Solo Leveling (2024) redefines power fantasies with Sung Jin-Woo’s journey from humanity’s weakest hunter to an unstoppable force, blending RPG-leveling mechanics, dungeon crawling, and high-stakes battles.
For fans captivated by its themes of underdog resilience, strategic growth, and dark fantasy grit, these 15 underrated anime deliver similar adrenaline while carving unique narratives.
1. Black Summoner (2022)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: A reincarnated warrior with no memory masters summoning magic, forging alliances in a ruthless fantasy realm to uncover his past.
Similarities: Merges RPG-style progression with strategic combat, mirroring Solo Leveling’s focus on evolving power systems and tactical alliances.
Details: 12 episodes | Studio: Satelight | MAL: 7.2/10
2. Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest (2019)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, HiDive
Plot: Betrayed in a deadly dungeon, a student becomes a dark-magic-wielding powerhouse, blending survival instincts with revenge.
Similarities: Zero-to-hero transformation, gritty dungeon survival, and morally ambiguous choices akin to Jin-Woo’s ascent.
Details: 13 episodes | Studio: Asread, White Fox | MAL: 6.8/10
3. Tower of God (2020)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: A boy climbs a mystical tower to find his friend, facing lethal trials and political intrigue in a stratified world.
Similarities: Underdog protagonist in a hierarchical power structure, blending mystery and strategic alliances.
Details: 13 episodes | Studio: Telecom Animation Film | MAL: 7.7/10
4. Failure Frame: I Became the Strongest and Annihilated Everything with Low-Level Spells (2024)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: Banished to a dungeon for weak skills, a student unlocks devastating magic, plotting revenge against a deceitful goddess.
Similarities: Subverts power-fantasy tropes with a vengeful underdog and hidden abilities, echoing Jin-Woo’s secret growth.
Details: 12 episodes | Studio: Seven Arcs | MAL: 7.1/10
5. Shangri-La Frontier (2023)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: A gamer tackles a brutal VR MMORPG, mastering mechanics to conquer its most infamous unbeaten boss.
Similarities: Celebrates strategic gameplay and incremental skill mastery, akin to Solo Leveling’s system-driven progression.
Details: 25 episodes | Studio: C2C | MAL: 7.9/10
6. Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions (2016)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: Amnesiac strangers survive a harsh fantasy world through teamwork, emphasizing resource scarcity and trauma.
Similarities: Grounded take on dungeon survival, where growth stems from cooperation rather than overpowered abilities.
Details: 12 episodes | Studio: A-1 Pictures | MAL: 7.5/10
7. Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious (2019)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: A goddess recruits a hero whose extreme caution masks unmatched power, parodying RPG tropes while delivering intense battles.
Similarities: Balances humor with high-stakes combat, highlighting strategic preparation over brute strength.
Details: 12 episodes | Studio: White Fox | MAL: 7.5/10
8. Btooom! (2012)
Streaming: HiDive
Plot: A gamer is trapped on an island where players duel to the death using real-world explosives.
Similarities: Survival-game tension and psychological warfare, reflecting Solo Leveling’s life-or-death stakes.
Details: 12 episodes | Studio: Madhouse | MAL: 6.9/10
9. Darwin’s Game (2020)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: A teen is forced into a lethal mobile game where players wield supernatural abilities.
Similarities: Combines battle royale urgency with strategic skill evolution, akin to dungeon-system mechanics.
Details: 11 episodes | Studio: Nexus | MAL: 7.0/10
10. Seraph of the End (2015)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Plot: Vampires rule a post-apocalyptic world, and a boy rebels using cursed gear to rescue his friend.
Similarities: Dark fantasy setting with hierarchical enemies and protagonist growth through forbidden power.
Details: 24 episodes | Studio: Wit Studio | MAL: 7.5/10
11. Deadman Wonderland (2011)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: A framed teen battles in a twisted prison carnival, wielding blood-based powers to survive.
Similarities: Brutal survival scenarios and hidden abilities, mirroring Jin-Woo’s early struggles.
Details: 12 episodes | Studio: Manglobe | MAL: 7.2/10
12. Juni Taisen: Zodiac War (2017)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: Twelve warriors representing zodiac signs duel in a deadly tournament with no rules.
Similarities: High-concept battle royale with strategic clashes and tragic backstories.
Details: 12 episodes | Studio: Graphinica | MAL: 6.5/10
13. Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (2016)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: Survivors on a steampunk train battle zombie-like “Kabane,” led by a half-human engineer.
Similarities: Post-apocalyptic grit and protagonist evolution through hybrid powers.
Details: 12 episodes | Studio: Wit Studio | MAL: 7.3/10
14. Akame ga Kill! (2014)
Streaming: Hulu
Plot: A rebel group fights a corrupt empire using cursed weapons, facing moral decay and sacrifice.
Similarities: Dark tonal shifts and underdog rebels confronting systemic oppression.
Details: 24 episodes | Studio: White Fox | MAL: 7.5/10
15. The Rising of the Shield Hero (2019)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: A hero ostracized for wielding only a shield builds allies and power to clear catastrophic waves.
Similarities: Underdog narrative, betrayal, and strategic growth in a class-based hierarchy.
Details: 38 episodes | Studio: Kinema Citrus | MAL: 8.1/10
Why These Anime Work for Solo Leveling Fans
These series thrive on protagonists who claw their way from obscurity to dominance, often through cunning, sacrifice, and hidden potential.
From Black Summoner’s tactical summons to Failure Frame’s vengeful magic, each mirrors Solo Leveling’s core appeal: the electrifying rise of an underdog in a world where power dictates survival.
Whether through dystopian grit (Kabaneri) or game-like progression (Shangri-La Frontier), these hidden gems prove that strategic growth and dark fantasy stakes never go out of style.
