Darwin’s Game is an anime with a mystery and adventure theme that also involves supernatural powers. It is based on a fictional virtual game that brings out the survival instinct in the people that have to play it. If you love mystery and death game scenes where the characters are often forced to confront their own fears then here are my top 10 anime like Darwin’s Game
1. Gantz
Kei Kurono, a self-centered and selfish teenager who saves a homeless man from being hit by a train, is the focus of “Gantz”, a dark, violent, and suspenseful anime series. When Kei and other recently deceased people wake up in a mysterious room, they meet a black orb called “Gantz.” By participating in a series of dangerous missions, the orb offers them a chance to return to life.
It is their responsibility to hunt down and kill alien creatures that have invaded the Earth. The team is equipped with advanced weapons and technology, but the missions are not easy, and many of them die. In a desperate attempt to escape their predicament, Kei and his friend Masaru Kato, a virtuous and brave high school student, become leaders of the group.
Throughout the story, the group becomes increasingly aware of the mysterious Gantz and the truth behind their situation. They face a variety of challenges, including rival groups who are also participating in Gantz’s missions, as well as dangerous alien creatures that become increasingly powerful.
There are personal struggles and fears faced by each character throughout the series. With difficult decisions and moral dilemmas, Kei and Kato must make tough choices with life-changing consequences, testing their friendship
Gantz and Darwin’s Game are both anime series that feature high-stakes battles against powerful opponents in a dark and violent setting. In both anime, the main characters are forced to participate in dangerous battles where their lives are at stake. The battles in both series are often intense, bloody, and unpredictable.
2. Gleipnir
Gleipnir is a dark anime like Darwin’s game that follows the story of Shuichi Kagaya, a high school student who discovers that he can transform into a giant monster by wearing a fuzzy mascot costume. Clair Aoki, a girl who knows about his secret, coerces him into joining her in a deadly game where they hunt other people who have similar abilities.
Clair and Shuichi must navigate a dangerous world filled with powerful individuals who want to exploit and control them as the story progresses. Their quest to discover the truth about the mysterious organization behind the game and the origins of their powers leads them to encounter others with unique abilities. Some of them become allies, while others become enemies.
The characters in the series struggle with their own personal demons and emotional struggles. Shuichi deals with his own sense of identity and guilt over past traumas, while Clair seeks the truth about her sister’s disappearance. As the characters navigate the violent and unpredictable world in which they find themselves, they often face difficult moral dilemmas and make difficult decisions.
As the story culminates, Shuichi and Clair battle their most powerful adversaries in order to protect their loved ones and discover the truth about their abilities in a dramatic finale. There are many plot points left unresolved and many questions unanswered in the series ending, which is intense and bittersweet.
3. Battle Game in 5 Seconds
Battle Game in 5 Seconds is an anime like Darwin’s Game, it shares some similarities in their premises and themes such as high-stakes battles, the characters in both series are often forced to confront their own fears, weaknesses, and personal demons in order to survive the battles.
Battle Game in 5 Seconds follows a young man named Akira Shiroyanagi has a unique ability to analyze and predict his opponent’s moves in battles. He is kidnapped and brought to an underground facility where he is forced to participate in a deadly game where he must fight against other individuals with supernatural abilities.
As the story progresses, Akira and his allies must navigate a dangerous and unpredictable world where they are constantly under threat of attack. They encounter other individuals with unique abilities and form alliances with some of them while fighting against others. The characters are often forced to make difficult decisions and confront moral dilemmas as they navigate the violent and unpredictable world they find themselves.
Throughout the series, the characters’ pasts and motivations are slowly revealed, and the audience learns more about the mysterious organization behind the game. As the stakes become higher and the games become more dangerous, Akira and his allies must fight to protect their loved ones and uncover the truth behind the game.
4. Alice in Borderland
Ryohei Arisu is an OP MC who finds himself in an alternate world where he must endure deadly games in order to survive. As Ryohei solves puzzles and overcomes challenges with his friends Karube and Chota, he must avoid deadly traps and dangerous opponents while using his wits and skills.
As they progress through the games, Ryohei and his friends discover that the stakes are much higher than they initially thought. Other individuals have been brought to this world and must fight to survive, as well as a mysterious organization that seems to be behind everything. With constant threats of attack, Ryohei and his friends must navigate an unpredictable and dangerous world.
Throughout the series, Ryohei and his friends must use their skills and wits to overcome ruthless killers and clever tricksters.
Ryohei and his friends begin to unravel the mysteries of the alternate world and the organization behind it as the series progresses. An obvious theme like Darwin’s Game. They uncover dark secrets and conspiracies that threaten to destroy everything they hold dear.
5. Kami no Tou (Tower of God)
Kami no Tou and Darwin’s Game are both anime series that follow a similar format of a strong male MC entering a mysterious game-like world where they must compete in a series of life-or-death challenges in order to survive. Both series feature characters with unique abilities and skills who must use their wits and strategy to overcome their opponents and advance to the next level of the game.
The anime is based on the popular manhwa Tower of God by SIU. A young boy named Twenty-Fifth Bam lives in an isolated cave with his only friend, Rachel, for all of his life. In an attempt to locate Rachel, Bam discovers a mysterious tower that grants wishes to those who climb it. One day, Rachel suddenly disappears, and Bam is determined to find her.
When Bam enters the tower to find Rachel, he quickly discovers that he must pass a series of tests on every floor before getting to the next one. Each test is designed to assess a participant’s physical and mental abilities, and the challenges become increasingly challenging as the tower grows.
