Every 1,000 years, all gods from every religion are convened to decide the fate of humanity. Due to their abuses against each other and the planet, the gods are about to unanimously vote for ending humanity. However, just as it is about to pass, Brunhild, a Valkyrie, puts forth a proposal. Humans are given a chance to have 13 warriors from throughout history fight against gods in a one-on-one tournament style battle that will ultimately decide their fate.
Fighting anime is always solid proof that plot doesn’t matter if people beat the shit out of each other in a cool enough way. If you are looking for more anime recommendations like Record of Ragnarok, then head on down below.
Anime Like Record of Ragnarok
For Fans of Tournament Fighting Anime
God of High School
In Korea, they host the God of High School tournament. In it, the strongest high school fighters battle it out against each other for the top prize. This year, Mori Jin, a Taekwondo specialist, has entered, but soon finds out there is more at play than just a simple tournament.
Essentially, both anime series are just about people fighting in a tournament. Everyone is super powered, but the fights are better animated in God of High School. While God of High School at least starts out more grounded, it doesn’t stay that way.
Baki
As the son of Hanma Yuujiro, Hanma Baki trains intensely every day in order to finally beat and surpass his father. However, at this very moment, five of the world’s most dangerous and deadly criminals are breaking out of jail. They all seek out one thing – Baki. They all crave the taste of defeat and hope Baki can grant it to them. However, in this dangerous fight, Baki is not alone.
One cannot look at these two anime series and not find them similar. They are both about large men brutalizing each other in various fights. Baki has a less ridiculous plot, but that’s about it.
Megalo Box
Megalo Box is an underground sport in which fighters utilize mechanical limbs that augment the power of the fighters. Junk Dog, despite big potential, needs money and makes it by throwing matches. However, after he is defeated by a champion in disguise, he is presented with a challenge to fight his way up to fighting him again.
If you enjoyed Record of Ragnarok because it was more interesting than your standard boxing anime, then Megalo Box will be of a similar vein. It is still pretty much boxing, but the augmentations make things a little more interesting and inventive.
For Fans of Deities and Famous Figures
Noragami
There will be times where you may happen across an odd phone number written in red. If you call it, you will get in touch with a young man who introduces himself as the Yato God. This Yato God is a minor deity and the self-proclaimed God of Delivery. He dreams of having millions of worshippers, but there isn’t a single shrine dedicated to his name. He spends his time doing odd jobs for spare yen until the day his weapons partner deserts him. Just as things are looking down, he happens across a young school girl that saves him from a car accident by taking the hit for him. She survives, but her soul becomes loose. Together they set out to find a way to tighten her soul back up.
Whereas Record of Ragnarok is deities fighting historical figures, Noragami focuses more simply on the gods and the battles they face. They are more gods of Japanese mythology as well as made up deities, however.
Drifters
While forming the rear guard for his uncle’s escape, Toyohisa Shimazu manages to mortally wound Ii Naomasa, but is critically wounded himself in the process. While trying to limp back home, he finds himself transported from the field to a hallway lined with doors. There a mysterious man sends him spiraling into another world. Dragged into the forest by two young elves, Toyohisa is patched up by two others from the Land of the Rising Sun that turn out to be Yoichi Suketaka Nasu and Oda Nobunaga. From there, Toyohisa and his fellow historical figures, named “drifters” must save (or conquer) their new world.
While they feature different plots, both Record of Ragnarok and Drifters feature an interesting line-up of historical figures. While Drifters also has deities pulling the strings, they are less name brand.
Sengoku Basara
In the Sengoku Period of Japan, constant struggle between local lords has fostered a chaotic Japan. Quelling these lords one after another under his might and military prowess was the Demon King of Owari, Oda Nobunaga who was slowly uniting Japan. However, only two dared rebel against his rule, the One-eyed Dragon of Oshu, Masamune Date and the hot blooded warrior of the Takeda clan, Yukimura Sanada. Though Masamune and Yukimura share a similar goal of defying Oda rule, the two are locked in fierce rivalry that thwarts any hope of a united front. However, under pressure from Oda’s looming force, they must learn to make peace and work together if they hope to survive.
Sengoku Basara features many notable samurai from the Warring States era of Japanese history. Like the many historical and biblical figures in Record of Ragnarok, the samurai all have huge over-the-top fights with each other that slip the surly bonds of physics.
For Fans of Super Muscular Anime Characters
Kengan Ashura
While many business deals are settled through contracts and meetings in the boardroom, since ancient times, many merchants in Japan have had another way to settle business disputes – Kengan matches. In the underground merchant world of Kengan Ashura, businesses ranging from smaller shops to mega-corporations settle disputes and make business deals through gladiatorial bare-handed fights in the arena. However, the competitors aren’t the the businessmen, but rather a series of proxy warriors. Every business scouts powerful fighters to field in Kengan matches in hopes of claiming profitable victories. Tokita Ouma is one such prospective Kengan fighter. Recruited by the CEO of the Nogi Group, he hopes the attraction of strong fighters to Kengan matches will eventually lead him to the fighter he seeks to conquer in order to fully call himself the strongest.
Both are similarly about super buff dudes that are battling in an arena. However, instead of deciding humanity’s future, Kengan Ashura is basically just settling the disputes of others through the way of the fist.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
In 1868, Dario Brando saves the life of English nobleman George Joestar. When Dario dies, George hopes to repay the favor by taking in his son, Dio. Unfortunately, Dio wants the Joestar household for his own and tries to take it with the help of an Aztec stone mask with supernatural powers. This triggers a chain of events that will affect the Joestar house for generations to come.
While much of Record of Ragnarok tries to play things seriously, it just ends up hilarious. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is much the same, but it also fully knows it is being ridiculous. You follow overly buff men who often are essentially just walking to the next battleground.
Terra Formars
After sending cockroaches and algae to terraform Mars as a second home for the now-overcrowded Earth, their efforts are coming back to bite them years in the future. Not only is an alien disease ravaging humanity on Earth, but the cockroaches evolved in murderous giants with a vendetta against humanity on Mars. Determining the disease came from Mars, a team of genetically-modified heroes from around the world are sent to the red planet and must fight in order to gather samples that will help create a cure.
In their essence, both Record of Ragnarok and Terra Formars are the same ridiculous beast. While Terra Formars isn’t a tournament-style anime, it mind as well be since the first season is just non-stop battles featuring people with bulging muscles and superhuman powers.
Do you have more anime recommendations like Record of Ragnarok? Let fans know in the comments section below.
