Perhaps in part due to the boom in gaming and popular media like Hunger Games and Squid Game, the battle-royale genre has gained insane popularity in recent years. Few conflicts can provide as intense a crucible as its last-man-standing approach, and judging from the increasing number of titles being produced, it’s clear audiences haven’t had enough.
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A good selection of Battle Royale stories can be found in anime as well. More often than not, these stories include fantastic abilities or supernatural elements, adding another layer of intrigue and complexity to the conflict. Here are some of the best Battle Royale shows the anime niche offers.
10Gun Gale Online
A spin-off of the popularSword Art Onlineseries Gun Gale Online takes place in the same world, where players immerse themselves in hyperreal virtual reality games. Karen Kohiruimaki, a university student who is insecure about her incredible height, uses the popular game Gun Gale Online as a means of escapism, where she can play as her short, pink avatar LLENN.
The anime is perfect for anyone looking for a more light-hearted version of Sword Art Online. While Gun Gale Online is a Battle Royale PVP game, unlike SAO, it isn’t rigged to kill the players who die in the game. Rather, viewers can enjoy its more casual storyline and comedic characters while still getting the Battle Royale and SAO experience.
If you like mechsand Battle Royale stories, Bokurano is the anime for you. It features a story where 15 children at a summer camp stumble upon a cave where a mysterious man invites them to take part in a game. The children soon find themselves piloting a real-life mech and are told they must protect Earth from invading aliens.
On the surface, Bokurano may seem like an action-focused Battle Royale, but when the children discover that the mech runs on their life force, the narrative becomes much more emotionally driven. With even deeper truths lurking behind the invading aliens and each child confronting their choices and their lives, Bokurano tells some compelling human stories you won’t want to miss.
8Deadman Wonderland
The story takes place in a world where a privately-owned prison, Deadman Wonderland, hosts elimination-style games in which prisoners compete for viewers’ entertainment. In this world, Igarashi Ganta was a normal high schooler until a mysterious “Red Man” attacked his class, leaving Ganta to be framed for their murder. Now a prisoner within Deadman Wonderland, Ganta must survive the games to find the Red Man and prove his innocence.
Battle royale enthusiasts may like this anime for how closely it plays to the tropes popular within the genre, while its supernatural aspects add a sense of intrigue and mystery. However, its bloody, hyper-violent action may not be for everyone, so viewer discretion is advised.
7Magical Girl Raising Project
Magical Girl Raising Project follows in the wake of the dark fantasy and magical girl mashup trend created in the wake of Madoka Magica. The series introduces a twist on the magical girl genre by forcing these embodiments of purity into a Battle Royale situation where too many magical girls exist, and they must compete with each other to keep their powers and lives.
The series has a variety of magical girls that have become popular within the genre, from the sweet and pure protagonist Snow White to the tsundere Ripple to the trigger-happy Calamity Mary. It explores how such characters may react when faced with a cruel situation that tests their mettle and their virtues.
6Law of Ueki
Law of Ueki might seem a little dated today, but if you’re in the mood for some 2000s humor and anime shenanigans, then this might be the show for you. In order to decide the next ruler of the heavens, “God Candidates” select middle schoolers to transfer their power to, and the one who’s left standing at the end is given the Blank Talent – the ability to choose any power they desire.
Battle Royale stories tend to get pretty serious pretty fast, but Law of Ueki plays out more like a comedy. Kousuke Ueki’s own disinterest in these supernatural abilities, and the odd abilities themselves, such as being able to turn trash into trees, play a big part in its over-the-top madness. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to scratch their Battle Royale itch without going through the blood and gore.
5Darwin’s Game
Darwin’s Game takes the Battle Royale format and adds a supernatural twist into the mix in the form of special abilities. Each contestant gets a unique ability that, when used cleverly, turns the battle in their favor. It creates an environment in which players who realize the true potential of their abilities can truly shine without the entire series falling to power creep.
When he’s unwittingly thrown into this life-and-death struggle, Kaname Sudou, like any regular person, is unwilling to kill his opponents. What’s interesting about the series is seeing his gradual change as the cruelty of this situation sets in, and he’s forced to make hard choices.
If you’re looking for something with a more historic setting, you’ll want to give Basilisk a chance. It tells the story of two lovers who come from rival ninja clans with a tumultuous history. After a ceasefire is enforced, the two hope that their marriage will unite their clans, but those hopes are dashed when each clan is tasked with sending 10 fighters to compete in a Battle Royale that will decide the heir of the shogunate.
Besides the historical and supernatural ninjutsu aspects, what really makes Basilisk so interesting is the dilemma of the two lovers who find themselves on opposing sides of this conflict. The fight choreography and variety of ninja techniques also ensure there’s plenty to keep action enthusiasts engaged.
3Blue Lock
Blue Lock is another case where a Battle Royale format is used to subvert the genre. Amidst the multitude of sports titles that focus on teamwork, friendship, and slice-of-life-centric stories, Blue Lock is a shocking and welcome departure that pits the best budding talent in Japan to determine who will be its future ace striker.
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Tweaking the sports formula into a battle-royale-style elimination competition does wonders for the anime. The high-octane action is made even more potent with increased stakes, clashing egos, and unhinged characters. While Isagi Yoichi is the protagonist and highly popular with fans, there are many characters who will capture your attention with their playstyle and personality.
2Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku
Adapted from the extremely popular manga,Hell’s Paradisetells the story of the infamous ninja Gabimaru the Hollow, who is scheduled to be executed for his crimes. However, the shogunate offers to absolve Gabimaru of his crimes if he can travel to the mystical Shinsekyo island and return with the Elixir of Life – Gabimaru agrees to be reunited with his wife. Now, he must compete with 10 other death-row convicts and the island’s mysteries to gain his pardon.
Hell’s Paradise has everything you could want from an anime, from brilliant storytelling to fantastic art and incredible animation.It features incredible martial artsand Battle Royale action as characters with different abilities and techniques clash with each other and the creatures on the island.
No Battle Royale anime list can be complete without including theFatefranchise in it. One of the giants in the anime industry, Fate includes both supernatural and historical elements in its Battle Royale story, where modern mages summon historical figures as servants to battle for the holy grail.
Of the many series that exist within the franchise,Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works and its prequel Fate:Zero stand out as the two most popular and are a good place for newcomers to start. Theyboast some of the best animations in the industry, courtesy of studio Ufotable, so whether you’re a Battle Royale enthusiast or not, you should watch them regardless.
