You think just because Game of Thrones has ended you cannot enjoy some good old fashioned betrayal themed medieval sword fighting action? The magical world of anime has come to your rescue. There are many anime that can help you satiate your hunger for everything Game of Thrones. Presenting – 10 Anime you should watch if you are a Game of Thrones fan!!
Vinland Saga
This is the series that took the entire anime community by storm. The manga as well as the anime had such detailed descriptions of Norse mythology that everybody was taken aback by its sheer brilliance. Vinland Saga is about Thorrfin and his journey to exact revenge on the person who killed his father. Thorrfin joins a Viking raider’s camp and starts learning how to fight and lead people.
Sometime later, Thorrfin also tries to usher in a regime change. There are tons of Viking battles and superb animation is the reason why it became even more famous. Like Game of Thrones, Vinland Saga has top-notch visuals and is basically a period piece war drama anime set in the winter harsh-lands of Europe. Vikings were never this interesting until Vinland Saga gave them a huge spotlight.
The Rising of the Shield Hero
How do you survive in a world that was created to bring people like you down? How do you live in a society that was designed to betray and back stab you the moment you let your guard down? The Rising of the Shield Hero deals with a young gamer who is whisked away from the real world and into a medieval world where he is one of the four mythic heroes that is supposed to save the people from destruction.
Naofumi does not know what to do. And the series of betrayals that follow after he tries to make the world a better place is almost insurmountable. Anybody else would have given up and called it a day, leaving the world to die a slow and painful death. The Rising of the Shield Hero is a true story of dedication and compassion.
Berserk
In the world of Berserk, the forces of Good and Evil take a backseat. The only constant in this series are brutality and violence. While the rest of the shows try to show how the good guys save the day, Berserk’s primary protagonist just tries to survive every day while facing human cruelty and evil forces trying to pull him back into the abyss. It features how the common people are the most persecuted segment in the whole of society, becoming the collateral damage as the rich scramble for more and more power and wealth.
In Berserk, literally nobody is safe, not even the lead character. Just like in Game of Thrones, the series would not back down from killing off a major likeable character just for furthering the storyline and creating more dramatic effect.
Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan does not have dragons and zombies. What it does have is thousands and thousands of flesh-eating humanoid entities called the Titans. And they more than make up for a lack of mythical creatures in the series. Attack on Titan is one of those shows that will make you feel like ‘if only there was one more episode to watch.’
The series also has a lot of world-building and the mythology that surrounds the show is vast and never ending. Attack on Titan also has a lot of political conspiracies and back0stabbing that form a major crux of the show. All in all, if you liked Game of Thrones, there is no way you would not love to see Attack on Titan on screen.
Claymore
Claymore is basically the story of the Unsullied of Essos. In the world of Claymore, demons called Yoma run amok, pillaging and killing innocents by the hundreds. To stop these demons from doing any more damage are the Claymores – half human half Yoma hybrids with heightened physical attributes. The Claymores are treated as second class Citizens and they are feared throughout the land.
If a Claymore uses too much of her demonic energy, she will turn into a Yoma herself. Claymores are an all-female, all-warrior class sect that is trained from childhood in the art of Yoma killing. Like the Unsullied, they go through rigorous training from the moment they learn to walk to become elite soldiers of the Claymore organization.
Death Note
This might not have medieval sword fights or dragons but it sure does have something else that Game of Thrones also has in common – a solid storyline based on trust and betrayal. Death Note tells the story of Light Yagami and his quest to rid the world of all evil by using a special notebook called the Death Note – which gives him the ability to kill any person he wants to by writing their name on it.
He can even specify the time and method of death. The lead protagonist of Death Note is actually the antagonist and the antagonist is actually the good guy here. Death Note is a battle not of blades but wits. There are ample twists and turns to keep you at the edge of your seat just like Game of Thrones. It also deals with the Supernatural like Game of Thrones does so there is another reason for you to watch it.
Code Geass
Now this is a series that just might rival the fame and popularity of Game of Thrones. Lelouch is a member of a noble family that was betrayed by the King of Britannia, a kingdom that has taken over the Empire of Japan. Leluoch gains the power to control peoples’ minds and he decides to destroy the Holy Britannian Empire from the inside.
Code Geass is a game of chess between Lelouch and the many antagonists. It is an anime worth a watch. They have also released another season of the show after a long hiatus. Code Geass, like Game of Thrones, has aged like fine wine.
The Heroic Legend of Arslan
The Heroic Legend of Arslan pretty much resonates with the story of Daenerys Targaryen. Like Daenerys, Arslan is the rightful heir to a Kingdom he has been exiled from. He amasses an army and uses his wits to take back control. Along the way he learns about the ways of the land and the ugly thing called Politics.
The neighbouring country of Lusitania is also hot on his tails and is almost ready to invade Pars, Arslan’s Kingdom. There are several characters that are similar to Game of Thrones’ characters. Narsus is the same as Tyrion Lannister. Daryun is like a younger version of Barristan Selmy and Gieve, who is the anime’s equivalent of the thieving Bronn.
The Twelve Kingdoms
The Twelve Kingdoms are inspired from the folk tales of the mythical twelve heavenly kingdoms of China. The anime series may not offer much in terms of action but where it really scores is world building. The series takes place through the eyes of multiple characters and helps the audience explore the world little by little up to the minute of details.
The twelve Kingdoms tells the story of Youko, a high school going girl who discovers that she is the heir to the throne of a fledgling but powerful Kingdom amongst the Twelve Kingdoms. Youko begins her journey as the Queen but she has a rough start. With time, she becomes the ruler her people need and deserve. There are also several other amazing characters you would actually end up rooting for in the show.
Le Chevalier D’Eon
Le Chevalier D’Eon would be the answer to the question of – What if the royal Kingsguard had their spinoff series?!?! It is the year 1742. The Kingdom of France is in a state of utter turmoil. There have been a string of murders that has rocked the French Capital Paris. D’Eon de Beaumont, a Knight in service to the King of France – King Louis XV, has decided to come to Paris to investigate these murders and if possible, find the perpetrator behind the disappearance and death of his sister Lia. The anime has some of the best English voice overs in pop culture history and is a classic period drama that explores life in Medieval Europe.
