Mohsin Lag
Today, we will talk about the best level up anime. If you are not familiar with this term, it refers to anime series that focus on characters who have to level up in a game system, a fantasy world, or a survival competition. Sometimes, these characters are tasked with completing dangerous missions, while other times, they must become more powerful in order to survive in a fantasy world where the stronger thrive.
If you enjoy level up anime where the main characters become overpowered, you’re in the right place. We’ll show you the 18 best level up animes to watch that will inspire you to advance and become a better version of yourself in life.
18. Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious
Cautious Hero tells the tale of a main character on a journey to become stronger. You’ve probably heard the saying “better safe than sorry.” It means it’s smart to be ready for anything, even if it seems like too much. In games like RPGs, you need to level up and defeat enemies to win. Seiya Ryuuguuin fits this saying perfectly.
The goddess Ristarte summons him to save the world of Gaeabrande from destruction. But Seiya takes his time getting ready, even though he’s already super strong. He fights weak enemies with his best skills and buys tons of supplies and potions—to make sure he’s safe. His cautiousness might annoy some, but it could be what saves Gaeabrande from the evil forces threatening it.
17. BOFURI: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, so I’ll Max Out My Defense
Bofuri is fun, and it’s what MMOs and leveling up anime are all about—escaping real life and having a good time. Kaede Honjou, reluctantly joining her friend’s invitation, dives into New World Online, a popular VRMMO in Japan.
In the game, she becomes Maple and decides to put all her points into vitality to avoid getting hurt. It’s a unique strategy that makes her super tough but slow and not so strong. Surprisingly, this turns out to be a good thing. With her high defense, Maple gains super skills like Total Defense, Poison Immunity, and Devour, making her nearly unbeatable.
In no time, Maple becomes famous in the game for her unstoppable power. But despite her strength, Kaede still has a lot to learn. Along the way, she makes new friends who help her conquer challenges and uncover even more incredible skills. It’s an adventure full of surprises and fun!
16. I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World
Known in Japanese as Isekai de Cheat Skill wo Te ni Shita Ore wa, Genjitsu Sekai wo mo Musou Suru: Level Up wa Jinsei wo Kaeta, this is an isekai anime about Yuuya Tenjou, who has faced resentment and contempt his whole life, even from his parents.
When his grandfather, his only source of affection, passes away, Yuuya feels truly alone. Despite the hardships, Yuuya tries to spread kindness, but there’s only so much he can take. Just when he’s at his lowest, he discovers a hidden door in his bathroom.
This door leads to an abandoned house in another world, where Yuuya gains game-like skills and abilities instantly. The house once belonged to a sage, giving Yuuya access to powerful weapons, equipment, and crops with amazing effects. With these newfound powers, Yuuya might finally unlock his true potential and become unstoppable.
15. Berserk of Gluttony
One of my favorite anime shows from Fall 2023 is Berserk of Gluttony. It’s a dark fantasy anime that I find really enjoyable. The story follows Fate Graphite, who’s cursed with the skill Gluttony. He’s always hungry, never satisfied. But everything changes when he kills a dying thief and absorbs the man’s strength and soul.
Suddenly, Fate’s Gluttony powers awaken, and if he can learn to control them, he could finally control his own fate. What I find fascinating about this world is the connection between weapons and their users. Fate has a special bond with his sword, similar to the bond with the tenken from last year. By trading his stats and levels, he can upgrade his weapon and unlock new forms for it.
14. The Fruit of Evolution
The Fruit of Evolution is a light, cheesy, and fun anime that fans of level up systems will enjoy. I stumbled upon it, and it’s great for passing the time, as long as you keep your expectations realistic. One day, a guy who claims to be a god interrupts a school announcement and tells all the students to get ready to be transported to another world.
They’ll get special skills to become heroes and defeat the Demon King. The transfer happens, but Seiichi Hiiragi, who’s often bullied because of his looks, gets left behind. No one wants to be his teammate. But the supposed god still sends Seiichi to the other world, though he ends up deep in the forest, far from his classmates and any civilization. Seiichi’s days get worse as he struggles to find a way out. Just when things seem hopeless, he finds a weird fruit called the Fruit of Evolution. It might be his ticket to a better future.
13. Hai to Gensou no Grimgar
Hai to Gensou no Grimgar is a pretty unique survival anime. Unlike other anime shows where characters level up super fast, this one takes its time. It’s all about the natural growth of the characters, step by step. The story is all about fear, survival, and instinct.
Imagine waking up in a strange place with no memories except your name. All you feel are these three emotions deep down. You’re stuck in a world that feels like a game, and the only job available is to fight in the Reserve Army and keep the peace.
