Anime like .hack//INTERMEZZO

HUNTER×HUNTER (2011)

Also known as Hunter x Hunter (2011).

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy

A new adaption of the manga of the same name by Togashi Yoshihiro.

A Hunter is one who travels the world doing all sorts of dangerous tasks. From capturing criminals to searching deep within uncharted lands for any lost treasures. Gon is a young boy whose father disappeared long ago, being a Hunter. He believes if he could also follow his father's path, he could one day reunite with him.

After becoming 12, Gon leaves his home and takes on the task of entering the Hunter exam, notorious for its low success rate and high probability of death to become an official Hunter. He befriends the revenge-driven Kurapika, the doctor-to-be Leorio and the rebellious ex-assassin Killua in the exam, with their friendship prevailing throughout the many trials and threats they come upon taking on the dangerous career of a Hunter.

Tags: Shounen , Super Power , Male Protagonist , Tragedy , Cultivation , Ensemble Cast , Travel , Martial Arts , Primarily Male Cast , Revenge , Chimera , Found Family , Philosophy , Primarily Teen Cast , Virtual World , Crime , Urban Fantasy , Assassins , Environmental , Anthropomorphism , Mafia , Gore , Anti-Hero , Card Battle , Gangs , Board Game , Politics , Video Games , Body Horror , Shogi , Animals , Coming of Age , Transgender , Yandere

Sword Art Online

Also known as Sword Art Online.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy , Romance

In the near future, a Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG) called Sword Art Online has been released where players control their avatars with their bodies using a piece of technology called Nerve Gear. One day, players discover they cannot log out, as the game creator is holding them captive unless they reach the 100th floor of the game's tower and defeat the final boss. However, if they die in the game, they die in real life. Their struggle for survival starts now...



Tags: Virtual World , Death Game , Isekai , Video Games , Male Protagonist , Swordplay , Primarily Teen Cast , Heterosexual , Time Skip , Female Harem , Artificial Intelligence , Unrequited Love , Travel , Fairy , Tragedy , Incest , Prison , Found Family , Amnesia , Fishing , Primarily Female Cast , Primarily Male Cast

No Game No Life

Also known as No Game, No Life.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Comedy , Ecchi , Fantasy

Bored with life and considering the real world to be just a “crappy game,” savvy sibling shut-ins Sora and Shiro have withdrawn into their own fantasy world filled with video games.

However, one day they find themselves summoned to another world by a boy who calls himself “God,” their abilities are about to be put to the ultimate test! Now not only their fates — but the fate of all of humanity — will be decided by a series of games that may just be the hardest these super-geniuses have ever faced!



Tags: Isekai , Gambling , Alternate Universe , Video Games , Hikikomori , Magic , Male Protagonist , Politics , Primarily Female Cast , Parody , Gods , Female Protagonist , Travel , Kuudere , Memory Manipulation , Kemonomimi , Meta , Class Struggle , Kingdom Management , Female Harem , Nudity , Nekomimi , Elf , Super Power , Judo

One Punch Man 2

Also known as One-Punch Man Season 2.

Studio: J.C. Staff
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Sci-Fi , Supernatural

Saitama is a hero who only became a hero for fun. After three years of “special training,” he’s become so strong that he’s practically invincible. In fact, he’s too strong—even his mightiest opponents are taken out with a single punch. Now, the great seer Madame Shibabawa’s prediction about the Earth being doomed seems to be coming true as the frequency of monster incidents escalates. Alongside Genos, his faithful disciple, Saitama begins his official hero duties as a member of the Hero Association, while Garou, a man utterly fascinated by monsters, makes his appearance.

Tags: Superhero , Urban , Super Power , Male Protagonist , Parody , Satire , Cyborg , Primarily Male Cast , Anti-Hero , Primarily Adult Cast , Surreal Comedy , Seinen , Urban Fantasy , Ensemble Cast , Martial Arts , Kaiju , Video Games

Sword Art Online II

Also known as Sword Art Online II.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy , Sci-Fi

One year after the SAO incident, Kirito is approached by Seijiro Kikuoka from Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Department "VR Division" with a rather peculiar request. That was an investigation on the "Death Gun" incident that occurred in the gun and steel filled VRMMO called Gun Gale Online (GGO). "Players who are shot by a mysterious avatar with a jet black gun lose their lives even in the real world..." Failing to turn down Kikuoka's bizarre request, Kirito logs in to GGO even though he is not completely convinced that the virtual world could physically affect the real world.

