In Darwin's Game, we follow the journey of Kaname Sudou, a high school student who gets a mysterious game invitation on his phone. When he opens the invite, things take a wild turn. Strange events unfold, with in-game opponents becoming real-life threats.

If you're curious about 20 anime shows that are similar to Darwin's Game, get ready for some mind-blowing experiences!

20. Gantz

Status: Finished Airing
Episodes: 26
Type: TV Series

Life has its ups and downs, and sometimes people consider the desperate path of suicide. But what awaits in oblivion? Is it eternal emptiness, serenity, or the embrace of a caring deity? However, an opportunity in a life-or-death game may reignite one's will to live.

This anime follows Kei Kurono, whose demise didn't bring peace. Instead, he awakens in a world where his survival instincts, ethics, and abilities are pushed to the limit. Much like Darwin's Game, Gantz offers no external aid and features intense violence, gore, and even some explicit content. It's a 13-episode glimpse into the raw reality of the world.

Similarities With Darwin’s Game

• Action

• Horror

• Sci-Fi

• Survival

• Gore

19. Akame Ga Kill

Status: Finished Airing
Episodes: 24
Type: TV Series

Survival and making a difference are the common themes in Akame ga Kill and Darwin's Game. In these series, the heroes find themselves in challenging situations, and they harness their exceptional abilities to dismantle oppressive regimes in their respective worlds.

At the outset, Tatsumi and Kaname are ordinary individuals, but as they uncover the harsh realities of their surroundings, they become fully dedicated to their missions, working as vital members of larger teams.

Both Akame ga Kill and Darwin's Game deliver intense action with significant levels of violence and gore, with Akame ga Kill being slightly more graphic.

Similarities With Darwin’s Game

• Gore

• Shounen

• Action

• Super Power

18. Another

Status: Finished Airing
Episodes: 12
Type: TV Series

Sometimes, sparking someone's interest in a subject involves cautioning them without explanation. This is the tale of Kouichi, who, against his friends' advice, befriends the quiet Mei Misaki, all because of mysterious rumors.

Dark stories circulate about a former student from another class, but no one shares the complete details with Kouichi. Troubled by the school's curse, he begins to explore its connection to his new friend.

Now, it's up to Mei, Kouichi, and their classmates to unravel the eerie mystery surrounding a series of tragic events. Yet, uncovering the truth will exact a steep price.

Similarities With Darwin’s Game

• Gore

• Horror

17. Accel World

Status: Finished Airing
Episodes: 24
Type: TV Series

In both series, each main character is thrust into a life-altering game of battles where they possess special powers and engage in combat against one another. The intense action in both Darwin's Game and Accel World revolves around the characters' fight for survival.

In Darwin's Game, people are thrust into a deadly struggle against one another, while in Accel World, the protagonist evolves into a significant figure within and beyond the Game. If you're into narratives where individuals use their unique skills in a real-world program to compete against each other, these two shows are definitely worth your attention.

Similarities With Darwin’s Game

• Action

• Sci-Fi

16. Alice In Borderland

Status: Finished Airing
Episodes: 3
Type: OVA

High school senior Ryouhei Arisu leads a directionless life until a colossal firework alters his fate, transporting him, along with friends Chouta Segawa and Daikichi Karube, to a realm known as the Borderland. There, they join a perilous game with the planet's only inhabitants, striving to complete deadly objectives to survive. Ryouhei discovers a newfound purpose in this otherworldly challenge, and the trio embarks on a quest to find their way back home.

Both series thrust characters into life-or-death situations, where consent is absent, and escape seems impossible.

Similarities With Darwin’s Game

• Shounen

• High Stakes Game

• Action

• Supernatural

• Survival

15. Sword Art Online

Status: Finished Airing
Episodes: 73
Type: TV Series

In contrast to Alfheim Online, Sword Art Online bears a closer resemblance to Darwin's Game. Kirito, also known as Kirigaya Kazuto, and over a thousand online gamers enter a highly anticipated new game only to discover they can't log out; they're trapped. Any attempt to forcibly disconnect from the VR device leads to death.

With no alternative, they must conquer all hundred levels of Aincrad to secure their freedom. Kirito, Asuna, and their companions navigate plot twists and challenges, striving for power and, ultimately, salvation.

