50 Best Anime Like Sword Art Online to Watch

Many fantasy anime comes out every year, but few of them have a huge fan base unlike Sword Art Online, in such cases people tend to forget such anime. Sword Art Online has indeed made its mark in such a vast genre! It accumulated a lot of fans over the years. People often search for new seasons of SAO and wait for their release. However, the wait often turns out to be a long one! But are you a fan who has already finished the entire anime and is now looking for new anime series to fill the gap in your heart?

Fans searched far and wide on the vast internet and got our hands into some good stuff. Keeping the fans of the Isekai genre in mind, there is a few anime like Sword Art Online. These anime series might not be a copycat, but they are unique in their own ways and resemble SAO.

Watch Order of Sword Art Online

Knowing the watch order of the anime series might be a little overwhelming for new viewers. For this very reason, there is a list of the order that contains the chronological order of the series.

• 25 Episodes (Sword Art Online)
• 24 Episodes (Sword Art Online II)
• Movie (Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale)
• 24 Episodes (Sword Art Online: Alicization)
• 12 Episodes (Sword Art Online: Alicization- War Of Underworld)
• 11 Episodes (Sword Art Online: Alicization- War Of Underworld II)
• Movie (Sword Art Online: Progressive) (Not Yet Released)

SAO is available on Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Hulu as well, so if you are an anime fan who still hasn’t watched this gem- please do now!

1. Anime Like Sword Art Online-Hunter X Hunter Tailed Kitsune

• Director: Hiroshi Kōjina
• Writer: Atsushi Maekawa, Tsutomu Kamishiro.
• Starring: Issei Futamata, Cristina Valenzuela, Megumi Han, Mariya Ise.
• IMDb Rating: 9/10

The anime-like Sword Art Online, Hunter X Hunter, follows a young boy named Gon Freecss, who lives on Whale Island. He soon learns about the reality of his father from Hunter Kite that he is alive and not dead and is living as a top Hunter in search of unknown items, curiosa, hidden treasures, exotic living creatures, and many more.

Gon leaves the island and decides to become a professional Hunter. To do so, he has to pass the Hunter exam. He then meets similar other applicants named Kurapika, Leorio, and Killua. The story will see whether the boy will be able to clear the exam to become the best Hunter in the world and meet his father.

2. Attack on Titan

• Director: Tetsurō Araki, Masashi Koizuka, Yūichirō Hayashi, Jun Shishido.
• Writer: Yasuko Kobayashi, Hiroshi Seko, Shintarō Kawakubo.
• Starring: Yûki Kaji, Marina Inoue, Yui Ishikawa.
• IMDb Rating: 9/10

The story follows the journey of a young boy Eren Jaeger who is on the mission to seek revenge for killing his mother and destroying his hometown and also clean the earth from the humanoid Titans that have caused havoc on the planet and pushed it to the verge of extinction.

3. Demon Slayer

• Director: Haruo Sotozaki
• Writer: Ufotable
• Starring: Natsuki Hanae, Hiro Shimono, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Akari Kitô, Zach Aguilar.
• IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

The plot follows the story of a family who gets killed by the demons, and the only members surviving it are Tanjiro and his sister Nezuko. But the latter is slowly turning into a demon. So, to save his sister, Tanjiro sets out to become a demon slayer so that he can take revenge for his family’s murder and ultimately save his sister. Worth watching!

4. Anime Like Sword Art Online- Kemono Michi

• Director: Kazuya Miura
• Writer: Touko Machida
• Starring: Tyson Rinehart, Katsuyuki Konishi, Mie Sonozaki, Mallorie Rodak, Akira Sekine.
• IMDb Rating: 6.5/10

Genzo Shibata, a wrestler who also likes pets a lot, gets sent to a new world of magic by a princess. She charges him to defeat the beasts that threaten her kingdom. But owing to his love for animals, he cannot harm them and instead hits the princess using a German Suplex. After escaping the castle, he finds unable to leave the mysterious land.

So he decides to start his career as a beast hunter and befriend creatures. He is accompanied by Shigure, a wolf girl, the vampire Carmilla Vanstein and dragon-girl Hanako and is on the quest to fulfill his dream to own a pet shop.

