Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions is an Isekai where the choice is to kill or be killed. There are no respawns. Dead is dead. But it focus more on the emotions, relations, and daily grind to survive of the character than the action it self.
Our recommendations for more anime similar to Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions is mostly other Isekai animes, and they are not all so much focused on the drama instead of the action as Grimgar is. But most should be to your taste if you like Grimgar.
We have also added a few recommendations from other mediums. Most of them are LitRPG books that have similar aspects to Grimgar.
Check out this article for the Best Isekai Anime Recommendations if you want more in this genre.
Description:
People are thrown into a foreign land with nothing but hazy memories and the knowledge of their name. This group of strangers is given no other choice than to accept the only paying job in this game-like world, the role of a soldier in the Reserve Army.
The Reserve Army has one goal, to eliminate anything that threatens the people in the world of Grimgar.
All the strong people join together and those remaining have to band together to survive in this world.
One such group of leftovers is lead by the charismatic priest Manato. The other members are the nervous thief Haruhiro, the cheerful hunter Yume, the shy mage Shihoru, the kind warrior Mogxo, the rowdy dark knight Ranta. Together they struggle to survive this harsh world.
Despite its game-like resemblance, this is no game. There are no respawns or do-overs.
Grimgar is a kill or be killed world.
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Table of Context
- Animes like Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions
- The Rising of the Shield Hero
- Re: Zero - Starting Life in Another World
- KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!
- ERASED
- Overlord
- Sword Art Online
- Log Horizon
- Books like Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions
- The Two Week Curse (Ten Realms #1) by Michael Chatfield
- The Land: Founding (Chaos Seeds #1)
- Street Cultivation (Street Cultivation #1) by Sarah Lin
- Ritualist (Completionist Chronicles #1) by Dakota Krout
- Rogue Dungeon: A litRPG Adventure (The Rogue Dungeon #1) by James A. Hunter
- Comments
Animes like Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions
The Rising of the Shield Hero
Naofumi Iwatani is an otaku from Japan. He and three other Japanese people are summoned to another world to become The Four Cardinal Heroes.
The Four Cardinal Heroes are respectively given a sword, spear, bow, and shield. They are each called the Sword Hero, the Spear Hero, the Bow Hero, and lastly the Shield Hero.
Their task is to vanquish Waves of monsters. The Waves are monsters summoned from another plane to attack and destroy everything. They are summoned in regular waves.
Naofumi is cursed with the fate of becoming the Shield Hero.
Armed with only a measly shield, Naofumi is belittled and ridiculed by his fellow heroes and the kingdom's people due to his weak offensive capabilities. His lackluster personality does also not help his case.
They were summoned by the kingdom of Melromarc. The kingdom provides the heroes with some recourses and comrades to train with to prepare for the Waves.
The only person willing to help Naofumi, the Shield Hero, is Malty Melromarc, a princess of the kingdom. However, she soon betrays him by stealing his resources and falsy causing him of taking advantage of her.
This causes Naofumi to be discriminated against and hated by the people of Melromarc for something he didn't do.
Full of hurt and mistrust Naofumi begins his journey of strengthening himself. He buys the demi-human Raphtalia, a slave on the verge of death. He wants her to accompany him on his travels.
Raphtaliathe is the sword to Naofumis shield.
Is The Rising of the Shield Hero good?
The Rising of the Shield Hero is a good anime. It's interesting to watch the main character dealing with having everyone against him and growing stronger.
It has an interesting gamelike progression and a decent story and characters.
This anime is not a masterpiece, it's not among the best. It's only recommended if you like anime or like these kinds of Isekai/LitRPG kind of stories.
Re: Zero - Starting Life in Another World
As Subaru Natsuki leaves the convenience store he is transported into a fantasy world. He soon gets attacked by some brutes but he is saved by the mysterious beauty named Satella. She stumbled upon him as she was pursuing a thief that stole her insignia. Subaru offers to help in her search for the thief as thanks for the rescue.
Later that night Subaru finds the thief, but unbeknownst to them, a much darker force stalks the pair from the shadows.
Just minutes after locating the insignia, Subaru and Satella are brutally murdered. However, Subaru immediately reawakens.