The common thread is clear: players venture online and find themselves in a life-or-death situation, compelled to continue playing until the game concludes or face dire consequences in both the virtual and physical realms.

Similarities With Darwin’s Game

• Action

• Adventure

14. Fate/Stay Night

Status: Finished Airing
Episodes: 24
Type: TV Series

The Fate series, a battle royale classic, features a protagonist thrust into an unintended competition, weaving a captivating narrative of survival and love filled with action, suspense, and mystery, akin to Darwin's Game but on a slightly smaller scale.

Shirou finds himself caught in a conflict between two formidable entities known as Servants. He narrowly escapes death at the hands of Archer, one such Servant, and in despair, he summons his own Servant, the knight Saber.

Together, they become entangled in the Fifth Holy Grail War, a confrontation involving mages and seven Servants, all vying for the coveted Holy Grail.

Similarities With Darwin’s Game

• Action

• Supernatural

13. High-Rise Invasion (Tenkuu Shinpan)

Status: Finished Airing
Episodes: 12
Type: ONA – Original Net Animation

When 16-year-old Yuri Honjou witnesses a gruesome murder, she flees in terror only to become trapped in an empty building. Her desperate search for escape leads her to a rooftop, revealing a desolate wasteland surrounded by skyscrapers. With hope dwindling, Yuri is determined to reunite with her brother and break free from this bizarre realm.

As Yuri navigates this eerie setting, she encounters masked killers, each eager to torment and fulfill their darkest desires on unsuspecting victims.

Both Darwin's Game and High-Rise Invasion share similarities with the Hunger Games, focusing on characters striving to achieve their goals, forging new alliances, and becoming entangled in perilous games. However, High-Rise Invasion leans into more graphic and gory elements compared to Darwin's Game.

Similarities With Darwin’s Game

• Action

• Horror

• Mystery

• Gore

12. Juuni Taisen: Zodiac War

Status: Finished Airing
Episodes: 12
Type: TV Series

This anime unfolds a life-or-death battle, the Zodiac Tournament, which occurs once every 12 years. Twelve warriors embody the traits and names of the Chinese zodiac animals. To further intensify the stakes, they ingest a lethal substance that shortens their lifespans, compelling them to complete the tournament quickly and with a frantic pace to ensure their survival.

Both shows feature a multiplayer combat arena where characters employ their unique abilities to defeat one another. They also share a common emphasis on intricate character interactions to develop personalities and strategies.

In contrast to Darwin's Game, Juuni Taisen introduces new characters in each episode, whereas Darwin's Game maintains a focus on its protagonist. However, both series delve into the stories and struggles of their characters to a significant extent.

Similarities With Darwin’s Game

• Action

• Gore

• Survival

11. Tower of God (Kami no Tou)

Status: Finished Airing
Episodes: 13
Type: TV Series

If you enjoyed Darwin's Game, you'll find Tower of God intriguing, as both series revolve around the protagonist's quest for freedom, albeit in distinct ways. Darwin's Game seeks escape from the Game and system, while Tower of God pursues godlike status, ascending the tower to achieve unrivaled power and fulfill desires.

These anime share not only outstanding animation but also gratifying conclusions. Tower of God surprises with its surprising parallels to Darwin's Game, some of which are highlighted below.

Similarities With Darwin’s Game

• Action

• Mystery

• Adventure

10. Caligula

Status: Finished Airing
Episodes: 12
Type: TV Series

What is joy? Ritsu Shikishima, a high school senior with a deep interest in psychology, often contemplates such questions while cherishing quiet moments with friends. However, his tranquil life unravels when he hears a mysterious, distorted voice crying for help, which belongs to a famous singer whose songs have a harmful impact on the world.

As the voices of his loved ones transform into deranged Digiheads due to the singer's music, Ritsu realizes he's trapped in a digital realm created by Mobius. He must rally survivors before it's too late, joining forces to wield their emotional abilities and weapons, collectively known as the Catharsis Effect, against The Ostinato Musicians.

Both series place their protagonists in simulated environments, where the choice to fight or flee becomes pivotal. Beyond that, this anime shares a sci-fi theme akin to Darwin's Game.

