Fans of The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. know that its brilliance lies in how it takes the overpowered protagonist trope and flips it on its head. Instead of reveling in Saiki’s psychic abilities, the show explores the absurd, often frustrating consequences of being too powerful while just wanting a normal life. With its blend of sharp comedy, quirky supporting characters, and satire of common anime tropes, it has become a fan-favorite.
But beyond Saiki’s misadventures, there are other anime that echo these same qualities—hidden gems filled with bizarre humor, power systems, character-driven gags, and clever twists on familiar setups. Here are 15 underrated anime series that Saiki K. fans shouldn’t miss.
1. Level E (2011)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.44
- Studio: Pierrot + David Production
Plot Summary: A mischievous alien prince crash-lands on Earth, dragging unsuspecting humans into his elaborate pranks and manipulative schemes.
Why It’s Similar: Like Saiki K., the protagonist is ridiculously powerful but uninterested in responsibility. The humor thrives on deadpan reactions, absurd setups, and subverting sci-fi tropes.
2. Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto (2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.55
- Studio: Studio Deen
Plot Summary: The perfect high school student, Sakamoto, handles every situation—no matter how ridiculous—with unshakable coolness.
Why It’s Similar: Both shows parody the “flawless protagonist” archetype, with hilariously over-the-top situations and exaggerated reactions from classmates.
3. Good Luck Girl! (Binbougami ga!) (2012)
- Streaming: Funimation (now Crunchyroll library)
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.49
- Studio: Sunrise
Plot Summary: A goddess of misfortune is sent to balance the excessive luck of a high school girl, leading to chaotic clashes and comedic battles.
Why It’s Similar: Both series mix supernatural powers with slice-of-life comedy, poking fun at tropes while delivering fast-paced banter and slapstick absurdity.
4. Arakawa Under the Bridge (2010)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 13 (Season 1) + 13 (Season 2)
- MAL Rating: 7.59
- Studio: Shaft
Plot Summary: An elite businessman ends up living under a bridge with an eccentric group of misfits, including a girl who claims to be from Venus.
Why It’s Similar: Quirky side characters dominate the humor, and the protagonist’s straight-man reactions mirror Saiki’s role amidst his bizarre classmates.
5. Kyou kara Ore wa!! (1993 OVA)
- Streaming: Rare, DVD imports only
- Episodes: 10 OVAs
- MAL Rating: 7.72
- Studio: Pierrot
Plot Summary: Two high school delinquents try to reinvent themselves as the toughest in town, leading to comedic and overblown gang antics.
Why It’s Similar: Much like Saiki’s classmates, these characters are exaggerated caricatures, and the humor comes from absurd escalations of ordinary conflicts.
6. The Devil is a Part-Timer! (Hataraku Maou-sama!) (2013)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Netflix
- Episodes: 13 (Season 1), plus Season 2 continuation
- MAL Rating: 7.79
- Studio: White Fox
Plot Summary: A demon lord loses his powers and must adapt to modern Tokyo life by working at a fast-food restaurant.
Why It’s Similar: Both protagonists juggle overwhelming powers with the mundanity of everyday struggles, mining comedy from the clash of epic abilities and normalcy.
7. Mahoujin Guru Guru (2017 reboot)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 7.68
- Studio: Production I.G
Plot Summary: A boy aspiring to be a hero teams up with a quirky mage girl to battle evil in this parody of RPG tropes.
Why It’s Similar: Like Saiki K., it mocks genre clichés while maintaining a lighthearted, energetic tone with fast gags and meta-commentary.
8. Cuticle Detective Inaba (2013)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 6.80
- Studio: Zexcs
Plot Summary: A half-human, half-wolf detective solves bizarre cases with his eccentric assistants.
Why It’s Similar: The humor leans into randomness, eccentric side characters, and over-the-top reactions, much like Saiki’s everyday chaos.
9. Aho Girl (2017)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 6.85
- Studio: Diomedéa
Plot Summary: A hopelessly dumb girl constantly disrupts her classmates’ lives with absurd antics.
Why It’s Similar: Fans of Saiki’s classmates will enjoy the nonstop gag comedy and ridiculous misunderstandings driving every episode.
10. Excel Saga (1999)
- Streaming: Funimation (now Crunchyroll library)
- Episodes: 26
- MAL Rating: 7.48
- Studio: J.C. Staff
Plot Summary: A hyperactive secret organization attempts world domination, leading to increasingly chaotic, fourth-wall-breaking comedy.
Why It’s Similar: Meta-humor and parody of anime tropes are at the core, much like Saiki’s satirical commentary on powers and school life.
11. Nichijou (My Ordinary Life) (2011)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
- Episodes: 26
- MAL Rating: 8.48
- Studio: Kyoto Animation
Plot Summary: A group of friends experience bizarre, surreal events in their supposedly normal high school lives.
Why It’s Similar: Shares Saiki’s comedic timing and absurdity hidden within everyday school settings, paired with over-the-top reactions and slapstick humor.
12. Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-chan (2005)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, RetroCrush
- Episodes: 8 (OVA)
- MAL Rating: 6.65
- Studio: Hal Film Maker
Plot Summary: An angel sent to stop a boy from committing a future crime constantly kills him in brutal yet comedic ways.
Why It’s Similar: Dark slapstick humor, overpowered characters, and absurd narrative twists echo Saiki’s fast-paced comedic tone.
13. D-Frag! (2014)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.56
- Studio: Brain’s Base
Plot Summary: A delinquent is forced to join a school club filled with bizarre girls who claim to have “elemental powers.”
Why It’s Similar: The exaggerated characters and parody of power systems resemble Saiki’s classmates’ antics, especially with its absurd “battle” comedy.
14. Joshiraku (2012)
- Streaming: HIDIVE
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.33
- Studio: J.C. Staff
Plot Summary: A group of female rakugo performers discuss random topics that spiral into surreal, satirical comedy.
Why It’s Similar: Like Saiki K., its humor lies in witty dialogue, cultural satire, and unexpected punchlines from seemingly ordinary setups.
15. Cromartie High School (2003)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 26
- MAL Rating: 7.84
- Studio: Production I.G
Plot Summary: A normal student enrolls at a school for delinquents, where his classmates include robots, gorillas, and a Freddie Mercury lookalike.
Why It’s Similar: Absurd characters in mundane situations, deadpan humor, and parodies of anime clichés make it a perfect match for Saiki fans.
Why These Anime Work for Saiki K. Fans
What makes The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. so beloved is its ability to balance parody, character-driven gags, and subversion of shounen tropes. Each of these anime takes a similar approach: powerful or eccentric characters placed in ridiculous situations, exaggerated side casts that drive the humor, and a comedic twist on familiar genres. While some lean more into parody and others into slice-of-life absurdity, all deliver the sharp, unpredictable humor that keeps Saiki fans laughing.
