If you’re a fan of revenge fantasy tales, we’ve curated a list of anime similar to The Kingdoms of Ruin to quench your thirst for vengeance.
In a world where humans and witches had a long-standing alliance, witches used magic to aid people. Yet, as human science advances, the Redia Empire deems witches unnecessary and seeks their extermination. After the witch Chloe, who had raised the orphaned human Adonis and taught him her craft, is executed, Adonis is determined to seek revenge against humanity.
As The Kingdoms of Ruins invites you into this narrative, it’s one of many anime series that share resonating themes and visuals, offering fans diverse and enjoyable journeys.
10. Aldnoah.Zero
Aldnoah.Zero is an anime series set in an alternate future where an ancient hypergate on the Moon leads to an invasion of Earth by the Martian Vers Empire. The story follows the conflict between the Vers Empire and the Earth forces, as well as the complicated relationships between various characters caught in the crossfire. It’s a tale of war, power, and the consequences of human choices.
For those seeking anime like The Kingdoms of Ruin, Aldnoah Zero explores themes of conflict, power struggles, and the consequences of choices made by individuals and nations. Furthermore, both series highlight how larger conflicts affect personal lives. While the settings and specific storylines may differ, fans of one may discover elements to appreciate in the other.
9. Goblin Slayer
Goblin Slayer takes place in a medieval fantasy world. The story revolves around a young priestess who joins a group of adventurers, including the enigmatic Goblin Slayer, to combat the threat of goblins. While goblins are often considered low-level monsters, the series explores the grim and brutal nature of goblin attacks and the toll it takes on the characters, especially Goblin Slayer, who is driven by a deep desire to eradicate goblins.
Much like The Kingdoms of Ruins, Goblin Slayer delves into the darker facets of its fantasy world, exploring the grim consequences of seemingly minor threats, and the toll such conflicts exact on both the characters and the broader society they inhabit. Additionally, both series feature characters who are motivated by a strong sense of purpose, be it seeking vengeance or eradicating a particular threat.
8. Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan, also known as Shingeki no Kyojin, is a shounen anime that takes place in a world where humanity is on the brink of extinction due to colossal humanoid creatures known as Titans. The story follows Eren Yeager and his friends who join the fight against the Titans as they attempt to uncover the truth about these mysterious beings and the walls that protect the remnants of humanity.
As The Kingdoms of Ruins touches on political intrigue and power struggles, Attack on Titan presents a world with its own web of political machinations within the confines of the Walls.
7. 86
86 is set in a dystopian world where the nation of San Magnolia is at war with an autonomous AI-controlled army known as the Legion. The central focus of the story is on the experiences of the 86th Squadron, a group of soldiers who are treated as outcasts and sent to the battlefield to pilot drones against the Legion. The series tackles themes of discrimination, war, and the human cost of conflict.
In a similar vein to The Kingdoms of Ruins, 86 is a gritty anime that explores the themes of discrimination and societal divides. The characters face significant struggles against prejudice and injustice, mirroring the societal challenges explored in The Kingdoms of Ruins.
6. Arifureta
Arifureta is often criticized as an imperfect adaptation of a beloved light novel masterpiece. However, it maintains a decent rating of 6.70 on MAL (MyAnimeList) and has garnered a fanbase of over 600,000 users on the site. What’s more, the series unfolds the story of revenge, similar to Adonis’s quest for retribution.
In Arifureta, we meet Hajime Nagumo, an ordinary high school student who is transported to a fantasy world with his classmates. While his peers gain powerful abilities, Hajime is left with limited skills. To survive and find a way back home, he sets out on a dangerous journey, ultimately transforming from an underpowered outcast into a formidable warrior.
5. Redo of Healer
Another revenge-driven anime like The Kingdoms of Ruin is Redo of Healer. The series is considered fairly controversial due to its explicit and often graphic content. Many viewers find the content of the series disturbing and believe it goes too far in depicting violence and explicit scenes. It’s important to note that the anime is available in two versions: censored and uncensored, offering viewers different levels of content restriction.
But for those who dare to watch it, it revolves around Keyaru, a healing hero who experiences a traumatic journey of revenge. After suffering at the hands of his fellow heroes, he acquires the power to reset time and vows to seek retribution against those who wronged him, leading to a path of darkness and vengeance.
4. Code Geass
Code Geass is an unavoidable recommendation for anyone who enjoys complex and morally complex narratives. Fans who appreciated Adonis’ quest for revenge in The Kingdoms of Ruins are certain to find satisfaction in Lelouch’s pursuit of retribution in Code Geass.
Set in an alternate future where the Holy Britannian Empire has conquered Japan and renamed it Area 11, Code Geass follows Lelouch Lamperouge, a former prince who gains the power of Geass, allowing him to command others. Lelouch takes on the alter-ego “Zero” and leads a rebellion against Britannia while pursuing his own personal goals.
3. Akame ga Kill!
In a corrupt and brutal empire, a group of assassins known as Night Raid rises against the oppressive regime. Tatsumi, a young fighter who, along with two childhood friends, initially embarked on a quest to gain recognition and secure funds for his village, joins Night Raid with the goal of bringing justice and effecting change.
Similar to The Kingdoms of Ruin, Akame ga Kill! is a dark fantasy anime that explores political intrigue, rebellion against oppression, and characters’ quests for change.
2. Elfen Lied
Elfen Lied is a mature and intense anime series centered around Diclonii, a new species of humans with horn-like protrusions and telekinetic powers, who were initially held captive and experimented upon. Lucy, one of the Diclonii, escapes and seeks revenge against humanity.
Both series share the common theme of vengeance against the human species, where Elfen Lied and The Kingdoms of Ruins illustrate how characters, once held in captivity, break free and set out to right the wrongs inflicted upon them.
1. The Rising of the Shield Hero
The Rising of the Shield Hero is probably the most similar anime to The Kingdoms of Ruin that fans can find. This is particularly true when it comes to the protagonists who are both outcasts living in harsh and dangerous worlds seeking revenge.
In this anime, Naofumi Iwatani is one of four young men summoned to a parallel world as the Shield Hero. Right off the bat, he faces betrayal and hardship. Wrongfully accused of a crime he didn’t commit, Naofumi must overcome adversity and build his strength, eventually forming alliances with others summoned to this world to protect it from waves of calamity.