5. Headhunted to Another World: From Salaryman to Big Four! (2025)

• Director: Michio Fukuda
• Writer: Benigashira
• Starring:Yūki Ono, Konomi Kohara, Akio Otsuka
• IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

Headhunted to Another World: From Salaryman to Big Four! is, of course, the usual formula for isekai with its head twisted over. Here instead of a hero or an adventurer, a salaryman is being recruited as the high-ranking executive of the demons and applying the strategies of corporations in order to navigate this world. It would be quite exciting and entertaining seeing the combination of business tactics mixed with fantasy. This hits well with its comedy, while the analytical nature of the main character keeps the plot fresh. Although it’s not revolutionary with its isekai premise, engaging world-building and a funny cast make for a solid watch. If you’re a fan of strategic main characters and find comedy and adventure mixed well together, this is an enjoyable experience light on power fantasy.

6. Suicide Squad Isekai (2024)

• Director: Eri Osada
• Writer: Tappei Nagatsuki, Eiji Umehara
• Starring: Anna Nagase Yūichirō Umehara, Reigo Yamaguchi , Takehito Koyasu 
• IMDb Rating: 6.3/10

Suicide Squad Isekai is an ambitious blend of DC’s chaotic antiheroes and the fantasy isekai genre. It drops characters like Harley Quinn and Joker into a new world of magic, monsters, and mayhem. The animation is stylish and able to grasp the essence of DC’s rebellious energy while embracing anime’s dynamic action sequences. Harley has unpredictable personality characteristics that keep every single scene lively. The story is packed with explosive fights, over-the-top moments, and some unexpected funny twists. While the premise might sound bizarre, it surprisingly works, delivering an action-packed ride with a unique flair. If you’re a fan of Suicide Squad or want something totally different from traditional isekai, this wild crossover is worth the watch.

7. Magic Maker: Isekai Mahō no Tsukurikata (2025)

• Director: Kazuomi Koga
• Writer: Kazuki Kaburagi
• Starring: Megumi Han, Ai Kakuma, Sora Amamiya
• IMDb Rating: 6.2/10

Magic Maker: Isekai Mahō no Tsukurikata offers a fresh take on magic by treating it like a scientific process. Instead of just learning spells, the protagonist researches and creates magic from scratch, making for an interesting world-building experience. The anime focuses on trial and error, making the journey of discovery feel rewarding. While it leans into classic isekai tropes, the protagonist’s intelligence and creativity keep things engaging. The pacing is steady, allowing time to appreciate the mechanics of magic rather than rushing through power-ups. Fans of world-building and methodical progression will likely enjoy this one. If you’re looking for an isekai with a more technical and experimental approach to magic, this is a fascinating watch.

8. Anime Like Sword Art Online: The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy (2023)

• Director: Hiroyuki Morita
• Writer: Yū Shimizu
• Starring: Kōhei Amasaki (Leonis Death Magnus), Sayaka Senbongi (Riselia Ray Crystalia)
• IMDb Rating: 6.1/10

A mix of magic academy, reincarnation, and action, The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy follows a powerful demon lord reborn as a young boy. Enrolled in an academy, he must navigate a new world while retaining his overwhelming strength. The concept is really cool, bringing along battles, mystery, and an OP hero who has some semblance of nobility to them. World-building with leftover traces of war and hidden threats does add much more depth to the setting. However, most characters feel rather tropey. With fast-paced action and intriguing lore, things never get too stale. This anime is good if you are looking for a good dose of magic-school fantasy adventures with main protagonists and old battles for power.

9. That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime

• Director: Yasuhito Kikuchi
• Writer: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
• Starring: Miho Okasaki, Brittney Karbowski, Megumi Toyoguchi, Mallorie Rodak.
• IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Mikami Satoru is a lonely mid-thirties man stuck in a mundane life with a worthless job. But soon, his life changes when he awakes in a fantasy life as a slime monster after dying at the hands of a robber.

With trying to get to know about his new existence, he comes across various other monsters and thus begins the events that would change his new life forever.

