DanMachi, or Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Is a popular fantasy anime that has spawned a couple of seasons. Based on a light novel by Fujino Omori, the story envisions a world where adventurers pledge allegiance to gods, forming guilds dedicated to the deities. Hestia is one such goddess, but she is rather low in the pecking order due to the fact she only has one follower: Bell Cranel. While pure-hearted and assertive, Bell is also relatively weak, but he is willing to put himself on the line as he explores the eponymous dungeon. Along the way, Hestia's guild starts to grow.
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Although never producing anything close to bad, DanMachi can be polarizing since some of its arcs move away from the base premise: exploring a seemingly endless dungeon. However, season 4 marked a return to this original blueprint and was a huge step in the right direction. The show's future is (hopefully) bright, but are there some anime similar to DanMachi that fans should check out?
Updated on February 10, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? 5 has finally started airing its last couple of episodes, bringing to a close an arc that has been quite good. Sooner rather than later, the show will come to a close, leaving fans with time to spare. Consequently, fans might wish to check out a few anime like DanMachi.
12 Solo Leveling
From Zero To OP Hero
Solo Leveling
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2024 - 2025-00-00
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
- Creator
- Chugong
- Based On
- Manhwa
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Based on arguably the most influential manhwa of all time, Solo Leveling's anime needed to knock it out of the park, both in terms of quality and performance. A successful adaptation could open the floodgates to more manhwa-based series, and A-1 Pictures was the right studio to take on this task. Delivering consistently top-notch action that compares favorably to pretty much anything else produced by the industry, Solo Leveling is an action fantasy epic that follows Sung Jin-woo as he goes from the weakest to the strongest hunter. His trajectory somewhat matches DanMachi's Bell, although Sung's rise to power is far quicker and comes with a much higher ceiling.
Solo Leveling fairly quickly becomes an OP MC anime, particularly during season 2. There is nothing wrong with that, but it might not match everyone's preferences. However, the series has other things to offer that complement DanMachi. Solo Leveling is set in a world where hunters join different factions/guilds, and they enter dungeons in the hope of clearing them. This aspect is explored relatively well by the show, and the dungeons are fairly visually interesting. The fight sequences are also quite similar to DanMachi, with a focus on quick movement and (occasionally) party dynamics.
11 Goblin Slayer
A Party With A Specific Focus
Goblin Slayer
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2018 - 2023
- Studio
- White Fox, Liden Films
- Number of Episodes
- 24
- Creator
- Kumo Kagyu
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Goblin Slayer includes a handful of graphic sequences dealing with sexual assault.
A rather polarizing show, Goblin Slayer is not for everyone. Featuring one of the most notorious first episodes in recent history, the anime is a dark fantasy set in a fairly typical medieval-style world, albeit one packed with monsters. While considered "weak," goblins are very dangerous due to attacking in a pack and the fact that they are usually hunted by rookie adventurers who do not know what they are doing. Fortunately, the eponymous Goblin Slayer dedicates all of his time and energy to taking out these creatures. Initially a lone wolf, he quickly builds a party consisting of likable albeit archetypal characters.
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Similar to DanMachi, Goblin Slayer emphasizes party-based combat, with the main group pretty much always fighting as a unit. Coordination, cooperation, and preparation are very important, especially since they constantly engage in encounters that are life-or-death situations. Season 1 has quite a few dark moments, season 2 is more of a traditional action fantasy.
10 Shangri-La Frontier
The Ultimate Video Game Anime
Shangri-La Frontier
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2023 - 2026-00-00
- Studio
- C2C
- Based On
- Novel & Manga
- Creator
- Katarina
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Fantasy anime sure love their video game tropes. Even when not specifically stated to be set in an RPG, stories still throw out stats, progression systems, classes, guilds, and everything else. Although far from the most blatant example in anime, DanMachi incorporates a few gaming mechanics and sayings into its universe, albeit twisted enough to contain an element of originality.
