24 Best Shows Like Sword Art Online That You Should Watching Update 03/2024

Shows Like Sword Art Online

Sword Art Online—An Action-Fantasy Anime

Sword Art Online, a Japanese light novel series that was adapted into an anime, piqued the interest of anime fans who also enjoy MMORPGs. Many anime fans love Sword Art Online, despite the fact that it’s received a lot of criticism for its overall quality.

a brief synopsis of the story

In the year 2022, the VRMMORPG Sword Art Online (SAO) will be released for the PlayStation VR. Players can use a virtual reality helmet called Nerve Gear to control their in-game characters using only their minds. When the players discover they can’t log out of the game, their excitement turns to horror. The creator of SAO, Kayaba Akihiko, informs them that they must reach the 100th floor and defeat the final boss in order to return to the real world.

What’s the problem? Real-life consequences follow the deaths of their virtual characters.

If you liked Sword Art Online, you’ll probably enjoy these anime and games.

1. Overlord

Overlord

It’s safe to say that Overlord is now among the most well-known anime series ever, and for good reason. A player trapped in an online game show? This isn’t it. Overlord adds intrigue by imagining what it would be like if he were a villain who got trapped in a video game. The show’s unpredictable nature is a result of the diverse cast of characters.

2. Accel World

As an avid SAO and Accel World fan, you’ve probably come across a slew of theories about the two franchises’ connection. Both shows appear to take place in the same universe, albeit in different eras. It’s widely accepted that the technology used in Accel World dates back to NerveGear.

Plot Teaser

Haruyuki Arita suffers from low self-esteem as a result of being bullied frequently at school. When Haruyuki meets school’s most popular girl, Kuroyukihime, he turns to squash to escape his dreary existence. Haruyuki learns about a new program called Brain Burst from her.

Soon, Haruyuki discovers that Brain Burst is a Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online (VRMMO) Fighting Game, in which players compete for Burst Points, which can be exchanged for real-world acceleration abilities.

Haruyuki and Kuroyukihime team up to complete Brain Burst’s Level 10, meet the program’s creator, and learn the truth about the program’s true purpose.

3. Log Horizon

This anime is frequently compared to Sailor Moon: First Flight. Sword Art Online vs. Log Horizon is a hot topic of debate all over the Internet. They both take place in an MMORPG, which is their main similarity. It’s important to remember that while the settings and characters in both series are the same, the stories are vastly different.

Plot Teaser

After its eleventh expansion pack, the MMORPG Elder Tale was a huge hit. The game’s user base has grown to millions of people. In the next expansion pack, however, thirty thousand players are surprised by the appearance of their in-game avatars. They quickly come to grips with the fact that they have entered their favorite game. When it comes to gaming, Shiroe, who is socially awkward in real life, joins forces with other players to overcome obstacles.

4. Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash

Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash

One of the main complaints about Sword Art Online is how powerful Kirito is. The harem elements are also unpopular with many viewers because they can be overbearing at times. Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash do not have these two problems. For those who prefer team battles to one in which a single character is the sole victor, check out this show.

5. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?

If you played SAO early on, you probably looked forward to seeing Kirito grow stronger and make his way to the top of the tower. On the other hand, we see him almost immediately on the highest floors. Fortunately, Is It Illegal to Approach Women in a Dungeon? veers away from this style of narrative. A special ability grants the main character the ability to progress further into the dungeon as he improves his fighting skills.

6. Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyousoukyoku

You can’t watch Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyousoukyoku and not draw comparisons to SAO as soon as you start watching the episodes. Both shows have gameplay mechanics where you can’t log out, the need to keep your HP up to avoid dying in real life, and the desire to find a way to escape virtual reality. Like Kirito, the protagonist is overpowered and has a thing for girls who fantasize about him.

7. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

Rimuru Tempest’s OP-ness is immediately apparent, and he only gets better as the show progresses. Rimuru, like Kirito, creates his own army from scratch. It also has strong harem elements, and the story darkens toward the end, which many SAO fans would likely appreciate. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

8. In Another World with My Smartphone

Mochizuki Touya and Kirito have a lot in common. In another world, after being struck by lightning, he finds himself with superpowers and a smartphone. Touya, despite being overmatched, enjoys lending a hand to those in need. There are numerous fight scenes in which he engages in combat with a female opponent.

9. Btooom!

When compared to SAO, it’s easy to see why Btooom! is so popular. Both of the male protagonists are enamored with the game they are playing. Ryota Sakamoto finds himself trapped in the game and must work with other players to find a way out.

a sneak peek at the story

At the age of 22, Ryota Sakamoto, a single man, is living with his mother and is unemployed. He’s particularly good at one thing: a video game called Btooom!.