Similarities With Darwin’s Game

• Action

• Sci-Fi

9. Tokyo Ghoul

Status: Finished Airing
Episodes: 48
Type: TV Series

If you're in search of a thrilling, gory, and psychologically intense anime akin to Darwin's Game, look no further than Tokyo Ghoul.

Tokyo Ghoul spans four seasons and revolves around Kaneki, a human who becomes a ghoul, ensnared in the conflict between humans and ghouls. Kaneki's transformation into a One-Eyed ghoul, a rare and highly significant event, turns his life upside down. The series chronicles his struggle to adapt to his new existence, surmount the challenges he encounters, seek love, and create a better world for both ghouls and humans.

Both anime share strikingly similar character arcs, with Kaneki and Kaname thrust into perilous situations that redefine their lives. These series feature a chilling undertone that adds a psychological layer to their intense action, making them more than mere mindless entertainment.

Similarities With Darwin’s Game

• Action

• Gore

• Horror

• Fantasy

• Psychological

8. Platinum End

Status: Finished Airing
Episodes: 24
Type: TV Series

This is one of the rare supernatural and psychological anime, much like Darwin's Game, and its premise is far from implausible.

Mirai Kakehashi's life has been a constant struggle since a tragic explosion claimed his loved ones. The family who took him in subjects him to daily abuse, eroding his will to live to the brink of suicide. Ready to surrender, he contemplates leaping off a cliff, but instead of meeting death, he enters a trance and encounters a winged entity, his guardian angel, Nasse.

Nasse bestows upon him two invaluable gifts, offering a glimmer of the freedom Mirai has longed for. Empowered by Nasse, Mirai is thrust into a competition where twelve individuals vie to become the next God. His earlier suicidal thoughts now replaced by a newfound determination to risk everything for the slim hope of happiness he has discovered.

Similarities With Darwin’s Game

• Shounen

• Supernatural

• Psychological

7. Magical Girl Rising Project (Mahou Shoujo Ikusei Keikau)

Status: Finished Airing
Episodes: 12
Type: TV Series

It's common for teenage girls to dream of embodying their in-game avatars, especially in a magical world. However, these dreams rarely become a reality. Yet, Koyuki Himekawa defies the odds when she's selected to become Snow White, her magical in-game character.

However, the idyllic experience takes a dark turn when moderators announce their intention to reduce the number of magical players. In a weekly competition, magical girls must accumulate Magical Candies, the rewards for their activities, to retain their powers. The consequences of losing their abilities become starkly evident when the first girl to quit faces a real-world catastrophe.

Both anime series, Magical Girl Rising Project and Darwin's Game, follow protagonists who become ensnared in real-life survival games through smartphone apps, where these games bestow unique abilities upon the characters.

Similarities With Darwin’s Game

• Action

• Suspense

• Supernatural

6. Deadman Wonderland

Status: Finished Airing
Episodes: 12
Type: TV Series

While these two anime share some striking similarities and belong to similar genres, it's important to note that Deadman Wonderland and Darwin's Game each possess unique storylines.

Deadman Wonderland follows the life of Ganta Igarashi, a schoolboy whose world is shattered when a hooded Red Man kills his classmates, sparing him. Ganta is wrongly accused and sentenced to serve time at Deadman Wonderland, Japan's only privately-owned prison.

Beyond the typical amusements the prison offers, a secret G-Block exists, housing special Deadman prisoners forced into deadly contests for a select audience. In this new and unfamiliar environment, Ganta must navigate newfound powers he doesn't fully comprehend, forming alliances with fellow inmates as they scheme to fight their way to freedom from Deadman Wonderland.

Similarities With Darwin’s Game

• Sci-Fi

• Action

• Horror

• Supernatural

• Gore

• High Stakes Game

• Shounen

• Survival

5. King’s Game: The Animation

Status: Finished Airing
Episodes: 12
Type: TV Series

Moving to a new school is a challenge for anyone, but for someone like Nobuaki Kanazawa, who prefers to avoid making new friends, it's a nightmare. However, when he and his class start receiving texts from The King, the reason for his unsocial behavior becomes clear. All students must participate in the King's Game, complete with strict rules.

Those who refuse, quit midway, or defy a command after 24 hours face death. Despite Nobuaki's attempts to warn his unsuspecting classmates, having previously played the Game and witnessed people vanish, they don't trust him until it's too late, and the King's Game has already claimed lives.

