Best Anime Like Solo Leveling – Investment Policy

We love stories about underdogs, and these kinds of tales have been around for centuries, going all the way back to ancient myths. Characters who overcome difficult circumstances to achieve great things resonate with us and stay with us long after we’ve heard their stories. The anime Solo Leveling, created by A-1 Pictures, is a perfect example. It follows Sung Jinwoo, a young man who seizes a chance to change his life and forge his own path.

This anime delves into compelling ideas like striving for goals, finding forgiveness, discovering who you are, and searching for meaning, all within a captivating story. Similar to Solo Leveling, it’s full of exciting battles that will get your heart racing, and we’ve put together a list of other anime that offer the same thrilling experience. Here are some of the best anime similar to Solo Leveling.

May 26, 2026 Update Notes:

Added a section recommending Spring 2026 anime for Solo Leveling fans looking for something to watch

Level Up: Quick Recommendations for Solo Leveling Fans

If you’re a fan of Solo Leveling and want a quick recommendation for something to watch, here’s a handy table covering a few different options.

If you liked…	You should watch…	Why it hits the spot	Status (March 2026)
The “Weak-to-Strong” Arc	DanMachi (Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon?)	Chronicles Bell’s growing power in detail, as he becomes stronger in each arc. Bell is never quite OP, but he goes from absurdly weak to impressively capable.	5 Seasons and a movie are available.
Boss Fight Hype	Shangri-La Frontier	Literally set in an MMO where fighting bosses is central, and they are all spectacles.	2 Seasons are available
The Solo Mechanic	The King’s Avatar	Features a legendary player rebuilding from Level 1. It captures the “Solo” vibe perfectly.	3 Seasons are available (Warning: Season 3 is not on Crunchyroll.)
Dark Power Fantasy	Overlord	Follow the final boss, whose mere presence turns a high fantasy world into dark fantasy.	4 Seasons and a movie are available
Kinetic Combat	Dandadan	If you loved the speed of Solo Leveling‘s action, Dandadan‘s animation here will blow your mind.	2 Seasons (or parts) are available
System Mechanics	My Gift Lvl 9999 Unlimited Gacha: Backstabbed in a Backwater Dungeon, I’m Out for Revenge!	A very weak guy unlocks the ability to summon extremely powerful characters. Somewhat similar to Solo Leveling‘s shadows.	1 Season available

Spring 2026 Anime That Can Fill That Solo Leveling Hole In Your Heart

It could be a while before we see Sung Jun-woo again in the Solo Leveling anime, and that’s only if the series continues. While it seems probable, nothing is guaranteed. The show won’t be back until at least 2027, so fans looking for similar action or overpowered characters will need to find something else to watch. Luckily, Spring 2026 has a decent lineup of anime offering exciting action or satisfying power fantasies. If you’re unsure what to watch next season, these shows are a great place to start.

I’ll be highlighting newer anime releases, so I won’t be covering shows like TenSura and Wistoria. But definitely check those out if you haven’t already!

Daemons of the Shadow Realm – In terms of action, Bones’ series is the genre’s best new show, and it comes with pedigree due to being based on a manga by the author responsible for Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Now, Daemons of the Shadow Realm falls short of that standard, but it delivers fun action, an interesting power system, and mostly likable characters. Yuru and Asa’s sibling dynamic serves as the story’s beating heart and source of early tension, as the latter shatters the former’s entire worldview. For the most part, the writing flows well and balances world-building, fights, and comedy quite well. Daemons of the Shadow Realm and Solo Leveling share a somewhat relatable power system, as characters in the latter fight using contracted daemons, which is reminiscent of Sung’s shadows.
Marriagetoxin – Here’s a battle shonen for those who want a touch of romance behind their action. Another Bones production, Marriagetoxin follows the poison master, Hikaru, as he seeks to find a bride who can continue his bloodline. Kind of creepy, but it makes sense in context. Unfortunately, he put 0 stats into his social skills, and he freezes up around women. That’s where Mei comes in, a marriage counselor (and fraudster) who promises to help him. Silly premise aside, Marriagetoxin mainly revolves around battles between different masters, and Hikaru is quite a badass.
Kill Blue – Spring 2026 has something for assassins, apparently. A legendary hitman, Ogami is so good at his job that he finds it pretty boring. Well, luckily for him, he ends up exposed to a toxin that turns him into a teenager. Now, the world’s greatest assassin must attend middle school to secretly protect the heir of a fortune from kidnappings, all the while trying to ace his exams. Kill Blue leans heavily into comedy and requires viewers to have a tolerance for flashes of stupidity; however, the anime entertains. Ogami and Sung showcase a similar detached coldness during battles, although the former’s vulnerabilities are more pronounced.
The Strongest Job Is Apparently Not a Hero or a Sage, but an Appraiser (Provisional) – By law, we must recommend one OP MC isekai anime. In terms of new shows, Spring 2026 only has this one to offer, and it might be the most “isekai” anime to ever isekai. No real surprises, but it is fine for what it is.