10. Shin Sekai Yori (From the New World)

• Director: Masashi Ishihama
• Writer: Masashi Sogo
• Starring: Emily Neves, David Wald, Greg Ayres, Monica Rial.
• IMDb Rating: 8/10

The story is set in a post-apocalyptic era after many years from the present era where the sustaining humans have the technology of telekinesis. They thrive in a seemingly peaceful environment, but unusual things are bound to happen when a group of friends discovers hidden dark secrets from the past.

11. Anime Like Sword Art Online: Konosuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!

• Director: Takaomi Kanasaki
• Writer: Makoto Uezu
• Starring: Jun Fukushima, Rie Takahashi, Sora Amamiya, Ai Kayano, Tetsu Inada.
• IMDb Rating: 7.8/10

A high school boy named Kazuma Satou dies on a usual day back from school to home while performing a heroic act of his life. However, the gamer finds himself awakened in the afterlife, where Aqua is welcomed, a beautiful but rude girl who is supposed to be the goddess for guiding youth who died untimely.

He then is offered to either go to heaven or another world to fight the Demon King by Aqua. At this time, Kazuma decides to act like a gamer, and he choses to live in a real-life RPG

But he is asked to select one thing that he can take with him to the new world, so he chooses Aqua. Then begins his journey as he applies his virtual knowledge about gaming to real-world adventures.

12. Shakugan No Shana- Fan Favorite Anime Like Sword Art Online

• Director: Takashi Watanabe
• Writer: Yasuko Kobayashi
• Starring: Satoshi Hino, Tabitha St. Germain, Rie Kugimiya, Kristian Ayre.</li>
• IMDb Rating: 7.1/10

The premise of this anime, like Sword Art Online, focuses on a boy named Yuji who, one day while returning back home from school, notices that the time around him has stopped, and suddenly monsters have started to attack the people.

But to his utter astonishment, he finds himself not to be frozen. When one of the monsters spots him and gets towards him to kill Yuji, Shana saves him. The latter is a great equalizer who informs Yuji that he is a fading spirit.

13. Btooom!

• Director: Kotono Watanabe
• Writer: Yōsuke Kuroda
• Starring: Brittney Karbowski, Tyler Galindo, Suzuko Mimori, Kanata Hongô.
• IMDb Rating: 7.1/10

The story follows a man named Ryouta Sakamoto, who lives with his mother. He has no job, and the only success thus far for him is being a top player in the gaming world.

The game is Btooom! But one day, his life completely changes when he reaches an island with a green crystal embedded in his hand without him remembering anything. The truth is someone has created a game he likes, but it will be about his life and death.

The game involves the players fighting each other to take their green crystals and return home. But instead, they are given a bunch of bombs known as BIM. But soon into the game, he realizes that to sustain, he will have to fight the others and not follow non-violence. The action of this anime is similar to Sword Art Online

He then teams up with fellow Btooom! Named Himiko to escape the island together. But they will soon come closer to the reality behind this entire game of death.

14. How Not To Summon A Demon Lord

• Director: Satoshi Kuwabara
• Writer: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
• Starring: Yû Serizawa, Masaaki Mizunaka, Yû Serizawa, Jad Saxton, Eric Vale.
• IMDb Rating: 7/10

The story centers around the world of a virtual reality game named Cross Reverie, where two maidens summon Diablo, the Demon Lord, to save themselves. But Diable, in reality, is Takuma Sakamoto, a high-class player with social problems.

But one day, a situation he never expected makes Sakamoto completely perplexed. He realizes that the two maidens named Rem and Shera have now become slaves of him magically. But instead, he decides to help the girls out change the persona associated with Diablo and thrive in the new world.

15. Overlord- Best Anime Like Sword Art Online

• Director: Naoyuki Itō
• Writer: Yukie Sugawara
• Starring: Elizabeth Maxwell, Satoshi Hino, Chris Guerrero, Masayuki Katô.
• IMDb Rating: 7.8/10

Yggdrasil, a popular virtual reality game, is in its final hour, and the powerful wizard and master of the dark guild Ainz Ooal Gown named Momonga wants to spend the last few hours in the ga,e as servers gein to shut down.

