Fans of Darwin’s Game are often drawn to its high-stakes tension, strategic battles, and the brutal “kill or be killed” mentality that forces ordinary people to evolve or perish. While heavy hitters like Future Diary (Mirai Nikki) or Sword Art Online dominate the conversation around survival games, dozens of darker, grittier, and more psychological series fly under the radar.
The following 15 anime share the core DNA of Darwin’s Game: unique power systems (Sigils), underdog protagonists who must outsmart stronger opponents, and a subversion of modern societal norms through deadly competitions. These underrated gems deserve more attention for their willingness to push boundaries and explore the darker side of human nature when pushed to the brink.
1. Battle Game in 5 Seconds (2021)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- MAL Rating: 6.75 | Episodes: 12
- Studio: SynergySP, Vega Entertainment
Brief Plot: Akira Shiroyanagi, a high schooler who loves games, is dragged into a battlefield by a mysterious girl named Mion and given a unique “Sophist” ability. He must use his intellect to clear various programs and defeat the organization behind the experiments.
Similarities: This is widely considered the spiritual sibling to Darwin’s Game. Both feature a smart, calculated protagonist who treats the death game like a strategy puzzle. The “ability” system is also highly specific to each user, requiring creativity rather than just brute strength to win.
2. Juuni Taisen: Zodiac War (2017)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- MAL Rating: 6.53 | Episodes: 12
- Studio: Graphinica
Brief Plot: Every 12 years, twelve mercenaries bearing the names and attributes of the Chinese Zodiac gather to fight in a battle royale. The sole survivor is granted a single wish, no matter how impossible.
Similarities: Like Darwin’s Game, this series focuses on a diverse cast of killers with distinct fighting styles and code names. The pacing is relentless, often killing off major characters abruptly, maintaining the same high-stakes unpredictability found in Kaname’s battles.
3. Tomodachi Game (2022)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu
- MAL Rating: 7.71 | Episodes: 12
- Studio: Okuruto Noboru
Brief Plot: Yuuichi Katagiri values friendship above money, but he and his close friends are forced into a series of psychological games to pay off a massive debt. Paranoia sets in as it becomes clear one of them is the traitor who signed them up.
Similarities: While less action-heavy, it mirrors the psychological warfare of Darwin’s Game perfectly. Yuuichi hides a dark, manipulative side similar to Kaname’s evolution into a ruthless tactician. It explores how quickly social bonds shatter under the pressure of a “game.”
4. Gleipnir (2020)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- MAL Rating: 6.95 | Episodes: 13
- Studio: Pine Jam
Brief Plot: Shuichi Kagaya can transform into a giant mascot costume with a revolver, a secret he tries to hide until he saves a girl named Clair. She climbs inside him (literally) to control his power, and they hunt for “coins” in a deadly survival game involving monsters.
Similarities: The series features a reluctant protagonist pulled into a secret supernatural war occurring within a normal city. The “duo” dynamic between Shuichi and Clair strongly resembles the partnership between Kaname and Shuka, blending romance with lethal codependency.
5. Btooom! (2012)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- MAL Rating: 7.26 | Episodes: 12
- Studio: Madhouse
Brief Plot: Ryouta Sakamoto is a top player in the online game “Btooom!” but wakes up on a real deserted island where he must play the game for survival. Players are armed with different types of bombs (BIMs) and must kill others to collect chips and escape.
Similarities: Btooom! is a classic example of the “video game becomes reality” trope. The reliance on a specific toolset (bombs) forces tactical combat similar to Sigils, where understanding the opponent’s weapon is the key to victory.
6. High-Rise Invasion (2021)
- Streaming: Netflix
- MAL Rating: 6.78 | Episodes: 12
- Studio: Zero-G
Brief Plot: Yuri Honjo finds herself trapped in a world of endless skyscrapers connected by suspension bridges. She must survive against masked figures who try to drive victims to suicide or kill them outright.
Similarities: The chaotic, free-for-all environment and the mystery of the “realm” mimic the tension of Kaname’s early days in Darwin’s Game. It features an evolving protagonist who quickly adapts from a scared student to a lethal survivor.
7. Magical Girl Raising Project (2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- MAL Rating: 7.0 | Episodes: 12
- Studio: Lerche
Brief Plot: A popular social game creates real magical girls, but the administration decides there are “too many” and initiates a culling. The magical girls are forced into a twisted survival game where losing their powers means losing their lives.
Similarities: Do not let the cute aesthetic fool you; this is a brutal death game. It subverts the “magical girl” genre just as Darwin’s Game subverts mobile gaming. The alliances and betrayals are just as sharp, with characters dying unexpectedly.
8. Deadman Wonderland (2011)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- MAL Rating: 7.13 | Episodes: 12
- Studio: Manglobe
Brief Plot: Ganta Igarashi is framed for murdering his classmates and sent to a prison theme park where inmates perform dangerous acts for the public. He discovers he can manipulate his blood as a weapon and enters the “Carnival Corpse,” a secret fighting ring.
