Top 10 Anime Battle Royales
It's every man, woman or weird alien thing for themself! Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we are counting down our picks for the Top 10 Anime Battle Royales.
For this list, we'll be looking at the times in anime where a large group of characters were tasked with kicking the crap out of each all at once. As long there's more than one character on the battlefield trying to knock their opponents senseless, then it qualifies.
#10: 12th Zodiac Tournament
“Juni Taisen: Zodiac War” (2017)
With some of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful betting on the outcome, this death match sees twelve individuals who embody the animals of the Chinese zodiac battle it out, with the winner receiving their sole desire. It may borrow a lot from the Fate verse, but the fights themselves are a blast to watch. The likes of the Monkey, Rabbit, Boar and Rat all gave us different perspectives on killing, plus you could truly never tell which of our not-so-lovable cast of murderers were going to lose their heads next.
#9: Btooom!
“Btooom!” (2012)
Throw together some gamers, serial killers and the worst scum on the planet… and that’s pretty much what you are getting here. After finding himself forced to compete in a real-life version of a hardcore action game, Ryouta has no choice but to fight for his life against an island full of crazy folk armed with a lot of grenades. It’s kill or be killed in its simplest form, so you can expect to see a lot of characters get blown to kingdom come in some truly messy ways. Don’t worry about Ryouta though, he’s got his in-game waifu to back him up.
#8: Future Diary Survival Game
Top 10 Times Anime Predicted The Future
“Future Diary” (2011-12)
We’ve ranted long and hard about this series, especially when it comes to the stupid decisions of its main character… That being said, it’s fun as hell. You’ve got yourself a diary that predict the future to a certain degree, with aim of the game being to eliminate other diary holders in order to become the new God of Time and Space. What’s not to love? Of course, the key to this battle royal is tactics, something Yuki and the other contestants sometimes aren’t too well versed in… leading to many a gruesome end for some.
#7: Hunter Exam Fourth Stage
“Hunter x Hunter” (2011-14)
Just when you thought Gon and the gang had been through enough, they get planted on an island and told to snatch up the badges of their fellow Hunter hopefuls in order to earn enough points to continue. Unfortunately, they’re now trapped with the psychotic Hisoka, who apparently gets withdrawal symptoms when he doesn’t butcher enough people. This part of the arc is more about tactics than actual fighting, but still has one hell of a payoff. Honestly, we never thought fly-fishing could be that intense, especially when you have to snatch a badge off of a killer jester.
#6: Squad Jam II
“Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online” (2018)
Despite taking place in a video game, the stakes here couldn’t be higher. In the second Squad Jam of PUBG the Anime, Llenn once again enters the fray, this time in hopes of taking down her rival Pitohui, who intends to die should she be killed by anyone else in-game. With her real-life buddy, the grenade launching Fukaziroh at her side, the two girls face a hail of bullets, bombs and booby traps. The result is a raw action contest that sees the tiny titans skills pushed to their absolute limit.
#5: Corrida Tournament
“One Piece” (1999-)
What happens when you mesh together Luffy and Gladiator? You get One Piece’s most bizarre fighters gathering together for the bloodiest spectator sport imaginable. While trying to find a way to bring down Doflamingo’s underworld operation for good, Luffy unwittingly finds himself competing in said tournament under the guise of Lucy, the prize just so happening to be his deceased brother’s Devil Fruit. Not only do we get encounters the likes of Rebecca and Bartolomeo, but we see the emotional return of Sabo. Who knew cutthroat coliseum matches could bring so many people together?
#4: Bullet of Bullets
“Sword Art Online II” (2014)
That’s right, we’re jumping back into the world of GGO for another battle royale this time in the core series’ Phantom Bullet arc. While investigating a particular gamer supposedly linked to the mysterious deaths of Gun Gale Online players, Kirito finds himself embroiled in yet another free-for-all fight-fest, only this time they have bullets, while all he has is a pseudo-lightsabre. Teaming up with the awesome sniping goddess that is Sinon, Kirito soon proves his worth in this unfamiliar territory…
#3: Chuunin Exams Second Stage
“Naruto” (2002-07)
Send in a group of wannabe ninja into a massive forest and you are just asking for trouble. Naruto and company find themselves in for far more than they bargained when they set out into the Forest of Death. Not only did they have to deal with some rather murderous Sound Ninja, but also get to bare witness to Gaara’s ferocious sand jutsu as well as Orochimaru’s vile creepiness. They were beaten, bludgeoned, branded with a Curse Mark and even devoured by a giant snake… Even for a ninja exam we’d say that’s a wee bit much.
#2: Holy Grail War
“Fate” series (2006-)
Whether it’s the harrowing experience of the Fourth Holy Grail War or the action-epic of the Fifth Holy Grail War, the generational conflicts between various Masters and Servants have each delivered when it comes to blinding fight scenes and clashing ideologies. With the winner receiving a single wish courtesy of the Holy Grail, you can expect every fighter from across history and fiction to show up at one point or another. No matter which of the million spin-offs you choose to invest your time in, expect to see a lot of Noble Phantasms light up the screen.
#1: Tournament of Power
Top 10 Anime Tournament Battles
“Dragon Ball Super” (2015-)
Just when you thought Dragon Ball couldn’t get any bigger. With multiple universes hanging in the balance, the greatest fighters from across reality all gather in one place to battle out for their respective worlds. This not only includes the likes of Goku and Vegeta, but some of the craziest magical girls you’ve ever seen, the first ever female Super Saiyans, as well as an absolute beast by the name of Jiren. The fights are off the chain, we get more transformations than we know what do with, and every one of our favourite characters gets a chance to shine. It’s an adrenaline rush from beginning to end!