But he realizes soon that despite the time of the game to shut down has long gone, his character is still conscious and that the non-player characters have also happened to develop their own personalities.

With stuck in an unusual situation, Momonga asks his loyal servants to help him take control of this new virtual world and help discover the plausible cause for the unusual situation and if there is anybody like him in the same situation.

16. No Game No Life

• Director: Atsuko Ishizuka
• Writer: Jukki Hanada
• Starring: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Ai Kayano.
• IMDb Rating: 7.8/10

The characters Sora and Shiru are two expert gamers who look at this world like some game. But the entire anime changes its pace when the main character receives an e-mail from an unknown sender. No amount of words will be able to describe how mind-boggling this anime is. You can watch this anime on Netflix.

They play a chess game with the unknown player and then get transported to another world where they meet Tet, the land god. No Game No Life deals with this world that runs on some basic fundamental rules and regulations.

The main character is two gamer siblings who use their wit and will to survive and rule the new world. Like Sword Art Online, No Game No Life is an anime all about mind games where the participants play to decide everything. It got a lot of votes from the fans to be the best anime of the decade.

17. Log Horizon- Best Anime Like Sword Art Online

• Director: Shinji Ishihira
• Writer: Toshizo Nemoto
• Starring: Mike Yager
• IMDb Rating: 7.7/10

In this anime, the protagonist is Shiroe, a shy person in real life who is too good at games, just like Kirito. But, surviving in a new world from which you cannot log out can be tough competition. The anime series- Log Horizon shows gamers’ lives in another world, battling and negotiating to live.

And the first anime in this list- Log Horizon, is often considered one of the genre’s best anime. The main characters are similar in some respect with action, adventure, fantasy, and a hinge of politics. The entire anime series is based on video games like Sword Art Online. One day, almost thirty thousand Japanese gamers are transported to another world out of nowhere.

This is the world of MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) named Elder Tale. But in this MMORPG, there is an additional issue- the characters cannot log out from the site! Overall, Log Horizon will entertain you with lots of puzzles and calculations.

The difference with Anime like Sword Art Online is that there are no cases of deaths in the game of this anime. It is a nice anime to binge-watch if you are done with SAO.

Log Horizon is highly recommended, and it is a worthy alternative to Sword Art Online. You can watch this anime on Prime Video.

18. Mirai Nikki- Anime like sword art online

• Director: Michiko Namiki and Shogo Miyaki.
• Writer: Sayaka Kuwamura and Kaeko Hayafune.
• Starring: Josh Grelle.
• IMDb Rating: 7.6/10

Josh Grelle as Yukiteru Amano is an introvert high-school kid whose only recreation seems to be writing imaginary things in his diary. But he uses two characters in his writing: the God of Time and Space and that God’s servant. But the anime completely changes its plot when suddenly one of these imaginary characters comes out before the boy. Must watch anime in the list of Anime like Sword Art Online

In those writings, the person introduces himself as the Deity and hands over a diary. With this new ownership, he is pushed into a land of responsibilities as he now has to kill the 11 other owners of such identical diaries. The last living one shall be the new Deity! You can watch this anime on Netflix.

19. Grimgar Of Fantasy And Ash

• Director: Ryosuke Nakamura
• Writer: Ryosuke Nakamura
• Starring: Ricco Fajardo, Orion Pitts.
• IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

In SAO, people tend to find flaws. Many of them state that Kirito might be a bit too powerful, while others have a problem with the harem element present in the anime. For these, Sword Art Online often ends up getting fewer votes. But Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash is free from all that. In this anime, there is a difference in the fighting mode too. It focuses on teamwork more!

In SAO, the characters are sent away to a foreign land, and they have to fight back hard for their existence. They cannot even remember their names or the reasons for them being here. But the players know that they must fight to survive.

So they form a group of mages, soldiers, hunters, and priests. All of them serve in the army of that land to protect and kill whatever comes in the way of peace of that land. Will the players survive?

