Tales of underdogs are abundant in popular culture, and their origins will be traced again to historic folklore and myths. Characters from deprived backgrounds who battle towards all odds for his or her bold objectives ring a bell with folks and infrequently find yourself leaving an enduring impression.

Best Romance Anime To Watch If You Liked Kaguya-sama: Love Is War
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A-1 Photos’ Solo Leveling is one such story that follows the thrilling journey of a young adult named Sung Jinwoo who jumps on the alternative to show his destiny round and rewrite his future. The anime explores recurring themes of ambition, redemption, id, and objective to weave an intriguing story. Solo Leveling, with its action-packed struggle sequences, offers viewers an adrenaline rush that they’ll additionally expertise within the anime listed under. Let’s spotlight the finest anime like Solo Leveling.
Up to date October 19, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Who is aware of if Solo Leveling season 3 will ever turn into a actuality? Within the meantime, you may wish to take a look at a number of the presently airing exhibits, like a Fall 2025 collection that has a gap episode that’s surprisingly much like Solo Leveling.
My Reward Lvl 9999 Limitless Gacha: Backstabbed in a Backwater Dungeon, I am Out for Revenge!
An OP MC Who Is Left For Dying And Then Turns into, Primarily, A Summoner
Fall 2025 is currently underway, and the lineup has fairly a number of energy fantasies that might fill the void left by Solo Leveling. That stated, most of them don’t share any main similarities outdoors of getting very highly effective protagonists, so I might solely advocate one thing like A Wild Final Boss Appeared in case you are particularly craving an OP MC. The one main exception is My Reward Lvl 9999 Limitless Gacha: Backstabbed in a Backwater Dungeon, I am Out for Revenge, which has a gap episode that’s so “Solo Leveling” that Sung ought to make a visitor look.
Now, the present’s setting is sort of totally different, as My Reward Lvl 9999 Limitless Gacha takes place in a fantasy world with many, many species, and people are usually thought-about to be the weakest and least developed. They’re mainly discriminated towards, and Gentle has it worse than most since his means, Limitless Gacha, appears to solely pull nugatory objects.
So, right here come the similarities. Gentle joins a robust group and goes together with them to a particularly harmful dungeon, the place he’s betrayed and left to die. Overwhelmed and going through a risk that’s sure to destroy him, Gentle desperately makes use of his gacha and summons a Stage 9999 warrior named Mei, and he or she is not going to be his solely robust soldier. Now, Gentle seeks revenge and is the grasp of a military of robust summons.
OK, I ought to say that My Reward Lvl 9999 Limitless Gacha has not been all that nice to this point, and the struggle sequences/animation are undoubtedly not on the identical stage as Solo Leveling. Nonetheless, in case you are searching for an anime a few weakling who, on the verge of demise, unlocks an unbelievable energy, that is it.
Gachiakuta
Slowly Studying To Grasp Unimaginable Energy (Additionally, Nice Motion)
OK, Gachiakuta is a Summer 2025 anime, so it solely has a few episodes by this level; nevertheless, I’ve seen sufficient to advocate it to just about any motion fan, and that naturally consists of Solo Leveling. The exhibits share some similarities past their style, too. So, what’s the primary story? Effectively, Rudo lives within the slums that neighbor the upper-class city, with the latter treating the previous as soiled criminals who don’t have any rights. Additionally, they dwell within the sky. Sooner or later, Rudo is framed for homicide, and he’s sentenced to be flung into the dump under, which ought to spell demise. Nonetheless, he survives, learns that individuals dwell on this space, and that he has particular powers that make him a cleaner.
Gachiakuta has quite a lot going for it. The world-building has been fascinating to this point, as we steadily be taught extra about this world alongside Rudo. Talking of the MC, Rudo is simply superior. Sure, his default state is anger, however that is sensible contemplating his state of affairs. He desires revenge, however he’s prepared to be taught from different cleaners and contribute to the society he finds himself in. He additionally has an influence that he doesn’t perceive, and, much like Sung, he should grasp it if he hopes to outlive.