Nobuaki finds himself trapped in a dire situation with no escape, torn between prioritizing his safety over that of his classmates or risking his life to save them. Some have likened Darwin's Game to a blend of King's Game and Future Diary, as they all share the common theme of death games with players facing gruesome fates.

Similarities With Darwin’s Game

• Horror

• Supernatural

• Mystery

• Gore

4. Gleipnir

Status: Finished Airing
Episodes: 13
Type: TV Series

Gleipnir revolves around Shuuichi Kagaya, a high school student with the unique ability to transform into a monstrous form. Like any typical teenager grappling with unexplained powers, he prefers to keep this secret hidden. However, a seemingly inconsequential event, losing his phone while saving a girl from a burning house, sets in motion a chain of life-altering events.

Exploiting this vulnerability, Claire coerces him into revealing his knowledge about monsters, as her sister experienced a similar transformation before vanishing. She implores Shuuichi to help her search for her sister and uncover the truth behind these monstrous abilities.

Much like Darwin's Game, Gleipnir features a novice protagonist who, for unknown reasons, forms an alliance with a formidable female character, in this case, Claire Aoki, akin to Shuka in Darwin's Game. Both anime incorporate teams of competing characters and boast impressive music and visuals. However, it's worth noting that Gleipnir contains more ecchi moments in comparison to Darwin's Game.

Similarities With Darwin’s Game

• Supernatural

• Mystery

• Action

3. Battle Game in 5 Seconds (Deatte 5-byou de Battle)

Status: Finished Airing
Episodes: 12
Type: TV Series

The story bears a striking resemblance: an ordinary player is abruptly thrust into an online mystery game where the sole escape route is a life-and-death battle.

On a morning that began like any other, Akira Shiroyanagi, a high school student with a penchant for Japanese sweets called Konpeito and video games, finds himself inexplicably entangled in a lethal confrontation by a mysterious woman named Mion. The volunteers learn they've been expunged from the family registry and enrolled in an experiment, endowing them with unique abilities.

Akira resolves to utilize his newfound powers to dismantle the organization and emerge victorious in the Game. With his exceptional mental acumen and an unexpected source of power, a new era of intellectual conflict unfolds.

Similarities With Darwin’s Game

• Superpower

• Strategy Game

• High Stakes Game

• Gore

• Supernatural

2. Btooom!

Status: Finished Airing
Episodes: 12
Type: TV Series

Both series feature a battle royale narrative framed around various video games. In Darwin's Game, Kaname, the protagonist, gains a sigil or ability via a mobile app download, which he deploys to vanquish other players and excel in missions. Btooom! immerses Ryouta in a scenario mirroring the eponymous video game, where participants are transported to an island and must employ explosives to eliminate adversaries.

Kaname wields a versatile symbol enabling him to create any weapon, while Ryouta, Japan's top Btooom player, boasts an advantage in employing explosives. Additionally, both protagonists are aided by a blonde female sidekick who provides assistance.

Similarities With Darwin’s Game

• Survival

• Psychological

• High Stakes Game

• Sci-Fi

• Action

1. The Future Diary (Mirai Nikki)

Status: Finished Airing
Episodes: 26
Type: TV Series

Mirai Nikki follows the journey of Yukiteru Amano, a reserved middle school student who keeps a digital journal on his phone to document his daily life. Yukiteru, who claims to have no friends at school, often engages in conversations with imaginary companions - the God of space and time, Deus Ex Machina, and his servant, Mur Mur.

One fateful day, he notices that the recorded events on his phone's diary predict future occurrences. As these events progressively unfold, Yukiteru realizes that another classmate, Yuno Gasai, possesses a similar diary on her phone.

As they join forces to evade a mysterious pursuer and find their way back home, Deus Ex Machina reveals that they, along with ten other competitors, have been thrust into a survival game. The ultimate victor will inherit the position of deity's successor. Armed with their smartphones, now dubbed Future Diaries, Yukiteru and Yuno engage in a relentless battle for survival in this merciless death match.

Similarities With Darwin’s Game

• Shounen

• Survival

• Psychological

• High Stakes Game

• Gore

• Suspense

• Supernatural

• Action