11 Best Anime Like Sword Art Online to Watch

If you loved SAO, these anime will take you on similar thrilling adventures!

Sword Art Online (SAO) took the anime world by storm with its high-stakes virtual reality battles, intense action, and deep emotional connections.

Whether you see it as an isekai masterpiece or an over-the-top power fantasy, one thing is undeniable, it’s addictive.

But what if you’re craving more anime like Sword Art Online? More epic fights, immersive game-like worlds, and overpowered protagonists? That’s exactly what this list delivers!

From trapped-in-a-game survival stories to fantasy RPG adventures, here are 11 must-watch anime like Sword Art Online that will transport you to new realms full of action, strategy, and unforgettable characters.

Let’s jump in!

What Makes an Anime Like SAO?

We’ve handpicked 11 must-watch anime that capture SAO’s essence, focusing on:

• Virtual Reality & MMORPG Worlds: Futuristic game settings or alternate dimensions.
• Overpowered or Skilled Protagonists: Heroes who dominate their worlds.
• Strategic Battles & High-Stakes Combat: Action that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
• Character Bonds & Romance: Dynamic relationships that drive the story.

The 11 Best Anime Like SAO To Watch in 2025

Let’s dive into the top 11 anime like SAO and see what makes each of them a must-watch!

1. Log Horizon: The Thinking Man’s MMO Anime

🎮 If you love the “trapped in a game” concept but want something more strategic, this is your best bet.

Personal Verdict: If SAO is an action-packed rollercoaster, Log Horizon is like a well-thought-out RPG campaign, less hack-and-slash, more strategy. Some might find the pacing slow, but if you love the intricacies of gaming worlds, you’ll appreciate its depth.

Imagine waking up inside your favorite MMORPG, but instead of just fighting your way out, you need to rebuild civilization from the ground up. That’s the premise of Log Horizon. 

When thousands of players get stuck in Elder Tale, a popular VRMMO, they quickly realize they have to work together to survive, forming guilds, alliances, and even a governing system to bring order to the chaos.

Unlike SAO, where Kirito is a lone-wolf fighter, the protagonist here, Shiroe, is a tactical genius who approaches everything like a chess match.

Instead of just leveling up and slashing enemies, he negotiates, plans, and builds a functioning society inside the game world.

Why It’s Like SAO (And Why It’s Different!)

One cool aspect of Log Horizon is its realistic portrayal of an MMORPG.

It dives into game mechanics, class systems, even how NPCs react when players suddenly become permanent residents.

Score: 8.5/10 – A must-watch for fans who love MMO mechanics!

2. Accel World: SAO’s Distant Future

🕹️ From the same creator as SAO, but with a fresh twist on virtual combat.

Personal Verdict: It’s an interesting take on the “VR world” concept, but it lacks the grand adventure feel of SAO. The protagonist’s insecurity-heavy character arc may not be for everyone, but it’s refreshing to see an MC who isn’t overpowered from the start.

Set in the same universe as SAO, but decades later, Accel World explores a world where players use brainwave-accelerating technology to enter a digital battlefield. 

Unlike SAO, where the stakes are life or death, here, players fight in real-time battles using avatars to gain an edge in the real world.

Our protagonist, Haruyuki Arita, is the polar opposite of Kirito, a short, insecure, overweight student who finds confidence when introduced to Brain Burst, a secretive VR combat system. 

With the help of Kuroyukihime, a mysterious upperclassman, he learns to dominate the virtual world and uncover its secrets.

What It Shares with SAO:

• Same creator, Reki Kawahara, so expect similar action-packed storytelling.
• Virtual reality combat with high stakes.
• A strong-willed female lead mentoring the protagonist (similar to Kirito and Asuna).

What Sets It Apart?

Score: 7.8/10 – A fascinating SAO spin-off, but the MC takes time to grow on you.

3. Overlord: When the Villain Becomes the Hero

🛡️ What if Kirito was overpowered… but also a villain?

Personal Verdict: This is like SAO meets Game of Thrones, dark, intense, and filled with political intrigue. If you like overpowered protagonists and villainous main characters, this is a must-watch.

Imagine being the last player logged into your favorite MMORPG when the servers shut down, only to realize… you’re still there. 

That’s what happens to Momonga, a maxed-out undead overlord in Overlord. Instead of trying to escape, he embraces his role and conquers the game world.

Unlike SAO, where Kirito fights for justice, Momonga is a ruler with absolute power, and he’s not bound by morals. 