Overlord
An OP Evil MC Summoner
Solo Leveling shouldn’t be isekai, however it truthfully shares fairly a number of tropes with the style. Overlord mustn’t want a lot of an introduction for anybody remotely conversant in isekai, however when you have by no means tried the collection however are searching for one thing much like Solo Leveling, you need to give it a go.
Simply to set expectations, they’re hardly copies of one another, however they each comply with highly effective MCs who use magic and summons to win most encounters. Moreover, they’re each pushed by a want to guard their very own, they usually attempt to hold a low profile to keep away from attracting an excessive amount of consideration. Nonetheless, they ultimately must make their presence felt. Additionally, Overlord‘s protagonist will get caught as his online game avatar in a darkish fantasy world, and he steadily begins to lose his humanity as he turns into increasingly more just like the evil mage he created. The arc shouldn’t be equivalent to Sung’s journey in Solo Leveling, however they aren’t that far eliminated both.
To Be Hero X
From Zero To Hero
Solo Leveling was doubtless lots of people’s introduction to manhwa, regardless that the variation was dealt with by a Japanese firm. The anime’s success may spark a rise in initiatives primarily based on Korean tales, or it would encourage followers to take a look at comparable manhwa. Whereas not fairly as mainstream, Chinese language donghua are beginning to acquire a foothold as effectively, and To Be Hero X is a superb entry level into this world. Sure, it’s technically the third season beneath the To Be Hero model, however the collection tells anthology tales that may be loved as standalone items. Extra importantly, To Be Hero X shares a shocking variety of issues with Solo Leveling.
Each tales revolve round weak/extraordinary protagonists who’re handed overwhelming energy after coming face-to-face with demise. Within the case of To Be Hero X‘s Lin Ling, he’s pressured to take the place of a superhero named Good, and he good points his talents as a result of the general public believes in him. Like Sung, Lin goes from a no one to anyone particular right away, though he’s not fairly as OP as Solo Leveling‘s MC. Extra importantly, this donghua has jaw-dropping animation and motion sequences, comfortably among the many better of the 12 months. Whereas the artwork fashion is totally totally different from Solo Leveling, To Be Hero X appears gorgeous, significantly the environments. Practically each episode incorporates a massive struggle that sees Lin going up towards a special villain, they usually play out comparatively in a different way. The present even has a superhero rating system that’s not too far faraway from Solo Leveling‘s Hunters classification.
Wistoria: Wand And Sword
Prime-Notch Motion And A Nice Underdog Protagonist (Who Is Nonetheless Considerably OP)
From the identical writer behind Danmachi, Wistoria: Wand and Sword has a reasonably by-the-numbers setting, not less than going by fantasy requirements. In a world dominated by magic, mages reign supreme, with warriors being very a lot handled as second-class residents. Regardless of missing magical potential, Will continues to be decided to make it by means of Rigarden Magical Academy and turn into a Magia Vander, an honor bestowed solely on essentially the most succesful mages. Seemed down upon by his friends, Will spends his time combating in a dungeon, fine-tuning his bodily abilities to near-perfection.
Wistoria‘s story is nothing significantly particular, neither is Will’s motivation and plight distinctive for motion anime. Nonetheless, the present makes up for its unspectacular premise and storytelling by consistently delivering incredible motion that may rival almost another anime, even Solo Leveling. Whereas nowhere close to as highly effective as Sung Jinwoo, Will is a extremely competent fighter who by no means backs down from a struggle. Each struggle looks like a battle to the demise that might spell the top for the protagonist, much like Solo Leveling‘s first season.
Shangri-La Frontier
Grasp The God Recreation
Attributable to being set primarily in a video game, Shangri-La Frontier doesn’t have the built-in stress of Solo Leveling‘s fights since defeat solely leads to misplaced progress and a reset. Nonetheless, in almost each different space, C2C’s anime is a superb advice for followers of Sung Jinwoo. After slicing his enamel in trash video games, Rakurou decides to leap into the eponymous MMORPG, and he shortly finds himself taking over huge bosses, gaining cute allies, leveling up, buying new weapons, and unlocking cool aspect quests.
