Solo Leveling is one of the biggest anime of modern times, thanks to the incredible action that it features and a protagonist whose charm keeps the fans glued to their seats as he levels up with each passing episode. With time, the anime has risen to great heights, thanks to a great adaptation. Much of Solo Leveling’s success is down to its fast-paced plot and eye-catching battles. It goes without saying that Solo Leveling is interesting, but it’s far from being the best anime out there. These other series definitely have Solo Leveling beat, whether in plot, or in battles.
Jujutsu Kaisen
While Solo Leveling has definitely been a popular battle-focused anime, it doesn’t hold a candle to Jujutsu Kaisen in that regard. Ever since its debut in 2021, Jujutsu Kaisen has simply been one of the most popular series ever. Jujutsu Kaisen has become one of the most successful franchises of the 2020s, and its story and intense battles revolving around sorcerers and curses have blown the competition out of the water. Jujutsu Kaisen is making a return soon with its Culling Game arc in January of 2026.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Solo Leveling has always had a huge rival in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. Both Solo Leveling and Frieren started around the same time, and both have found immense success. Frieren’s anime, just like Solo Leveling, features flashy battles with incredible animation. However, while Solo Leveling lacks in story, Frieren is moulded by it. Frieren follows the story of an elf mage with a very long life span. While she never used to care deeply about the lives of others, she eventually changes and seeks to meet her friend Himmel once again.
One Piece
One Piece is quite different from Solo Leveling in just about every way. The anime features some amazing fights, just like Solo Leveling, but it has never been the sole focus of the story. One Piece is heavy on the plot, and follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy with his crew through various arcs as he chases after his ultimate goal — to become the Pirate King. The One Piece anime, in recent years, has greatly improved in quality, and it definitely stands out even among seasonal series.
Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball is the father of Shonen anime and manga. It might just be the most revolutionary series in the medium and without Dragon Ball, the industry would simply not be what it is today. Solo Leveling’s Sung Jinwoo has had his fair share of battles, but none have surpassed the peaks of Dragon Ball’s fights.
Initially, Dragon Ball was about a kid named Goku looking for the Dragon Balls. But with time, the series greatly evolved, with powerful enemies and universe-shattering battles unfolding. Even 40 years later, the series is still ongoing.
Naruto
Naruto is what some would call the peak of Shonen, and worldwide, it might be the single most recognizable anime series. Naruto’s story has captivated millions and the protagonist's growth from a child to an adult where he becomes Hokage of the village, unfolds over a few hundred episodes of pure entertainment.
Naruto’s battles are some of the best in anime, far surpassing whatever Solo Leveling has put out so far. Naruto vs Pain or Sasuke vs Itachi, for example, remain to be some of the most iconic anime battles of all time.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
If there’s an anime series that fans would describe as perfection, it’s none other than Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. For a while, this anime was the highest-rated of all time, and the reason why is clear. The characters are amazing, the story is borderline flawless, and the anime itself is one of the best of its time.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood follows the story of Edward Elric and his brother, Alphonse Elric. After a forbidden transmutation in the hopes of reviving their mother, everything goes wrong, and Alphonse loses his body. The two then set out to find the Philosopher’s stone in hopes of fixing what they had caused.
Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan has become an anime that has opened up the medium to millions who previously would’ve never thought anime was for them. The series has definitely become iconic in that regard, and it’s in big part thanks to its gruesome story.
In Attack on Titan, humans live within one of three walls, but one day, one of the walls falls, and Titans, human-eating giants, make it through. After seeing his mother devoured in front of him, Eren, the main character, vows to kill all the Titans. Attack on Titan’s story and characters are definitely something far beyond the level of Solo Leveling.