When the strong players team up, the rest of the group has to stick together to survive. There’s Manato, a leader and priest; Haruhiro, a nervous thief; Yume, a cheerful hunter; Shihoru, a shy mage; Moguzo, a kind warrior; and Ranta, a rowdy dark knight. But remember, this isn’t a game with respawns. It’s real life, where every choice matters and death is just around the corner.
12. Log Horizon
Suddenly, thirty thousand gamers from Japan are pulled into the world of Elder Tale, an MMORPG they were playing. They can’t log out, and suddenly, they’re stuck in the game. Among them is Shiroe, a college student who’s a pro at the game.
Shiroe quickly adapts to this new reality. He becomes a leader, working to bring order to the virtual city of Akihabara. His friend Naotsugu and the fierce assassin Akatsuki join him. Together, they navigate this fantasy world, facing adventures and political challenges.
What sets Log Horizon apart from other level-up anime is Shiroe’s strategic approach. He’s not just powering up randomly; he plans and strategizes in each situation, making the show exciting and realistic.
11. I’m a spider so what?
The premise of So I’m a Spider, So What? is interesting and offers a good isekai adventure story. The magic and power level-up system make the anime more enjoyable. The story starts on a typical day in high school when a sudden disaster kills all the students. Luckily, some students are reincarnated into another world as nobles, princes, and other important people.
One girl, however, isn’t as lucky. She is reborn as a weak spider and immediately faces many hardships. Despite her tough situation, she must keep going to survive the numerous dangers. She discovers that her new world works like an RPG, so she hunts prey and defeats monsters to level up and evolve. As she becomes stronger, she hopes her efforts will eventually be rewarded with a better life.
10. Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest
Arifureta is an action fantasy anime about a main character becoming a better version of himself, making it a recommended watch. The ordinary life of 17-year-old otaku Hajime Nagumo is disrupted when he and his classmates are summoned to a fantasy world and tasked with saving mankind.
While his classmates receive impressive combat abilities, Hajime is belittled for only gaining an inferior transmutation skill that lacks offensive power. During an expedition in the Great Orcus Labyrinth, Hajime is betrayed by a classmate and falls to the bottom of an abyss. Though he survives, he faces menacing monsters and hardships that turn his life into a nightmare.
Desperate to survive and return home, he resolves to fight for his life. He meets an imprisoned vampire named Yue, who also wants to escape the labyrinth. Interested in him, Yue and a few others join Hajime on his journey to find a way back home, while he steadily transforms from an ordinary person into the world’s strongest.
9. KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!
Konosuba is packed with pure joy and hilarious moments. while other leveling up animes delve into drama or philosophy, Konosuba uses that theme while focusing on pure entertainment. with really funny, albeit niche, comedy, any flaws in the series are parodied to become enjoyable.
The story starts with high school student and recluse kazuma satou, who dies a laughable and pathetic death on his way back from buying a game. he finds himself before a beautiful but obnoxious goddess named aqua. She gives him two choices: go to heaven or reincarnate in a real fantasy world. Kazuma chooses the fantasy world and is tasked with defeating a demon king terrorizing villages.
He can choose one item to help him and selected aqua. However, he quickly realizes that aqua is completely useless. Their troubles don’t end there, living in a fantasy world is far different from a game. instead of going on thrilling adventures, Kazuma and Aqua must first work to pay for their living expenses. their misfortunes have only just begun!
8. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation is a drama fantasy anime from 2021 that hits all the right notes. It’s a very engaging show with a mix of funny and dark moments that will keep you hooked. So, if you enjoy level up anime, this series is a must-watch.
Despite being bullied and oppressed all his life, a 34-year-old shut-in tries to do something heroic, but it ends in a tragic accident. In a twist of fate, he wakes up in another world as Rudeus Greyrat, starting life over as a baby with loving parents.
Keeping his memories and knowledge from his previous life, Rudeus quickly adapts to his new world. With the mind of an adult, he shows magical talent beyond expectations, learning magic from a mage named Roxy Migurdia. Rudeus also learns swordplay from his father, Paul, and meets Sylphiette, a girl his age who becomes his best friend.
As Rudeus begins his new life, he tries to make the most of it while dealing with his past trauma. And maybe, one day, he will find the one thing he couldn’t in his old life—love.
7. Sword art online
Sword Art Online was one of the most talked-about animes of Summer 2012, with a wide range of opinions. The show focuses on a character who grows stronger while facing challenges and helping others,
Ever since the release of the NerveGear, gamers worldwide have enjoyed immersive virtual reality experiences. Sword Art Online (SAO) allows players to explore the medieval world of Aincrad freely. However, the game turns into a nightmare when its creator traps players inside, making escape only possible by completing all one hundred levels of Aincrad. Complicating matters, dying in the game means dying in real life.
