5 Most Recommended Anime Series Similar to Sword Art Online
Sword Art Online is an epic anime series adapted from popular light novel series set in the virtual gaming world. Many anime fans have been fascinated with the coolest black swordsman Kirito and the beautiful and powerful heroine Asuna.
The first title of the light novel series started in 2009, which was first made into the anime adaptation consisting of 25 episodes in 2012. The second season with 25 episodes was aired as Sword Art Online II in 2014, followed by the 47-episode third season Sword Art Online: Alicization in 2018-2020. The first anime movie Sword Art Online The Movie: Ordinal Scale was released in 2017. In addition, a spin-off series titled Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online was broadcasted with 12 episodes in 2018.
For the fans of Sword Art Online who have watched all seasons, movie and spin-off series, here is the guide to what to watch next. Check these 5 best anime like Sword Art Online including the series written by the same writer and the recent similar franchise.
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It is highly recommended to try the spin-off series Gun Gale Online and the original animated film Ordinal Scale at first if you have not completed them.
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1. Accel World
Accel World (アクセル・ワールド) is one of the most recommended anime series to the fans of Sword Art Online since its original light novel is written by the same writer Reki Kawahara. Its publication began in the same year as Sword Art Online. There are 24 episodes in the 2012 anime series of Accel World, which were followed by an anime movie Accel World: Infinite Burst in 2016.
Accel World is set in 2046, when some people give importance to the virtual world wearing a wearable computer called Neuro Linker. It focuses on a middle school boy Haruyuki Arita, who is bullied in school for his chubby appearance and introverted nature. Inspired by a popular girl student Kuroyukihime, he is getting committed to fight as a Burst Linker in the cyberspace known as Accel World.
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2. Overlord
If you like Sword Art Online, it is recommended to watch Overlord (オーバーロード), which is set in the gaming virtual world. The isekai and dark-fantasy anime series has run for a long time as well as Sword Art Online. The anime series started in 2015, and there are four seasons broadcasted until 2022.
Overlord begins when a Japanese salaried worker is transported to an isekai world as the Overlord, the king of the Undead species. He finds that the virtual world seems similar to the VRMMORPG called YGGDRASIL that he developed before. As the most powerful character Ainz Ooal Gown, he aims for taking over the world with his subordinates, based on his guild headquarters called the Great Tomb of Nazarick.
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3. Log Horizon
For fans of Sword Art Online, Log Horizon (ログ・ホライズン) is placed on top of the anime watch list. The game-themed Isekai fantasy anime, based on the light novel that was started on an online pubishing website Shosetsuka ni Naro by Mamare Touno in 2010, first aired with 25 episodes in 2013-2014. The second season and the third season followed it in 2014-2015 and 2021.
Log Horizon is set in Elder Tale, the sword-and-sorcery world of the massively multiplayer online role-playing game. A protagonist is Kei Shirogane, a famous player of the MMORPG Elder Tale. The Isekai story starts when he finds he is situated as his game character Shirone in a virtual town in Elder Tale. He survives in the chaotic world.
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4. Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody
Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody (デスマーチからはじまる異世界狂想曲) is one of the most popular Isekai anime series adapted from light novel series. It was serialized on the online publishing platform Shosetsuka ni Naro between 2013 and 2020, which was first adapted into the anime series containing 12 episodes in 2018.
Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody follows a hard-working Japanese game programmer Ichiro Suzuki, who is transported to the gaming world similar to the game he made. He sets out on an adventure as a new 15-year-old character Satou who has powerful abilities to easily beat enemies. Meeting a variety of female characters along the way, he enjoys sightseeing in the Isekai world and seeks a way to go back to the real world.
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5. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?
There are lots of Isekai fantasy adventure anime series released recently, and Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? (ダンジョンに出会いを求めるのは間違っているだろうか) has been loved by modern anime fans since its first season was broadcasted in 2015. There are four seasons airing from 2015 to 2022, and each season has 12 or 13 episodes. The first anime movie Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Arrow of the Orion was also released in 2019.
Set in a fantasy city called Orario that includes underground labyrinth known as a Dungeon, Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? centers on a young boy named Bell, who makes his living by exploring Dungeons. One day, he is attacked by a vicious monster in the Dungeon and saved by a powerful swordswoman Ais. He makes lots of effort to become much stronger fighting with other adventurers and gods.
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I'm writing by my motto: helping travelers spend their limited time experiencing something priceless in Japan. My articles won't let you down! Living in Tokyo and traveling many popular and hidden sites all over Japan, I deliver well-selected and latest tourist information to you from the perspective of “100% Japanese local”. My specific interests are island hopping, eating countless bowls of ramen, watching anime and reading manga. Enjoy Japan Web Magazine for recommended food spots, hidden gems Japanese Otaku (geek) culture, and everything about Japan :)