Ranking of Kings, AKA Ousama Ranking, is one of the most well-received anime this Fall 2021 season, but that doesn’t mean it's the only anime of its kind. Sure, not much else manages to capture that “storybook” atmosphere or feature such an immediately likable main character comparable to Bojji, but a lot of shows come close or excel in something similar.
So, for those who are truly enjoying Ranking of Kings, but are having a hard time waiting for each new episode, here are some other similar shows to watch in the meantime. These recommendations truly vary in terms of their content, from some comfy slice-of-life series to some horrifically violent series. But, all of them in some way feature a loveable main character who goes on an amazing adventure of some kind.
Updated April 8th, 2023 by Jacob Buchalter: Every new season of anime, some new adorable show comes out about a boy who's down on his luck until eventually, good things happen to them. While this may seem like a pretty basic concept, it's difficult to do right without feeling forced or too corny, and only a rare handful of shows have managed to do it or something similar. Ranking of Kings, for example, is a recent example of a series that manages to almost magically make the audience want to protect and care for Bojji just a couple of minutes in. But, as his adventure continues, the events around him start to slowly become equally as interesting as Bojji's story. So, let's look at some similar anime that manages to tell a similar story or achieve an effect comparable to what Ranking of Kings has while waiting for that Treasure Chest of Courage special episode of RoK to come out.
16 By The Grace Of The Gods
Starting things off with an anime that has a comfy tone comparable to Ranking of Kings. One of the aspects of Ousama Ranking that makes the first third of it so incredibly good is seeing Bojji going through all these tough times and wishing things got better for him and then watching as they do.
By the Grace of the Gods is an entire anime about this feeling, as its protagonist, Ryouma, is the standard 'died on Earth, reincarnated in another world' type of isekai character. The main difference for Ryouma, however, is that the world he's reincarnated in is a much kinder place, and even the Gods of this world can tell how nice of a guy Ryouma was in his past life. It's the ultimate comfy show where a guy who tried his best but was unlucky in life finally gets to be happy and experience new things, all while the past experiences of his previous life give him tons of advantages in this new one.
15 Kotaro Lives Alone
One of the things that Bojji struggles a lot with a lot in Ranking of Kings is acting adorable and having adults misunderstand his intentions, expertise, or independence because of it. Yes, the backstory behind Queen Hilling and her adorable need for Bojji to love her is incredibly cute, but she still treats him like too much of a baby.
Meanwhile, Kotaro Lives Alone has the opposite issue where Kotaro acts like a child and is completely adorable with his formal way of speaking, yet they're all letting him live completely alone. It's an odd circumstance, but that's exactly what makes Kotaro Lives Alone both interesting and adorable, as the interactions Kotaro has with Shin and the other people of the complex are just so entertaining.
14 Tower Of God
This next recommendation is one that many people may not have expected, but Bam's story in Tower of God has a lot of similarities to Bojji's in Ranking of Kings.
Both stories involve protagonists who are constantly out of their depth and underestimated for it, only to prove their worth. Both stories take place in a world that's incredibly harsh and dark so the moments of kindness and achievement shine that much brighter. And finally, both stories revolve around a protagonist who just wants the best for people yet has so many of those same people they care about planning, deceiving, and scheming behind their backs. All-in-all, while the context and settings of both stories are pretty radically different, they're both similar in that they're so unique.
13 Trigun & Trigun Stampede
Okay, this is probably the least likely comparison on here, but there's a reason Trigun was selected. First of all, thanks to Trigun Stampede, everyone's thinking about Vash the Stampede again. Second, just think about these two stories and the similarities should become almost immediately clear.
Both anime revolve around a pacifistic (or attempted pacifist in Vash's case), peace-loving protagonist who has grandiose and absurdly ideological goals. Secondly, these two series also have characters (like Millions Knives or Miranjo) and situations that are constantly trying to force the main character to go against their morals. And third, both Vash and Bojji are not what they first appear to be, as Vash has his origins as an Independent Plant while Bojji should've been born gigantic, but was cursed by his own father and had both his size and power massively reduced.
