Now that the anime is coming to an end, fans are searching for similar shows to fill the void left by their favorite series. Fortunately, the anime world offers a variety of titles with similar themes and qualities to Solo Leveling. In this article, we'll explore some of the best anime like Solo Leveling. So, without further ado, let's get started.
10. Shangri-La Frontier
One of the best anime released in winter 2024, Shangri-La Frontier is another flashy, action-packed anime like Solo Leveling. Set in a world where virtual reality games are all the rage, veteran gamer Rakuro Hizutome prides himself on conquering the most useless games on the market under the pseudonym Sunraku.
However, his life takes an unexpected turn when he sets out to conquer the virtual reality RPG "Shangri-La Frontier," which hides more beneath its surface than the usual video game secrets. Solo Leveling fans will be thrilled by Sunraku's unorthodox gameplay and the fast-paced combat brilliantly executed in the anime.
9. Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic
Magi and Solo Leveling share a similar theme of dungeons and magical beasts inhabiting their narratives. The series initially follows the young magician Aladdin as he wanders the world in search of his true self. However, his journey is not a solitary one, as he is accompanied by his friend and mentor Ugo—a summoned genie.
During his travels, he also befriends Alibaba Saluja, and with this newfound friendship, they embark on an epic adventure across the world, witnessing various irregularities that seem more frequent than ever. Aladdin is a kind of mirror image of Jinwoo, in that both can easily overpower their opponent.
8. Overlord
Hailed as one of the most popular anime adaptations, Overlord relies heavily on RPG concepts, making it a must-see for solo leveling fans. The story follows Momonga, a powerful wizard who becomes trapped in the world of the popular virtual reality game "Yggdrasil" after the servers shut down.
With magic at his disposal and cosmic items under his control, Momonga decides to take on the role of his character, Ainz Ooal Gown, and begins exploring the world in an attempt to uncover the catastrophe that has befallen it. Becoming part of the "game system" is something both protagonists in the series can relate to.
7. Goblin Slayer
Moving on to another fantasy anime like Solo Leveling, set entirely in a fictional kingdom colonized by monsters and magicians, Goblin Slayer is about the unnamed titular character who has been determined to exterminate the goblin race ever since he saw his sister taken advantage of and killed by them.
Acting like an emotionless robot born to slaughter goblins with extreme prejudice, this warrior will not rest until his mission is accomplished! Both Goblin Slayer and Solo Leveling have a ranking system for adventurers/hunters, and the main character is a lone wolf in both series.
6. Engage Kiss
Known for its harem anime elements, Engage Kiss is worth a try, though it's very different from high-profile anime like Solo Leveling. Like the successful webtoon, the series revolves around monster hunting, with protagonist Shu Ogata possessing special powers to slay deadly creatures.
Shu, along with his half-demon ally Kisara and his former lovers, makes a living hunting demons in Bayron City. However, his motives go beyond money, as he is determined to uncover the truth behind the D-Hazard incident, which occurred many years ago and resulted in the disappearance of his parents and sister.
5. Sword Art Online
Over the years, Sword Art Online invested heavily in exploring virtual reality gaming elements through anime. Initially developed as a light novel, the series features a series of multiple virtual reality MMORPG worlds set in motion by the story of young beta tester Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya.
As fans of RPG-centric shows, Solo Leveling fans shouldn't miss Sword Art Online's colorful storyboards. Furthermore, both series depict an ordinary young man immersed in the brutal world of action fantasy, and both are also produced by the same animation studio, A-1 Pictures.
4. Rising Of The Shield Hero
Rising of the Shield Hero is one of the pioneers that established the isekai genre among modern anime fans. It tells the story of Naofumi Iwatani, once an ordinary young man until he is drawn into the violent world of fighting fantasy monsters with the designated title of "Shield Hero."
Now, getting to the similarities between Solo Leveling and Shield Hero. Both Jinwoo and Naofumi are initially underdogs, but they progress in response to the dangerous environment. Furthermore, both series have quite similar premises, with monsters from parallel dimensions attacking their world.
3. Unwanted Undead Adventurer
Based on a dark fantasy novel, Unwanted Undead Adventurer stars monster slayer Rentt Faina as he confronts his own mortality after a mysterious force magically resurrects him in skeletal form following his death in a dragon's mouth during a dungeon raid.
As he strives to achieve Existential Evolution and return to the land of the living, he faces numerous challenges to achieve what he desires! Rentt is forced to start over from the bottom, making him a captivating underdog, much like Sung Jinwoo in Solo Leveling.
2. Arifureta
Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest is a dark and gritty isekai anime from White Fox known for its violent and bloody narrative. The story explores the journey of high school student Hajime Nagumo, an ordinary otaku who is transported to a fantasy world with the rest of his class to fight monsters.
Trapped with only basic crafting skills, Hajime vows to escape the monster-infested abyss by any means necessary. Using the "system" to one's advantage is common in both Arifureta and Solo Leveling. Both main characters are weak and cowardly at first, but gradually become stronger and more confident.
1. Tower Of God
Originally from the South Korean anime Like Solo Leveling, Tower of God is also a prolific webtoon-turned-anime series that is highly praised for its broad aspects of fantasy elements, including rich world-building, character exploration, combat building, and a story with multiple Battle Royale scenarios.
The series is about a young boy, Bam, who follows his only friend, Rachel, to a mysterious tower. Legend has it that if you can climb to the top of the tower, any wish will be granted. Like Jinwoo, Bam decides to go to any length to see Rachel again, even if it means carrying the weight of the burden on his shoulders.
Which of the following anime, like Solo Leveling, will you watch first? Feel free to comment with your opinion and recommend any other anime like the ones listed above. Also, don't forget to share this article with your otaku friends.