The anime plays with moral ambiguity, making you question if he’s truly the hero or just a power-hungry ruler.

How It Compares to SAO:

This anime also has some absolutely stunning battle sequences.

Watching Momonga unleash his full overpowered arsenal of magic and abilities is an absolute treat for power fantasy fans.

🎯 Score: 9/10 – The ultimate power fantasy for gamers.

4. No Game No Life: When the Battlefield is Your Mind

🎲 What happens when the strongest players in the world don’t fight with swords, but with their wits?

Personal Verdict: No Game No Life is brilliant, unpredictable, and visually stunning. It’s pure mental warfare with a splash of comedy. The only downside? It desperately needs a second season.

Imagine a world where everything is decided through games, war, politics, even who gets the last slice of pizza (okay, maybe not that last one, but you get the idea). 

That’s the world of No Game No Life, a vibrant, high-stakes fantasy where intelligence reigns supreme.

The story follows Sora and Shiro, two gaming prodigies who are so ridiculously good at games that they’ve never lost a match. 

In the real world, they’re reclusive shut-ins (hikikomori), but when a mysterious god named Tet transports them to the world of Disboard, their skills finally have real consequences. 

Here, all conflicts, from minor disputes to kingdom-wide wars, are settled through mind games, puzzles, and deception rather than brute force.

Main Characters:

Why It Feels Like SAO:

• Gaming-based world: Instead of VRMMORPG mechanics, it uses game logic to dictate real-life events.
• High-stakes challenges: Every battle feels intense because losing means serious consequences.
• Overpowered protagonists: Just like Kirito in SAO, Sora and Shiro dominate their world, but instead of sword skills, they use sheer intelligence.

What Makes It Unique?

Score: 9/10 – A must-watch for fans who love strategy-driven anime.

5. .hack//Sign: The OG “Stuck in a Game” Anime

🔍 Before SAO, there was .hack, an anime that explored the mystery of being trapped in a virtual world.

Personal Verdict: If you go in expecting SAO-level fights, you’ll be disappointed. But if you love mystery-driven narratives and character psychology, hack//Sign is a hidden gem. Plus, it paved the way for modern VRMMO anime.

Long before Sword Art Online popularized the “trapped in a game” trope, hack//Sign was already doing it, but with a completely different approach.

Instead of an action-packed adventure, hack//Sign focuses on psychological drama, mystery, and self-discovery.

Our protagonist, Tsukasa, wakes up in The World, a massively multiplayer online RPG, only to realize that he can’t log out. 

Unlike SAO, where Kirito fights for survival, Tsukasa is confused, isolated, and unsure if the world he’s in is even real.

What follows is a slow-burn, mind-bending journey to uncover what’s happening, all set against a hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack.

Main Characters:

Why It Feels Like SAO:

• Trapped in a virtual world: But instead of immediate danger, there’s a deep sense of mystery and paranoia.
• MMORPG mechanics: The World functions just like an online game, but with eerie implications.
• Protagonist searching for answers: Tsukasa’s story is more introspective than Kirito’s, but the themes of identity and escapism are just as powerful.

What Makes It Unique?

Score: 7.5/10 – A thought-provoking classic, but not for those seeking action.

6. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? (DanMachi): Dungeon Crawling With a Side of Romance

⚔️ It’s not about “picking up girls,” it’s about leveling up and proving your worth.

Personal Verdict: It’s an undeniably fun mix of action, comedy, and light romance, but it doesn’t have SAO’s emotional depth. If you enjoy fantasy RPG worlds, DanMachi is a solid watch, though it leans more towards fun than deep storytelling.

Unlike SAO, which takes place inside a game, DanMachi feels like a game world brought to life, but without the “trapped in VR” aspect. 

The anime follows Bell Cranel, a rookie adventurer trying to make a name for himself in Orario, a city built around a massive underground dungeon.

Every adventurer here belongs to a “Familia”, a guild led by a deity, and gains skills just like in an RPG. 

Bell, however, is a special case. He possesses a rare ability that lets him grow stronger at an absurdly fast rate, making him one of the most promising adventurers despite his humble beginnings.

Main Characters:

Why It Feels Like SAO:

• RPG-like leveling system: Characters gain skills and experience points just like in an MMORPG.
• Fast-paced action and dungeon exploration: Similar to SAO’s Aincrad arc.
• Romance elements: Bell has his own “harem” of interested girls, much like Kirito (though not as serious).

