Trapped In Video Game Anime List
The concept of being trapped in a game has been a popular trope in anime, with several series featuring protagonists that find themselves stuck in virtual reality. Also known as Isekai, these anime often explore the themes of identity, escapism, and the blurred line between reality and fiction.
In these anime, the main character is usually a player in an advanced virtual reality game that promises to provide a lifelike experience. However, the characters soon discover that they cannot log out of the game and are trapped within it. In order to escape, the protagonist must often complete certain tasks or reach specific goals within the game, all while facing the various challenges and obstacles presented within.
The genre typically falls within the realm of science-fiction or fantasy, often featuring elements such as magic, superpowers, and advanced technology. These elements, combined with the gaming aspect, create an immersive and intriguing storyline that appeals to many anime fans.
Aside from the physical struggles of trying to survive in a virtual world, these anime also explore the emotional and psychological effects of being trapped. The main characters often confront their deepest fears and insecurities, as well as the realization that their loved ones in the real world are powerless to help them.
There are thousands of anime in the Isekai genre, but we will go through the top 7 based on our research. Let’s go!
Best Trapped in Video Game Anime List
1. Sword Art Online
Sword Art Online is an anime series set in the near future, where a revolutionary new technology called “NerveGear” allows players to fully immerse themselves in virtual reality. The story follows Kirito, a beta tester for a new virtual reality MMORPG called Sword Art Online, who joins thousands of other players in the game’s official launch.
However, they soon discover that they cannot log out and are trapped within the game. The game’s creator, Akihiko Kayaba, reveals that the only way to escape is to reach the top of the game’s 100-floor tower and defeat the final boss. Kirito teams up with other players and fights his way through the various floors, facing challenges and enemies along the way, while trying to uncover the truth behind the game’s creator and the reasons why they are trapped inside the game.
2. Log Horizon
Log Horizon begins in a world where thousands of players of a popular MMORPG game, Elder Tale, find themselves mysteriously trapped inside the game’s world after a new expansion update. Protagonist Shiroe, a socially awkward strategist and veteran player, teams up with other players to form the “Log Horizon” guild and work together to adapt to their new reality, understand the game’s mechanics, and explore the new world.
They encounter various challenges and factions, including NPCs (Non-Player Characters) who have become sentient due to the event, as well as other players who are trying to exploit the situation for their own gain. Shiroe and his companions must navigate the political and social dynamics of their new reality while trying to find a way to return to the real world.
3. Overlord
Overlord is a story about a young man named Momonga, who is transported into a fantasy world of magic and mythical creatures. He finds himself stuck in the body of his in-game avatar, an undead skeleton sorcerer named Ainz Ooal Gown, after his favorite MMORPG game, YGGDRASIL, is shut down.
He decides to use his knowledge of the game to rule over the world he finds himself in, and he leads his guild, the Great Tomb of Nazarick, to conquer and dominate the land. Along the way, Ainz encounters other powerful individuals, both friends, and foes, as he navigates his way through the politics and power struggles of this new world.
4. No Game No Life
No Game No Life is a Japanese light novel series written by Yuu Kamiya. The story follows siblings Sora and Shiro, who are famous online gamers known as “Blank” for their unbeatable gaming skills. One day, they are summoned to a parallel world called Disboard, where all conflicts and disputes are resolved through games instead of violence.
There, they set out to become the rulers of this world by defeating the god of games, Tet. Along the way, they meet other players and engage in intense strategic battles that push their skills to the limit. The story explores the value of games, the nature of reality, and the importance of relationships and trust.
5. Re: Zero
The story follows a young man named Subaru Natsuki, who is suddenly transported to a fantasy world while returning from a convenience store. He discovers that he has the ability to return from death by being transported back in time to a “save point” every time he dies. Using this ability, he sets out to uncover the secrets of this new world and the reason for his sudden transportation.
Along the way, he forms relationships with various people, including the silver-haired half-elf Emilia and the demon maid Rem, and becomes embroiled in complex political and magical conflicts that threaten the safety of those around him. The story explores themes of self-discovery, loss, and the consequences of one’s actions.
6. Btoom!
“Btooom!” is a Japanese manga and anime series created by Junya Inoue. The plot follows a young man named Ryota Sakamoto, who is a top player of the video game “Btooom!” and finds himself mysteriously transported to an island where he must participate in real-life battles using bombs that are replicas of the ones in the game.
Ryota must fight for survival against other players who are also trapped on the island, as well as confront his own traumatic past. The series explores themes of violence, trauma, and the consequences of obsession with virtual reality.
7. Accel World
Accel World is a science fiction anime and light novel series set in the year 2046, where a virtual reality game called “Brain Burst” allows players to accelerate their thought processes and experience time at a slower rate.
The story is that of a high school student named Haruyuki Arita, who is frequently bullied and finds solace in playing Brain Burst. Haruyuki is introduced to a secret level within the game called the “Accelerated World” by a popular student named Kuroyukihime. In this world, players can fly and use special abilities, but they must also fight each other to gain points.
Haruyuki becomes Kuroyukihime’s disciple and enters the Accelerated World, where he faces various opponents and learns more about the game’s hidden secrets. Along the way, he discovers the true purpose of Brain Burst and the dark forces that seek to control it, while exploring themes of power, friendship, and self-discovery.
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