Kirito wanders in an unfamiliar world in order to gain any clues about the "Death Gun." Then, a female sniper named Sinon who owns a gigantic "Hecate II" rifle extends Kirito a helping hand. With Sinon's help, Kirito decides to enter the "Bullet of Bullets," a large tournament to choose the most powerful gunner within the realm of GGO, in hopes to become the target of the "Death Gun" and make direct contact with the mysterious avatar.



Tags: Virtual World , Primarily Female Cast , Video Games , Male Protagonist , Battle Royale , Guns , Swordplay , Female Protagonist , Death Game , Tragedy , Bullying , Female Harem , Primarily Teen Cast , Philosophy , Assassins , Tomboy , Kuudere , Crossdressing , Unrequited Love

Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan

Also known as The Disastrous Life of Saiki K..

Studio: J.C. Staff , EGG FIRM
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Slice of Life , Supernatural

To the average person, psychic abilities might seem a blessing; for Kusuo Saiki, however, this couldn't be further from the truth. Gifted with a wide assortment of supernatural abilities ranging from telepathy to x-ray vision, he finds this so-called blessing to be nothing but a curse. As all the inconveniences his powers cause constantly pile up, all Kusuo aims for is an ordinary, hassle-free life—a life where ignorance is bliss.

Unfortunately, the life of a psychic is far from quiet. Though Kusuo tries to stay out of the spotlight by keeping his powers a secret from his classmates, he ends up inadvertently attracting the attention of many odd characters, such as the empty-headed Riki Nendou and the delusional Shun Kaidou. Forced to deal with the craziness of the people around him, Kusuo comes to learn that the ordinary life he has been striving for is a lot more difficult to achieve than expected.

Note: Aired in 2 versions, a 120-episode 5-minute short series, and a combined 24-episode 24-minute TV series with the same content.

Tags: Super Power , Surreal Comedy , Satire , Episodic , Parody , School , Meta , Mythology , Asexual , Male Protagonist , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Shounen , Tsundere , Kuudere , Aromantic , Memory Manipulation , Urban , Chuunibyou , Ghost , Unrequited Love , Heterosexual , School Club , Gyaru , LGBTQ+ Themes , Incest , Video Games , Gangs

Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii

Also known as Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

Having slept through all four of her alarms, the energetic Narumi Momose finds herself running late for her first day of work at a new office. As she races to catch her train, she makes a promise to herself that none of her coworkers will find out about her dark secret: that she is an otaku and a fujoshi. Her plan goes instantly awry, though, when she runs into Hirotaka Nifuji, an old friend from middle school. Although she tries to keep her secret by inviting him out for drinks after work, her cover is blown when he casually asks her whether or not she will be attending the upcoming Summer Comiket. Luckily for her, the only witnesses—Hanako Koyanagi and Tarou Kabakura—are otaku as well.

Later that night, the pair go out for drinks so that they can catch up after all the years apart. After Narumi complains about her previous boyfriend breaking up with her because he refused to date a fujoshi, Hirotaka suggests that she try dating a fellow otaku, specifically himself. He makes a solemn promise to always be there for her, to support her, and to help her farm for rare drops in Monster Hunter. Blown away by the proposal, Narumi agrees immediately. Thus the two otaku start dating, and their adorably awkward romance begins.



Tags: Otaku Culture , Primarily Adult Cast , Josei , Office Lady , Female Protagonist , Video Games , Work , Episodic , Male Protagonist , Urban , Kuudere , Ensemble Cast , Heterosexual , Cosplay , LGBTQ+ Themes , Tsundere , Office , Athletics , Tomboy , Bisexual , Classic Literature

Sword Art Online: Alicization

Also known as Sword Art Online: Alicization.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy

Kirito awakens in a vast, fantastical forest filled with towering trees. In his search for clues to the truth of his surroundings, he encounters a young boy who seems to know him. He ought to be a simple NPC, but the depth of his emotions seem no different than a human. As they search for the boy's parents, Kirito finds a peculiar memory returning to him. A memory from his own childhood, of this boy and a girl, too, with golden hair, and a name he should have never forgotten - Alice.



Note: The first episode aired with a runtime of ~48 minutes as opposed to the standard 24 minute long episode.

Tags: Virtual World , Tragedy , Male Protagonist , Swordplay , Memory Manipulation , Artificial Intelligence , Isekai , Time Skip , Primarily Female Cast , Heterosexual , Primarily Teen Cast , Travel , Conspiracy , Philosophy , Time Manipulation , Video Games , Female Harem , Nudity , Gore , Goblin , Female Protagonist , Netorare , Dragons , CGI

JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken: Stardust Crusaders - Egypt-hen

Also known as JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders - Battle in Egypt.

