The Holy Empire of Britannia has established itself as the dominant military nation, starting after their conquest of Japan, now named Area 11. Under Britannia’s tyranny, a number of resistance groups rose up to fight for their freedom. Enter Lelouch Lamperouge, the exiled prince of Britannia who has been sent to live in Japan. One day, after finding himself caught in the crossfire in a battle between Britannia and insurgents, Lelouch is able to escape with his life after meeting C.C., a mysterious girl who grants him the power of absolute obedience.
In its day, Code Geass breathed life into the tired horse that was the mecha genre with its action and praise-worthy intrigues. If you are looking for more anime recommendations like Code Geass, then head on down below.
Anime Like Code Geass
For Fans of Moves and Counter Moves
Death Note
High school student and genius prodigy Light Yagami has grown bored with the world as it is. However, one day he finds a notebook laying on the ground, a Death Note used by shinigami to kill any human whose name is written in it. Seeing its incredible potential, Light decides it is his duty to extinguish all criminals and become this world’s new god.
Death Note is likely the first recommendation people will throw out for Code Geass. Not only is each show like watching a game of chess or a massive game of cat and mouse, but Lelouch and Light are pretty much the same character. Initially, they start off with noble motives only to get darker and darker as things go on.
Mobile Suit Gundam 00
After the world depleted its stores of fossil fuels, it led to an energy crisis like no other. After the world switched to solar power, the countries that once depended on the sale of fossil fuels plunged into poverty, and thus warfare. From this strife rose a military group called the Celestial Beings, who aspired to end all war through intervention with their powerful Gundam mobile suits. This is their story.
Naturally, Gundam is famous for its flashy battles, ample mech action, and intricate political intrigue. In terms of quality, 00 presents the best story. Like in Code Geass, 00 also features several actions that have quite severe consequences throughout the series. So if you like cause and effect, this is a great Gundam to get into.
In truth, most Gundam series are applicable to Code Geass. If you are daunted starting into such a beast, check out our full Gundam Watch Order
Aldnoah Zero
Upon the discovery of a hypergate on the moon that could teleport humans to Mars, humanity became split. After years of warfare, an uneasy peace was forged between Martians and Terrans until the Martian princess was assassinated on Earth. Inaho Kaizuka, a high schooler who witnessed the assassination, suddenly finds himself pulled into this interplanetary conflict.
Both series deal with more tactics than actual battle as well political and military conflicts between nations. Aldnoah does it a little less gracefully than Code Geass, but both main protagonists used their intellect to form strategy while other characters actually fight the battles.
No Game No Life
In the real world, siblings Shiro and Sora are NEET shut-ins. However, in the virtual world, they are a legendary gaming duo. One day, after a strange email, they find their reality taken away as they are transported to the realm of Tet, God of Games. Here, Shiro and Sora must play games to defeat the sixteen races of this world as well as Tet in order to become the new gods.
While very different in genre, both Code Geass and No Game No Life are series that focus on fighting through cleverness and not necessarily any martial ability. In fact, in No Game No Life, they don’t fight at all. They just play gems that rely on wits. Both anime series are very good at charming you through sheer cleverness.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
An 150-year-long stalemate between two countries is finally coming to and end with the rise of two new, idealistic leaders. The Galactic Empire sees military genius Reinhard von Lohengramm climb through the ranks with dreams of becoming the one true ruler while the Free Planets Alliance is assisted in their autocratic troubles by historian Yang Wenli and his democratic ideals.
If the politics in Code Geass intrigued you more so than the mech battles or the eye power, then there is no finer series for it. Legend of the Galactic Heroes is aged, but it is still the pinnacle of political maneuvering in anime.
Terror in Resonance
After a terrorist attack on a Japanese nuclear facility, the country was paralyzed to act. After six months of searching for the perpetrators, the public is shown a video of two boys known as Sphinx who take credit for a recent bomb attack. The pair are soon linked to the terrorist attack on the nuclear facility by police. Threatening more mayhem to come, it is up to the police to catch these terrorists. However, Sphinx has been very careful to never kill anyone with their attacks. Instead, they hope to use them to expose a secret government experiment and its cruelty.
While Code Geass moves on from it, initially it is very much a show about a kind of terrorism much like Terror in Resonance is. The main characters in each show may have rather good motives, but go about achieving them in what could be considered evil ways.
86
For years, the Republic of San Magnolia has been at war with the Giadian Empire. They were constantly plagued by their hordes of unmanned drones until the government created an unmanned solution of their own, finally able to wage their war without casualties. However, that is not quite the truth. The “unmanned” combat weapons are actually used by those of the 86th sector of the Republic, but they are not considered even human. This is the tale of both Shin, an 86er and battle commander, and Lena, their sympathetic handler who remotely commands the detachment from inside the city.
While 86 doesn’t focus on a singular character getting his revenge, the world is rather similar. There are people that aren’t even treated as people under a powerful empire, there is a person of the empire who takes their side, and it is even a mech battle-focused series like Code Geass. 86 just focuses on more of the emotional side of the characters.
91 Days
Set during Prohibition, a man named Avilio returns to Lawless, a town famed for brewing illegal liquor, after the murder of his family by the mafia. A mysterious letter prompted him to return and infiltrate the Vanetti family to get his revenge. This anime tells the story of 91 days leading to the tragic end between Avilio and Nero Vanetti, the Don’s son.
