Best Anime For DnD Fans

Dungeons and Dragons


is perhaps the most ubiquitous story-telling medium that everyone can use. People can craft unique characters from dozens of races, moral alignments, and backgrounds. Beyond that,

DnD

DMs can create wholly immersive journeys or choose from pre-made stories that everyone will enjoy. The sheer impact this tabletop RPG has had is truly immense, inspiring many quality video games and defining a generation of people who loved getting lost in these rich fantasy worlds.

The idea of adventuring as a group of heroes to fight against a great evil is a simple yet engaging concept that can be present in a myriad of unique ways with this game. It’s a wonderful time that people can spend with their friends, and any anime fans who want to see a campaign of

DnD

play out on their screens should check out some intense shows that capture the magic of this tabletop RPG.

Updated on November 24, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra:



Dungeons and Dragons is a popular tabletop role-playing game that is way more influential than anyone can imagine. The legendary TTRPG has inspired many tropes in the realm of fantasy and continues to play a major role in letting people get lost in vast, imaginative worlds with lots of things to do. There are many

DnD-like anime

that definitely elicit the same feeling of wonder and adventure in their own unique way.

22


Goblin Slayer

A Dark Fantasy Show With Many Adventurers Who Have Varied Abilities

Goblin Slayer

is a show that became very popular in no small part because of the controversy surrounding its opening episode. The show takes a rather bold approach on how to portray its titular monsters in the game.

Goblins truly are heinous creatures, and the Goblin Slayer has become so powerful mainly because of the strength he displays against these nightmarish creatures. Shock value aside, fans of DnD can definitely check

Goblin Slayer

to see what makes it so special.

21


That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime

The Protagonist Is A Shapeshifting Slime In A Sword & Sorcery World

The isekai genre has taken off, and

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

is certainly riding this wave of popularity right now. It helps that the premise of this series sets it apart from other contemporaries, with most people wondering how an uninteresting slime can be a great protagonist.

The fact that this slime can shapeshift certainly makes it more interesting. The main protagonist decides to create a nation full of monsters, setting him on a collision course with many powerful characters in the series.

20


Sword Art Online

Focused On Virtual Reality MMORPG Worlds

Sword Art Online


is an anime everyone loves to hate, and it’s pretty unfair that this show has become such a punching bag despite having some great moments. The show wasn’t afraid to take risks at times, even if the character writing could be all over the place and suck out any fun from the series.

However, once viewers stop placing this isekai anime on a pedestal, they can genuinely be invested in the show and what it aims to provide — a simple yet engaging story that may not push any boundaries… but serve as a great popcorn thriller, if nothing else.

19


Fairy Tail

A World Populated By Wizards In Many Guilds

A shonen series that is easy to digest and

features

some great character moments,

Fairy Tail

is a fun anime that fans can get into if they have a thing for


DnD

and anime

. The scenarios that characters find themselves in time and time again are pretty imaginative… even if some people feel that the series’ reliance on camaraderie and the power of friendship can be a bit too much to fathom.

Regardless, this simplicity is a huge reason why fans got into


Fairy Tail


in the first place. Natsu Dragneel is an entertaining protagonist, even if he doesn’t really bring anything new to the table. This, coupled with the awe-inspiring fights, make this series pretty engaging, if somewhat trite.

18


Claymore

A Dark Fantasy Anime With Sword-Wielding Heroines

Claymore


is a dark fantasy series with a pretty unique setting, featuring a group of blonde heroines who have the skills required to hunt down and defeat many tough yoma who are terrorizing the land. The protagonist of this series is Clare, one of the weakest Claymores, who aims to avenge a close friend who was killed by a horrifying Awakened Being who is pretty powerful.

It’s a shame that the anime ended with an original conclusion instead of adapting the full series, but fans can always read the

manga

if they’re invested in the storyline. It’s a great series that feels like a dark and dangerous


DnD

anime

, with many nefarious forces aiming to strike the heroes where they stand.

17


The Rising Of The Shield Hero

An Isekai Anime Where The Hero Masters A Powerful Shield To Become Unmatched In Combat

Isekai anime has become all the rage in modern times, with


The Rising of the Shield Hero


being one of the many shows that are capitalizing on this genre’s current popularity. The series takes a look at an unfortunate hero who is transported into a different world, where he instantly reaches rock bottom after a series of unfortunate events.

