In the world of video games, walking simulators don't always have the best reputation. Players yearning for action and adventure tend to gravitate towards titles with ample combat, winding stories, and concrete quests that reward skill and dedication. On the other hand, walking sims focus on exploration, puzzles, and more linear storytelling, often while avoiding combat or the concept of victory altogether. These may not cater to everyone, but for those looking for an escape from the daily grind, they can be the perfect, quick remedy for burnout. For anime fans, there are also plenty of series that contain the same vibes and have the ability to conjure the same emotions as some of these titles.
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Walking simulators don't necessarily fit into one specific genre, with some containing horror elements while others lean into cozy and wholesome atmospheric storytelling. For this list, we've chosen seven anime series that don't ask too much of the viewer, instead welcoming them to simply sit back, relax, and embark on an adventure without stress or worry. Any dramatic elements are either few and far between or more subdued, with combat taking a backseat or nonexistent. Pick one of these series up while you wait for the next big walking sim to hit PC or console.
Series on this list are available to watch on Crunchyroll unless otherwise specified.
Spice and Wolf
Spice and Wolf follows Kraft Lawrence, a young traveling merchant who travels from town to town in order to sell his wares. His goals aren't particularly lofty, with his dream to simply start his own shop and live a quiet life. One night, a strange being appears in his wagon. Her name is Holo, and she is a 600-year-old wolf deity who has kept the local town's harvest bountiful for many long years. Unfortunately, as times changed, people had started to forget her, and due to this betrayal, Holo wishes to return to her homeland. In the meantime, however, she accompanies Kraft on his own quest, helping him increase his profits and slowly becoming closer to the silver-haired man.
While the original series aired in 2008, a new Spice and Wolf anime series aired in 2024 to celebrate the light novel's 15th anniversary, with another season currently in the works. Critics and viewers alike have applauded the work's unique approach to fantasy, as it focuses more on economics and the relationship between the two main characters while tossing aside staples like magic and warfare. Holo and Kraft's journey is slow and steady, and a lengthy trip worth taking.
Encouragement of Climb
The comforting adventure slice-of-life series Encouragement of Climb tells the story of Aoi, a quiet girl who prefers to remain inside as much as possible and who loathes heights. One day, she reunites with her childhood friend Hinata, who is the polar opposite, enjoying mountaineering and everything to do with the outdoors. Hinata successfully convinces Aoi to hike to the top of a nearby mountain so that they can see the sunrise together, and soon after, they meet some new friends who are also eager to scale as many mountains as they can throughout Japan.
Fear of heights is a common phobia, and even if it isn't the viewer's problem specifically, watching a character overcome their fears and thrive can be cathartic. Encouragement of Climb contains a love of adventure that's almost contagious, enough that it may convince its audience to step outside on a quest of their own. Treating life as a game makes every day a little more fun, and this is one anime that feels like a walking sim in the most positive sense of the term. It's also quite lengthy, at 61 episodes.
Encouragement of Climb is currently available to watch on HIDIVE.
Barakamon
Seishu Handa is already a professional calligrapher at 23, but despite the impressive title, the young man has a lot to learn when it comes to regulating his emotions. After punching an exhibition curator due to the man's nasty comments about his work, Seishu's father sends him to live on Goto Island in the south of Japan to focus on work and get to know the locals. Here, he meets the energetic Naru, a little girl who lives nearby and comes over every day to play.
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Barakamon isn't about a physical journey, per se, though Seishu's initial journey to the tiny island of Goto may count for something. Instead, much like many walking sims, the series follows the main character's emotional journey and mental growth. Over time, the protagonist's anxious personality transforms into something more mellow, thanks to Naru's antics and unwitting support. This series warms the heart, combining comedy with more moving segments meant to make a serious impact.
Someday's Dreamers
Remarkably gentle in its storytelling, the 12-episode fantasy anime series Someday's Dreamers follows Yume, a high school student from Iwate Prefecture who travels to Tokyo in order to study magic. After becoming an apprentice under the impressive wizard Masami Oyamada, Yume is faced with plenty of hurdles as she works to graduate as a successful witch, though the series manages to never feel heavy or anxiety-inducing. Having come from the countryside, Yume is amazed by what Tokyo has to offer, and while his past is marred with pain, Masami faces his future head-on without complaint.
Perhaps the most obscure entry on this list, tracking down Someday's Dreamers may be difficult in 2026, but it's well-worth the effort to do so. Its deliberately slow pace and relatable characters make it a perfect choice for those looking to step away from more action-oriented content, and to simply enjoy a cup of hot tea and some time in a world both like and unlike our own. The soundtrack is also particularly memorable, utilizing traditional instruments to create a sense of sudden, striking nostalgia.
Unfortunately, Someday's Dreamers is not currently available to stream on any major platform.
Kino's Journey
Kino's Journey is the ultimate travel series, perfect for anyone with a sense of wanderlust and a desire to visit anywhere and everywhere. Protagonist Kino spends her time exploring different countries in a mystical world, only accompanied by her talking motorcycle, Hermes. She only spends three days and two nights in each town she visits, claiming that it gives her enough time to understand the local culture while also leaving ample time to explore new places. After all, she can't risk wanting to settle down when there's so much more to see. Some locations are more sci-fi in nature, while others feel more storybook and magical.
The original version of Kino's Journey, released in 2003, is available to watch on HIDIVE. The 2017 remake is streaming on Crunchyroll.
Ryutaro Nakamura, the director of the anime series, has gone on record to explain that Kino's Journey depicts a "radical sense of beauty," in the sense that while kindness and compassion are aspirational traits, things like loneliness and tragedy often coexist beside them. More of a 'riding simulator' than a 'walking simulator' thanks to Hermes, both the original series and its remake are worth watching, as the pure sense of adventure that they convey remains unmatched in the anime sphere to this day.
Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens
Originally aired in 2008, the 13-episode otherworldly romantic comedy anime Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens has remained a cult classic, though managing to get your hands on it in 2026 may be no easy feat. The main character, Nagi, is a mischievous goddess chosen to cleanse the world of impurities, but because her sacred tree was unceremoniously chopped down, her powers have weakened. According to her, her other personality, Kannagi, is more serious about the mission. Jin, a student who uses part of the fallen sacred tree for a school art project, allows Nagi to stay at his home and does what he can to help her on her quest.
Packed with comedy, the overall message in Kannagi still manages to strike a chord, and Nagi's journey to complete her mission makes the series feel like it could be a successful game in its own right. Charming in its presentation and packed with just enough supernatural elements to keep it from being just another rom-com, the characters in this oft-forgotten series are what make it so memorable, and it's easy to get swept up in the desire to restore Nagi to her true form.
Kannagi is not currently available to stream, but fans are hopeful that, at the very least, a Blu-ray release is on the way.
Laid-Back Camp
Since the first season of the anime debuted in 2018, it's been nearly impossible to avoid Laid-Back Camp, with the adventure iyashikei series becoming the go-to for fans wanting a gentle escape. The series follows Rin, a young camping enthusiast, who joins her high school's camping club after meeting the energetic Nadeshiko Kagamihara. The group spends its free time traveling around Japan and seeking out cozy camping locales while enjoying their daily lives to the fullest. The locations on display in Laid-Back Camp are real, and the series also delves into the ins and outs of camping, proving itself to be a rather educational watch for those interested in a more outdoorsy life.
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Many walking sims task the player with simply exploring various locations, searching for clues or, in some cases, simply taking in the scenery. Laid-Back Camp does away with petty drama or romance subplots, instead focusing solely on friendship, the difficulties of cultivating a new hobby, and how it feels to go on some easy-going adventures with pals.