Shangri-La Frontier said to hell with it and decided to just be about an MMO. This series follows a teenager as they play a "god" game, which is basically a dream RPG that everyone wishes existed. Due to its premise, this anime does not have much in the way of tension or genuine stakes; at most, a character might waste a few hours or be outsmarted by other players. Consequently, the series has nothing that compares to DanMachi's life-or-death conflicts, which are particularly prevalent in seasons 4 and 5.
However, Shangri-La Frontier shares quite a few positives with DanMachi. Both shows have fantastic action sequences that emphasize tactics, planning, and occasionally teamwork. They are capable of producing laughs, although Shangri-La Frontier is quite a bit funnier. The video game setting does not come at the expense of world-building, as Shangri-La Frontier is extremely well-developed and consistent.
9 Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-
From Zero To Hero
Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2016 - 2025-00-00
- Japanese Title
- Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu
- Studio
- White Fox
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Tappei Nagatsuki
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Anyone who enjoys isekai is likely already familiar with Re:Zero, a great novel that spawned a fantastic manga and perhaps the theme's best anime. Like any isekai story, Re:Zero is somewhat divisive, largely thanks to an initially frustrating protagonist and a second season that threatens to overstay its welcome at points. However, at its best, this dark fantasy is not just an all-time great within its theme but also in the entire fantasy spectrum.
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Now, Re:Zero and DanMachi are not directly similar. While not devoid of action, the former focuses far more on character-driven dialogue and battles of wits (and ideologies), especially due to revolving around an MC who is even weaker than Bell during the first season. A key ability notwithstanding, Subaru is physically vulnerable and cannot offer much in fights; however, like Bell, his refusal to back down and willingness to risk everything for those he loves attracts people to him.
8 Delicious In Dungeon
A Twist On Dungeon Crawling
Delicious in Dungeon
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- January 4, 2024
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.61
- Japanese Title
- Dungeon Meshi
- Studio
- Trigger
- Number of Episodes
- 24
- Creator
- Ryoko Kui
- Based On
- Manga
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
A Winter 2024 delight, Delicious in Dungeon offers a charming take on dungeon crawling, and it is a must-watch for fans of fantasy anime or Dungeons & Dragons. The story follows a party as they traverse a dungeon to rescue a companion who was eaten by a dragon, and they have to get to her before she is digested. As they cannot afford to be bogged down by unnecessary weight or to waste time restocking supplies, they decide to eat the dungeon's monstrous inhabitants, a solution that not every member is equally excited by.
As this premise implies, Delicious in Dungeon is a comedy that loves to twist genre tropes; that said, the anime still tells an effective fantasy story filled with endearing characters. While the show's tone is lighthearted, the characters take their situations seriously, which heightens the humor while making room for the occasional action sequence. Unsurprisingly, Trigger's animation is stunning, and the dungeon manages to be traditional while also oozing personality.
7 Tower Of Druaga: The Aegis Of Uruk
Unforgiving Dungeon
The Tower of Druaga
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 1, 2008
- MyAnimeList Score
- 7.13 (Season 1)
- Japanese Title
- Druaga no Tou
- Studio
- Gonzo
- Number of Episodes
- 24
- Based On
- Game
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
The Tower of Druaga is bizarre in more ways than one. Firstly, the anime is a sequel to a respected but old game, a fact the show loves to acknowledge in both blatant and subtle ways. Secondly, the first episode is a wacky parody of fantasy stories and clashes wildly with the anime's otherwise serious tone. Both of these things might discourage DanMachi fans from giving The Tower of Druaga a try, which would be a shame as the shows are cut from a similar cloth.
While Bell strives to descend the dungeon's levels, The Tower of Druaga's Jil wants to climb to the top of the titular structure. This journey cannot be done alone either, so Jil teams up with a few colorful class archetypes who make up for his weaknesses (and hard-headedness). The leads also have relatively similar arcs, particularly regarding their power scaling.