However, Naofumi slowly comes to realize just how powerful and useful his shield is. His journey from a reviled hero into a respected one is a joy to witness, and fans can’t wait to see how this adventure will pan out in later seasons!

16


Demon Slayer

Slayers Use Breathing Styles Of Different Elements, Emulating Them In Their Movements

Demon Slayer


is one of the biggest anime around right now, with fans eagerly awaiting the newest season. The story of Tanjiro and his friends, as they get stronger and tackle more powerful demons, has all the hallmarks of a traditional

DnD

adventure with a darker twist.

The different breathing styles can be interpreted as different classes in the show as well, with each character’s breathing style corresponding quite well with their personality.

Demon Slayer

is not going away anytime soon, even with the manga already reaching its conclusion.

15


Log Horizon

An Isekai Anime Where Characters Focus On Different Classes

Log Horizon


is another isekai series, making it an easy show to recommend for fans of

DnD

. After all, this show takes place in an MMORPG that conforms to most of the traditional rules and stats that had their foundations set by

Dungeons & Dragons

!

It helps that the story of

Log Horizon

is also quite impressive in its own right, with the world-building present in the anime being surprisingly engaging. It might flow a bit too slowly for some people, but viewers who stick through these moments will find themselves enjoying one of the better isekai anime around.

14


Berserk

A Dark Fantasy Anime With Numerous Iconic Moments That Have Shaped The Genre

Berserk


is one of the most popular seinen manga of all time, penned by the late great Kentaro Miura. This legendary mangaka has penned some of the most gorgeous manga panels of all time, with the story of Guts and his need for revenge being quite compelling in its own right.

The fantasy world of

Berserk

is a perfect fit for fans of

DnD

who want to check out something dark and interesting. It helps that Guts and his companions are extremely compelling characters that will keep fans hooked regardless of whether they’re checking out the anime or manga!

13


Golden Kamuy

Focuses On A Treasure Hunt With A Rotating Party

Fans might scratch their heads at this recommendation, given that it is set after the Russo-Japanese War from 1904 – 1905, but the plot is essentially a treasure hunt with a rotating party, and there’s a large focus on food.


Golden Kamuy


shines in its ability to fuse found family motifs with exciting action and characters who, though they might make bad choices, are irresistibly likable.

DnD

fans will most appreciate the show’s ability to imbue every moment with lore. From learning about the Ainu to Abashiri Prison and the characters’ own lives, the anime is full of wonderful details.

12


Grimgar: Ashes And Illusions

An Isekai Anime Focused On Set Rules That Make Every Battle A Dance Of Death

On the surface, isekai anime sounds like they are made for

Dungeons & Dragons

fans since they are literally about ordinary people being teleported to fantastical worlds. However, many isekai feature an immediately overpowered protagonist and “chosen one” stories, two things that are generally avoided in

DnD

.

Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions


is an exception. The isekai anime follows a group of teenagers teleported to a cutthroat world based on game logic, and they are notably weak. Simple battles against low-level enemies are fights to the death, and the characters must work cohesively as a party to survive. Unfortunately, the anime is quite short and slow-paced, so it lacks the epic sense of progression found in

DnD

narratives.

11


Slayers

A Treasure Hunt With A Wide Cast Of Memorable Characters

This is another classic

DnD-

inspired anime that everyone should watch. Though older, it ages well with eye-catching visuals and unique character designs.


Slayers


can be pretty goofy at times, but that’s part of the fun of

DnD

campaigns, right?

This shares the same trait of

Golden Kamuy

in that, at its heart, it is a treasure hunt. It also makes a great anime to watch with friends, too.

10


Fire Force

Based On How Characters Use Their Abilities, They Can Certainly Fall Into Different Classes

Having recently wrapped up its second season with a huge reveal,


Fire Force


stands out as one the most popular shows on this list for 2020. Each episode seems to reveal another unique fire-related ability or a juicy detail about The Evangelist. Beyond its epic action scenes and great lore, there’s much for

DnD

fans to enjoy about the show.

All of the characters seem to fall into distinct classes based on their abilities. For instance, Arthur is a self-proclaimed Knight (read: Paladin), while Maki is a “fire witch.” Joker is basically Gambit in terms of powers, and Captain Obi is an OP, unpowered Fighter ready for anything. Though there is so much more to be revealed about the world, the show has created a truly fantastic world full of narrative opportunities.

