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5 Best Battle Royale Anime You Need to Watch
Anime is known for plenty of things, including experimental animation styles, compelling character dynamics, and intensive world-building. With the medium becoming a more popular form of entertainment across a global scale, fans are starting to recognize the potential for anime to explore different genres and tropes in a fresh, new way. Plenty of genres have already gained traction in the mainstream, such as dark fantasy or science fiction; however, it’s safe to say there are still a few anime genres that haven’t had their time to shine at the forefront of audiences’ attention.
Battle royale anime is often used to describe a combination of action, thriller, horror, and drama genres, used to navigate the story of a group of people fighting for survival. The outcome can differ, sometimes with one survivor or a group, but it always leans on the idea of fighting to achieve an overarching prize or goal at the end of the extended battle. It’s a great way to utilize darker, complex themes while deep-diving into the morality of the show’s characters. In this list, we’ll be looking at five battle royale anime that are perfect examples of why the genre deserves more respect from anime fans.
5) Darwin’s Game
Darwin’s Game is an anime series that burned bright for its initial release before fizzling out in terms of capturing audience attention. Despite that, it’s still worth a watch, with an interesting plot, well-paced fight sequences, and a great protagonist who easily carries his own weight. The series was released back in 2020 and had a single season containing only 11 episodes. It explored the concept of human morality and choice when placed under extreme duress and pressure, and how priorities might change when your own life is on the line.
The plot of Darwin’s Game revolves around Kaname Sudou, a high-schooler who receives a cryptic invitation to take part in a mysterious game. After accepting the invitation, Kaname quickly realizes that the game is actually a real-life death match that cannot be exited without winning, or dying at the hands of another player. Granted the power of a Sigil, a unique superpower to help Kaname fight enemy players, he must clear the game to live and defeat the mastermind behind the game’s construction.
4) Future Diary
Future Diary is a fast-paced, high-stakes battle royale anime series that also contains one of the most iconic tsundere characters of the last decade. The series debuted back in 2011 and had a single season with 26 episodes. This show was praised for its dedication to the thriller genre, placing heavy emphasis on the graphic brutality of a realistic fight-to-the-death scenario. If you enjoy anime that refuse to pull their punches, Future Diary might be the one to watch, with an amazing soundtrack and animation style to boot.
The story of Future Diary is based around Deus ex Machina, the god of Space and Time, who picks 12 participants to take part in a battle royale competition to choose his successor. Each of the 12 is given a diary that predicts future events within its pages, in alignment with each individual’s personality. While many characters are given a chance to shine, we mainly follow the introverted Yukiteru and deadly Yuno, whose only goal is to keep Yukiteru alive at all costs.
3) Btooom!
Btooom! is an often overlooked battle royale anime series that focuses on the dark side of human nature when placed in extreme circumstances. The anime series was released back in 2012 and had a single season with just 12 episodes before coming to a close. Btooom! is often regarded as a high-quality show due to its vivid art style, smooth animation style, and incredibly effective use of psychological horror. It navigates themes of morality, survival, transformation, and choice while balancing the difference between reality and virtual reality.
The plot of Btooom! is centered around Ryota Sakamoto, an experienced gamer who dominates the online ranking charts for his favorite video game. One day, Ryota wakes up on a mysterious island with no clear memory of arriving there; he’s told he has a chip implanted in his hand to keep track of his progress throughout the game. Ryota must compete in a real-life version of his favorite game against other players, killing and overcoming obstacles, to obtain enemy players’ chips and escape with his own life.
2) Magical Girl Raising Project
Magical Girl Raising Project combines a cute art style with aspects of battle and intense action sequences. The series first aired back in 2016 and has a potential second season slated to release sometime in 2026. It combines the beloved magical girl genre with battle royale brutality, creating a unique concept that makes the anime stand out from other contemporary titles. Navigating themes such as the consequences of choice, survival, morality, and corruption, Magical Girl Raising Project is a great example of trope subversion that doesn’t feel forced.
The plot of Magical Girl Raising Project is focused on the idea of an online game allowing real-life girls the chance to become magical girls through playing. When one particular city becomes overpopulated with magical girls, the game’s creator decides to deal with the dilemma by forcing the girls into an extreme battle royale situation. By carrying out good deeds, the magical girls can earn points that result in them being able to keep their lives, while those with the lowest points are eliminated through execution.
1) Fate/Zero
Fate/Zero is a prequel series that takes place before Fate/stay Night, detailing the events of the Fourth Holy Grail War. The series had a singular season that was released back in 2011. While other parts of the franchise focus on a battle royale style competition, Fate/Zero’s plot is narrowed into the intricacies of the war and besting competition in the fight for the Holy Grail. It boasts amazing animation that feels years ahead of its time, and some of the most iconic anime characters in its cast who drive the plot forward.
In Fate/Zero, every set amount of years, powerful mages are called to summon Servants, figures from the past, who are used as weapons in a battle for the Holy Grail. Whoever comes out on top at the end of the war will obtain a single wish from the Grail, a prize that pushes each mage to new highs and lows to win. The story weaves a narrative between the different Masters and their Servants as they plot, fight, and overcome challenges to pursue their end goal.
Have you watched any of these anime series before? Tell us your favorite battle royale anime in the comments below.
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