10 Great Action Anime Like ‘Solo Leveling’

August 25, 2026

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Solo Leveling is quickly becoming one of the biggest modern anime, and fans waiting for more of the story may be on the hunt for series that scratch a similar itch. Fortunately, there are a few great ones to choose from. With Solo Leveling: Beyond the System expected to take a year or two to debut, having them on-hand is a wise choice, especially for anyone who regularly seeks out a solid anime binge.

Solo Leveling‘s popularity stems from several aspects of its story, from the power fantasy that Sung Jinwoo’s journey represents to the dystopian world-building and the way its lore leans into RPG features. It also helps that the anime is gripping from the start. It’s well-paced and full of action, making it all too easy to get caught up in. Of course, the more immersed fans are, the more agonizing the wait for Solo Leveling‘s next chapter is going to be. These anime series can fill the void in the meantime, offering underdog stories, monsters, or worlds with gaming mechanics — and, sometimes, a combination of the three.

Why You Should Trust Me: I’ve been writing about pop culture for a decade and have covered anime at multiple outlets over the course of my career. As you’d expect, I’ve seen and kept up with many series in the medium.

‘Sword Art Online’

RPG Fans Will Appreciate This Anime As Well

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Those who like the RPG-esque elements of Solo Leveling will no doubt appreciate Sword Art Online, even if it doesn’t check all the same boxes. The isekai anime throws its main character, Kirito, into a virtual reality massively multiplayer online role-playing game (VRMMMORPG) where he’s trapped alongside 10,000 other players — and faced with the reality that dying in the game will lead to death in real life. The anime follows his efforts to survive the various levels, which comes with plenty of action. The gaming dynamics will be a draw for Solo Leveling fans, as will Sword Art Online‘s overpowered lead. The two shows also have layers of mystery beneath the main story, which makes them ideal follow-ups to one another.

Watch This If: You love RPGs and enjoy seeing anime that use them as inspiration.

Skip This If: Anime with protagonists that triumph too easily annoy you, or you’re not a fan of harem elements.

‘Shangri-La Frontier’

Offers The Video Game Elements, but With More Levity

Like Sword Art Online, Shangri-La Frontier is set within a VRMMMORPG, giving it the video game vibes that fans of the other anime and Solo Leveling enjoy. It sees its main character using his experience with “bad games” to work through a popular VR one. His adventure isn’t as dark as Jinwoo’s in Solo Leveling, but it sees him leveling up and facing off with bosses. It offers a good amount of action, as well as the rush of seeing an anime lead overcome challenge after challenge.

Watch This If: You’d be interested in a series similar to Solo Leveling but with more levity and lower stakes.

Skip This If: You’re looking for the darker tone of Solo Leveling rather than the gaming elements.

‘Darwin’s Game’

This Battle Royale Has the Same Dark, High-Stakes Nature

Returning to video game anime with deadly stakes, Darwin’s Game is another great choice for fans of Solo Leveling. At 11 episodes, the one-season series is easy enough to binge. It follows a high school student as he accepts an invitation to the titular app without realizing that it’ll trap him in a battle royale. Players are given supernatural abilities dubbed Sigils, and they’re forced to fight and kill to stay alive. Darwin’s Game is on the darker side, making it perfect for those who prefer Solo Leveling‘s more serious approach. Like the other anime, it also follows an underdog forced to adapt rapidly as the story progresses.

Watch This If: The dark, high-stakes nature of Solo Leveling‘s game-like world is the appeal.

Skip This If: Starting an anime with no word about future seasons sounds like a deal-breaker.

‘That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime’

You Want the Fantasy Aspects and Unlikely Hero of ‘Solo Leveling’

The game-like components of Solo Leveling, like the levels and stats, are the highlights for some viewers. However, the travel between worlds gives the series a fantasy focus as well. For anyone interested in both aspects of the show, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is a promising recommendation. The isekai series follows a man who is murdered, and as the title suggests, brought back as a Slime. Although this is the weakest form to be reincarnated as, the series’ lead also gains power that enables him to mimic the appearance and abilities of whatever he consumes. It takes him from unlikely hero to a daunting figure, similar to Jinwoo. The new setting he finds himself in adds a world-jumping spin, and there are clear RPG inspirations as well.

Watch This If: You’re a fan of isekai and fantasy anime, appreciate great world-building, and don’t need insurmountable challenges.