Studio: David Production
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Supernatural

After 30 days of travel across the world, plagued with countless battles, Jotaro and his companions have finally arrived in Egypt! Now only the strongest "Stand" users remain to rebuff our heroes' final march on Cairo: The Nine Egyptian Gods, Dio's most zealous servants. Will the Joestar line fall to the monstrous vampire, or can Jotaro defeat Dio and save his mother's life?



Tags: Super Power , Male Protagonist , Primarily Male Cast , Travel , Shounen , Foreign , Ensemble Cast , Tragedy , Time Manipulation , Primarily Adult Cast , Revenge , Urban Fantasy , Gore , Vampire , Desert , Body Horror , Parody , Animals , Video Games , Gambling , Age Regression , Cosplay , Poker , Zombie , Bisexual , Death Game , Shapeshifting , CGI , Disability , Suicide

Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo

Also known as The Pet Girl of Sakurasou.

Studio: J.C. Staff
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

The first time he saw her, it was love at first sight. Unfortunately for Sorata Kanda, "she" was a cat named Hikari and his school's rules forbid keeping pets in the regular dorms. As a result, Sorata is banished to the infamous Sakura Hall alongside other troublesome and unusual students like Jin, overzealous playboy, Ryuunosuke, the reclusive hermit, and Mashiro, a brilliant artist who's so unfocused and clueless about the real world that dorm supervisor Ms. Sengoku assigns Sorata the task of taking care of her along with his ever-growing collection of stray cats!



Tags: Kuudere , Heterosexual , School , Coming of Age , Work , Love Triangle , Ensemble Cast , Drawing , Found Family , Male Protagonist , Nudity , Tsundere , Female Protagonist , Software Development , Family Life , Video Games , Hikikomori , Crossdressing , Yandere , Disability , Boarding School , Ghost

Log Horizon

Also known as Log Horizon.

Studio: Satelight
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy

The online fantasy game Elder Tales is a worldwide phenomenon, immersing millions of players in its intricately conceived virtual world. However, the release of the game's twelfth expansion pack makes that immersion all too literal, as players from around the world are suddenly pulled into the game's no-longer-fictional universe! Now, eight-year ET veteran Shiroe, his friend Naotsugu, the beautiful assassin Akatsuki, and 30,000 other players are faced with the daunting task of learning how to deal with an entirely new reality, one where the Non-Player Characters are actually alive, and the tips and tricks learned while playing with a keyboard no longer apply.



Tags: Virtual World , Politics , Isekai , Video Games , Male Protagonist , Magic , Alternate Universe , Kingdom Management , Dungeon , Ensemble Cast , Anthropomorphism , Found Family , Primarily Adult Cast , Kemonomimi , Love Triangle , Elf , Goblin , Twins , Kuudere , Samurai , Femboy , Skeleton , Episodic

Tonikaku Kawaii

Also known as TONIKAWA: Over The Moon For You.

Studio: Seven Arcs
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

The story follows a protagonist whose name is written with the characters for "Hoshizora" ("Starry Sky" in Japanese), but whose name is pronounced as "Nasa". On the day of his high school entrance exams, Nasa encounters a beautiful girl named Tsukasa. For Nasa, it feels like destiny is finally calling out to him that he will have a girlfriend, but things take a turn for the worse when Nasa is hit by a car and unable to attend his entrance exams.

After Tsukasa helps the injured Nasa, he confesses his feelings to her, and she agrees to go out with him, but only if Nasa agrees to marry her first. A year later Nasa aces the entrance exams, but he decides to work a part time job and live by himself instead of going to school. After Nasa turns 18, Tsukasa re-appears, and their happy, romantic, and mysterious married life together begins.



Tags: Marriage , Family Life , Heterosexual , Iyashikei , Shounen , Coming of Age , Primarily Adult Cast , Meta , Male Protagonist , Kuudere , Maids , Primarily Teen Cast , Video Games , Love Triangle

serial experiments lain

Also known as Serial Experiments Lain.

Studio: Triangle Staff
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Sci-Fi , Supernatural

We're all connected... There is the world around us, a world of people, tactile sensation, and culture. There is the wired world, inside the computer, of images, personalities, virtual experiences, and a culture all of its own. The day after a classmate commits suicide, Lain, a 14-year-old girl, discovers how closely the two worlds are linked when she receives an e-mail from the dead girl: I just abandoned my body. I still live here...

