Summary
- Craft unique characters with diverse races and backgrounds in Dungeons & Dragons for an immersive experience.
- Enjoy engaging stories of group heroism against evil, mirrored in various anime inspired by DnD.
- Dive into a world full of fantasy and adventure in DnD-inspired shows like Overlord and Goblin Slayer.
Dungeons and Dragons is perhaps the most ubiquitous story-telling medium that everyone can use. People can craft unique characters from dozens of races, moral alignments, and backgrounds. Beyond that, DnD DMs can create wholly immersive journeys or choose from pre-made stories that everyone will enjoy. The sheer impact this tabletop RPG has had is truly immense, inspiring many quality video games and defining a generation of people who loved getting lost in these rich fantasy worlds.
10 Video Games that Would Make Great D&D Campaigns
Dungeons & Dragons is an absolute classic RP game, and these are 10 video games that would make great templates for D&D campaigns.
The idea of adventuring as a group of heroes to fight against a great evil is a simple yet engaging concept that can be present in a myriad of unique ways with this game. It's a wonderful time that people can spend with their friends, and any anime DnD fans who want to see a campaign play out on their screens should check out some intense shows that capture the magic of this tabletop RPG.
Updated February 25, 2025 by Mark Sammut: D&D anime are pretty much unheard of, with only a small handful of series being created. That said, plenty of shows deliver adventures that scratch similar itches, be it a craving for fantasy epics or low-stakes slow-life journeys. Two new anime have been added as recommendations, both of which are airing content in the Winter 2025 season. Click below to jump to these series.
1 Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
Features All The Hallmarks Of A D&D Campaign, Including An Elven Mage, A Gang Of Heroes, And A Demon Lord
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- September 29, 2023
- Japanese Title
- Sousou no Frieren
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Number of Episodes
- 28
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator(s)
- Tsukasa Abe, Kanehito Yamada
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
One of the more recent fantasy anime to come out and keep fans engaged with its unique take on the passage of time, the cozy nature of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End makes it incredibly memorable.
Frieren is an elf with a lengthy lifespan, and watching the party of heroes around her slowly age and pass away while she watches her friends outgrow her is a sobering moment that shows how a lengthy lifespan is both a boon and a curse. It's a surprisingly thought-provoking anime perfect for DnD fans who prioritize character development over all-out action.
2 Record Of Lodoss War
Directly Inspired By The Worldbuilding And Lore Present In DnD
Record Of Lodoss War
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1998 - 1998-00-00
- Network
- TV Tokyo
- Directors
- Hitoyuki Matsui, Nobuhiro Takamoto, Hayato Date
- Streaming Service(s)
This might be the ultimate DnD anime made to date so far. It features direct inspiration from DnD lore with characters from distinct classes. Record of Lodoss War is also just a beautiful, top-tier example of elite animation for the period. In fact, it looks leagues above some modern anime today due to the way animation and technology have evolved.
But DnD fans will appreciate the not-so-literal translation of classes and monsters into a unique world with its own history. Dragons also feel like gargantuan, mythical beasts in this as well. There is no "Fus-Ro-Dah-ing" a creature compared to whom the player is the size of an amoeba.
Check out Record of Grancrest War too.
3 Handyman Saitou In Another World
Everyone Has A Part To Play
Handyman Saitou in Another World
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- January 8, 2023
- Japanese Title
- Benriya Saitou-san, Isekai ni Iku
- Studio
- C2C
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Kazutomo Ichitomo
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Most isekai anime are not great picks for D&D fans since they tend to suffer from main character syndrome, in the sense that only the protagonist is allowed to shine. Handyman Saitou in Another World is a clever exception that very much follows a tabletop-style adventure where every member of the party is presented as important, and they all get detailed backstories that tie nicely into the overall narrative.
The title is not a bluff: Saitou is genuinely just a handyman. He has some minor affinity for magic, but his main contributions revolve around unlocking doors and chests. The remaining characters are slight twists on role-playing tropes, and they are a delight.
4 Overlord
A Hilarious Isekai Where The Solitary Human Player Is Stuck In The Game As A Fearsome Lich
Overlord
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- 2015 - 2022
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Number of Episodes
- 52
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Kugane Maruyama
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Netflix
Isekai anime have become all the rage in modern times, and the fact that the majority of these anime take place within games makes them perfect for DnD fans to get into. Fans who want to get into an isekai anime with a comedic tone will love what Overlord has to offer.
The main character is the only human in a virtual world where the various races inhabiting the land are slowly destabilizing. This character appears as a powerful lich with fearsome powers, making for a fun situation where he's thrust into hilarious circumstances that almost parody his strength, with one notable instance being when he spends an inordinately long amount of time buffing himself up before a battle.