Each exhibits focus extensively on motion, with most episodes that includes spectacular struggle sequences. Shangri-La Frontier is de facto no slouch on this space, and the battles are likely to mix reflex-based motion and technique effectively. Much like Sung, Rakurou is comparatively weak when he first joins the sport, however he consistently grows stronger as he good points expertise. Whereas he by no means turns into as overpowered as Sung, Rakurou normally takes on enemies who’re roughly round his stage, so the battles are back-and-forth struggles much like Solo Leveling‘s encounters in season 1.
That stated, Shangri-La Frontier has much more comedy than Solo Leveling.
Undead Unluck
A Excessive-Stakes Shounen Sequence
Yoshifumi Tozuka’s Undead Unluck is an thrilling collection that brilliantly balances the action-comedy genres. Whereas the anime does have thematic variations with Solo Leveling, followers who loved the manhwa-inspired collection will certainly discover the misadventures of Fuuko and Andy entertaining.
Undead Unluck follows Fuuko Izumi and Andy, two supernaturally gifted people who’re cursed with powers which have pushed them to hunt demise. Nonetheless, earlier than they obtain their closing purpose, they have to work collectively to struggle towards a murderous secret group. Mixing motion, comedy, and character growth, Undead Unluck is the complete bundle, and the animation is constantly incredible as effectively.
Demon Slayer
The Emotionally Charged Story of Revenge and Self-Discovery
When Tanjiro’s household is ruthlessly massacred and his sister is became a demon, he’s unsurprisingly overcome with the sensation of retribution. He finally ends up becoming a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, with the purpose of discovering the progenitor of demons, Muzan Kibutsuji, to place an finish to his reign of terror.
To be able to soothe the spirits of these it killed, and to ensure it claims no additional victims, I’ll swing my blade down and lop off the top of any demon with out mercy! However I can’t belittle those that remorse their actions and undergo over the issues they did as demons. As a result of demons had been as soon as human. As a result of they had been like me.
Like Solo Leveling‘s Sung Jin-Woo, Tanjiro additionally faces an uphill wrestle to carve his path in an unforgiving world the place a mistake can value him his life. Each characters are underdogs who undergo a exceptional transformation and rise to turn into a formidable drive of their respective worlds. Solo Leveling followers will even benefit from the epic battles in Demon Slayer which have reshaped the panorama of contemporary anime.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Story of a Cursed Excessive Schooler
High schooler Yuuji Itadori’s ordinary life takes a dramatic flip following an encounter with a cursed merchandise that pushes him into a wierd world of supernatural curses and sorcery. As he faces lethal threats and struggles to make sense of his newfound talents, Yuuji should navigate the mysteries of the darkish realm whereas defending these near him. Like Sung Jin-Woo, Itadori finds himself up towards malevolent forces as he carries the immense burden of his eccentric powers and the distinctive duties that they bestow upon him.
I Do not Know How I am going to Really feel Once I’m Lifeless, However I Do not Need To Remorse The Means I Lived.
The protagonists of Solo Leveling and Jujutsu Kaisen endure considerably equivalent private growth after rising from humble backgrounds. Due to this fact, those that get pleasure from anime with motion, drama, and intense character progress, ought to contemplate including Jujutsu Kaisen to their watchlist.
One Punch Man
Arguably the Finest Motion Anime of All Time
Saitama at all times dreamt of turning into a hero from a younger age, so in pursuit of his lifelong ambition, he skilled for 3 years. He turned so highly effective within the course of that he appeared virtually invincible to any villain. Quickly the fun of battle turned monotonous and unexciting to Saitama. However his life took a dramatic flip as he met the 19-year-old cyborg Genos, who acknowledged his expertise and satisfied him to hitch the Hero Affiliation with him.
I am only a man who’s a hero for enjoyable
One Punch Man follows Saitama as he chases the misplaced pleasure of combating his adversaries whereas making mates and enemies alongside the way in which. As you could have already observed, Saitama’s dramatic private transformation and the accompanying internal battle are fairly similar to the experiences of Sung Jin-Woo. One Punch Man might have a comparatively lighthearted premise, however Solo Leveling followers will benefit from the action-packed struggle sequences, which rival these of their favourite present.