Looking for anime like Overlord while you wait for the next season of this amazing Isekai series to air? We’ve got you covered with over a dozen popular anime series similar to Overlord that should satiate your hunger for a fantasy voyage of similar proportions.
Overlord is an Isekai anime series where our protagonist is transported to a virtual world game when he decides to experience the last few hours of YGGDRASIL the day it is scheduled to shut down. From here starts his dark and sometimes comedic journey to find a place for himself and his now-alive NPC friends, in his Sorcerer King avatar.
Here’s a list of dark Isekai anime like Overlord:
1. Mushoku Tensei: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu
- IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
- Genre: Supernatural, Fantasy, Action
- Episodes: 17 (as of 8 November, 2021)
- Director: Manabu Okamoto
- Writer: Rifujin na Magonote (light novels)
- Cast: Yumi Uchiyama|Tomokazu Sugita, Konomi Kohara, Ai Kakuma
- Streaming Platform: Funimation Now, Muse Asia YouTube, AnimeLab, Wakanim
- Release Date: 30 April, 2021
Popularly referred to as the grandfather of Isekai — though Rifujin na Magonote has been open about the fact that it’s been inspired by other web novels — Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, begins when its 34-year-old unemployed protagonist gets killed by a speeding truck and is reborn as Rudeus Greyrat in a world full of swords, demons, magic and monsters.
The coming-of-age saga unfolds as Rudy trains with sword and magic under his father and demon magician Roxy, respectively, and then leaves his home for the city of Roa. The plot doesn’t race along. We love its lack of urgency – it allows enough time for viewers to enjoy cliched fantasy tropes which complement the tale, and Japanese RPG-inspired expansive world building.
2. Sekai Saikou no Ansatsusha, Isekai Kizoku ni Tensei suru
- IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
- Genre: Action, Fantasy
- Episodes: Ongoing
- Director: Masafumi Tamura
- Writer: Rui Tsukiyo (light novels)
- Cast: Kenji Akabane, Shino Shimoji, Reina Ueda, Yûki Takada
- Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll, Muse Communication
- Release Date: 6 October, 2021
Better known as The World’s Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated In Another World As An Aristocrat, this anime revolves around a retired hitman (reincarnated as Lugh Tuatha De) who has been tasked by a goddess to kill the Hero before he destroys the world.
If you couldn’t get into Jobless Reincarnation because of the uncomfortable vibes it gave you by its depiction of a 34-year-old born into a child’s body excessively fantasizing about girls he meets along his journey from kid to full grown man, Rui Tsukiyo’s tale will feel refreshing.
Lugh retains the memories from his previous life and behaves in an emotionally mature manner, for a change.
He trains under a magic teacher called Dia while simultaneously being taught House of Tuatha Dé’s art of assassination. But saying the story is about a master assassin surrounded by beautiful girls in a fantasy world, is selling it short.
3. Drifters
- IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
- Genre: Adventure, Dark Fantasy, Isekai
- Episodes: 12 (streaming), 2 (DVD-only)
- Director: Kenichi Suzuki, and others
- Writer: Kouta Hirano (manga)
- Cast: Yûichi Nakamura, Naoya Uchida, Mitsuki Saiga
- Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Release Date: 7 October, 2016
If you loved Hellsing, you’ll probably like Drifters, which has also been created by Kouta Hirano. Actual historical figures from different timelines are gathered together by a bespectacled man called Murasaki to form a group called the Drifters.
The Drifters have to overthrow group of evil warriors called the Ends to make sure this doesn’t happen. The plot is pretty straightforward in this sense. Even though we found its occasional forced humor to be unnecessary, we don’t feel that the anime suffers due to it.
You’ll even be able to forgive the sudden tonal shifts due to its excellent art style, extremely brutal action scenes and engaging battle tactics.
4. Grimgar, Ashes and Illusions | Hai to Gensou no Grimgar
- IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
- Genre: Adventure, Drama, Isekai
- Episodes: 12
- Director: Ryôsuke Nakamura, Tomotaka Shibayama, and others
- Writer: Ao Jūmonji (light novels)
- Cast: Yoshimasa Hosoya, Mikako Komatsu, Haruka Terui, Fukushi Ochiai
- Streaming Platform: Hulu, Funimation
- Release Date: 11 January, 2016
A group of strangers wake up in a peculiar tower with no memory of how they got there. They need a paying job to survive in this world called Grimgar and their only alternative is to work for the Reserve Force, slaying the monsters that threaten the peace.
Under a band called Team Manato, our heroes learn to develop their skills, live without their leader upon his unexpected demise and gradually operate smoothly as a unified group.