5 Delicious In Dungeon
The Heroes Must Save Their Friend From Digestion And Gain Sustenance By Killing And Eating Monsters
Delicious in Dungeon
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- January 4, 2024
- Japanese Title
- Dungeon Meshi
- Studio
- Trigger
- Number of Episodes
- 24
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Ryoko Kui
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
Delicious in Dungeon is a manga that many people desperately wanted an adaptation for. The premise of the show involves a group of adventurers who must make up for their lack of supplies in a dungeon by killing and eating the monsters that stand in their way.
12 Most Iconic Anime Knights
Throughout countless anime series, various knights have wowed viewers, and the following examples are easily the best.
The reason why these heroes are facing such a time constraint is that a party member was devoured by a monster in a dungeon. This makes for a race against the clock as they make headway in a labyrinth full of tough beasts and ingest them to make up for the lack of preparation they had to contend with before delving into the dungeon in a last-ditch rescue attempt.
Along with featuring a traditional but still creative take on a fantasy setting, Delicious in Dungeon greatly emphasizes the party's dynamic, goals, and teamwork. They regularly have to come up with smart tactics to take down threats, and they all have specific roles to fulfill. While initially comedic, the anime gradually ramps up the intensity and drama.
6 Goblin Slayer
A Dark Fantasy Show With Many Adventurers Who Have Varied Abilities
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
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Kumo Kagyu
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Goblin Slayer is a show that became very popular in no small part because of the controversy surrounding its opening episode. The show takes a rather bold approach on how to portray its titular monsters in the game. Goblins truly are heinous creatures, and the Goblin Slayer has become so powerful mainly because of the strength he displays against these nightmarish creatures. Shock value aside, fans of DnD can check Goblin Slayer to see what makes it so special.
While primarily a power fantasy with the occasional bout of darkness, Goblin Slayer emphasizes the importance of having a well-balanced party filled with members who know their roles and can work well together. The characters are even mostly called by their classes.
7 Claymore
A Dark Fantasy Anime With Sword-Wielding Heroines
Claymore
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2007 - 2007
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Number of Episodes
- 26
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator(s)
- Norihiro Yagi
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Claymore is a dark fantasy series with a pretty unique setting, featuring a group of blonde heroines who have the skills required to hunt down and defeat many tough yoma who are terrorizing the land. The protagonist of this series is Clare, one of the weakest Claymores, who aims to avenge a close friend who was killed by a horrifying Awakened Being who is pretty powerful.
It's a shame that the anime ended with an original conclusion instead of adapting the full series, but fans can always read the manga if they're invested in the storyline. It's a great series that feels like a dark and dangerous DnD anime, with many nefarious forces aiming to strike the heroes where they stand.
8 Log Horizon
An Isekai Anime Where Characters Focus On Different Classes
Log Horizon
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2013 - 2021
- Studio
- Satelight, Studio Deen
- Number of Episodes
- 62
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Mamare Touno
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu
Log Horizon is another isekai series, making it an easy show to recommend for fans of DnD. After all, this show takes place in an MMORPG that conforms to most of the traditional rules and stats that had their foundations set by Dungeons & Dragons!
It helps that the story of Log Horizon is also quite impressive in its own right, with the world-building present in the anime being surprisingly engaging. It might flow a bit too slowly for some people, but viewers who stick through these moments will find themselves enjoying one of the better isekai anime around.
9 Berserk
A Dark Fantasy Anime With Numerous Iconic Moments That Have Shaped The Genre
Berserk
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 8, 1997
- Japanese Title
- Kenpuu Denki Berserk
- Studio
- OLM
- Number of Episodes
- 25
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Kentaro Miura
Berserk is one of the most popular seinen manga of all time, penned by the late great Kentaro Miura. This legendary mangaka has penned some of the most gorgeous manga panels of all time, with the story of Guts and his need for revenge being quite compelling in its own right.
Best Dungeons & Dragons Video Games, Ranked
RPGs and similar genres in the video game world owe their existence to Dungeons & Dragons, and these games embody the franchise well.
The fantasy world of Berserk is a perfect fit for fans of DnD who want to check out something dark and interesting. It helps that Guts and his companions are extremely compelling characters that will keep fans hooked regardless of whether they're checking out the anime or manga!
This goes for nearly every mentioned anime, but Berserk's manga is by far the definitive way to experience this story. The 1997 adaptation is decent, as is the movie trilogy; however, the 2016 continuation is notoriously rough, particularly its animation.
10 Golden Kamuy
Focuses On A Treasure Hunt With A Rotating Party
Golden Kamuy
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2018 - 2023-00-00
- Studio
- Geno Studio, Brain's Base
- Number of Episodes
- 49
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Satoru Noda
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Fans might scratch their heads at this recommendation, given that it is set after the Russo-Japanese War from 1904 to 1905, but the plot is essentially a treasure hunt with a rotating party, and there's a large focus on food. Golden Kamuy shines in its ability to fuse found family motifs with exciting action and characters who, though they might make bad choices, are irresistibly likable.
DnD fans will most appreciate the show's ability to imbue every moment with lore. From learning about the Ainu to Abashiri Prison and the characters' own lives, the anime is full of wonderful details.