He finds himself on a tropical island, with no memory of how he got there or why he’s there. He approaches a stranger for assistance and is met with a bomb that the assailant throws at him. He comes to grips with the fact that he appears to be in a real-world Btooom! Btooom! player Ryota meets Himiko, who becomes his virtual wife.

Can Ryota put his gaming skills to good use now that his life is on the line?

10. Hack//SIGN

Hack-SIGN

Many people believe that SAO is inspired by the.hack video game series. In addition to this, there aren’t many action sequences in.hack/SIGN, which should excite virtual reality MMO fans. As the game’s secrets are slowly revealed, the main character comes to realize why he is unable to log out.

a sneak peek at the story

Tsukasa awakens inside of a video game called The World, which he has never played before. He has no recollection of what happened before he awoke. After being identified as a hacker, he finds that he is unable to exit the game. Tsukasa is lost, but he discovers a “guardian”—a magical object—that shields him from harm. Subaru, the leader of the Crimson Knights, and the rest of the group learn about his predicament. It’s imperative that they find a solution to Tsuakasa’s problem as quickly as possible.

11. How Not to Summon a Demon Lord

The main character of this Isekai series is a man named Diablo, who is summoned as the Demon Lord. When Diablo begins to form a harem, you’ll notice similarities to SAO within the first few minutes of the show. Despite Diablo’s overwhelming strength in comparison to the other characters, the show contains several action scenes that keep things interesting to watch.

12. And You Thought There Is Never a Girl Online?

Just one of the reasons Why Is It So Hard to Find A Woman On The Internet It’s fascinating to see the characters try to be true to themselves while playing the game. You’ll find a lot of female characters in this game, just like in Sword Art Online. Even though there are fewer dark and dramatic scenes, it bears some resemblance to SAO in other ways.

13. KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!

KonoSuba- God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!

KonoSuba is a great choice if you like SAO but prefer something a little lighter. The story takes place in a video game-like fantasy world. But KonoSuba manages to do all of this while injecting a slew of comical scenes. I highly recommend this show, even though it leans more toward the comedic side of virtual reality anime.

14. Re:ZERO – Starting Life in Another World

This is yet another show in which the protagonist wakes up in a fantastical world. In contrast to SAO, the protagonist is weaker at the beginning of the game. As time goes on, he gains new abilities and finds himself surrounded by attractive women, but he has his sights set on just one of them. Re:Zero is the next show you should watch if you’re looking for something with less romance and more dark and psychological moments.

15. The King’s Avatar (Quan Zhi Gao Shou)

Sword Art Online and The King’s Avatar both focus on the exploits of seasoned MMORPG players. Because of this, it’s easy to see how The King’s Avatar and SAO are similar, especially when it comes to their main characters. The stories diverge in their plotlines. This is a good choice if you’re looking for a movie with a lot of action. The main character is also more likable because he starts out with nothing and works his way back up.

16. Problem Children are Coming from Another World, Aren’t They?

Problem Children are Coming from Another World, Aren't They

While in a game-like fantasy world called Little Garden, three characters are followed. Like Kirito, the male lead is completely outclassed. If you enjoyed the second half of SAO, you’ll enjoy Mondaiji-tachi just as much. Sword Art Online-style graphics and animation can be found throughout.

17. The Rising of the Shield Hero

The Rise of the Shield and SAO Heroes begin with a male protagonist who has been traumatized by being thrust into an unfamiliar world, only to find solace in a female character they meet later on in the story. At first, Naofumi Iwatani isn’t as powerful as Kirito, but he soon assembles a team of mostly female characters to aid him in achieving his goals.

18. Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online

You’re probably aware that it’s going to happen. Since Gun Gale Online is a spin-off, it’s difficult to avoid comparisons to Super Mario Advance. While some fans believe that GGO is an improvement over the original, others disagree. However, if you enjoyed SAO, you will enjoy this show tremendously.

19. No Game No Life

No Game No Life

The first episode of No Game No Life, an anime that debuted on April 9, 2014, can be found below. Discussions about SAO vs. No Game No Life abound in anime fandoms online, once again due to the shared setting. This anime, on the other hand, is less action-oriented because it is a supernatural adventure series. It has a lot of funny scenes and entertaining games, so it’s a lot of fun to watch.

a sneak peek at the story

No Game No Life tells the story of two siblings, Sora and Shiro, who are well-known in the gaming community for their prowess, but who are socially awkward outside of the gaming world. They’re a part of the enigmatic gaming collective known only as “Blank,” who never lose. All decisions in the world are made through games, and humanity has been confined to a single city. In order to defeat the leader and save the human race, it’s up to Sora and Shiro to do it now.