What Makes It Unique?

🎯 Score: 8/10 – Entertaining, but don’t expect SAO-level intensity.

7. Re:Zero: The Price of Second Chances

🔄 Imagine if every time you died in SAO, you had to relive the same nightmare, over and over again.

Personal Verdict: If SAO feels like a power fantasy, Re:Zero is the exact opposite, brutal, unpredictable, and often emotionally devastating. Subaru is one of the most flawed yet compelling protagonists in isekai anime, and his suffering feels painfully real.

One moment, Subaru Natsuki is stepping out of a convenience store, and the next, he’s in an entirely new world. Sounds great, right? 

Like any good isekai protagonist, he assumes he’s destined for greatness, until he quickly realizes he has no special abilities.

That is… until he dies.

Unlike Kirito, who levels up through skill and experience, Subaru’s only power is “Return by Death,” a brutal curse that revives him at an earlier point whenever he dies, but he keeps all the memories of his previous deaths. 

This turns Re:Zero into an intense mix of time-loop mechanics, psychological horror, and fantasy adventure.

Main Characters:

Why It Feels Like SAO:

• Isekai adventure: Like SAO, it’s set in a fantastical world filled with magic, creatures, and epic conflicts.
• High-stakes survival: Instead of permadeath like Aincrad, Subaru suffers through brutal deaths, resetting like a game checkpoint.
• Strong emotional stakes: Much like Kirito’s journey, Subaru’s story is just as much about personal growth as it is about action.

What Makes It Unique?

🎯 Score: 9/10 – A gut-wrenching yet gripping take on the isekai genre.

8. The Rising of the Shield Hero: From Zero to Hero

🛡️ What if Kirito was hated by everyone and had to claw his way up from nothing?

Personal Verdict: The Rising of the Shield Hero is a refreshing underdog story, where the MC isn’t instantly powerful or respected. Watching Naofumi go from an outcast to a legendary hero is immensely satisfying.

Naofumi Iwatani thought he was summoned to a fantasy world to be a legendary hero, but his dreams are crushed almost immediately. 

Unlike Kirito, who starts out powerful, Naofumi is falsely accused of a crime and betrayed by the kingdom, leaving him with nothing but a low-tier shield and a burning desire for revenge.

Forced to survive without allies, resources, or even respect, he gradually becomes one of the strongest heroes, not through sheer talent, but by grinding through adversity, upgrading his skills, and proving his worth.

Main Characters:

Why It Feels Like SAO

• Fantasy RPG-like world: Instead of VRMMORPG mechanics, the world works like a game with leveling systems, party formations, and quests.
• Overcoming hardships: Like Kirito, Naofumi must fight his way through extreme odds, but his journey is far more gritty and emotional.
• Party dynamics: Much like Kirito and Asuna, Naofumi’s bond with Raphtalia is central to the story.

What Makes It Unique?

🎯 Score: 8.8/10 – A compelling, rage-inducing, but ultimately rewarding adventure.

9. Infinite Dendrogram: A VRMMO With Real Stakes

🕹️ What if a VRMMORPG actually felt like a living, breathing world?

Personal Verdict: It has an interesting premise, but it doesn’t quite hit the emotional highs of SAO. Still, the concept of permanent choices and evolving AI makes it worth a watch for MMORPG fans.

Set in the year 2043, Infinite Dendrogram introduces a revolutionary VR game where every player’s actions permanently affect the world. 

Unlike SAO, where death meant real consequences, here, it’s about meaningful choices, NPCs have actual lives and memories, and if they die, they’re gone forever.

The story follows Reiji Mukudori, a college student who logs into the game and quickly discovers its depth and realism. 

He partners with Nemesis, a unique AI-driven weapon that evolves based on his playstyle.

Main Characters:

Why It Feels Like SAO:

• VRMMORPG world with real consequences.
• Deep game mechanics, NPC interactions, and evolving player choices.
• Fast-paced battles and world exploration.

What Makes It Unique?

🎯 Score: 7.5/10 – A solid, if slightly underrated, VRMMO anime.

10. Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash: When Isekai Feels Brutally Real

🎭 What if you woke up in a fantasy world… but you weren’t special?

Personal Verdict: If you love fast-paced action and power fantasies, this might feel slow. But if you’re looking for a deeply human story, filled with growth, hardship, and beautifully raw emotions, Grimgar is an absolute masterpiece.

Most isekai anime throw their protagonists into a new world and immediately hand them ridiculous powers or an overpowered weapon. But Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash? It plays by a different set of rules.