6 Made In Abyss
Harrowing Adventure In A Sadistic Dungeon
Made in Abyss
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2017 - 2022-00-00
- Network
- AT-X
- Directors
- Hitoshi Haga, Shunsuke Takarai, Satoshi Mori, Motoki Nakanishi
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.64 (Season 1)
- Studio
- Kinema Citrus
- Number of Episodes
- 25
- Creator
- Akihito Tsukushi
- Based On
- Manga
- Streaming Service(s)
- HIDIVE
This recommendation comes with an asterisk since Made in Abyss is far darker than DanMachi, to the point the anime can be uncomfortable to watch at times. However, the shows share similar premises as they both follow adventurers who descend mysterious dungeons filled with awe-inspiring and terrifying things. The deeper they get, the worse nightmares they face.
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Made in Abyss tortures its heroes in ways that go beyond any setbacks endured by Bell, although both anime touch upon similar themes like human corruption. Kinema Citrus' series also dedicates a lot of time to establishing the mythos of the Abyss, ensuring the location feels like a living entity.
5 Grimgar: Ashes And Illusions
A Realistic Isekai Where Survival is Not Guaranteed
Grimgar, Ashes and Illusions
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2016 - 2016
- Directors
- Ryosuke Nakamura
- Writers
- Ao Jumonji
- Japanese Title
- Hai to Gensou no Grimgar
- MyAnimeList Score
- 7.66
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- Creator
- Ao Jūmonji
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu, Prime Video
Although not devoid of comedy, each new season of DanMachi has heightened the dramatic tension at the cost of humor. It is a dark fantasy show that emphasizes the inherent dangers of Bell's chosen lifestyle. Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions does effectively the same thing, albeit with an isekai twist.
Stripped of their memory and lacking much in the way of survival skills, a group of teenagers are stranded in a cutthroat fantasy world that shows little sympathy for the weak. In order to survive, they begin to take on basic quests that offer high risk but little reward.
4 KonoSuba: God's Blessing On This Wonderful World!
Laughing Through Misadventures
KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2016 - 2025-00-00
- Japanese Title
- Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.36 (Season 3)
- Studio
- Studio Deen, Drive
- Number of Episodes
- 31
- Creator
- Natsume Akatsuki
- Based On
- Novel & Light Novel
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
KonoSuba has a completely different tone than DanMachi since it is primarily a parody of the isekai genre, despite some episodes and the movie dabbling in a touch of action. Still, this show is only for people looking for a comedic take on the fantasy genre; however, these two series have some things in common.
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For one, both stories revolve around a human and goddess dynamic, although Kazuma and Aqua's banter tends to be more adversarial than Bell and Hestia's supporting friendship. As the anime progresses, Kazuma gradually forms a party of misfits who can hold their own in battle but also have a few glaring weaknesses.
3 The Rising Of The Shield Hero
Protagonist With The World Against Him
The Rising of The Shield Hero
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- January 9, 2019
- Japanese Title
- Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari
- MyAnimeList Score
- 7.96 (Season 1)
- Studio
- Kinema Citrus, DR Movie
- Number of Episodes
- 50
- Creator
- Aneko Yusagi
- Based On
- Novel & Light Novel
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Naofumi Iwatani is a university student who suddenly gets transported to a strange world. He soon learns of The Four Cardinal Heroes who are offered a spear, bow, shield, and sword to defeat the Waves of Catastrophe. Once Naofumi arrives in this world, he is cursed with the title of "Shield Hero", and quickly becomes the butt of many jokes, as the Shield Hero is often seen as weaker than the rest.
Certain events lead to Naofumi being discriminated against by the people of Melromarc, thanks to the cunning Malty Melromarc. This, understandably, causes Naofumi to lose all trust in those around him and vows to improve his reputation and overall strength. He quickly realizes that working alone isn't the smartest idea, and decides to purchase a troubled demi-human slave called Raphtalia. The Rising of the Shield Hero follows Naofumi and his companion, Raphtalia, on their journey to defeat the Waves.
The Rising of the Shield Hero tends to be a polarizing anime, particularly the sequel. That said, the first season is quite entertaining, and Naofumi is, at least, a fairly unique protagonist for the isekai genre. Like DanMachi, Shield Hero features a protagonist who is largely shunned by society, although he quickly begins to prove everyone wrong.