Subaru finds himself confronted by the same group of brutes and meeting Satella all over again. The exact same way, but they don't remember him.
Is Re: Zero - Starting Life in Another World good?
Re: Zero is darker than most anime in this genre, and the groundhog day like aspect to it also differs from the norm. Its a good and different anime in its genre.
Re: Zero is a very good anime.
KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!
Kazuma Satou is a shut-in high school student, a NEET, and he has just died on his way home from buying a game. Now he finds himself sitting before a beautiful but obnoxious goddess named Aqua.
Aqua makes Kazuma choose between going to heaven or to reincarnate in a real gamelike fantasy world. The gamer in Kazuma makes him choose the fantasy world option.
Aqua tasks Kazumawith defeating a Demon King who is terrorizing the fantasy world. Kazuma is given the option to choose one item of any kind to aid him in his quest. He chooses to take the goddess Aqua herself.
But Kazuma has made one grave mistake. Aqua is completely useless!
As if that is not enough, it turns out that actually living in a fantasy world is far different from how it is in games. Instead of going on a thrilling adventure, they must first work to pay for their living expenses.
Indeed, their misfortunes have only just begun!
Is KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! good?
KonoSuba is a popular anime with a loyal fanbase.
It's a very good Isekai Anime with a humoristic twist on the genre.
It has hilarious storylines, lovable characters, and stunning animation.
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ERASED
Satoru Fujinuma is a detached 29-year-old struggling manga artist.
Satoru has the supernatural ability to go back in time before someone dies to prevent it. He calls his ability Revival.
But when Satoru is wrongfully accused of murdering someone close to him he is sent back 18 years in the past. Only to find himself as a grade-schooler again.
Soon, he realizes that the current murder may be connected to the abduction and killing of one of his classmates.
This is his chance to make things right. Both in the past and the present.
Is ERASED good?
ERASED is an OK anime. If your looking for a new anime and want a mystery drama with time travel elements then thin might be for you.
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Overlord
Momonga is a powerful wizard and master of the dark guild Ainz Ooal Gown int the popular virtual reality game Yggdrasil.
The final hour before the game shuts down for god has come and he decides to stay logged in during this event.
To his surprise, despite the clock having struck midnight, and all the servers should have been shut down, Momonga is still fully conscious inside his game character.
What's even more strange is that all the NPCs appear to suddenly have developed personalities of their own.
Surprised by this strange occurrence, Momonga decides to investigate and take control of this new world to figure out the cause and to see if there are others like him.
Is Overlord good?
I recommend this anime, but only if you like this genre. Its one of the better "trapped in RPG game world" animes.
Sword Art Online
Sword Art Online (SAO), a massive online role-playing game, is launched.
It uses "NerveGear" technology, a technology that lets players control their avatars within the game using nothing but their own thoughts.
Kazuto Kirigaya is one player among ten-thousand others that logs on to SAO as it launches. He was a beta tester for the game, so he has a leg up over most of the others.
The players soon realize they cannot log out. The game’s creator has trapped them in his new world until they complete all one hundred levels of the game.
Is Sword Art Online good?
The animation and sound work is good. Sword Art Online worth watching, but only if you like this kind of animes.
Log Horizon
MMORPG gamers find themself transported into the game they play.
Shiroe and the others in Log Horizon attempt to live their lives out in the new world they find themselves trapped in.
They form governments, deal with NPCs and other players.
Is Log Horizon good?
Log Horizon is a very good anime. It`s about more than simple fighting.
Books like Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions
Below are some book recommendations similar to Grimgar.Most of them are in the closely related LitRPG genre.
Read more in this article if you want to know more about LitRPG and get some recommendations.
The Two Week Curse (Ten Realms #1) by Michael Chatfield
Erik and Rugrat are both combat veterans, Erik is a combat medic and Rugrat is a Marine Recon sniper. During a mercenary trip guarding some shady copper mine owners, they are caught in an ambush and Erik ends up losing his legs and his arm.
And to top it off, they both get the Two Week Curse.
It's a strange sickness where they get a strange message saying that they have been randomly selected to join the Ten Realms. And that one may choose to ascend the Ten Realms, thereupon making a request to the Gods of the Realms.
People who get this curse dissipates in a bright flash after exactly two weeks.
