Here are the 8 best anime like Accel World, ranked for fans of virtual reality and overpowered protagonists. These selections capture the essence of escaping into a digital world where the bullied can become heroes. They are the perfect way to fill the void while the community continues to ask, Accel World Season 2: Will It Ever Happen?
Did you know that the creator of Accel World also wrote Sword Art Online? After countless hours, I’ve found the best shows share a core theme: they’re not just about the game, but about the player’s struggle to belong. Before exploring these other worlds, it’s worth ensuring you haven’t missed a piece of Haruyuki’s journey by checking the complete Accel World watch order Guide.
8. Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, so I’ll Max Out My Defense.
For a lighter, more comedic take on the VRMMO genre, Bofuri is a must-watch. The protagonist, Maple, inadvertently becomes one of the most overpowered players in the game by pouring all her stat points into defense. Her unconventional methods and rapid rise to power will feel familiar to fans of Haruyuki’s journey, proving that you don’t need to be a conventional hero to dominate the virtual world.
7. .hack//Sign
As one of the pioneers of the “stuck in a video game” subgenre, .hack//Sign offers a more mysterious and psychological experience. It focuses on Tsukasa, a player who finds himself unable to log out of an MMORPG called “The World.” The series delves into themes of escapism and the blurring lines between reality and the virtual, much like Haruyuki’s own reasons for diving into Brain Burst.
6. No Game No Life
This series follows sibling duo Sora and Shiro, undefeated gamers who are transported to a world where all conflicts are decided by games. While not a VRMMO, their status as outcasts in the real world who become legends in the game world mirrors Haruyuki’s arc. Their strategic genius and unbreakable bond make for a thrilling watch as they conquer this new reality.
5. Overlord
What happens when you become the character you play? Overlord explores this question when Momonga gets trapped in the body of his powerful undead avatar as the game servers shut down. Now, he commands an army of loyal NPCs who have gained sentience. It’s a dark fantasy that captures the power fantasy element of Accel World, but with a deliciously evil twist.
4. Log Horizon
Log Horizon traps 30,000 players inside the world of the MMORPG Elder Tale. Instead of focusing on escape, the story centers on strategist Shiroe as he works to build a stable society and government within the game. It provides a more in-depth look at the politics and mechanics of a virtual world, exploring the societal impact of living in a game.
3. The King’s Avatar
This Chinese anime (donghua) offers a unique and more realistic take on the genre. It follows Ye Xiu, a legendary pro-player in the game “Glory” who is forced into retirement. He starts over on a new server with a new character, using his unparalleled skill and game knowledge to dominate the competition from the ground up. It ditches the “trapped in a game” trope for a grounded look at the world of competitive esports, mirroring the high-stakes, skill-based duels of Accel World.
2. Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World
Subaru Natsuki is a gamer transported to a fantasy world where he has the ability to “Return by Death,” resetting time after he is killed. Much like Haruyuki, Subaru starts as an overlooked and powerless individual who must endure immense suffering to protect those he cares about. The series is a masterful exploration of perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds, a core theme it shares with Accel World.
1. Sword Art Online
It’s impossible to discuss anime like Accel World without mentioning its sibling series. Both created by Reki Kawahara, SAO plunges players into a death game where logging out is not an option. The connection between their worlds is a hot topic, especially since the Accel World Light Novels Reach Story Climax, making an understanding of Kawahara’s complete vision more important than ever.