In spite of being a beta-tester, Kazuto “Kirito” Kirigaya realizes he can’t overcome SAO’s challenges alone. He teams up with Asuna Yuuki and other players to tackle the game’s difficulties. However, facing tough bosses and dark cults proves more challenging than anticipated.
6. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?
If you’re into anime that focuses on character growth, Danmachi is a good choice. Life in the bustling city of Orario is always eventful, especially for Bell Cranel, a young man with dreams of becoming the greatest adventurer. When he meets the lonely goddess Hestia by chance, his dreams start to feel within reach. With her encouragement, Bell sets off on a thrilling adventure into the city’s monster-filled catacombs, known as the Dungeon.
Danger lurks around every corner in the labyrinthine depths of the Dungeon, and mysterious forces are at play. Even on the surface, survival is a challenge. In a world where gods and humans coexist, nothing is certain, especially when they struggle to get along. But one thing is clear: Bell’s journey will be filled with mistakes, victories, and new friendships as he fearlessly tackles the challenges that come his way.
5. The King’s Avatar
The King’s Avatar is an anime about video games and it’s considered one of the best Chinese anime. If you’ve never watched a Chinese anime before, this is a great place to start.
The story follows the badass main character Ye Xiu, who was once a top player in the game Glory. Forced to retire, he starts working at an internet café. But when a new server launches, he jumps back into the game with a new character called Lord Grim.
Ye Xiu’s success catches the attention of other players and guilds, but starting over isn’t easy. With the help of new friends, he sets out to climb the ranks and leveling up from scratch to become the best player once again.
4. Overlord
This anime follows a familiar concept: a player gets trapped in a video game, like in SAO or Log Horizon. In this case, it’s called Overlord, and it’s produced by Madhouse studio.
The story is set in the final hour of the virtual reality game Yggdrasil. Momonga, a powerful wizard and leader of the dark guild Ainz Ooal Gown, decides to stay logged in as the game shuts down. To his surprise, he remains conscious in the game world even after the shutdown, and the non-player characters seem to have developed their own personalities!
Momonga sets out to investigate this strange situation with the help of his loyal servants. He wants to understand what caused this change and if others are experiencing the same thing.
3. The Rising of the Shield Hero
The Rising of the Shield Hero highlights the struggles of a society that humiliates, betrays, and accuses you unjustly. Naofumi Iwatani, an otaku, is summoned to the kingdom of Melromarc along with three others to save it from the Waves of Catastrophe. But Naofumi is cursed with the role of the Shield Hero, seen as weak and ineffective by others due to his defensive abilities.
By being belittled and ridiculed, Naofumi sets out to fulfill his duty alongside Malty Melromarc, the only one willing to train with him. But Malty betrays him, and Naofumi is falsely accused, leading to discrimination and hatred from the people of Melromarc.
With a heart full of hurt and mistrust, Naofumi sets out to strengthen himself and his reputation, leveling up in skill and power along the way. Feeling the weight of loneliness, Naofumi buys a demi-human slave named Raphtalia, who becomes his companion on his journey. Together, they face the approaching Waves and fight to protect Melromarc and its people from a grim fate.
2. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is considered one of the best isekai anime ever. It follwos a relatable main character who ends up in another world, but in the body of a slime. Throughout the anime series, he levels up and becomes stronger, all along with great animation and soundtrack.
Satoru Mikami, a typical corporate worker in Tokyo, gets stabbed during a random attack. As he’s dying, he hears a strange voice reciting commands he doesn’t understand. When he wakes up, he’s been reincarnated as a slime in a new world. With his new abilities, like devouring anything and mimicking its appearance, he befriends a sealed dragon named Veldora. Together, they set out to destroy the seal, and in return, Veldora grants him the name Rimuru Tempest.
Freed from his old life, Rimuru begins a new journey with a clear goal. As he adjusts to his new form, his actions start to change the world around him, shaping his destiny in unexpected ways.
1. Solo Leveling
Solo Leveling, also known as Ore dake Level Up na Ken, is a massively popular manhwa that has finally been adapted into an anime, fulfilling the dreams of korean webtoon fans everywhere. With some of the most epic action scenes of 2024, it’s a must-watch for all anime fans.
The story is set in a world where humanity faces a crisis due to the emergence of portals called gates, which connect to other dimensions inhabited by monsters immune to normal weapons. To combat this threat, some humans are transformed into hunters with superhuman abilities, tasked with clearing dungeons within these gates. Many hunters join guilds to ensure their survival.
Sung Jin-Woo is an E-rank hunter, considered the weakest of them all. During an exploration of a supposedly safe dungeon, his party encounters a mysterious tunnel leading deeper into the dungeon. Tempted by the promise of treasure, they venture further, only to encounter unimaginable horrors. Despite the odds, Jin-Woo survives and discovers that he now possesses a unique interface visible only to him. This mysterious system offers him the power he has always desired—but at what cost?
