7 Dark Fantasy Anime to Watch if You Liked Solo Leveling

If you loved watching Sung Jinwoo dominate his foes, then Ainz Ooal Gown's overwhelming power and strategic mastery in a new world will be right up your alley. Overlord delivers an ultimate power fantasy with a protagonist who is already impossibly strong, focusing on the tactical expansion of his dark empire and his interactions with loyal, terrifying subordinates. It perfectly captures the feel of a seemingly unstoppable force carving its path through a fantasy realm.

Fans of Solo Leveling's 'weak-to-overpowered' transformation will find a kindred spirit in Hajime Nagumo. Betrayed and left for dead in a dungeon, Hajime undergoes a brutal metamorphosis, gaining unique, almost monstrous abilities and a ruthless demeanor to survive. This series showcases a protagonist who literally eats monsters to gain their powers, meticulously upgrades his equipment, and embarks on a journey to become incredibly powerful, much like Jinwoo's own journey of self-improvement and skill acquisition.

For those who appreciate Solo Leveling's darker themes and the protagonist's relentless struggle against overwhelming evil, Berserk is the definitive dark fantasy. Guts, the Black Swordsman, is a lone warrior who faces demonic apostles and impossible odds with his colossal sword and sheer indomitable will. It's a brutal, grim, and intensely satisfying story of a man who constantly pushes past his limits, much like Sung Jinwoo's unwavering resolve against increasingly formidable threats.

Much like Sung Jinwoo's initial struggles and societal disdain, Naofumi Iwatani starts as the weakest and most despised hero, forced to level up and protect himself against a world that scorned him. The series features a unique progression system based on his legendary shield, allowing him to absorb monster materials and unlock new abilities. It perfectly encapsulates the 'underdog who becomes incredibly powerful' trope with satisfying skill development and fierce battles against monstrous waves.

If Solo Leveling's gritty monster hunting and the protagonist's single-minded efficiency appealed to you, Goblin Slayer offers a similar, albeit more grounded and brutal, experience. The titular character is a master of his craft, meticulously planning and executing strategies to eradicate goblins, often in gruesome detail. It emphasizes the harsh realities of a dark fantasy world and the grim determination required to survive and protect the innocent, focusing on skill and experience over flashy power-ups.

For fans who enjoyed Solo Leveling's modern setting mixed with dark fantasy elements and intense, well-choreographed action, Jujutsu Kaisen is a must-watch. It features a world plagued by monstrous curses, requiring individuals with cursed energy to fight back. Protagonists like Yuji Itadori and Megumi Fushiguro constantly develop their unique abilities and engage in high-stakes battles with satisfying power scaling and a consistently dark, supernatural atmosphere.

While not a traditional leveling system, Subaru Natsuki's journey in Re:Zero mirrors Sung Jinwoo's relentless pursuit of strength through suffering. Subaru gains the ability to 'Return by Death,' allowing him to learn from his mistakes and strategize to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles in a brutal dark fantasy world. His repeated failures and eventual triumphs, coupled with the series' high stakes and constant sense of dread, resonate with the intense struggle and progression Solo Leveling fans adore.