Can all of them take up the new ways of this world? Watch 12 episodes of this anime where everyone teams up with each other and goes on a journey for their lives! In this anime, there is a difference in the fighting mode too. It focuses on teamwork more! Watch this anime on Crunchyroll.

20. DanMachi (Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In a Dungeon?)

• Director: season 1 (Yoshiki Yamakawa) and season 2 (Hideki Tachibana).
• Writer: Hideki Shirane
• Starring: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Inori Minase.
• IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

‘Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In a Dungeon?’ is a rather popular anime with the third season going on in 2020. The main setting of the anime happens in a city called Orario, which is rather bustling and interesting. Still, our protagonist Bell Cranel wants to earn the world’s greatest adventurer title.

With this wish in mind, he steps out to defeat all the city’s dangerous monsters lurking around in the dark catacombs and labyrinths. ‘Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In a Dungeon?’ is an anime where Cranel resembles Kirito in nature. He puts friendship and the taste of adventure over everything else.

An anime of the Isekai genre- Danmachi, happens in a world where Gods and human beings live and work together. This anime series will take you through a journey filled with mistakes, comedy, action, and friendship, filling your heart with joy and making your weekend! Fans of Anime like Sword Art Online can watch this anime on Crunchyroll.

21. The Hero is Overpowered but Overly Cautious

• Director: Masayuki Sakoi
• Writer: Kenta Ihara
• Starring: Aki Toyosaki, Yuichiro Umehara, Anthony Bowling, Kengo Kawanishi.
• IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

The story follows a hero named Seiya Ryuuguuin, who goddess Ristarte tells to help her save the world of Gaeabrande from destruction. But whatever the hero does, is in a very cautious manner. He prepares for his journey very cautiously. Despite being overly powered, he trains himself for a long time before heading to the mission.

When fighting the weakest of enemies, he uses his strongest skills and weapons and always keeps a lot of extra stuff just to be safe. But his, this annoying attitude might be the only resort to save the evil dominated Gaeabrande.

22. The Kingdoms of Ruin (2023)- Must Watch for Anime Like Sword Art Online

• Director: Yūsuke Onoda
• Writer: Keiichirō Ōchi
• Starring: Yūya Hirose (Adonis), Tomori Kusunoki (Chloe)
• IMDb Rating: 6.2/10

The Kingdoms of Ruin is a dark, action-packed revenge thriller that throws you into a brutal world where magic and science collide. The story follows Adonis, a young mage seeking vengeance after the ruthless Redia Empire wipes out witches, including his beloved mentor. With intense battles, stunning animation, and a gripping plot full of bloodshed and emotion, this anime keeps you on edge. It doesn’t shy away from exploring heavy themes like oppression and revenge, making it a thrilling yet thought-provoking watch. While the pacing can feel rushed at times, the raw intensity and unpredictable twists make up for it. If you enjoy dark fantasy with high-stakes action and emotional weight, The Kingdoms of Ruin is worth watching if you are interested in exploring anime like Sword Art Online

23. Solo Leveling (2024)

• Director: Shunsuke Nakashige
• Writer: Noboru Kimura
• Starring: Taito Ban, Genta Nakamura, Haruna Mikawa
• IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

A love for everyone, Solo Leveling brings a fabulous web novel to life in glorious animation and pulse-pounding action. Sung Jin-Woo is a hunter possessing the very weariest abilities, but when he receives an unexplainable power, things get wildly erratic. The power fantasy elements are extremely satisfying, with intense fights and stylish visuals that keep you hooked. The animation is fluid, making every battle feel impactful, and the soundtrack adds to the hype. While the plot follows a predictable power-growth structure, the execution is top-tier. Jin-Woo’s transformation from underdog to powerhouse is thrilling to watch. If you love overpowered protagonists, epic battles, and visually stunning action sequences, this anime is everything you could ask for.

24. Deadman Wonderland

• • • Director: Kōichirō Hatsumi
    • Writer: Yasuyuki Mutō
    • Starring: Romi Park, Greg Ayres, Monica Rial, Kana Hanazawa, Aaron Dismuke.
    • IMDb Rating: 7.2/10

To serve for the crime he was accused of, Ganta is sent to a private jail that has a weird take on imprisonment. The masses were entertained by performing dangerous games in return for privileges. Every inmate of the prison has their own goal, but the main one is survival. This is the only chance that Ganta has to survive the game and prove his innocence too.