Has the line between the real world and the wired world begun to blur?



Tags: Denpa , Virtual World , Philosophy , Dissociative Identities , Augmented Reality , Female Protagonist , Memory Manipulation , Artificial Intelligence , Software Development , Cyberpunk , Gods , Cosmic Horror , Conspiracy , Cult , Video Games , Suicide , Religion , Urban , Meta , Tragedy , Primarily Female Cast , Amnesia , Afterlife , Adoption , POV , Orphan , Anti-Hero , Drugs , Trains , Aliens , School , Isekai , Death Game , Age Gap , Bullying

Yofukashi no Uta

Also known as Call of the Night.

Studio: LIDENFILMS
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Psychological , Romance , Slice of Life , Supernatural

Wracked by insomnia and wanderlust, Kou Yamori is driven onto the moonlit streets every night in an aimless search for something he can’t seem to name. His nightly ritual is marked by purposeless introspection — until he meets Nazuna, who might just be a vampire! Kou’s new companion could offer him dark gifts and a vampire’s immortality. But there are conditions that must be met before Kou can sink his teeth into vampirism, and he’ll have to discover just how far he’s willing to go to satisfy his desires before he can heed the Call of the Night!



Tags: Vampire , Urban Fantasy , Urban , Male Protagonist , Heterosexual , Coming of Age , Age Gap , Female Protagonist , Shounen , Aromantic , Philosophy , Primarily Teen Cast , Hikikomori , Tomboy , Primarily Female Cast , Psychosexual , Detective , Love Triangle , Tragedy , Female Harem , Maids , Yandere , Amnesia , Femboy , Nudity , Video Games , Gyaru , Gore , Crossdressing , Restaurant , LGBTQ+ Themes

Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld

Also known as Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy

Kirito, Eugeo, and Alice. Six months have passed since the two disciples and an Integrity Knight brought down the pontifex, Administrator. With the fighting over, Alice has been living in her hometown of Rulid Village. Beside her is Kirito, who has not only lost his arm and soul, but also his dear friend. As Alice devotes herself to looking after Kirito, she too has lost the will to fight she once had as a knight.

Nevertheless, the time for the final stress test – one which will engulf the entire Underworld with tragedy – draws relentlessly closer.

Meanwhile, in the deepest areas of the Dark Territory, the Dark God Vecta has resurrected, as if to have waited for this very moment. Leading an army of dark forces, they begin their invasion into the human empire in hopes of attaining the Priestess of Light. The human empire force led by the Integrity Knight Bercouli prepares for a war of an unimaginable scale against the army of the Dark Territory. Even then, Alice is nowhere to be seen, nor the two heroes that saved the realm...



Tags: Virtual World , War , Memory Manipulation , Swordplay , Artificial Intelligence , Video Games , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Female Cast , Heterosexual , Terrorism , Female Protagonist , Tragedy , Gore , Augmented Reality , Magic , Male Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Conspiracy , Goblin , Isekai , Dragons , Gods , Love Triangle

Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale

Also known as Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy , Romance , Sci-Fi

In 2022, the world of virtual reality was upended by the arrival of a new invention from a genius programmer, Akihiko Kayaba. Called NerveGear, it was the first full-dive system and with it, came endless possibilities to VRMMORPGs.

In 2026, a new machine called the Augma is developed to compete against the NerveGear and its successor, the Amusphere. A next-gen wearable device, the Augma doesn't have a full-dive function like its predecessors. Instead, it uses Augmented Reality to get players into the game. It is safe, user-friendly and lets users play while they are conscious, making it an instant hit on the market. The most popular game on the system is “Ordinal Scale” (aka: OS), an ARMMORPG developed exclusively for the Augma.

Asuna and the gang have already been playing OS for a while, by the time Kirito decides to join them. They’re about to find out that Ordinal Scale isn’t all fun and games…



Tags: Video Games , Augmented Reality , Swordplay , Virtual World , Artificial Intelligence , Heterosexual , Urban , Memory Manipulation , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Tanned Skin , Tragedy , Nudity

Eromanga Sensei

Also known as Eromanga Sensei.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Ecchi , Romance , Slice of Life

The "new sibling romantic comedy" revolves around Masamune Izumi, a light novel author in high school. Masamune's little sister is Sagiri, a shut-in girl who hasn't left her room for an entire year. She even forces her brother to make and bring her meals when she stomps the floor. Masamune wants his sister to leave her room, because the two of them are each other's only family.