20. Mirai Nikki (Future Diary)

There are some striking similarities between this psychological thriller and SAO, including a main character who isn’t very good with people but finds himself in a dire situation. The game allows him to make new friends, but he soon loses them due to the nature of the game itself.

a sneak peek at the story

A socially awkward young man named Yuki Amano prefers to write in his diary or converse with his imaginary friend Deus Ex Machina, who appears in the story. He discovers, to his horror, that Deus Ex Machina isn’t just a fantasy. For the next 90 days, Deus gives him a diary filled with events. When Yuki is asked to take part in a battle against twelve other people, each of whom has a future diary, he must find a way to eliminate all of his foes and stop the end of the world on the ninetieth day in order to survive.

21. Tower of Druaga: The Aegis of Uruk

Like Sword Art Online, this show takes place in a tower where the characters must reach a certain floor before moving on to the next. It’s obvious that the end goal is to make it to the top floor, where you’ll face the final boss and win. RPG elements in Tower of Druaga include questing for rare items, creating parties, and increasing your level.

a sneak peek at the story

The story begins in the Tower of Anu during the Third Summer of Anu, when the monsters’ abilities are waning. As a result, people take advantage of the situation and establish a base inside the Tower in order to climb to the top. The Uruk Kingdom’s armies lead the way, but “climbers,” adventurers lured by rumors of a Blue Crystal Rod on the very last floor, have joined the race. As a new climber, Jill’s goal is to reach the top of the Tower and take down the dreaded Lord Druaga.

22. Guilty Crown

Guilty Crown

Even though Guilty Crown isn’t set in a virtual reality, when I see Shu Ouma in action, I can’t help but think of Kirito. Both are dragged into a conflict and emerge victorious. When the two shows’ strong female leads are taken into account, things get really interesting. The two female protagonists, despite their ability to stand on their own, find themselves in situations where the male protagonists must step in and save their skin.

a sneak peek at the story

The Apocalypse Virus descended over Japan on December 24, 2029, bringing death and destruction with it. This is dubbed the “Lost Christmas of 2029” later on. Given the severity of the outbreak, the Japanese government requests international assistance, to which the UN obliges by dispatching the Global Headquarters Unit (GHQ). After the outbreak is contained, Japan is handed over to the GHQ.

Storyline: The Right Hand of the Kings centers on Shu Ouma, an ordinary high school student who gains an extraordinary power by accident. As a result of this power, he has the ability to take voids from other people and transform them into weapons that represent the people who possess them. He meets Yuzuriha Inori, a member of the Undertakers, a rebel group dedicated to regaining Japan’s independence.

With his newfound power, he’s been thrust into the middle of a war and must fight to reclaim his country for himself.

23. Kaze No Stigma

Okay, I’ll be the first to admit that SAO and Kaze no Stigma aren’t in the same vein. Despite this, I believe it’s worth your time to watch. As a last resort, read the short story collection as well. Despite the fact that the anime version is far less gory, the fantastic storyline remains intact.

a sneak peek at the story

Yagami Kazuma is a member of the illustrious Kannagi family, who are revered for their mastery of the Fire arts. Ayano, a distant relative, defeated Kazuma in a duel for the right to wield Enraiha, Blaze Lightning Supremacy, and Kazuma was expelled from his family as a result.

Four years later, Kazuma has become an expert in the Wind technique known as Fujutsu. Reunited with his older brother Ayano and Ren’s younger sister. However, members of the Kannagi family begin to be assassinated, and the murder weapon is found to be Fujutsu.

The burden of proof now falls on Kazuma and Ayano to show that they are not the killers.

24. Hunter x Hunter

Hunter x Hunter has some RPG elements, which is a stretch as well. When Gon and Killua play Greed Island and discover that it is based on real events, it’s easy to see the comparison.

a sneak peek at the story

A young boy named Gon discovers his presumed-dead father, Ging, is actually alive in Hunter x Hunter, which follows him as he grows up. Ging is a legendary hunter who has distinguished himself as a worthy member of the community. As he sets out to find his father, Gon comes to the realization that he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a hunter himself.

When he’s 12, he decides to take the Hunter exam, despite the fact that he’s heard that many of the people who take it die. As a result, he makes a number of new friends, such as the enigmatic but lethal Kurapika, the charming but talented Leorio, and the ex-assassin Killua. Many trials and threats come their way, and their friendship is put to the test.