8 Isekai Anime That Are Just as Good as Solo Leveling

Solo Leveling is a highly rated power-fantasy anime that has amassed countless fans around the world, with countless viewers becoming obsessed with Sung Jinwoo's story. With the upcoming release of Solo Leveling's new movie project, Beyond the System, the anime series is set to break new records and receive even more recognition.

While waiting for more Solo Leveling anime content, several isekai anime offer the same underdog premise, overpowered protagonists, and thrilling power progression. These isekai anime are just as memorable as Solo Leveling and make the perfect alternatives while waiting for its grand return.

GATE and Solo Leveling Share More Than the Same Studio

A-1 Pictures, the studio behind Solo Leveling, is also the production studio behind GATE, a two-part isekai anime with 24 episodes in total and with a second season in the making. As the title implies, GATE is set in a world in which a large gate mysteriously appears on the streets of Japan, much like the gates that appear in the world of Solo Leveling.

From this gate, creatures and warriors of all kinds emerge, causing widespread chaos and destruction. It's almost like a dungeon break incident when magical beasts emerge and attack humans, except Sung Jinwoo isn't the one who's doing the heroic deeds, but Youji Itami, an otaku soldier in the service of the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

Overlord Captures the Solo Leveling Power Fantasy

Overlord is a highly successful isekai anime series that has inspired multiple movies, seasonal anime, and other bonus content. The franchise has enjoyed lasting popularity since the first episode aired in July 2015. Fans continue to praise Overlord for its edgy animation, courtesy of Madhouse, and for featuring compelling characters that aren't one-dimensional.

Just like Solo Leveling, Overlord features an absurdly overpowered protagonist who has absolute authority over his loyal subordinates. Ainz Ooal Gown is one of the most overpowered archmages in anime as a whole, boasting vast knowledge of magic spells, whether forbidden or not, and invaluable artifacts that further make him untouchable.

Shangri-La Frontier Shares Solo Leveling's Video Game Elements

Shangri-La Frontier is one of the best-looking anime from Studio C2C, boasting two seasons with 50 episodes in total and an upcoming third season adaptation. Just like Solo Leveling, Shangri-La Frontier features video game elements but uses them more realistically to such an extent that it perfectly captures the appeal of VRMMO gaming.

Rakurou Hizutome, better known by his in-game name Sunraku, may not be as overpowered and intimidating as Sung Jinwoo, especially with his signature boxers and bird mask, but his unrivaled gaming skills make him just as entertaining to watch. In addition, Sunraku also mirrors Jinwoo in his weapon of choice, preferring to use daggers in battles instead of swords.

So I'm a Spider, So What Shares Solo Leveling's Satisfying Evolution System

While Solo Leveling's Sung Jinwoo is lucky enough to grind in dungeons in his human form, Kumoko of So I'm a Spider, So What does the same thing but in her spider form. From one episode to another of this isekai series, Kumoko fights dungeon monsters multiple times her size to level up and evolve.

Thrown in an isekai world with an RPG system, Kumoko unluckily assumes the role of a spider while the rest of her classmates are blessed with more powerful job classes and roles. To survive this unforgiving world, Kumoko, much like Jinwoo, grinds levels to no end, chasing power and gradually gaining new skills in the process.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Gives Solo Leveling Real Competition

Anime fans have probably heard about Rimuru Tempest and his overpowered abilities, especially this year, as the fourth season of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime finally began. Before becoming a True Demon Lord, Rimuru was once a lowly slime without divine protection, forcing him to rely on his Predator skill to evolve and grow stronger than ever.

Now, Rimuru is widely considered an untouchable isekai protagonist, worthy of being a rival to Sung Jinwoo in power and overall combat abilities. Just like Jinwoo, Rimuru's growth is guided by a unique and exclusive system that helps him evolve and acquire new powers and subordinates, on top of optimizing his skills. If they ever crossed paths in battle, either fighter could emerge victoriously.

Failure Frame Gives Solo Leveling Fans Another Hero to Root For

Failure Frame is a modern isekai anime released in July 2024, with 12 episodes. The superstar of this show is none other than E-rank hero Touka Mimori, who could probably relate to Sung Jinwoo's struggles as an E-rank hunter in the beginning of Solo Leveling. Both are outcasts in their respective worlds, but Touka Mimori is even more ruthless than Sung Jinwoo when it comes to taking revenge on those who wronged him.

Armed with his unique abilities, which the goddess Vicius deemed useless, Mimori vows to climb up the ladder of power and put Vicius in her rightful place. Failure Frame isn't the most visually polished isekai series, with clunky CGI here and there, but Touka Mimori's quest for revenge makes it every bit as compelling as Solo Leveling.

Kyou Kara Maou Features a Demon King as Charismatic as Sung Jinwoo

Kyou Kara Maou is a classic isekai anime series full of bishonen on the same level as Solo Leveling's Sung Jinwoo, from the main character, Yuuri Shibuya, to Gunter von Christ of the Ten Aristocrats. Beyond the eye-catching features of the characters, Kyou Kara Maou tells a compelling story of an ordinary boy burdened with the responsibility of ruling a fantasy world as its new Demon King.

At first glance, Yuuri Shibuya appears to be an ordinary, unassuming protagonist. However, once he transforms into the Demon King, he exudes a commanding presence and quiet confidence that rivals Sung Jinwoo's best moments in Solo Leveling. As the Demon King, Yuuri has immense magical power, on top of his flawless swordsmanship.

Ishura Shares Solo Leveling's Love for Overpowered Characters

Ishura is home to some of the most overpowered modern isekai characters. Everyone in the cast boasts ridiculously strong abilities, from the wyverns that rule the skies to an otherworlder with unrivaled swordsmanship. Every episode of Ishura introduces a worthy adversary to Sung Jinwoo due to their advanced mastery of the series' power system, Word Arts.

While the first few episodes of Ishura may seem confusing due to the nonstop introduction of overpowered characters with little connection to one another, the series eventually weaves their stories together in a deadly clash where only one of them can come out as the strongest.