In this anime, the character arcs and the plot unfold at their own pace. There’s no rush to get from one point to another, and the entire series is elevated by gorgeous, watercolor backgrounds.
5. Sword Art Online (SAO)
- IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Isekai
- Episodes: 25
- Director: Tomohiko Ito, Manabu Ono, and others
- Writer: Reki Kawahara (light novels)
- Cast: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Haruka Tomatsu
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
- Release Date: 7 July, 2012
Sword Art Online is a fantasy anime adventure series based on a ranobe (light novel) of the same name. Our main character, Kirigaya Karuto, aka ‘Kirito’, is stuck in an augmented reality online video game.
Unable to disconnect from his favorite fantasy game, the only way to escape and return to the real world is to complete the game. The reality of the situation kicks in when it is revealed that death in the game will result in death in real life.
Kirito along with his partner Asuna (and with a little help from Agil, one of those rare black anime characters with depth), try their hardest to complete the game.
6. Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody | Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyousoukyoku
- IMDB Rating: 6.6/10
- Genre: Adventure, Isekai, Comedy
- Episodes: 12
- Director: Shin Oonuma
- Writer: Hiro Ainana (light novels)
- Cast: Shun Horie, Rie Takahashi
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
- Release Date: 11 January, 2018
Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody is a fantasy adventure anime based on the light novel series by the same name. It follows the story of the main character Ichiro Suzuki, a twenty-nine-year-old programmer who is transported to a parallel game world similar to the game he is designing.
When ambushed by lizardmen, Ichiro accidentally ends up killing a god, thus gaining a lot of levels. His level increases from one to three hundred, rendering him extremely overpowered. The story follows his adventure to conceal his strength and discover more about the world to which he has been transported.
7. How Not To Summon A Demon Lord
- IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
- Genre: Fantasy Comedy
- Episodes: 22
- Director: Yuta Murano, Satoshi Kuwabara, and others
- Cast: Masaaki Mizunaka, Yû Serizawa, Azumi Waki, Miku Itou
- Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll, Funimation, Netflix Japan
- Release Date: July 5, 2018
In this anime like Overlord, Takuma Sakamoto is a gamer with extreme social anxiety. He loves playing as his Demon Lord character, Diablo, in the MMORPG Cross Reverie.
One day, he suddenly finds himself in the game, having been summoned there by two desperate in-game characters. He finds that it is Shera the Elf and Rem Galleu the Pantherian who have sent for him in the hopes of making him their slave and harnessing his power to solve their problems.
Things don’t go according to plan, and Diablo’s ring causes their spell to rebound and enslave them instead. From here starts the actual story as they travel to the Adventurer’s Guild to register as members.
8. Link Click | Shiguang Dailiren
- IMDB Rating: 8.9/10
- Genre: Supernatural, Fantasy, Action
- Episodes: 12
- Director: Li Haoling, and others
- Cast: Tianxiang Yang, Shangqing Su
- Streaming Platform: Funimation Now, Bilibili
- Release Date: 30 April, 2021
This anime like Overlord does not have the exact elements expected in the Isekai genre. But have you ever looked at a picture and wished you could be transported there — to another place and an another time? Enter, Link Click, an original donghua series from Chinese animation company Haoliners Animation League.
It follows the story of Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang who operate Time Photo Studio. They take on missions to complete tasks for their clientele by using time travel of sorts to dive into photos and fulfill special requests. This is the best anime you can dig into if you enjoy content with a stunning art style and compelling cliffhangers.
9. Log Horizon
- IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
- Genre: Adventure, Isekai, Fantasy
- Episodes: 12
- Director: Shinji Ishihira, Jun’ichi Wada , and others
- Writer: Mamare Touno (light novels)
- Cast: Takuma Terashima, Tomoaki Maeno, Emiri Kato
- Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll, Funimation Now
- Release Date: 5 October, 2013
Log Horizon follows the adventures of Shiroe and his friends, Akatsuki and Naotsugu, who have been transported to the online gaming world of the popular MMORPG game, Elder Tale.
The trio adventure on to discover the reality of the event that transported them to the new world and try to make a place for themselves there.
10. Gate | Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri
- IMDB Rating: 7.5/10
- Genre: Adventure, Isekai, Action
- Episodes: 26
- Directors: Takahiko Kyogoku, Ryo Ando
- Writer: Takumi Yanai (light novels)
- Cast: Junichi Suwabe, Hisako Kanemoto, Nao Toyama, Risa Taneda, Haruka Tomasu
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
- Release Date: 4 July, 2015
In this anime like Overlord, a mysterious portal appears in Japan. Once this intriguing other dimensional gate opens, unknown invaders start causing casualties in the city.
