Anime Like Solo Leveling: 8 Picks and Where to Stream

The closest anime to Solo Leveling are Shangri-La Frontier for game-style bosses and builds, Tower of God for another Korean webtoon about climbing a deadly hierarchy, and DanMachi for the dungeon-and-leveling loop. Pick Arifureta or The Rising of the Shield Hero for a betrayed weakling who comes back strong, Overlord for a lead who commands an undead army, and Kaiju No. 8 for modern cities, monster-response squads and ranks. Seven of the eight stream on Crunchyroll in the US, the same service as Solo Leveling.

Last checked: September 24, 2026 against each show's official Japanese site, Aniplex, D&C Media's investor presentation, Anime News Network and JustWatch's US listings. The official Solo Leveling anime site had posted nothing newer than its July 4, 2026 item at that check.

Key facts

Checked on September 24, 2026.

Where does Solo Leveling stand now?

*Two seasons and 25 episodes are out, both streaming on Crunchyroll in the US. The next official project is the theatrical film Solo Leveling -Beyond the System-, announced on July 3, 2026 with no date. Season 3 appears only in D&C Media's investor presentation as "expected 2027–2028"; the anime's official channels have not announced it.*

In the US, Solo Leveling streams on Crunchyroll, subtitled and dubbed.

Which anime are most like Solo Leveling?

Eight series match at least one of Solo Leveling's hooks: a game-like power system, a Korean webtoon origin, dungeon grinding, a weak-to-strong turn, an overpowered lead with an army, or a modern monster-response setting. Shangri-La Frontier, Tower of God and DanMachi match the most, and seven of the eight stream on Crunchyroll US.

Streaming services are based on JustWatch's US listings from September 22–23, 2026. Catalogs change, so check the service before you subscribe.

Why does each pick fit?

Each entry below names the single Solo Leveling element it shares, then the biggest difference, so you can rule a show out quickly. Status lines come from each show's official site, and only three of the eight (Shangri-La Frontier, Shield Hero and Kaiju No. 8) have new material officially announced.

1. Shangri-La Frontier

Why it fits: Sunraku reads boss patterns, tunes his build and wins fights through execution, much like Jinwoo turning a dungeon boss into a problem to solve.

The key difference is that the danger is inside a VR game, so failure doesn't carry the real-world cost of a gate break. The tone is also lighter and more comedic. The official site confirms Season 3 premieres January 10, 2027 on MBS/TBS and will run for two consecutive cours.

2. Tower of God

Why it fits: Like Solo Leveling, it began as a Korean webtoon, and Bam is an underestimated outsider whose hidden potential shocks the people testing him.

It leans more on teams, floor tests and political mysteries than on one man's personal growth. Season 2 ended with the "Workshop Battle" arc in December 2024, and the official site has announced nothing new since January 2025.

3. DanMachi (Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?)

Why it fits: Bell's rise is built on repeated dungeon dives, rank-ups and stat growth, the loop that powers Jinwoo's early arc.

It is much more ensemble-driven and romantic, set in a fantasy city instead of modern Korea. The official site announced production of a sixth season on February 7, 2026. In the US, HIDIVE carries all five seasons, while Crunchyroll and Hulu each list only Season 1, per JustWatch's US listing checked September 23, 2026.

4. Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest

Why it fits: Hajime is left for dead in a dungeon and comes back overwhelmingly strong, the same weak-to-strong turn as Jinwoo's double dungeon.

It is a harsher isekai with guns and a large romantic party. Season 3 ran for 16 episodes from fall 2024, and the official site shows no further season.

5. The Rising of the Shield Hero

Why it fits: Naofumi goes from ridiculed and betrayed to someone the whole kingdom has to respect, through a game-like level system.

His power is defensive and depends on his party, so it's less of a solo power fantasy. The official site announced on July 4, 2026 that Season 5 airs in 2027.

6. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

Why it fits: Rimuru absorbs new abilities and turns defeated enemies into loyal followers, a softer version of Jinwoo's shadow extraction.

Diplomacy and nation-building take up far more time than combat. Season 4 has been airing since April 2026 as a split five-cour run.

7. Overlord

Why it fits: Ainz is the late-series Jinwoo from the start: an untouchable ruler commanding undead servants who reshapes every faction he meets.

There's no climb from weakness, and the protagonist is closer to a villain. The four TV seasons were followed by the 2024 film The Sacred Kingdom, and the official site has announced no new season.

8. Kaiju No. 8

Why it fits: A modern Japan with official monster-defense forces, ranks and a lead hiding abnormal power is the closest match to Solo Leveling's hunter world.

There is no leveling system, since training and a secret transformation take its place. The official site confirmed Kaiju No. 8 Final Chapter on December 20, 2025, without saying whether it is a season or a film, or giving a date.

Which one should you start with?

Start with Shangri-La Frontier if the fights and system screens are what you miss, Tower of God for the Korean webtoon feel, DanMachi for dungeon grinding, Arifureta for the weak-to-strong payoff, Overlord for Shadow Monarch energy, or Kaiju No. 8 for the modern hunter-association setting.

• For the fights and the system screens, start with Shangri-La Frontier.
• For the Korean webtoon feel, start with Tower of God.
• For dungeon grinding, start with DanMachi.
• For the weak-to-strong payoff, start with Arifureta.
• For Shadow Monarch energy, start with Overlord.
• For the modern hunter-association vibe, start with Kaiju No. 8.

For wider options, see our best isekai anime and best action anime lists. For another adaptation of an Asian web novel, see the Lord of Mysteries anime guide.

Frequently asked questions

What anime is most similar to Solo Leveling?

Shangri-La Frontier for game-like combat and bosses, Tower of God for a Korean webtoon about climbing a deadly hierarchy, and DanMachi for dungeon progression.

Is Solo Leveling Season 3 confirmed?

Only by D&C Media, the webtoon's publisher, whose investor presentation lists Season 3 as confirmed and expected in 2027–2028. Aniplex, Crunchyroll and the official anime site have not announced it, and there is no date. The next announced project is the film Solo Leveling -Beyond the System-, which continues from Season 2 and has no release date yet. Our Solo Leveling Season 3 status page tracks both.

What anime is better than Solo Leveling?

There is no measured answer; "better" depends on what you want. If you want a story that is already complete on screen, Overlord has four seasons plus a 2024 film and Arifureta has three seasons with nothing further announced, whereas Solo Leveling still has a film and a possible third season ahead.

Which anime has an overpowered lead with an army like Jinwoo?

Overlord, whose lead commands undead servants from the start, and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, whose lead builds a loyal nation.

Are these on Crunchyroll?

All of them except DanMachi, whose later seasons are on HIDIVE in the US (Crunchyroll and Hulu list only Season 1). Arifureta is also on Hulu and Overlord on Netflix, according to JustWatch's US listings from September 2026.

Update log

• September 24, 2026: key-facts table, question headings with direct answers, and FAQ questions taken from Google's People Also Ask. Re-checked the official Solo Leveling news page; no change since July 4, 2026.