25. Hack//SIGN

• • • Director: Kōichi Mashimo
    • Writer: Kazunori Itō
    • Starring: Tsukasa
    • IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

Many people seem to think that the entire series of the SAO anime is based on hack//SIGN. If you are a lover of the former anime, you are bound to fall for this too. The protagonist, Tsukasa of this anime, will remind you of Kirito.

Tsukasa is a good-for-nothing 22-year-old guy who is unemployed and still lives with his mother. However, there is something he is quite good at Virtual reality games. Things drastically change one day when he wakes up from his slumber, only to find that he is in the game world now.

But the thing is, no matter how much he tries- he cannot get out. Sounds much like SAO? The anime shows the well-hidden secrets and facts of this new world that Tsukasa is in.

Another catch is that he does not remember who he was before waking up in this land. And he is now suspected to be a hacker and is being chased. In .hack//SIGN, Tsukasa must save his own life. So, he wanders around the new place to find something that will help him in the game. He comes across a ‘Guardian’ object who is loyal to him and him only.

Moreover, some other players get to know about his situation, and they want to solve this issue. This hack//SIGN anime is a nice way to spend the weekend binging. The anime is both unique and captivating and will remind you of SAO in more than one way.

26. Anime Like Sword Art Online: Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts (2023)

• • • Director: Chiaki Kon
    • Writer: Seishi Minakami
    • Starring: Hina Suguta (Sariphi), Satoshi Hino (Leonhart)
    • IMDb Rating: 7.1/10

A heartwarming blend of romance and fantasy, Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts delivers a compelling beauty-and-the-beast-style story. The story follows a girl who has to be given to the monstrous Beast King, only to transform due to love and good deeds. Richly built world, beautiful landscapes, and a society based on discrimination and power struggle, the relationship develops naturally with sweet moments and emotional depth. The fairy tale ambiance is captured wonderfully by animation, thus making it sensually pleasing. While predictable at times, the emotional impact and lovable characters make it interesting. If you love fantasy romance with a feisty heroine and a surprisingly soft-hearted beast, then this is a delightful watch.

27. Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online

• • • Director: Masayuki Sakoi
    • Writer: Yōsuke Kuroda
    • Starring: Tomori Kusunoki, Kazuyuki Okitsu, Yôko Hikasa, Ray Chase.
    • IMDb Rating: 6.8/10

The spin-off of Sword Art Online- Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online focuses on the third game in the franchise named Gun Gale Online.

The story follows a girl named Karen Kohiruimaki who had low self-esteem and always found herself out of place in the world. Moreover, it became hard for her to make friends with other girls of her age due to her physical appearance.

But one day, her life takes a turn when she is introduced to virtual reality and Gun Gale Online, where she can live the life she wants. She plays the cute chibi version in the online game. But it will be interesting to see how Karen will be able to make friends in this MMO.

28. Demon Lord, Retry!

• • • Director: Hiroshi Kimura
    • Writer: Ōka Tanisaki
    • Starring: Josh Grelle, Kristen McGuire, Natalie Hoover, Caitlin Glass, Katelyn Barr.
    • IMDb Rating: 6.8/10

One day, an adult working employee named Oono Akira finds himself logged into a character named Demon Lord and transported in a game that he manages. He meets a disabled girl in the online world, and they both begin to travel together. But having such great powers makes the Demon Lord a target of many.

So wherever they go, the countries and saints try to cause problems for them. This is a fantasy tale of a man who is a normal person from inside but a Demon Lord on the outside.