12 Vinland Saga
Vinland Saga, at least compared to Ranking of Kings, is assuredly much more violent, though the second half of RoK makes tries hard to catch up. Thorfinn is the very definition of a "troubled youth," though for the age of Vikings his violent nature is honestly the societal norm, especially for the villains of the series.
Now that season 2 is well underway, fans of the series are starting to get a glimpse at the arc Thorfinn goes through after the initial big timeskip. And yes, while the story is a lot less violent than it used to be, that's sort of the point, and the story told from here on out is even more enjoyable than Vinland Saga season 1, just in a different way.
11 Kaiba
Kaiba is likely the best recommendation anyone could give for an anime to watch before/after Ranking of Kings. Yet, because of its niche following and very unique art style, not enough people know about Kaiba. This is a series created by Madhouse, known for its absurd range in terms of style and the high standard of quality they set for themselves.
Regarding style, Kaiba is one of the most unique-looking anime in history. At first glance, it might be hard to get used to it, but the simplistic nature and overblown proportions actually serve to enhance its overall theme. Kaiba is best enjoyed going in blind, so to keep it that way, it's best to simply describe it as an episodic anime that explores the concept of "memories" in some nihilistic, inventive, and heart-wrenchingly cruel ways.
10 March Comes In Like A Lion
When it comes to shows similar to Ranking of Kings, most key aspects include heavy emotional impact, a story focused on a single character learning to love the world around them, or a tale about an emotionally scarred MC who finally finds people that appreciate them. March Comes in Like A Lion has all three.
It's a lot less fantastical and a lot more realistic, but the show's beautiful visual metaphors bridge the gap into the fantasy realm just a bit. Rei Kiriyama has trouble relating to the world around him, just like Boiji, and it never gets old watching both Rei and Boiji find all the little moments of happiness that they've always deserved. As far as anime similar to Rankings of Kings go, MCiLaL is top-notch in terms of quality.
9 Katanagatari
This might seem like a recommendation 'out of left field', but Katanagatari really does scratch a similar itch as the Ranking of Kings anime. As a whole, RoK is likely the better product, but both shows are much more focused on mold-breaking characters and their conflicting ideologies. It's another show where one could argue the MC (or MC's brother in RoK's case) has fallen for the villain, in a way, yet doesn't seem to care. Plus, both MCs of these two anime are absurdly powerful human weapons that are always vastly underestimated.
That isn't to say that either show lacks in the animation department. When it comes to combat, they both go all out. But, it's clear as day that the creators of both these shows relish the moment-to-moment interactions between characters more than action sequences, as the dialogue is polished to a mirror sheen in both. And as a last little note, both series also feature some of the most overpowered female characters of all time.
8 Mob Psycho 100
Next up is Mob Psycho 100. It feels like this show is on every recommendation list for every genre, and for good reason, it really is an anime that encapsulates a bit of everything and nails everything it sets out to do.
Like Ranking of Kings,Mob Psycho 100 is over-the-top fantastical, features a main character who is immediately loveable yet just a bit "different" from everyone else, and has plenty of action. It’s an anime about identity, what it means to be human, characters learning to love themselves, and what true growth actually is, which are all aspects RoK shares as well. And, it's a perfect show to watch for those who love alternative anime art styles, as both RoK and MP100 are anime that have a completely individual look to them.
7 To Your Eternity
Adapted by studio Brain's Base from the hit manga series of the same name made by Yoshitoki Oima, To Your Eternity is a real heart-wrenching watch. Well, that’s to be expected, considering it comes from the same mind that created A Silent Voice, after all.
In any case, To Your Eternity doesn’t exactly have a lot in common with Ranking of Kings in regards to its narrative, but the overall atmosphere and emotional impacts of both shows are very similar. Plus, both main characters have a lot of trouble with understanding and communication (at least at first), and they slowly but surely open up to the world around them.
6 Somali & The Forest Spirit
In the same way Ranking of Kings has this 'otherworldly wonder' where viewers are enamored with the setting, so does a little show called Somali and the Forest Spirit. In SatFS, humans are all but extinct and the world is dominated by all manner of mystical creatures, from spirits to demons, or even immortal guardian golems.