The story begins when a group of strangers wake up in a medieval-style world with no memory of their past lives. 

Unlike Kirito or Naofumi, they aren’t heroes or chosen ones. They’re weak, confused, and barely able to fight low-level monsters. 

There’s no convenient tutorial, no “easy mode.” If they want to survive, they have to train, adapt, and make every moment count, because one mistake could mean the end.

This anime doesn’t just focus on action; it’s an emotional deep-dive into the struggles of starting from nothing, where every victory feels hard-earned and every loss hits like a punch to the gut.

Main Characters:

Why It Feels Like SAO:

• Trapped in a new world with no way out: Similar to SAO, the characters find themselves in an unfamiliar place and must learn how to survive.
• RPG-like elements: Characters level up, gain skills, and specialize in classes, just like in an MMORPG.
• Focus on teamwork: Like SAO’s party-based adventures, the story revolves around group dynamics, camaraderie, and trust.

What Makes It Unique?

One of Grimgar’s standout elements is its breathtaking watercolor-style animation. Every frame feels like a beautifully painted illustration, making it one of the most visually unique fantasy anime out there. 

The soundtrack, composed by (K)NoW_NAME, perfectly complements the emotional weight of the story, making scenes feel even more immersive.

🎯 Score: 9/10 – An underrated isekai gem that trades spectacle for authenticity.

Where to Watch These Anime

So, you’re ready to dive into these SAO-like anime, but where can you actually stream them? Here’s a handy guide to where you can watch each one:

⚠️ Note: Streaming availability can change based on your region.

Which Service is Best for SAO-Like Anime?

• Crunchyroll: The best all-around choice for anime lovers, with a huge library of VRMMO, isekai, and fantasy series.
• Netflix: Good for mainstream hits (SAO, Re:Zero, Overlord), but lacks deeper catalog options.
• Hulu & Funimation: Strong selections, especially for Shield Hero, DanMachi, and Accel World.
• Amazon Prime: More limited, but has Overlord and some hidden gems like Grimgar.

Bonus Recommendation: A Hidden Gem Worth Watching

🎭 Because one more anime never hurts, right?

While we’ve already covered 10 fantastic SAO-like anime, there’s always room for an underrated pick, something that doesn’t get as much mainstream attention but absolutely deserves a spot on your watchlist.

For our bonus recommendation, we’re going with an anime that blends MMORPG elements, isekai adventure, and tactical combat, while also offering a fresh perspective on the genre.

11. Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs

🃏 What happens when you get reincarnated… into a game where you’re just a background character?

Personal Verdict: If you love anime that break the mold, this is a fun, self-aware adventure that subverts expectations in the best way.

Most game-based anime follow the same formula: the protagonist becomes a powerful hero or a chosen one with an exciting destiny. 

But in Trapped in a Dating Sim, our lead, Leon Fou Bartfort, is reborn in a matriarchal society based on an otome game (a genre of romance games aimed at women).

If that wasn’t bad enough, he’s just a “mob character”, meaning he isn’t one of the main love interests or heroes. 

In a world where women hold all the power, he has to climb the ranks using strategy, wit, and his knowledge of the game’s mechanics, all while dealing with a bunch of over-the-top aristocrats, rival love interests, and an unfair social system.

Main Characters:

Why It Feels Like SAO:

• Game-based world: The protagonist has deep knowledge of the game’s mechanics, just like Kirito.
• Tactical combat & mech battles: Instead of sword fights, Leon uses mechas and strategic dueling to gain power.
• Overpowered but relatable MC: Like Kirito, Leon knows how to manipulate the game world, but he’s also a sarcastic, reluctant hero who doesn’t take things too seriously.

What Makes It Unique?

Final Thoughts: A Surprisingly Fun Ride:

At first glance, Trapped in a Dating Sim might seem like a silly parody, but it’s actually one of the most creative takes on the isekai genre. It pokes fun at typical power fantasies while still delivering a great mix of comedy, action, and strategy.

Score: 8/10 – A hilarious, tactical isekai with a unique premise!

Other Bonus Picks Worth Considering

If you’re still looking for more anime that share SAO’s DNA, here are a few extra recommendations that might pique your interest:

Which One Will You Watch First?

So, there you have it, 11 anime (plus some extras!) that capture the magic of Sword Art Online in their own unique ways. 

🔥 Which one are you most excited to watch? Let me know in the comments!