leveling focus mainly on its protagonist’s meteoric rise in power, whilst Hunter x Hunter has a deeper push and pull power system (Nen) and better fleshes out its world and cast of characters.
Sword Art Online
Episodes: 96
Studio: A-1 Pictures
If you want an anime that focuses on high stakes and an overpowered protagonist, Sword Art Online is another anime like Solo Leveling.
A virtual reality game called Sword Art Online traps thousands of players, including a skilled Beta tester named Kirito. With no way to log out, players must conquer all 100 floors to escape.
But Sword Art Online isn’t a harmless game; death in the virtual world means real-life death for Kirito and his fellow players. Now, they must fight together for survival in a high stakes battle for freedom.
Being trapped in a virtual world with deadly consequences, Sword Art Online explores themes of fear, teamwork, and the darker sides of online communities. This offers a fresh viewing experience after Solo Leveling’s emphasis on pure power fantasy.
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