Specialises in hidden gems, isekai, and anything with great world-building.
Anime Like Solo Leveling
Solo Leveling captured millions of fans with its simple but addictive formula: a weak protagonist gains a unique power, levels up relentlessly, and becomes the strongest being alive. If you've caught up and need more, these 12 anime deliver the same rush.
1. Overlord
Similarity: ★★★★★
An MMO player gets trapped in the game as his max-level undead sorcerer character. Instead of trying to escape, he decides to conquer the world.
Why you'll love it: Like Sung Jinwoo, Ainz is absurdly overpowered from the start — and watching him strategize against lesser opponents is endlessly satisfying.
2. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Similarity: ★★★★☆
A man is reincarnated as a slime — the weakest monster in RPG games. Except this slime can absorb any ability from creatures it eats, making it quickly become the most powerful being alive.
Why you'll love it: Nation-building + power scaling + OP protagonist. Rimuru is Solo Leveling's Jinwoo in slime form.
3. The Rising of the Shield Hero
Similarity: ★★★★☆
A man is summoned to another world as the Shield Hero — considered the weakest of four heroes. He's betrayed immediately and must fight his way to the top with nothing but a shield.
Why you'll love it: Underdog-to-overpowered arc mirrors Jinwoo's journey perfectly. The revenge element adds extra satisfaction.
4. Sword Art Online
Similarity: ★★★☆☆
Players are trapped in a VR game where dying in-game means dying for real. Kirito is the original anime OP protagonist.
Why you'll love it: The first arc (Aincrad) captures the same dungeon-crawling, power-scaling energy as Solo Leveling.
5. Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest
Similarity: ★★★★★
A bullied student falls to the bottom of a dungeon and eats monster meat to gain powers. He literally fights his way from the depths to become the strongest.
Why you'll love it: The closest anime to Solo Leveling in terms of dungeon grinding and power escalation.
6. Mushoku Tensei
Similarity: ★★★☆☆
A man gets reincarnated into a fantasy world with all his memories intact. He trains from childhood to become one of the most powerful mages alive.
Why you'll love it: The worldbuilding and power progression are unmatched. It's a slower burn than Solo Leveling but deeply rewarding.
7. Mob Psycho 100
Similarity: ★★★☆☆
Mob is the most powerful psychic in the world — he just doesn't want to be. Unlike Jinwoo, Mob's struggle is about NOT using his overwhelming power.
Why you'll love it: A different take on the OP protagonist. The action scenes are some of the best in all of anime.
8. One Punch Man
Similarity: ★★★★☆
Saitama trained so hard he can defeat any opponent with a single punch. Now he's bored. It's a comedy about being TOO overpowered.
Why you'll love it: If you love the power fantasy of Solo Leveling, OPM is the hilarious satire of that exact trope.
9. Dungeon Meshi (Delicious in Dungeon)
Similarity: ★★☆☆☆
A dungeon-crawling adventure where the party cooks and eats the monsters they fight. Less power fantasy, more culinary adventure — but the dungeon exploration scratches a similar itch.
Why you'll love it: If you love the dungeon setting of Solo Leveling, this offers a completely different (and delightful) take on it.
10. Berserk (1997)
Similarity: ★★★☆☆
Guts wields a sword too big for any normal human and fights demons in a dark medieval world. He's not OP in the conventional sense — he's just inhumanly determined.
Why you'll love it: Dark, brutal, and intense. If Solo Leveling's shadow army felt cool, Guts' one-man war against evil is the OG version.
11. Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy
Similarity: ★★★★☆
A boy is sent to another world by a goddess who considers him too ugly for her perfect world. He ends up in the wasteland — and discovers he's absurdly powerful there.
Why you'll love it: Classic OP isekai with a fun twist. The comedy and power scaling will feel right at home.
12. Cautious Hero
Similarity: ★★★☆☆
A hero is summoned to save a world — but he's so cautious that he over-prepares for everything, training to absurd levels before facing even basic enemies.
Why you'll love it: A comedic take on the OP hero trope. He grinds like Jinwoo — just way more paranoid about it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the closest anime to Solo Leveling?
Arifureta and Overlord are the closest matches for the dungeon-crawling, power-scaling formula.
Is there a Solo Leveling Season 2?
Yes! Season 2 aired in early 2025 and covered the Jeju Island arc. Season 3 is anticipated.
Are these all available to stream?
Most are available on Crunchyroll. Berserk (1997) and some older titles may require other platforms.
Want to find anime based on a specific feeling? Try our Vibe Search — describe what you want and we'll match you. Or explore overpowered protagonists in our vibe collections.