10 best anime to watch if you like The New Gate

The New Gate offers viewers a thrilling premise - an ultra-powerful player becomes trapped in the future of an online game world. Protagonist Shin displays creative use of skills and kindheartedness despite his unmatched strength. Combine this with vibrant worlds straight out of an MMORPG and you have an anime formula that leaves fans eager for more.

Fortunately, the anime genre contains numerous hidden gems carrying The New Gate’s DNA. From classic pioneers that began the gaming anime craze to recent creative twists on isekai adventures, many shows can scratch that post-The New Gate itch.

To help guide fans to their next anime obsession, here is a list of 10 series that carefully recapture ingredients that made The New Gate such an enjoyable ride.

10 best anime for fans of The New Gate

1) Sword Art Online

Sword Art Online (Image via A-1 Pictures)

Sword Art Online is arguably the most iconic anime about players getting trapped inside the virtual reality of an MMORPG. The series starts when the game's creator, Akihiko Kayaba, traps thousands of SAO gamers, turning the game into a terrifying experience where real death is the consequence of player defeat.

Much like The New Gate, Sword Art Online features impressively strong protagonists, Kirito and Asuna, who must fight to survive and escape this deadly virtual game world.

With its top-tier animation and gripping storyline spanning over 96 episodes so far, Sword Art Online is a must-watch for fans of trapped-in-a-video-game plots.

2) Log Horizon

Log Horizon (Image via Satelight/Studio Deen)

Log Horizon shares the premise of SAO in that it features characters who suddenly find themselves immersed in the world of a fantasy MMORPG called Elder Tale.

However, unlike SAO there are no deadly consequences to dying in-game. This allows for richer world-building and more strategic stories about the politics of living in a virtual game environment long-term.

Protagonist Shiroe must use his intellect, experience, and allies to learn how to thrive in this new virtual reality. Like Shin from The New Gate, Shiroe garners a legendary status thanks to his skills, making him an idol for viewers.

3) Overlord

Instead of regular players, Overlord focuses on what it might be like to be trapped in a game as a powerful max-level overlord. When popular DMMO-RPG Yggdrasil shuts down, guild leader Momonga stays logged in until the very end.

But instead of being automatically logged out, he finds himself transformed into his avatar inside the fully realized world of Yggdrasil.

With multiple seasons of content, Overlord allows fans of The New Gate to enjoy another perspective of an NPC surprised to see players impact game worlds years later. The show balances dark fantasy action with humor as Momonga navigates this strange new version of Yggdrasil.

4) BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense

BOFURI: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, so I’ll Max Out My Defense (Image via Silver Link)

For a more light-hearted take on VR gaming anime, BOFURI provides feel-good fun. It tells the story of Kaede who starts playing NewWorld Online because she wants to avoid pain or dying in-game.

By accidentally optimizing her avatar Maple for pure defense, Kaede soon gains incredible and broken defensive skills that allow her to take down powerful bosses and earn a reputation as an unbelievably strong yet wholesome player.

The New Gate fans who want more uplifting stories of kindhearted gamers gaining fame for their skills should add BOFURI to their list. Kaede shows that unconventional gaming creativity can make you legendary too.

5) Ascendance of a Bookworm

Ascendance of a Bookworm (Image via Ajia-do Animation Works)

Ascendance of a Bookworm offers an isekai take on the premise of a character entering into the reality of a medieval-like world. When book-loving Urano suffers an accident, she dies and reawakens as Myne, the sickly 5-year-old daughter of a peasant in medieval times.

Using her modern knowledge and passion for books, Myne makes it her goal to create books in this new world so all may discover the magic of reading. Along the way, she revolutionizes industries and impresses nobles with her inventions, leaving as much of a legendary impact on this game-esque world as Shin does in The New Gate.

6) Konosuba - God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!

KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! (Image via Studio Deen)

Viewers wanting more laughs from their sent-to-a-video game plot should pick Konosuba. Its dysfunctional cast of oddball adventurers parody common tropes found in magic and RPG anime. After Kazuma's embarrassing early death, he gets sent to a real-life fantasy world by Aqua the goddess.

Their useless party faces debt and danger while barely scraping by each day, eking out a common but legendary living one quest at a time. Konosuba proves that even strange gamers with incompetent skills can accidentally achieve greatness when trying hard enough.

7) Re:ZERO - Starting Life in Another World

Re:ZERO - Starting Life in Another World (Image via White Fox)

Re:ZERO blends psychological thriller tension with the opportunity yet terror of entering a game world physically. When protagonist Subaru gets pulled from his normal life to a parallel magical realm, at first it seems like the ultimate fresh start. But Subaru soon realizes death in this new world is permanent.

With the ability to undo death by "respawning" back in time, Subaru accumulates many gruesome demises across multiple arcs. Like Shin and Shiroe, fans see Subaru use intelligence, relationship-building, and strategy to leave his mark in legendary ways (for better or worse).

8) The Rising of the Shield Hero

The Rising of the Shield Hero (Image via Kinema Citrus)

For another intense isekai thriller like The New Gate, The Rising of the Shield Hero is a top pick. College student Naofumi gets summoned as one of four Legendary Heroes meant to save a parallel universe inspired by RPG lore.

As the Shield Hero, Naofumi must master the art of defense and teamwork if he wants to live up to his heroic title. Betrayals and false accusations leave Naofumi stripped of resources and public support.

But his strength of character allows him to push forward, slowly proving his legendary status as a true hero capable of beating back The Waves of Catastrophe.

9) Solo Leveling

Solo Leveling stands out as a must-watch anime for fans of overpowered protagonists like The New Gate's Shin. The story follows Sung Jin-Woo, an underwhelming hunter stuck at the lowest rank.

After a life-or-death experience during a dungeon raid, Jin-Woo gains the ability to see stats and level up like a game character. What proceeds is an exhilarating power fantasy as Jin-Woo rapidly evolves, unlocking game-breaking skills that allow him to annihilate swarms of monsters and towering giants like a one-man army.

Solo Leveling’s flawless action sequences will leave viewers awestruck, scene after scene.

10) That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (Image via 8bit)

And for the last spot, The New Gate fans should check out That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. After a tragic death, Satoru gets a chance at rebirth in an RPG-style fantasy world. But instead of a heroic knight or mighty wizard, he resurrects as a weak slime monster.

Yet despite this limitation, Satoru adapts to make the most of his situation. He befriends dragons, claims monster allies, and establishes a prospering kingdom of his own design. By leaning on his past experiences and slime abilities, Satoru reaches legendary status in clever and comedic ways sure to please viewers.

Conclusion

From escapist gaming thrillers to more unconventional takes on players influencing virtual worlds, this list offers 10 binge-worthy anime picks for viewers hungering for more shows like The New Gate. Whether you want killer action, strategic game mechanics, inspiring character growth, or simple adventure fun, you can't go wrong checking out these recommendations.