The main character, Youji Itami, being in the army, is selected to lead a battalion into the portal to investigate the incident. He and the Japan Self Defense Force find themselves in a fantasy world with dragons and magic. The story melds the idea of magic versus modern mechanized warfare and gives an apt representation of how their interactions would be.
It is without doubt a fun experience to watch fighter-jets battling dragons in this anime that is enjoyable in its own right.
11. Accel World
- IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
- Genre: Action, Romance
- Episodes: 24
- Director: Masakazu Ohara, Kunihiro Mori , and others
- Writer: Reki Kawahara (light novels)
- Cast: Yuki Kaji, Sachika Misawa, Aki Toyosaki, Shintaro Asanuma
- Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll
- Release Date: 23 March, 2012
Accel World follows the story of Haruyuki Arita, an obese high schooler who is introduced to a game called Brain Burst to escape from his bullies. Each game avatar has unique powers, and Haruyuki’s, called Silver Crow, has the power of flight.
Though not an Isekai show like Log Horizon, Accel World gives the feeling of a fantasy setting using its virtual reality background and action-packed storytelling.
It may not be similar to anime shows with op main characters, but the growth of the protagonist throughout the story has its own merit and adds a fresh taste to character development.
12. Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon?
- IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
- Genre: Action, Adventure
- Episodes: 40
- Directors: Yoshinobu Yamakawa, Hideki Tachibana, and others
- Writers: Fujino Omori (light novels)
- Cast: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Inori Minase, Saori Oonishi
- Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll
- Release Date: 3 April, 2015
DanMachi is short for Danjon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka, the anime you may know as Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon.
In case you haven’t watched it yet, we’ll begin by telling you that this series is great if you like heaps of action and the chance to enjoy Isekai without thinking too deeply about it. Our protagonist, Bell Cranel, lives in a city inhabited by gods and humans. In his quest to become a great adventurer, he pairs up with a lonely goddess called Hestia and goes dungeon crawling in the monster-filled labyrinth spread out under the city of Orario.
13. Soul Eater
- IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
- Genre: Adventure, Action, Dark Comedy
- Episodes: 51
- Directors: Takuya Igarashi, Yasuhiro Irie, Tensai Okamura, and others
- Writer: Atsushi Okubo (manga)
- Cast: Chiaki Omigawa, Koki Uchiyama, Yumiko Kobayashi, Mamoru Miyano, Kaori Nazuka
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
- Release Date: 7 April, 2008
Mako is a student at the Death Weapon Meister Academy along with her reaper weapon partner, Soul Eater. She is friends with Black Star, a loud and obnoxious Meister who specializes in assassination techniques, and Death the Kid, the son of Death himself.
The three Meisters, along with their reaper weapons friends, partake in many adventures. There is a lot of interesting history involving witches, a famed old sword named Excalibur and much more.
Watching anime like Soul Eater with dark settings and death-themed environments is a reminder that fascinating anime like Overlord have their own merits even if their themes feel similar.
14. Inuyashiki: Last Hero
- IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
- Genre: Body Horror, Sci-Fi, Superhero
- Episodes: 11
- Directors: Shuhei Yabuta
- Writer: Hiroya Oku (manga)
- Cast: Nijirô Murakami, Fumiyo Kohinata
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video
- Release Date: 12 October, 2017
At the heart of this anime like Overlord is the idea of redemption and another chance to live life as a much superior version of oneself. Even if the over-powered nature of the protagonist is the only reason you love Overlord, Inuyashiki is for you. The storyline does not have the protagonist being transported into another world.
But instead, it has Ichirou Inuyashiki who only has 3 months to live due to stomach cancer. He gets another shot at life when he is caught in a blast of alien origin which changes him into an overpowered, electromechanical cyborg.
Hiro Shishigami, a high school student who was at scene of the incident, also undergoes a similar transition. He is an unhinged individual who uses his power to kill, maim and destroy lives. This single-season series follows both characters as Ichirou tries to understand the former’s motivation while continuously attempting to undo all the ills committed by the antagonist.
15. Death Parade
- IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
- Genre: Psychological, Supernatural
- Episodes: 12
- Director: Yuzuru Tachikawa, and others
- Writer: Yuzuru Tachikawa
- Cast: Akane Fujita, Takahiro Sakurai, Junji Majima, Ayako KAwasumi, Masakazu Morita
- Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll
- Release Date: 9 January, 2015
Chiyuki finds herself in an Afterlife Bar where deceased souls partake in death games presided over by the bartender, Decim. The death games decide whether the deceased shall be reincarnates or fall into perpetual nothingness.