In fact, one such forest golem stumbles across a human child (named Somali) and after some time, decides to travel with her in order to find her parents. Their slow but steadily growing familial bond, the constant tension of Somali being attacked at any time, and the underdog child MC all apply to both RoK and SatFS, making them both fantastic shows to watch.
5 Made In Abyss
Anyone who has only seen one or two episodes of the Ranking of Kings anime would probably say that Made in Abyss is a bit too dark and violent to compare the two. But, as RoK airs more and more episodes, it's obvious that both sides have a very dark tone to them hidden just beneath their childlike art style.
Both Made in Abyss and Ranking of Kinds feature two primary “main” characters who are adventuring through a fantastical world that seems entirely against them, all while trying to do what's best for the people around them. And, there's never a moment in either show where viewers are sat down and are given an explanation as to how the world and creatures work, which gives both anime this constant feeling of "anything could happen". And, after watching the second season of Made in Abyss, that feeling has never been stronger.
4 Arslan Senki
Now moving onto the shows that have a bit more to do with the whole “unexpectedly talented Prince” and/or “Royalty on a journey to reclaim their kingdom” side of Ranking of Kings, there’s Arslan Senki, AKA The Heroic Legend of Arslan.
To sort of summarize the overall plot of Arslan Senki in as few words as possible, it’s like what happens when the author of Legend of the Galactic Heroes (Yoshiki Tanaka) is told to write his own Fire Emblem-style Odyssey-type story. There’s betrayal, espionage, discovery, a whole lot of scouting out exceptionally talented people, and plenty of political drama, which makes it a perfect comparison to RoK.
3 Kingdom
While Arslan Senki has some pretty violent moments, almost nothing out there compares to Kingdom when it comes to raw moment-to-moment violence. Set in a fictional rendition of the Warring States period of Chinese history, where the country was constantly at war with itself before the king of Qin managed to unite all of China, Kingdom is a brutal series that has characters constantly teetering on the edge of death at all times.
The story mostly focuses on a boy named Xin who grew up with nothing, as he works his way steadily into becoming one of the “Great Generals Under the Heavens”. It’s an absurdly long story on par with something like Vinland Saga or Berserk that also manages to capture that feeling of "realism" with larger-than-life characters. That said, the manga is by far the best way to experience this story as the anime is a bit too reliant on CGI. Still, with the scale of these battles, it's an understandable decision to lean into the CGI as much as they do.
2 The Ancient Magus Bride
Moving onto yet another story about a main character who is massively underestimated by the people around them and yet really comes into their own as a person, it’s the Ancient Magus Bride.
Out of all the anime to release in the last few years, AMB is one of a handful that can give RoK a run for its money in terms of pure worldbuilding of a fantasy setting. From the first episode, viewers feel like they've been thrown into a world where magic has always existed, and it's a force to be reckoned with, again, like RoK. Yes, AMB is a bit slower in its pace and more romantically focused than RoK, but it's still almost guaranteed that those who enjoy Bojji's adventure will love Chise's as well. Plus, Elias is this fantastically powerful animal, spirit, and human hybrid that seems like something right out of a storybook, which is, once again, something RoK excels at too.
1 Dororo
Last up is Dororo, unsurprisingly, another story about a boy with a tragic upbringing who can’t talk or hear. Well, to be fair, Hyakkimaru wasn’t really born with anything, including limbs, internal organs, or even a face. He became like this thanks to his father making a pact with 48 sealed demons so that he may 'rule the land' before Hyakkimaru was even born. Yet, somehow, Hyakkimaru survives and even lucks into getting a mostly prosthetic body from a skilled craftsman and pseudo-adoptive father. From there, the story mostly focuses on Hyakkimaru fighting (and killing) all of these sealed demons with the help of a little delinquent rascal named Dororo, with each big kill returning one of his senses or missing parts back to him.
In terms of narrative, Dororo has almost nothing in common with RoK, but the relationship and setup for Dororo and Hyakkimaru feel incredibly similar to the duo that is Bojji and Kage in a lot of ways. And, for a manga that first started publishing way back in the '60s, the concept still holds up incredibly well.