Through the tower, Bam encounters a variety of other participants, each one with their own unique abilities and motivations. Among the participants, he befriends are Khun Aguero Agnes, a charismatic and powerful swordsman, and Hatz, a skilled and beautiful swordsman. Together, they form a team and promise to reach the summit together.
However, they soon discover that the tower is not what it seems, and that powerful forces are at work trying to manipulate and control the participants. In a complex and dangerous world where other participants and powerful forces seek to manipulate the tower for their own ends, Bam and his friends must navigate a constantly changing world.
It is as if Bam and his friends are discovering dark secrets and conspiracies that threaten to destroy the tower and everything they hold dear as the series progresses.
6. Danganronpa
A group of high school students is selected to attend a prestigious school for elites called Hope’s Peak Academy, which is based on a popular video game franchise. However, they soon find themselves trapped inside the school by a sadistic bear named Monokuma, who informs them that the only way to escape is to kill one of their fellow students and get away with it.
The students are given a set of rules to follow, including attending daily meetings and investigations, as well as participating in class trials to determine the identity of the killer. While Monokuma and his minions try to sow discord and chaos among the students, the trials are filled with intense debates, as the students must use logic and reasoning to expose the killer.
Throughout the series, the students discover dark secrets and conspiracies that threaten their lives. As for similarities to Darwin’s Game, both anime features a group of characters forced to survive a deadly game. The series shares a similar premise of being trapped in a confined space.
However, Danganronpa is a more complex and character-driven series, with a focus on the psychological and emotional impact of the characters’ experiences.
7. Btooom!
Ryouta Sakamoto is transported to a deserted island and forced to participate in a deadly game. He discovers that he has been chosen to play a real-life version of a popular online game called Btooom!, where players are armed with bombs and must eliminate their opponents to win.
Ryouta, who is a top-ranked Btooom! player, quickly realizes that the stakes are much higher in this real-life game, as he battles against other players with his strategic skills and instincts for survival. He teams up with other players, including a girl named Himiko, who also has her own tragic story.
Btooom! is an anime like Darwin’s game that shows the true nature of humans and the main focus is to show humans when faced with dark situations. For example, killing someone would have been a huge deal for many but in Botoom! Ryouta just kills someone without a second thought, it is because once faced with such a situation the focus shifts from our morals and ethics and becomes more of a problem-solving situation where you just need to get out of there alive for your own sake.
8. Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva
The anime follows the adventures of Professor Hershel Layton, a brilliant and eccentric archaeologist, and his apprentice Luke Triton, as they investigate a mysterious incident at an opera house.
The story takes place during the grand opening of an opera house, where a famous opera singer named Janice Quatlane is scheduled to perform. However, when Janice suddenly disappears during the performance, Professor Layton and Luke are called in to investigate. As they delve deeper into the mystery, they discover a sinister plot involving a lost civilization and a powerful ancient artifact known as the Eternal Life.
The series has a strong emphasis on the bond between Professor Layton and Luke, as they work together to uncover the truth and solve the case.
In terms of similarities to Darwin’s Game, both Layton Kyouju to Eien no Utahime and Darwin’s Game involve a series of challenges and puzzles that the characters must solve in order to progress. They both feature a unique blend of mystery and adventure, as the characters uncover the truth behind the events taking place around them. However, while Darwin’s Game has a darker and more violent tone, Layton Kyouju to Eien no Utahime is more lighthearted and family-friendly, with a focus on humor and puzzles that can be enjoyed by viewers of all ages.
9. Bus Gamer
Bus Gamer is a short anime series that follows the adventures of three young men who participate in a dangerous game known as “Bus Game.” The game takes place on a moving bus, where the players must battle against each other to obtain a suitcase filled with money. Yep, it’s much like “Speed”. The game has no rules, and the players are free to use any means necessary to win.
There are three main characters: Toki Mishiba, Nobuto Nakajyo, and Kazuo Saitou. They are all experienced gamers who are recruited by a mysterious man named Sudou to participate in the Bus Game. In order to win the game, the three players form a team and work together.
Players will face increasingly challenging challenges as the game progresses, including rivals who will use deadly force to win. The series also explores the characters’ backstories and the dangers associated with taking part in such a high-stakes game.
In comparison to “Darwin’s Game,” both are intense action. Yet, Bus Gamer takes a more pared-down and realistic approach, honing in on the psychological and physical effects that the challenge has on the characters. Moreover, each episode has its own individual mission.
10. GetBackers
GetBackers is a shonen anime series that follows the adventures of Ban Mido and Ginji Amano, two young men who run a retrieval service called “GetBackers.” They specialize in recovering lost or stolen items, no matter how difficult or dangerous the task is.
The series is set in a fictional version of Tokyo where supernatural powers are not uncommon, and the characters frequently encounter people with special abilities. Ban and Ginji themselves have unique powers: Ban has the ability to create illusions and manipulate the five senses, while Ginji has the power to generate electricity.
As the series progresses, Ban and Ginji are hired to retrieve increasingly difficult and dangerous items, ranging from a kidnapped child to a rare gemstone to a nuclear warhead. They often encounter rival retrieval teams and other adversaries who stand in their way, as well as various clients with their own agendas and motivations.
In terms of similarities to Darwin’s Game, both anime feature a diverse cast of characters with unique abilities who engage in battles and competitions. However, GetBackers has a more light-hearted and comedic tone, with a focus on the dynamic between Ban and Ginji and their interactions with the other characters. The series also has a more episodic structure, with each episode featuring a different retrieval mission for the main characters.
