5 Anime Set Inside RPGs That Will Keep You Addicted
#1. Sword Art Online
You knew it was going to be on this list from the start. This anime has dwarfed all other series in popularity and impact. Sure, some people may not have loved the adaptation but it is a testament to how many fans just want to live inside an RPG (and possibly have a harem.) The main story is you follow Kirito as he tries to save his friends from either the RPG itself or a mysterious killer. But you probably have already watched it or heard enough about it from your friends, if not - go watch at least the first episode today.
#2. Log Horizon
The smarter, more logical RPG themed anime that is constantly compared to Sword Art Online because they both have players trapped inside the game. It boasts less plot holes and more consistency but has a very slow start that leads into intense world building - which means there's a lot of talk about politics, economics, and things you might not be into (at first!) As anyone who has watched the show will tell you, the story progression is fulfilling and the focus of the hero is not his strength but his strategy skills (think Lelouch of Code Geass in an RPG). If you're okay with dialog heavy shows, Log Horizon can deliver as a well rounded and unique shounen.
#3. Overlord
So many people jumped over this gem because they couldn't connect with a protagonist who has a skeleton face (maybe they have the same issue with Brooke in One Piece.) In both SAO and Log Horizon, the heroes are trying to get out of the game while in Overlord the hero is happy to stay in it. The NPCs make up the cast and the hero is even pretty meh about death himself so in some ways it's like a fantasy romp with no real worries, just the thrill of the game. Fans often fight over if it's a good or bad show (which everyone has their own opinion so bit of a moot point) so the most honest thing to share is that is has it's tropes but strays from some shounen norms. RPG fans are likely to enjoy it but it's a toss up for others.
#4. .hack//Sign
Before all the others, there was .hack and it was glorious. The music is weird and enchanting plus it hides so many secrets inside the show since the main character wakes up with amnesia then for some reason can't log out while others easily can. Some compare the hero to Shinji Ikari of Evangelion so maybe skip this if you can't stand characters having to struggle with themselves and being a bit of a weeanie sometimes. It's not filled with action, it leans more towards mystery and almost slice of confusing life. But it's still epic
#5. Is It Wrong To Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon?
Better known as DanMachi and infamous for Hestia's blue ribbon, this show is like an airy trounce through harem RPG world. The pacing is fast, even if the content isn't exactly high-brow and often falls into really silly or fanservice-ey territory. They actually live in an RPG world so there's no running to get in or out of the game (like most other RPG anime) so there's not a huge amount of struggle or fighting for anything high stakes. It's a guilty pleasure watch and you're probably watching for Hestia.