Sentenced To Be A Hero

Like Solo Leveling Before It, Sentenced To Be A Hero Took The Anime World By Storm

If you’re an action anime fan, especially one who enjoys fantasy settings, you should definitely check out Sentenced to Be a Hero, the standout series of Winter 2026. Studio Kai’s adaptation boasts incredible animation, particularly during its frequent and exciting fight scenes, and consistently looks fantastic overall.

Is Sentenced to Be a Hero just visually appealing with good action, or does it offer something comparable to Solo Leveling? The answer is yes, but with some limitations. This anime is set in a world where humanity is constantly battling demon lords and their forces. They depend on both knights and “heroes” – prisoners sentenced to endless war. Even death isn’t an escape, as they’re simply revived and sent back into the fight.

Xylo is a hero who found himself in a difficult situation through no fault of his own. After a mission goes wrong, he’s forced to team up with a goddess named Teoritta, which grants him incredible abilities. Similar to Sung, Xylo doesn’t choose his fate, but slowly begins to trust Teoritta. Although he starts out stronger than Sung, Xylo isn’t invincible, and each fight puts his life at risk.

Chainsaw Man

Similar To Sung, An Impoverished Teenager Makes A Deal With A Devil To Survive

While Solo Leveling is one of the most well-known anime out there, Chainsaw Man is just as popular. Based on Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga, Chainsaw Man currently has one season and a movie, with more content likely on the way. Though the two shows have different overall feels, they share some key similarities. Both are action-packed stories with plenty of violence and gore – Chainsaw Man even pushes things further with moments of horror. Like the main character in Solo Leveling, Denji starts out with nothing and experiences a tragic death. However, just like Sung, he’s given a second chance at life after making a deal with a powerful, supernatural being, which grants him incredible abilities but at a cost to his humanity.

Chainsaw Man focuses on Devil Hunters battling against Devils. These Devils are unlike the monsters in Solo Leveling – they’re born from humanity’s biggest fears, making them particularly compelling. While the main character, Denji, is strong, he isn’t overwhelmingly powerful like some other protagonists, and he faces enemies who genuinely challenge him. You should definitely check out Chainsaw Man!

Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon? (AKA, DanMachi)

An Anime With Dungeons, An MC Who Gets Gradually Stronger, And A Focus On Familias (Which Are Like Guilds)

Let’s be honest, the title DanMachi is a bit silly! But don’t let that turn you off, because this anime is really great, especially seasons four and five. The first three seasons are good too, though a little uneven. DanMachi is set in a fantasy city where people form groups based on their chosen god, and adventurers explore a huge, dangerous dungeon. The story follows Bell Cranel, who starts out as a seemingly weak adventurer and is the only member of Hestia’s guild. As he grows stronger, Bell delves deeper into the dungeon, gets caught up in the city’s complicated politics, and makes some important friends.

Even though not every story arc is perfect, DanMachi combines an interesting world with exciting action, generally appealing characters, and a main character, Bell, who is always improving. Like many heroes, Bell gets stronger after each fight, often facing opponents who are much more powerful than himself, or even seem impossible to defeat.

Jujutsu Kaisen

The Other Action Anime That Is Just As Big As Solo Leveling (Probably Not Bigger, But It Could Get There)

Yuuji Itadori was a normal high school student until he stumbled upon a cursed object, launching him into a dangerous world filled with supernatural threats and magic. Now, he’s battling deadly curses and trying to understand his new powers, all while protecting his friends and family. Similar to Sung Jin-Woo, Itadori is facing powerful enemies and grappling with the weight of his extraordinary abilities and the unique challenges that come with them.