Similar anime shows like Death Parade are limited and obscure to find but are very rewarding and memorable for viewers. The show is not merely about death but more of an examination of human behavior. We feel that Death Parade is an anime similar to Overlord owing to its grim settings, if nothing else.
16. No Game No Life
- IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
- Genre: Isekai, Fantasy, Science Fiction
- Episodes: 12
- Director: Atsuko Ishizuka, and others
- Writer: Yu Kamiya (light novels)
- Cast: Ai Kayano, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
- Release Date: 9 April, 2014
No Game No Life follows Sora and Shiro, a shut-in brother and sister duo. They are known as an unbeatable pair in the gaming world. One day, they are challenged to a game of chess by Tet, a god from a different world.
The sibling duo defeats Tet and is invited to be transported to a different dimension where the rule of nature is to play games. They realize that harm cannot be inflicted physically but can be magically enforced by betting and winning games.
The siblings find themselves in the human kingdom of Elkia. After helping out the succession crisis in Elkia, they set out to defeat all the other races of the world to be able to challenge Tet again to a game off.
17. That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime | Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken
- IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
- Genre: Fantasy, Isekai
- Episodes: 37
- Directors: Yasuhito Kikuchi, and others
- Writer: Fuse (light novels)
- Cast: Mao Ichimichi, Makoto Furukawa, Chikahiro Kobayashi, Asuna Tomari,
- Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll, Funimation, Muse Communication
- Release Date: 2 October, 2018
In this anime like Overlord, Satoru Mikami dies in a stabbing incident and is reborn in a fantasy world as a slime monster in That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime. Armed with an array of strengths, the newly born slime Satoru meets the imprisoned storm dragon Veldora who names him Rimuru and swears to be his friend.
In return, Rimuru devours the dragon with his imprisonment magic and uses his predator skill to try to break his prison. Rimuru ventures into the world as a demon lord and decides to build a nation of monsters along with his newfound followers.
18. KonoSuba | Kono Subarashii Sekai Ni Shukufuku o!
- IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
- Genre: Adventure, Isekai, Comedy
- Episodes: 20
- Director: Takaomi Kanasaki, Shunji Yoshida, and others
- Writer: Natsume Akatsuki (light novels)
- Cast: Jun Fukushima, Rie Takahashi, Sora Amamiya, Ai Kayano
- Streaming Platform: Netflix, Crunchyroll
- Release Date: 30 August, 2019
Known as KonoSuba in short, this anime’s story involves the adventures of Satoru Kazuma and his rag-tag group of misfit adventurers as they make the most of their lives in a fantasy world facing the agents of the demon lord.
KonoSuba takes a satirical approach to Isekai anime titles like Sword Art Online and makes a hilarious setup with an ensemble of unforgettable characters. It is the best anime comedy in the Isekai genre of shows.
19. The Rising of the Shield Hero | Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari
- IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
- Genre: Dark Fantasy, Isekai
- Episodes: 25
- Directors: Takao Abo, Masato Jinbo (season 2)
- Writer: Aneko Yusagi (light novels)
- Cast: Kaito Ishikawa, Rina Hidaka, Asami Seto
- Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll
- Release Date: 9 January, 2019
In this anime like Overlord, Naofumi Iwatani is transported to a parallel world as the Shield Hero when he comes into contact with a mysterious Book in the Library. Naofumi soon finds that the kingdom he is supposed to protect dislikes the role of the Shield Hero because of something that happened in the past.
ALSO RELATED: The Rising Of The Shield Hero Season 2: Release Date, Trailer & Everything Else
Driven into a corner by false allegations of assault, Naofumi is left alone and unable to fend for himself as he cannot use any other weapon apart from a shield. Naofumi recruits Raphtalia and Filo and the trio goes on adventures to gain experience and level up to become stronger and save the world from catastrophic events called waves.
20. The Saga of Tanya the Evil | Youjo Senki
- IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
- Genre: Military, Adventure, Isekai
- Episodes: 12
- Director: Yutaka Uemura, and others
- Writer: Carlo Zen (light novels)
- Cast: Jun Fukushima, Rie Takahashi, Sora Amamiya, Ai Kayano
- Streaming Platform: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Release Date: 6 January, 2017
The story revolves around the reincarnation of an atheist salaryman from Japan in another world similar to world war era Germany. He is reincarnated as a girl, Tanya, by an entity claiming itself to be God. Tanya, being born a prodigy, is recruited into the military at a young age. She is told by Being X that if she dies unnaturally without faith in God, she will go to hell.
Tanya tries to reach a high rank in the military so that she can retire early and lead a laid-back life far away from the mortal danger of the front-lines. The saga of Tanya the Evil has one of the best anime action sequences of all time and is a must-watch.