29. The Witch and the Beast (2024)

• • • Director: Takayuki Hamana
    • Writer: Yūichirō Momose
    • Starring: Toshiyuki Morikawa (Ashaf), Yōko Hikasa (Guideau)
    • IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

This dark fantasy anime brings together mystery, magic, and the thrills of battles in the form of a compelling premise: The Witch and the Beast. The series follows a duo with hidden pasts, mixing detective work with supernatural elements to create a story full of intrigue. The art style perfectly suits the eerie atmosphere, making every scene visually engaging. The protagonist’s complex motivations add depth, while the world-building is detailed and immersive. The pacing is well-balanced, allowing mysteries to unfold naturally. Placing plenty of action, twists, and a new take on witches, it’s an exciting watch for fantasy fans. If you like gothic aesthetics, compelling mysteries, and powerful magic battles, this anime will surely not let you sleep.

30. Death March To The Parallel World Rhapsody

• • • Director: Shin Oonuma
    • Writer: Kento Shimoyama
    • Starring: Hiyori Kono, Justin Briner, Kiyono Yasuno, Margaret McDonald.
    • IMDb Rating: 6.6/10

The story follows an overstrained computer programmer named Ichirou Suzuki, who is in his thirties and barely gets a chance to rest. Eventually, one day he gets the opportunity to get some good sleep, but when he suddenly wakes, he finds himself transported into a fantasy RPG world online. It is interconnected together with the games that he was debugging in real life.

He soon realizes that his name has changed to Satou, a trial name he used while running beta tests on games as he was associated with the gaming technology.

His appearance has also enhanced to a younger version of himself. But before Satou could take in the entire change in his reality, he gets attacked by many lizardmen.

To save himself, he casts a powerful spell in return and makes them wiped out completely. This enhances the level of Satou to 310 with added skills and benefits. Now he is an adventurer with no way into reality, so he begins exploring the new world online. Best Anime like Sword Art Online to watch right now!

31. Anime Like Sword Art Online: Reign of the Seven Spellblades (2023)

• • • Director: Masato Matsune
    • Writer: Shōgo Yasukawa</span>
    • Starring: Atsushi Tamaru, Yuka Nukui, Misuzu Yamada
    • IMDb Rating: 6.8/10

Blending magic-school themes with intense battles, Reign of the Seven Spellblades offers a dark twist on the familiar academy setting. The anime follows students learning deadly combat techniques, where magic duels are life-or-death. The world is well-developed, with intricate magical systems and political intrigue adding depth. The fights are visually stunning, with well-animated swordplay and spells keeping action fans engaged. The story gradually reveals hidden dangers, making for an intriguing mystery beneath the surface. Some pacing issues slow things down, but the unique combat mechanics and dark undertones keep it gripping. If you like school-based fantasy with deep lore and high-stakes battles, this anime delivers an intense and strategic experience.

32. Dead Mount Death Play (2023)- Fan Of Sword Art Online will Love this Anime

33. I Shall Survive Using Potions! (2023)

34. Anime Like Sword Art Online: Bleach

• • • Director: Noriyuki Abe
    • Writer(s): Masashi Sogo, Tsuyoshi Kida, Kento Shimoyama.
    • Starring: Johnny Yong Bosch, Stephanie Sheh, Michelle Ruff, Jamieson Price.
    • IMDb Rating: 8.2/10

Kurosaki Ichigo, a high school boy, can see ghosts, unlike children of his age since a very early age. But his life completely takes a different turn when he and his two sisters get attacked by an evil and tormented spirit named Hollow.

But the Death God Shinigami named Kuchiki Rukia helps Ichigo and his sisters. Her work is to send the good spirits known as Pluses to the afterlife Soul Society, purify the evil ones known as Hollows, and send them to Soul Society. But amidst the fight with Hollow, Rukia gets injured and must send her powers to Ichigo.

So now, with the newly given powers, follow the major responsibility- to maintain the perfect balance between the living world and the world of the dead. For this, he begins his training as Kurosaki Ichigo to be perfect to act upon the position as Shinigami.

35. The Rising Of The Shield Hero

• • • Director: Season 1 (Takao Abo) and Season 2 (Masato Jinbo).
    • Writer: Keigo Koyonagi.
    • Starring: Naofumi Iwatani, Raphtalia.
    • IMDb Rating: 7.9/10

The Rising Of The Shield Hero is an anime similar to Sword Art Online. The Kingdom named Melromarc has called four players from modern-day Japan who are quite ordinary men. However, the Kingdom is suffering a lot, and Waves of Catastrophe have destroyed its lands.