9


Little Witch Academia

The VR broom racing game was a bit of a non-starter, but this show deserves all the love in the world. Not only is it a fantastic show about all kinds of female characters, but it also establishes hard and fast rules about its magic system early on. Without spoiling too much, there is only a finite amount of magic, so batteries often get used making for a techno-fantastical setting.

But the characters also show off unique talents and skills that could be labeled as classes. For instance, Sucy, one of the main characters, absolutely LOVES poison and mushrooms; she could be a necromancer. Another character, Constanze Amalie von Braunschbank Albrechtsberger, has a touch of engineer or artificer about her. Fans of the show will already know who the Bard is.

8


Konosuba: God’s Blessing On This Wonderful World!

A Hilarious Isekai Anime With Characters Comfortably Falling Under Certain Classes

For a party that consists of a goddess, a powerful mage, and a crusader,


Konosuba


‘s heroes sure get into a lot of trouble. A comedy series that essentially parodies isekai tropes,

Konosuba

is the

anime equivalent of a



DnD



campaign

featuring a hilariously dysfunctional party.

The irreverent Kazuma dies and then revives in a fantasy world. Mostly due to his own doing, the protagonist finds himself saddled with a trio of heroines who are sporadically useful and frequently catastrophic. They go on adventures, make plenty of mistakes, and occasionally take on massive threats.

7


Yu Yu Hakusho

Party-Based Fighting, With Each Character Having Unique Powers

Perhaps as loved as

Sailor Moon

or


Dragon Ball

Z

,


Yu Yu Hakusho


follows the spirit detective Yusuke as he trains to fight spirits and demons as a teenager with a single mom (as one does). But there’s precedent for

DnD

fans already adapting the show’s universe for campaigns and one-offs.

Between demons like Hiei and Kurama to characters like Jin, who is basically a wind Genasi Fighter,

DnD

fans will dig the action and appreciate the epic Drips from Team Urameshi.

6


Escaflowne

Excellent World-Building Where Magic And Science Work In Tandem

Though people can watch the film version of this, the anime


Visions of Escaflowne


has a bit more breathing room for story-telling. The world walks that line between science and magic in the best way possible. It also employs the “fish out of water” trope in that the main character gets plucked from a modern-day setting.

DnD

fans will fall in love with the world-building in the show. The main character gets involved in a war for dominance led by the Zaibach Empire, gets caught in a love triangle, and also there’s a big robot made of dragon bones. Swap that out for a Githyanki warrior and his Red Dragon, and that’s a solid foundation for a campaign right there.

5


Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon?

Dungeon Crawling With A Generous Helping Of Comedy

The country of Orario revolves entirely around a dungeon designed to attract guilds and heroes searching for glory. Through commitment, skill, and a whole lot of grinding, these adventures can move up the dungeon’s levels, becoming stronger along the way. Bell wants to be one of these heroes, but he lacks the physical prowess to shine. At least, that is the case until he gains a power that allows him to level up quickly.

Cheesy title aside,


Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?


is an enjoyable adventure anime with an earnest lead, a solid supporting cast, and a power system that balances combat mastery with arbitrary stats. While Bell is undoubtedly the protagonist, he does gain a party quite quickly, giving the show a more


DnD

anime

vibe.

4


Magi: The Labyrinth Of Magic

Characters With Clear-Cut Abilities In A Show That Focuses On Dungeon Crawling

No

DnD

campaign is complete without some kind of dungeon crawl. This quest is where


Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic


begins and is inspired by

Arabian Nights

. The show follows Aladdin and Alibaba as competing groups target them for Aladdin’s genie.

The classes of the characters, as with other shows on this list, are also clear-cut, like they would be in a campaign. It can be a great source of inspiration for campaigns or character ideas for DMs and players alike.

3


Soul Eater

Unique Fighting Styles Featuring People Who Can Transform Into Weapons

Atsushi Okubo, who writes and draws

Fire Force

, also created


Soul Eater


. It follows weapon meisters who wield weapons to fight evil people trying to devour souls. Also, the weapons are actually people who morph into these weapons, and witches are almost always coded as villainous.

Though a little more focused on character development, the show still excels at developing unique fighting styles across its cast. It’s a master class in how to create a solid storyline, and it is very entertaining and silly, too.