Top 11 Best Anime Like Solo Leveling
Solo Leveling is a highly rated fantasy manhwa that kept fans eagerly waiting for the anime to come out by bringing Sung Jinwoo’s story from the page to the screen. As an E-rank hunter with nothing to offer but his boundless determination to become stronger, the protagonist gains a reputation as the weakest hunter in the world, but as the series progresses, he gradually becomes incredibly powerful.
Solo Leveling has everything fans would expect from a great story, from terrifying monsters to political intrigue. Given the popularity Solo Leveling has gained in such a short time, it’s no wonder that many have started looking for other similar anime. You’ll find a list below. Enjoy!
1. Overlord
Overlord, like several other anime on this list, is based on a video game genre: MMORPG. The anime’s protagonist, Ainz, finds himself transported to a game world where all the NPCs have come to life. Now, Ainz uses his knowledge of the game to rise to power and survive in this world.
So, it can be said that Ainz is a lot like Seong Jin-woo from Solo Leveling, who also uses RPG elements to level up and become the strongest.
2. Tower of God
Tower of God is an anime adaptation of SIG’s manhwa of the same name, and one of many anime similar to Solo Leveling. The Tower of God summons people and grants them whatever they wish for – if they reach the top.
Although the Tower did not call Bam, he goes anyway, choosing to stay with Rachel. Bam somehow opens the gate himself out of sheer willpower. Like Jinwoo, Bam will do whatever it takes to protect those he loves, even if it means bearing the brunt of the burden on his own shoulders.
3. Sword Art Online
Sword Art Online isn’t exactly a new title, and it’s certainly built up a huge fan base since it first aired. There are spin-offs, movies, and even video games. SAO takes place in a seemingly not-too-distant world where virtual reality has been taken a step further: players of online video games can enter the game they’re playing.
The main story follows Kirito, who finds himself trapped in a video game along with all the other people who were playing at the time. Previously, death was not a big deal because players would simply respawn. However, the respawn mechanic is gone, turning every fight into a high-stakes battle for survival. Similarly, like Solo Leveling, the protagonist must complete various tasks to increase his skills.
4. Delicious in Dungeon
At first glance, Delicious in Dungeon may seem like a typical dungeon crawl anime with monsters and magic. That’s certainly there, but the heart of the story is the home-cooked food. This food is carefully prepared from the very monsters the characters fight and kill.
In the story, a group of adventurers must return to a dungeon to rescue their fallen party member, Falin, who was eaten by a dragon. The group has lost all their loot and gold, but with no time to waste, they must risk returning. With no way to buy food, the group picks up Senshi, a dwarf with a god-like taste for monster meat.
5. Kaijuu №8
Kaiju No. 8 is an anime similar to Solo Leveling, with kaiju similar to the giant monsters that the hunters encounter in the last episode. Likewise, Kafka is an underdog at the beginning of the series, no different from how Sung Jin-Woo starts out. However, compared to Sung Jin-Woo, Kaiju No. 8 is not all that powerful despite his massive size.
Adapting the manga of the same name, Kaiju No. 8 explores the concepts and archetypes seen in giant monster movies like the Godzilla franchise. The protagonist, Kafka Hibino, works as a cleanup agent after kaiju battles, but an unexpected incident turns him into the eponymous monster. Using his new abilities, he battles other kaiju and dedicates himself to joining a task force tasked with eliminating them.
6. Dandadan
At first glance, there aren’t many similarities between Solo Leveling and Dandadan. Both anime are action-adventure-focused and released in 2024, but more elements make the new hit Dandadan similar to Solo Leveling. The series also features something of an underdog hero in Ken Takakura, who is similar to Sung Jin-woo at the start of his series.
Ken and his friend Momo develop their own special abilities, similar to what Sun gains when he experiences his Second Awakening. While Dandadan may be a bit lighter, it’s still an anime that might interest those who enjoyed Solo Leveling.
7. One Punch Man
If only life’s problems could be solved with one punch. We’d have a utopia! That’s the fantasy Saitama offers, as a superhero with an unstoppable punch who knocks everyone down with one precise blow.
The first two seasons of One Punch Man have given us huge action scenes and clever superhero satire, and the upcoming third season is set to continue that trend.
8. Demon Slayer
Ufotable’s Demon Slayer is one of the most popular shonen anime series worldwide. A wide range of heroes and villains with incredible abilities and touching origin stories make this story a gripping experience for fans. The series’ protagonist, Tanjiro Kamado, embarks on a quest to find a cure for demonism and restore his sister’s humanity.
While Tanjiro trains to become a Slayer, his sister Nezuko slowly unleashes her demonic powers. They work together to fight demons and get closer to the Demon King, Muzan Kibutsuji. Tanjiro’s willingness to face certain death in his quest to gain the power to protect his loved ones bears strong similarities to Sung Jinwoo from Solo Leveling.
9. Shangri-La Frontie
Shangri-La Frontier follows the story of a high school student named Rakuro Hizutome who enjoys playing video games that are not optimized. He calls them trash games, and the reason he enjoys playing them is because they are buggy and full of glitches that greatly increase their difficulty.
In Shangri-La Frontier and Solo Leveling, characters can also level up and progress. However, the main difference is that Sanraku becomes stronger as a playable character in a VRMMO, while Son Jiwoo puts his own life on the line.
However, both main characters strive to become more powerful, and both anime have incredible fight scenes. However, Shangri-La Frontier is a little less bloody than Solo Leveling.
The main characters also have a rare power that gives them access to special abilities. This skill makes them stand out from those around them, ultimately helping them become the strongest characters in the anime.
10. The Rising of the Shield Hero
Naofumi’s transformation journey in The Rising of the Shield Hero is quite closely related to Jinwoo’s journey. Both of these protagonists start out as very weak characters. Even after a series of betrayals, they are able to overcome all odds.
In particular, Naofumi goes from being naive to someone who always plots to protect himself. He has a devilish side that often comes out. His ruthless and pragmatic approach to situations makes him an incredibly memorable Isekai protagonist.
The Rising of the Shield Hero is, unsurprisingly, one of the best anime like Solo Leveling that you will come across. The anime also has game elements with base stats and leveling systems.
11. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?
Maybe I’ll Meet You in a Dungeon follows the story of Bell Cranel. He is a young adventurer whose dreams finally come true when he meets Hestia. The story takes place in the city of Orario, where gods and humans have learned to coexist.
Since Hestia saved Bell’s life by helping him become an adventurer, the MC always tries to do everything he can for her. He is diligent and hardworking like Jinwoo, and Bell always likes to put others’ needs and safety before his own.
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? One of the Best Anime Like Solo Leveling You Can Binge Watch Right Now.
12. The Devil Is a Part-Timer!
The Devil is a Part-Timer tells the story of Sadao Maou, a part-time worker at MgRonald’s in Japan, which is very different from his previous life as the all-powerful Devil, Satan. Having escaped from his old world after losing a battle with a hero, he is forced to adjust to the human world without his magical powers. Maou dreams of rising to a prominent position in the corporation so he can take over the world.
While learning to be a responsible citizen of the human world, Maou protects civilians from threats that come to fight and kill him. In some ways, Maou is the complete opposite of Seong Jinwoo. While Maou must learn to live with minimal power despite once being strong, Jinwoo must learn to live with his newfound power in a world that once ridiculed him for being weak.