Although wildly different in genre, what 91 Days and Code Geass have in common is a thirst for vengeance, and the ability to actually get it. 91 Days isn’t quite as clever, but it is calculative with how to the main character picks off all those who wronged him.
For Fans of Boys with Special Powers
Guilty Crown
After being ravaged by the Apocalypse Virus, Japan has fallen under control of the GHQ, an independent military force that pledged to restore order. However, a resistance group called Funeral Parlor has risen up to fight against their tyranny. During a crucial operation, Funeral Parlor member Inori Yuzuriha runs into the weak Shuu Ouma and through a twist of fate Shu ends up gaining the Power of Kings, a power that allows him to wield the manifestations of an individual’s personality as a weapon.
Code Geass and Guilty Crown both feature a character getting the “Power of Kings,” although it manifests itself in different ways. However, while both main characters also start off innocent enough, their own power and ideals slowly corrupt them throughout the series. Both series also feature Japanese trying to repel an outside force from their country as well.
Big Order
Ten years ago, Eiji Hoshimiya met a fairy that offered to grant his fondest wish. Afterwards, the world suffered the Great Destruction where everything collapsed and millions died. Fast forward to the present day and Eiji still doesn’t remember what he wished for, but people manifesting the power to grant their own wishes, called Orders, are out for his life.
While not having mechs, the similarity between Big Order and Code Geass lies in their main characters. In both series, the main character has the power to manipulate others, is intelligent, and wants to create a better world all for the sake of their sick little sister. One of the major themes in both anime series is also terrorism.
Valvrave the Liberator
Humanity has expanded their reach far into the stars, with three primary nations vying for ultimate control. Valvrave follows Haruto Tokishima after his life is turned upside down by an invasion by a rival nation. To liberate his home, Haruto and his classmates are willing to sacrifice everything to protect their home.
Do you like really stylized mecha series that features a supernatural twist and a vaguely alternate history setting? Yes? Then Valvrave is an excellent series to follow up Code Geass with. Both main characters start off in a high school setting, but by one twist of fate or another they are given the tools to help them get their vengeance. Both series have great plot twists, good action, a little romance, and some comedy to make for a well-rounded choice of anime.
Charlotte
Yuu Otosaka has the ability to slip into other people’s mind and control them for five seconds at a time. He has been using it to get good grades, but after he is caught by the enigmatic Nao Tomori, he is forced to transfer to a special school to safeguard children with these powers from discovery. At this supernatural new school, he is forced to join the Student Council where he uses his powers to hunt down other young people who are using and abusing their own powers.
Most obviously, these two series are tied together by main characters with eye powers. However, though Charlotte starts differently, it, like Code Geass, ultimately shows the main character using his eye powers to change the world.
For Fans of Mech Drama
Gundam SEED
In the midst of a war between the OMNI and the ZAFT, OMNI citizen Kira Yamato attends a technical college on the neutral base of Heliopolis. However, when ZAFT soldiers invade to steal the OMNI’s new mobile suit technology, Kira finds himself forced to pilot the remaining suit to protect his friends, coincidentally running into his old friend Athrun Zala, a man who is now a ZAFT soldier.
While Gundam SEED has a good dose of action, it tends to be more on the talk-y, dramatic side. So if you liked all the almost excessive drama between Lelouch and his friend Suzaku, then the relationship between Kira and Athrun takes it to the extreme.
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
Simon and Kamina were living boring lives in their deep underground village when, on an excavation dig, they find a mysterious object that turns out to be the ignition key to an ancient war machine. With their new weapon, the pair are able to fend off an attack from above, but upon catching a glimpse of the sky, they set off on an adventure that will take them out of this universe.
Code Geass and Gurren Lagann are classic examples of mecha done right. Both universes feature both casualties and sacrifices that make the action have actual risk to it. However, while Gurren Lagann is less intelligent, the series keep you glued to the screen through its own charms.
Eureka Seven
Renton Thurston hates his boring life in the backwater town of Bellforest. He wants nothing more than to have an adventure, but his grandfather insists he become a mechanic. However, one day adventure literally falls through his roof in the form of Eureka, the pilot of a Nirvash Type Zero and member of mercenary group Gekkostate.
While Code Geass features more of a cold intellect, Eureka Seven features more of a philosophical intellect, all wrapped up in a light and colorful package. Both feature strongly developed characters and a solid plot to carry them through.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
The world is on the brink of destruction following the landing of the Angels, massive monsters that want nothing more than to kill and destroy. The only hope lies with the select few that can pilot government agency Nerv’s special Evangelion-type mechs. The pilot must be compatible in order to pilot the Evangelions, and for Nerv leader, Gendo Ikari, one of those compatible few is his son, Shinji. With the fate of mankind on his shoulders and fights that often mean death for the pilots, is 14-year-old Shinji up to the task?
Instead of complex political intrigue and more traditional war-type battles, Neon Genesis Evangelion replaces that with angst and typically higher stakes struggle. However, both shows are ultimately pretty intense mecha series that show that the finer points of the genre.
Do you have more anime recommendations like Code Geass? Let fans know in the comments section below.
Ya know it would be great if ya could leave a watch order for code geass..