Similarities: This is a darker, prison-based variant of the survival genre. Ganta’s “Branch of Sin” blood power functions similarly to a Sigil. The series thrives on the spectacle of violence and the mystery of the organization running the show.
9. Akudama Drive (2020)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu
- MAL Rating: 7.57 | Episodes: 12
- Studio: Pierrot
Brief Plot: In a cyberpunk dystopia, an ordinary citizen is accidentally roped into a heist with high-profile criminals known as “Akudama.” To survive, she must pretend to be a legendary swindler and keep up with her super-powered teammates.
Similarities: While not a traditional tournament, the high-octane action and colorful cast of “specialists” (Brawler, Cutthroat, Hacker) give off strong Darwin’s Game clan vibes. The visual style is vibrant and edgy, appealing to fans of Kaname’s more stylish battles.
10. Talentless Nana (2020)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- MAL Rating: 7.16 | Episodes: 13
- Studio: Bridge
Brief Plot: Students with superpowers are gathered on an island to train for a war against “Enemies of Humanity.” However, the new transfer student, Nana, has a secret mission that turns the school into a scene of serial murders.
Similarities: This series flips the script: the protagonist has no powers and must use pure manipulation and gadgets to defeat superpowered opponents. It appeals to the strategic aspect of Darwin’s Game, where information is more deadly than a Sigil.
11. C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control (2011)
- Streaming: Apple TV (Purchase), Funimation (Legacy)
- MAL Rating: 7.14 | Episodes: 11
- Studio: Tatsunoko Production
Brief Plot: Yoga Kimimaro is a broke college student invited to the “Financial District,” an alternate dimension where people gamble their futures in battles using “Assets.” Winning brings fortune, but losing can erase your existence from reality.
Similarities: The “game” aspect is directly tied to real-world consequences, similar to the point system in Darwin’s Game. The protagonist summons an avatar (Asset) to fight for him, mirroring the summoning types of Sigils.
12. Killing Bites (2018)
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
- MAL Rating: 6.54 | Episodes: 12
- Studio: LIDENFILMS
Brief Plot: Underground duels are fought between “Therianthropes,” humans who have been genetically modified with animal DNA. A college student gets caught in the middle of these brutal fights after meeting a Honey Badger hybrid named Hitomi.
Similarities: If you enjoyed the raw, visceral combat of Darwin’s Game, this series doubles down on the violence. It focuses heavily on the “survival of the fittest” theme and features clans/factions vying for control through bloodsport.
13. Eden of the East (2009)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- MAL Rating: 7.73 | Episodes: 11
- Studio: Production I.G
Brief Plot: Akira Takizawa wakes up naked outside the White House with a gun and a phone loaded with 10 billion yen. He is one of 12 “Selecao” chosen to save Japan, and he must use his funds wisely or be eliminated by the “Supporter.”
Similarities: The use of a phone as the primary tool for the game is identical to Darwin’s Game. It is a more political and mystery-driven take on the genre, focusing on how power and money (points) can change society.
14. Platinum End (2021)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Hulu
- MAL Rating: 6.02 | Episodes: 24
- Studio: Signal.MD
Brief Plot: Mirai Kakehashi attempts suicide but is saved by an angel who grants him special powers. He is then told he is one of 13 candidates chosen to compete to become the new God, forcing him into a battle royale against other candidates.
Similarities: Created by the authors of Death Note, this series features a battle royale with flight, special arrows, and varying moral philosophies. The “God candidate” struggle mirrors the clan warfare and ascent to power seen in Kaname’s journey.
15. Kiznaiver (2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- MAL Rating: 7.36 | Episodes: 12
- Studio: Trigger
Brief Plot: Several high school students are kidnapped and forced to join the “Kizuna System,” an experiment where they share each other’s physical and emotional pain. They must survive the summer and clear missions given by their captors.
Similarities: While less about killing, it shares the “social experiment” vibe. A group of strangers is forced to cooperate under extreme duress, leading to intense character development and shifting alliances similar to the formation of the Sunset Ravens.
Why These Anime Work for Darwin’s Game Fans
The appeal of Darwin’s Game lies in the intersection of modern technology and primal survival. The selected anime above all tap into this specific niche. Shows like Battle Game in 5 Seconds and Btooom! replicate the specific mechanics of gamified combat, satisfying the itch for strategic battles. Meanwhile, entries like Tomodachi Game and Talentless Nana explore the psychological toll of betrayal, a core theme Kaname faces as he learns who to trust. Whether you prefer the supernatural powers of Juuni Taisen or the gritty realism of High-Rise Invasion, each of these underrated series offers a fresh battlefield for fans hungry for more high-stakes action.