Masamune's novel illustrator, penname “Ero Manga Sensei,” draws extremely perverted drawings, and is very reliable. Masamune had never met his illustrator, and figured he was just a disgusting, perverted otaku. However, the truth is revealed … that his “Ero Manga Sensei” is his own younger sister! To add to the chaos that erupts between the siblings, a beautiful, female, best-selling shoujo manga creator becomes their rival!



Tags: Inseki , Writing , Primarily Child Cast , Drawing , Hikikomori , Tsundere , Otaku Culture , Heterosexual , Female Harem , Assassins , Male Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Philosophy , Work , Nudity , Feet , Meta , Parody , Love Triangle , Unrequited Love , Video Games , Crossover , Female Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Airsoft

Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld Part 2

Also known as Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld Part 2.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy

The final load test... The war between the Human Empire and the Dark Territory has engulfed Underworld entirely. The battle has shifted course with the Dark Territory army led by Gabriel, who seeks to capture Alice, the Priestess of Light, against Asuna and the Human Empire forces fighting to save Underworld.

As Kirito's consciousness remains buried in a deep sleep, Gabriel, standing in as the Dark God Vecta, has recruited thousands of American players to log in to Underworld to annihilate the Human Empire forces. Meanwhile, Asuna, Sinon, and Leafa have joined the battle utilizing three super-accounts of the deities of the Underworld. As the Goddess of Creation Stacia Asuna fights alongside the Human Empire forces to take on the American players in a vicious combat. Sinon, who has gained the super-account for the Sun Goddess Solus, is in pursuit of Gabriel, who has abducted Alice, while Leafa arrives to Underworld with the super-account Earth Goddess Terraria.

But that is not all...

The impassioned speech by Lisbeth has convinced many ALO players to join the fight with the Human Empire despite the risks. With this great war, not only Underworld's continued existence, but the bottom-up artificial intelligence, the ultimate AI, and even the future of mankind is at stake.

Though he has yet to awaken, only one man holds the fate of this world: the Black Swordsman.



Tags: Virtual World , Female Protagonist , War , Artificial Intelligence , Video Games , Swordplay , Heterosexual , Primarily Female Cast , Isekai , Primarily Teen Cast , Military , Conspiracy , Female Harem , Male Protagonist , Time Skip , Amnesia , Memory Manipulation , Gore , Reincarnation , Gods , Cult , Space Opera , Space

NHK ni Youkoso!

Also known as Welcome to the N-H-K.

Studio: GONZO
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Psychological , Romance , Slice of Life

Satou’s life – or what’s left of it – is a paranoid mess of conspiracy theories and social anxieties. He’s terrified of the outside world; his apartment is overflowing with the remnants of cheap take-out food; and his retinas have been permanently scarred by a steady diet of internet porn. But maybe it’s not all his fault. After all, the nefarious N-H-K is out there, and they’re determined to turn society’s fringe-dwellers into a brainwashed lot of jobless, hopeless, futureless recluses.

Enter Misaki – a mysterious girl-next-door type who is Satou’s last chance to beat down his inner demons and venture out into the light of day. She’s ready to help him overcome his crippling phobias, but Satou would rather cower in his existential foxhole and pretend to work on the demo for his virtual sex game.

He’s afraid to face the world. She’s strangely desperate to fix a total stranger. Maybe together they can be normal.



Tags: Hikikomori , Rehabilitation , Otaku Culture , Male Protagonist , Conspiracy , Philosophy , Denpa , Suicide , Primarily Adult Cast , Coming of Age , Psychosexual , Tragedy , Video Games , Software Development , Heterosexual , Disability , Politics , Yandere , Trains

Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata

Also known as Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

The life of Tomoyo Aki, a highschool otaku working part time to support his BD hoarding. With remarkable luck, he bumps head-first into Megumi Kato, the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. Naturally, the meeting twists his life into a complicated torrent of relationships. Eriri Spencer Sawamura, his half-foreigner childhood friend who’s always valued her relationship with MC. Kasumigaoka Utaha, a cold, composed renowned literary genius who shoves everyone aside from our protagonist. What is this? An eroge introduction?

The tale of a small not quite doujin circle, but not quite indie studio’s journey through the tough territory of comiket and beyond.

Note: Includes episode 0.

Tags: Otaku Culture , Female Harem , Heterosexual , Software Development , Male Protagonist , Meta , Primarily Female Cast , School Club , Writing , Video Games , Kuudere , Love Triangle , Tsundere , Ensemble Cast , School , Drawing , Nudity