Skip This If: Overpowered main characters make the takes too low for you, or you don’t like series that go in predictable directions.

‘Tower of God’

There’s Power Scaling and Progression Akin to ‘Solo Leveling’

Those who enjoy the power scaling and progression of Solo Leveling will find an enjoyable trajectory in Tower of God. It follows its main character, Bam, as he works his way up the titular Tower. His strengths are tested as he moves from floor to floor, hoping to reach the top of the complex setting. It’s the sort of structure Solo Leveling fans will enjoy, even if Tower of God unravels more slowly and tends to go a bit deeper with its lore, mysteries, and character development.

Watch This If: You’re a fan of fantasy stories with decent scope and don’t mind slower pacing.

Skip This If: You want the quick pacing and frequent action of Solo Leveling over anything else.

‘Kaiju No. 8’

An Underdog Story With Monsters and More Humor

Watching an underdog go from zero to hero is the best part of anime that function as power fantasies, and Kaiju No. 8 offers a similar experience to Solo Leveling in that regard — just with a very different tone and structure. Set in a world where kaiju run rampant and threaten civilians, the anime opens with its main character living an average life after giving up on his dream of excelling in the Defense Force that keeps them at bay. When he’s invaded by a kaiju and becomes a half-monster, he’s given a second chance at seeing it through. The monster fights and sudden, life-changing power-up mirror Jinwoo’s journey. But like a few other anime on this list, Kaiju No. 8 doesn’t stay serious all the time.

Watch This If: You’re looking for action centered on monsters, want a zero-to-hero story, and enjoy well-placed humor.

Skip This If: Anime series that lean into familiar and predictable tropes bore you, or you don’t like much comedy in action series.

‘The Rising of the Shield Hero’

The Anime Features Another Lead Who Overcomes the Odds

The Rising of the Shield Hero transports its main character to another world, and it takes him from an underdog to a force to be reckoned with. Similar to Jinwoo, his growth happens against all odds, as Naofumi is immediately accused of terrible wrongdoings upon arriving in this new fantasy realm. He’s forced to rely mostly on himself at first, making this another series for those who like lone wolf-esque leads. As that implies, the setting and tone of The Rising of the Shield Hero are also grim, though they lighten over time.

Watch This If: A more traditional fantasy isekai with a dark tone and unlikely hero sounds up your alley.

Skip This If: You’d prefer a more futuristic, advanced setting over a traditional fantasy backdrop.

‘Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic’

Another Series That Features Dangerous Dungeons

Solo Leveling fans looking for another anime that sees its characters going into dangerous dungeons should look no further than Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic. Drawing inspiration from One Thousand and One Nights, the series takes place in a world where defeating dungeons can win both treasure and the loyalty of a Djinn. The world and characters’ stories are larger and lean into different themes than Solo Leveling, and the anime is tonally distinct. However, the dungeon overlap makes it well worth checking out.

Watch This If: You want more anime where the characters are tasked with beating dungeons, or you like stories based on folklore.

Skip This If: The series being unfinished is a non-starter, or inconsistent pacing and tone gets on your nerves.

‘Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?’

Another Dungeon Story for ‘Solo Leveling’ Fans

Like Solo Leveling, Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? accompanies its main character — who also doesn’t start as all that powerful or special — into a dungeon. However, Bell benefits from companionship on his journey, which is a nice change of pace from Jinwoo’s story. The series works monsters and gods into its narrative, giving it the fantasy and action viewers appreciate. The show features RPG elements and sees its main character leveling up via a unique power, just like Jinwoo. It’s not a perfect match, but it has the right ingredients to sell Solo Leveling lovers.

Watch This If: A dungeon story with a more optimistic and hopeful tone sounds like fun.

Skip This If: You prefer loner main characters and darker tones and themes overall.

‘The Eminence in Shadow’

A Self-Aware Series for ‘Solo Leveling’ Fans

For anyone taken in by Jinwoo becoming Shadow Monarch in Solo Leveling, The Eminence in Shadow makes for a compelling next watch. The series’ main character, Cid Kagenou, is another character who becomes incredibly powerful and amasses a following in an organization called the Shadow Garden. The anime also uses its story to unpack and parody the conventions of series like Solo Leveling, making it an entertaining watch for those well acquainted with them.

Watch This If: You don’t mind a series that has fun with the conventional tropes and archetypes of action anime like Solo Leveling.

Skip This If: You want a more serious and grounded narrative throughout.