For this, the four men known as Cardinal Heros are summoned to save the land. The anime proceeds similarly, and the heroes are trained first before being sent to battle. This is a legend of action, betrayal, fantasy, and adventure.

Some might consider The Rising Of The Shield Hero the best anime on the list. But, the characters are a lot like our main anime. Such an anime with 25 episodes are perfect for a binge. You can watch this anime on Netflix.

36. Re: Zero, Starting Life in Another World

• • • Director: Masaharu Watanabe
    • Writer: Masahiro Yokotani
    • Starring: Yûsuke Kobayashi, Rie Murakawa, Sean Chiplock, Rie Takahashi.
    • IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Subaru Natsuki is a high school boy who one day gets transported to another world when he is on his way back from a local store. Unable to figure out who is actually behind his arrival into the new world, he gets attacked.

But his life is saved by Emilia, a silver-haired half wolf girl with a fairy cat. But when the two can find some solid clue as to who might have attacked Subaru, they both get attacked and get killed. Subaru awakes to find himself at the place he was initially summoned.

This makes him realize that he now owns the ability to return from death whenever he gets killed. Thus, he then has no way but to keep on dying to rewind the time and save the girl from the fate of death.

37. Anime Like Sword Art Online: In Another World With My Smartphone

45. Inuyasha

Anime like Sword Art Online follow fantasy Isekai at its core. Therefore, it would be offensive to not suggest Inuyasha, one of the most cherished Isekai shows ever. A typical high school student who accidentally falls into a well and travels to ancient Japan is the star of this series. Japan in this alternate reality isn’t normal either; it’s teeming with demons.

Kagome Higurashi, the main character, meets the titular Inuyasha along the way and is dragged along on a heroic quest to save the world is the best anime like sao. Even today, the humor and animation are top-notch, along with the action. It truly is a classic.

46. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?

You probably eagerly anticipated seeing Kirito grow stronger and ascend the tower to the top floor in the early episodes of SAO. But almost immediately, we spot him on the top floors.

Is It Bad to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? The good news is that. departs from this style of narration. The main character increases his fighting prowess until he acquires a unique talent that allows him to progress farther into the dungeon.

47. Problem Children Are Coming From Another World, Aren’t They?

Three of the characters in this show are followed as they enter Little Garden, a fantasy world resembling a video game. Similar to Kirito, the male protagonist is overpowered. If you enjoyed the second half of SAO, you’ll notice that Mondaiji-tachi has a similar feel to it. The animation and artwork are similar to Anime like Sword Art Online

48. Anime Like Sword Art Online: Guilty Crown

• • • Stars: Yuki Kaji, Ai Kayano, Kana Hanazawa
    • Author: Hiroyuki Yoshino
    • Published By: Square Enix
    • Genre: Action, Dystopia, Political Thriller

High school student Shu Ouma encounters Inori Yuzuriha, the lead singer of the well-known internet band Egoist, who is seeking refuge at the workshop of his film club in the Tokyo neighborhood of Roppongi. Assaulting the workshop, the GHQ Anti Bodies take her into custody for her connection with the funeral parlor. Shu arrives at a drop zone using Inori’s robot’s coordinates and meets Gai Tsutsugami, the commander of the Funeral Parlor, who requests that he guard a vial.

49. My Unique Skill Makes Me OP Even at Level 1 (2023)

Even though Guilty Crown doesn’t take place in a virtual reality, whenever I see Shu Ouma in action, I can’t help but think of Kirito. Both of them are forced into battle, and one wins out in the end. When you take into account the powerful female characters from the two shows, things become more interesting.

Both women quickly encounter circumstances from which the male protagonists must rescue them, despite the fact that they can stand up for themselves.

These anime like Sword Art Online will take you through a journey filled with mistakes, comedy, action, and friendship, filling your heart with joy and making your weekend! Hope fans liked the list and found it helpful as a binge-watch material as they are worth watching. Until then, stay safe, stay connected!