10 Best Battle Royale Anime, According To Reddit

Battle royale anime has been popular for decades. The concept, named after the Battle Royale film and book series, is easy to get into. A number of competitors are told they are all fighting for a grand prize, with the winner being the last one standing. A simple and straightforward premise provides audience members with a quick way to get into the story.

Thanks to the boom in battle royale-style anime, it’s been difficult to narrow them down to the most interesting. Thankfully sites like Reddit exist, filled with people excited to share their opinions and views on their favorite anime.

Fate/Zero (2011 – 2012)

This entry comes in thanks to Reddit user Nomar_95, who also provides a handy watching guide. They state that the Fate/Zero series is excellent on its own, “but don’t watch it completely blind.” While Fate/Zero is also stated to be the best Fate series for a standalone watch, there are still many references for long-standing fans to catch, from more fan-favorite characters to absurdly powerful anime swords that the series is known for.

The basic plot of the story follows a mage killer who joins a tournament where the grand reward is a wish-granting holy grail. He does this for his wife’s family, who have their own strange and mysterious reason for wanting the power of a wish.

Magical Girl Raising Project (2016 – )

Reddit user Chariotwheel praises Magical Girl Raising Project saying, “It’s cute magical girls slaughtering each other, what’s not to love?” In this series, a social network game provides players with the chance to become iconic magical girls. However, too many people take the opportunity, and the company decides to start taking these powers away from the poorest performing girl – and some players take the matter of elimination into their own hands.

The brutal violence mixed with cutesy outfits is quickly becoming a classic anime trope, but the visual execution of this series is among the best yet. While it certainly wouldn’t be anyone’s first choice for a live-action anime adaptation, this show will be sitting atop favorite lists for years.

Record Of Ragnarok (2021 – )

Redditor Got70TypesOfMalware recommends Record of Ragnarok. The Redditor enjoys the “Gods vs humanities greatest monsters” premise. While the monsters among men are a focus, there are many combatants, both good and bad. The series does good work in providing a relatively even playing ground for the humans, while not taking away from the might of the godly combatants.

The first season shows a good number of incredible fights, with historical and mythical figures ranging from China’s Lü Bu to the First Man Adam. And the creativity in combatants is as impressive as the animation, making the anime rank among the best animated Netflix series.

Future Diary (2011 – 2013)

One of the earliest in this sub-genre of anime, Future Diary continues to be recommended. Reddit user Thufir_My_Hawat calls this series “The original Battle Royal ripoff. Yuno Gasai is the poster child of the genre.” The story of Future Diary is that 12 people are given diaries that record up to 90 days into the future.

With the power to know what is coming, these 12 are competing to essentially replace god himself and prevent an apocalypse. This series is unlike others in that there are few true “battles.” Instead, it is a much more slow-burning, cerebral series that might be best for viewers seeking a more thoughtful take on the concept.

Alice In Borderlands (2014 – 2015)

While this series has also been released as a live-action adaptation (with the “s”), the original Alice in Borderlands anime is suggested by Redditor indianajones564. They state that the anime is  “more psychological and gritty” than most other takes on the genre.

A do-nothing young man is out with his three friends when a strange firework blinds them. They suddenly find themselves in the Borderland, where survivors must succeed at games to stay alive. While most battle royal series show protagonists taking things in stride, Alice in Borderlands is more realistic in the way it portrays the reactions and emotions of those participating.

Juuni Taisen: Zodiac War (2017)

Redditor ItsEnder warns that this anime is far more hectic than many others: “The story covers what could easily be an entire multi-season series worth of plot in twelve episodes.” Juuni Taisen depicts a grand battle that takes place every 12 years: the Zodiac War. Twelve warriors, each representing one of the animals of the Chinese zodiac, are pitted against each other in a battle to the death.

Much like many of these other series, the reward is one wish of the winners choosing. The hectic nature of this series comes from the fact that it takes place over the course of just twelve hours, as is befitting the theme. While the action is fast, the characters endear themselves faster – each combatant has a wish that makes the audience want to root for them.

World Trigger (2014 – )

The claim made by Redditor sneaky_squirrel is that fans of chaotic action will love World Trigger, where characters “use swords, shields, casting, guns, snipers, jump pads, walls, radar cloak, full invisibility, etc.” The general story of World Trigger is that strange creatures called “neighbors” begin appearing all over the world. And only people with “Triggers,” or strange energy that can be used in battle, can fight back.

World Trigger takes place fairly far along in the story. In a tale as old as anime itself, the main characters find themselves fighting in a large-scale training tournament. While the in-media-res treatment is difficult to manage, viewers are given information at a reasonable pace, from the start.

Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online (2018 – )

This mouthful of a series is an entry in the Sword Art Online universe, though no prior experience is necessary for viewing. Redditor LegitPancak3 says that “Sword Art Online Alternative: GGO show was basically Fortnite/Pubg the anime”. The original Sword Art Online anime is simple enough to understand – ten thousand people are trapped in a VR game on launch day.

The characters have strong personalities, and the main characters work together well as they fight to survive the game. While this anime doesn’t fall into the standard trope of ‘dying in the game means dying in real life,’ the very emotionally tangible characters get you invested enough to feel the game’s stakes. This may be a lighter take on the sub-genre, but it’s no less enjoyable for it.

Darwin’s Game (2020 – )

Reddit user Ottomowha suggests Darwin’s Game, noting that the anime stands out because “everyone has unique sigils and competes in either battles or battle royale events.” The titular game is an app that the protagonist opens up on a whim. Upon opening the game, he is marked with a barcode, given a special power called a “sigil,” and is told the only way to stop playing is to win.

The “game” part of Darwin’s Game is ever-present. Players are given points when defeating other players or succeeding in fictional board and card games. These points are usable for gacha – a random item draw – or exchangeable for real money. The end goals of the game slowly develop over time, but the real draw of the game is the unique powers that characters are given, like re-creating any object they’ve touched before.

The Law Of Ueki (2005 – )

A surprisingly popular type of battle royale is a grand competition that leads to the winner being crowned as the next god. This basic plot is twisted in The Law of Ueki, suggested by Redditor DurianMooncake. They praise the tight composition of the series, saying, “[the] story wraps up nicely, no cliff hangers.” One hundred celestial beings are competing to become the next god, but rather than fight directly, they choose champions from among high-school students.

The Redditor also notes that a unique facet of the series is that each competitor can take a “talent” from defeated opponents, meaning “the talent to sing, dance, write, run, being popular, etc.” This gives every battle uniquely high and intimate stakes for every competitor.

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