I Don’t Know How I’ll Feel When I’m Dead, But I Don’t Want To Regret The Way I Lived.

Both the main characters in Solo Leveling and Jujutsu Kaisen start from weak positions and experience similar growth throughout their stories. If you like anime with exciting action, emotional storylines, and characters who change a lot, Jujutsu Kaisen is definitely worth checking out.

My Gift Lvl 9999 Unlimited Gacha: Backstabbed in a Backwater Dungeon, I’m Out for Revenge!

An OP MC Who Is Left For Death And Then Becomes, Essentially, A Summoner

The first episode of My Gift Lvl 9999 Unlimited Gacha: Backstabbed in a Backwater Dungeon, I’m Out for Revenge feels very similar to Solo Leveling – it’s like the main character from that show could easily fit into this one.

The show is set in a fantastical world filled with diverse creatures, where humans are often seen as the weakest and most underdeveloped. They face discrimination, and Light struggles even more than others because his special ability, Unlimited Gacha, keeps giving him useless items.

Light finds himself allied with a formidable group, venturing into a perilous dungeon. Unfortunately, he’s betrayed and left for dead. Severely injured and facing certain doom, Light uses a special summoning ability, calling forth a powerful warrior named Mei, who is just the first of many strong allies he’ll gather. Now driven by revenge, Light is building an army of powerful summoned creatures.

To be honest, My Gift Lvl 9999 Unlimited Gacha isn’t amazing, and the action scenes aren’t as good as those in Solo Leveling. But, if you enjoy stories about an underdog who gains immense power when they’re at their lowest point, this anime might be for you.

The King’s Avatar

From OP To Weakest To OP

I’ve noticed a pattern in a couple of stories I’ve been following. Solo Leveling, even though it’s not about a game, feels like one – the main character, Sung, gets stronger by defeating monsters and completing challenges, just like leveling up. The King’s Avatar is similar, but with a twist: the protagonist, Ye Xiu, is actually playing a game. He was a top esports player and team captain, but got forced out because he wasn’t focused on publicity. This meant losing his powerful in-game character, and he had to start all over as a complete beginner. Luckily, all his past experience gives him a significant advantage, even from level one.

Watching The King’s Avatar reminded me a lot of Solo Leveling. Like Sung Jinwoo, Ye Xiu is a seriously powerful character who doesn’t often face real challenges. Although his in-game character starts out relatively weak, Ye Xiu’s deep understanding of the game and its hidden details give him a constant edge. What really stood out to me were the fight scenes – they were beautifully animated and a lot of fun to watch, and they definitely got over-the-top in the best way possible.

Gachiakuta

Slowly Learning To Master Incredible Power (Also, Great Action)

If you’re looking for a great action anime, check out Gachiakuta, considered one of the best of 2025. It has a similar feel to Solo Leveling, but offers its own unique story. Here’s the premise: Rudo lives in a poor, downtrodden slum located beneath a wealthy city in the sky. The upper class treats the slum dwellers as criminals and outcasts. When Rudo is falsely accused of murder, he’s sentenced to be thrown into the dangerous wasteland below – a fate meant to be certain death. Surprisingly, he survives, discovers a hidden community living in the wasteland, and unlocks special abilities that give him a unique purpose.

Gachiakuta is really promising. The world is being built in a compelling way, and we discover its secrets right along with the main character, Rudo. And Rudo himself is fantastic – his constant anger feels justified given what he’s been through. He’s driven by revenge, but he’s also eager to learn from others and become a part of his new community. Plus, he has a mysterious power that he needs to control, much like Sung, if he wants to make it through this journey.

Overlord

An OP Evil MC Summoner

While Solo Leveling isn’t technically an isekai story, it does borrow many common elements from the genre. If you’re already familiar with isekai, you likely know Overlord. But if you enjoyed Solo Leveling and are looking for something comparable, it’s definitely worth checking out.

While not direct copies, both stories feature incredibly strong main characters who rely on magic and summoning to overcome challenges. Both protagonists are motivated by a need to protect those they care about and initially prefer to stay out of the spotlight, though circumstances eventually force them into action. In Overlord, the main character is trapped in a dark fantasy world as his video game avatar and slowly starts to lose his human side, becoming more like the villainous mage he designed. This journey isn’t exactly the same as Sung’s in Solo Leveling, but the themes and progression are quite similar.

2026-05-26 16:38