As the harden veterans they are, they do their best to prepare for what is going to happen. When the two weeks are up they are teleported to a new strange world where people can rank up as in a game and cultivate their internal power.
Is Ten Realms good?
The Ten Realms Series is not the absolute best of its genre, but it is absolutely worth reading. Especially for people that are interested in the LitRPG and Cultivation/Wuxia genres.
It's interesting to see how Erik and Rugrat use their military knowledge and comradery to take on their new strange circumstances.
One of the major problems with the series is that Eric and Rugrath soon become too powerful. And the initial preparation part before they get to the new world is too long.
The Land: Founding (Chaos Seeds #1)
James and his friends were among the top teams on the newest and greatest VRMMORPG game, The Land. When they were riding a new dungeon he was separated from his friends.
A game boss, or so hi thinks, asks him a question.
After answering the same question three times he is suddenly transferred to the real planet that the game was based on.
James still has access to his character sheets and delves into this real game, where he now is called Richter.
Richter quickly finds himself dragged into an age-old war. A war between forest sprites and goblins. At the same time, he also ends up in control of his own village that he has to grow.
Is Chaos Seeds good?
The Chaos Seeds books are so far among the best LitRPG books I have read, atlas among the LitRPG book that goes all-in with the game mechanic.
Richter's story is captivating, funny, and a little addictive. I feel like I'm playing the adventure I'm reading and it's always interesting when Richter levels up or finds new loot.
The only thing I hate about this series is the author, he has been attempting to trademark the LitRPG genre. He's a greedy bastard, but his books are good.
Street Cultivation (Street Cultivation #1) by Sarah Lin
Rick is a young fighter. To support himself and his sister he is working as a sparring partner at a local gym. Helping people strengthen their cores in exchange for some meager coin.
He does not dream of becoming an all-powerful immortal cultivator. But he wants to be more than just a human punching bag.
The main reason Rick works as a human punching bag is for his sister. She has a deadly disease that is costly to keep at bay. Working at the gym is the only way Rick sees that can earn enough to pay for her medical needs.
Getting the treatment for her deadly spiritual disease is not easy. And being born by poor parents that have left them by themselves surrounded by scavenging relatives makes this a daunting task.
It does not help that they live in a world where power makes right. A world controlled by powerful corporations and modernized martial arts sects. A world where those at the bottom of society often find themselves at mercy by those higher up in the power chain.
Is Street Cultivation good?
Street Cultivation is a good and interesting twist on the LitRPG genre. It mixes in both elements from the Wuxia genre and cyberpunk elements.
It's a good story that also contains slice-of-life elements. It's more than just cultivation and level-ups.
Street Cultivation is a good book series that is worth checking out.
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Ritualist (Completionist Chronicles #1) by Dakota Krout
Joe is an army medic that had an accident at work and has become a quadriplegic with no chance of getting healthy again. When he is given the option to permanently transition his consciousness into a virtual world, a game, he takes it.
When he enters the game he is given the option of picking a special class, a ritualist. Its a class with huge potential, but it also has the drawback that if anyone discovers his class, he will be hunted down.
Is Completionist Chronicles good?
The Ritualist (Completionist Chronicles) is among the best LitRPG books I have read so far.
Joe does not have a typical fighting class, and he is not turned into aMary Sue character. The story is interesting, and I love the game elements and character leveling in this book.
Rogue Dungeon: A litRPG Adventure (The Rogue Dungeon #1) by James A. Hunter
Roark von Graf is a hedge mage, lesser noble, and a freedom fighter. When a desperate plan to unseat the Tyrant King fails, Roark finds himself in a strange and dire situation.
Roark escapes in a strange portal that sends him into an ultra-immersive fantasy video game called Hearthworld.
He can't log out, his magic is acting strangely, and he is no longer human.
Roark is now a low-level troll.
He has to guard the first level of a dungeon from players wanting to go dungeon crawling.
But if that was not enough. Roark stole something precious from the Tyrant King, something valuable enough that he uses his magic to send underlings into the game to hunt down Roark.
Can Roark become powerful enough to survive and get back to his world?
Rogue Dungeon is a mix of LitRPG and Dungeon Core. And its a collaboration between two good authors.
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