Hai to Gensou no Grimgar (Grimgar of Fantasy & Ash)
Anime Like Sword Art Online If You’re Looking for Something Similar
This anime follows a group of strangers that have suddenly been transported to a mystical land called Grimgar. The group knows nothing of this place and can’t remember anything about themselves other than their names. In the midst of all the confusion, they also find out that nobody in this world is willing to give them a break — they need to figure out how to survive. The only paying opportunity available for them is to join the Reserve Army as soldiers and dedicate their new lives to fighting back against any force threatening this new land that they don’t even understand.
Grimgar of Fantasy & Ash doesn’t technically take place inside a game, but its world certainly feels like one. While most anime with this kind of setting usually turn to some sort of inexplicably powerful protagonist to lead the way, this series takes the opposite approach. The group followed in this anime are actually the characters who were left behind after more powerful and competent soldiers formed their own separate parties. This is a story that follows the weak links of the bunch and emphasizes the wit and determination they must have as they are banded together. The survival theme is key in both Sword Art Online and Grimgar of Fantasy & Ash as characters struggle to adjust to their dangerous, new environments. If you loved the fantasy setting of Sword Art Online and found yourself entranced by the character development and emotional aspects of the series, you’ll love Grimgar of Fantasy & Ash’s balance between intense action and tear-jerking drama.
