2025 was Solo Leveling’s year. The anime got its second season early on, and even won the title of Anime of the Year. Solo Leveling is untouchable right now, but its second season has ended, and with no Season 3 in sight. Solo Leveling fans have a lot of other anime to check out in the meantime, such as Jujutsu Kaisen, or Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.
Gachiakuta
A Unique and Refreshing New Story
One of the newest anime to come out, Gachiakuta has been a breath of fresh air, and quite a unique new series. This anime is currently Crunchyroll’s most popular anime, and fans can see why. It has everything that fans could want in a new series, like a unique style, great characters, and amazing battles. The story is definitely worth checking out as its season 1 is still airing.
Sakamoto Days
Another Anime With An Overpowered Main Character
Sakamoto Days, sadly, didn’t get the best anime adaptation. Its anime looks inferior to other recent series, but one thing it doesn’t struggle with is creating an entertaining and engaging story. Sakamoto Days has gained many new fans, and Solo Leveling fans will enjoy it as it also features an overpowered main character, Sakamoto.
Takopi’s Original Sin
A Depressing and Dark Short Story
If Solo Leveling has a new competitor, it’s definitely Takopi’s Original Sin. Takopi’s Original Sin is a short series that concluded recently, having 6 episodes in total. That said, even with such a short run, it was all the talk, and had some of the highest-rated episodes of 2025. The story is grim and depressing, which definitely made it go viral.
Dandadan
When Aliens and Occult Collide
When it comes to big new hits, one can’t not mention Dandadan. Dandadan has become one of the biggest anime series airing, in large part thanks to its incredible anime production, which some consider to be the best right now. Dandadan’s second season just concluded, and fans are already waiting for more.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
A Melancholic Story With Insane Animation
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End was definitely Solo Leveling’s biggest competitor recently. It was very close between these two for the title of Anime of the Year, and despite Frieren losing, it remains a fan favorite. The battles are all eye-catching and the animation is incredible, some of the best seen recently. It’s slower than Solo Leveling, but the plot definitely leaves fans wanting more. Season 2 is close to dropping, as it has a January 2026 release date.
The Apothecary Diaries
A Story Filled with Mysteries to be Solved
The Apothecary Diaries has proven to be one of the most successful new anime recently. This series is a hit, both in Japan and overseas, and while the story doesn’t really feature any major fights, the plot and characters are captivating. The story is more slow-paced, as the main character, Maomao, solves mysteries around the Imperial Castle. The series currently has two seasons, with a third on the way.
One Piece
A Long Story But One Worth Getting Into
One Piece is one of the most recognizable anime worldwide. The series has been ongoing for 26 years, and it never gets boring, despite having over a thousand episodes. The anime might look intimidating with so many episodes, especially when compared to Solo Leveling’s 25 episodes, but it’s worth a try. This series will be even easier to get into once its remake drops, which shouldn’t be too far ahead now.
Jujutsu Kaisen
The Best Battle Anime of Recent Years
Solo Leveling isn’t the only anime known for its battles. After all, one of the greatest battle anime of recent years is none other than Jujutsu Kaisen, a series that everybody has at least heard about.
A story focused on sorcerers and curses, Jujutsu Kaisen is beloved worldwide, and features great fights. The anime currently has two seasons out, with a third coming very soon, right at the beginning of 2026.
Solo Leveling has two seasons out right now, one with 12 episodes, and the other with 13, for a combined episode count of 25 episodes available to watch right now. The series can be streamed on Crunchyroll for fans to enjoy while awaiting any more news concerning the third season. For fans who can’t wait for season 3 to come out, checking out the Manhwa might be a great option.
