8-more-brilliant-mmorpg-anime-to-watch

And if you've had enough of anime shows about MMORPGs, we've also included some MMORPG manga and live-action series.

Are you looking for more brilliant MMORPG anime to watch? Good news, friends -- you've come to the right place.

The MMO Games' team is currently visiting Japan. So, on the back of our list of the best MMORPG TV shows and movies, we published a hot list of some of the best anime shows about MMORPGs last month. Fortunately, our new favourite TV genre has a whole load more brilliant contenders which we can't wait to share with you.

So, without further faff, here are 8 more anime shows about MMORPGs (and some manga):

Rebirth of the Thief That Roamed the World -- MMORPG Manga

What would you do if you had the chance to make your decisions all over again with the knowledge you have now? Now imagine a world where a virtual reality massively multiplayer online game (VRMMO) dominates the world. It has become what "Second Life" and the "Metaverse" desperately seek to be -- a culturally dominant virtual space that's increasingly interlinked with corporate interests and everyday life.

Nie Yan played a level 180 thief in "Conviction", this VRMMO, but in the real world he was penniless - scraping by on petty crimes and the sale of in-game items. After some foolhardy decisions led to his premature demise, he found himself reborn a decade earlier. Only this time, he would not be destined for the same destitute state -- the manga covers his second chance at life as he uses his skills and knowledge of the "future" to fuel his newfound ambition both in Conviction and the real world.

Reincarnation of the Strongest Sword God -- MMORPG Manga

Next up, we have Rebirth of a Thief's sibling novel, another MMORPG manga wherein the protagonist "dies" before being reborn a decade earlier -- as you might have guessed -- as the "Strongest Sword God". The story follows the betrayal of protagonist Shi Feng, a top-ranking player in imaginary MMO "God's Domain" as his own guild turn against him.

As he turns to the bottle to drown his sorrows, he wakes up ten years in the past, just after the release of God's Domain. With the chance to rewrite his history, he uses his memories and experience to rise to unprecedented heights. It's not the most original plot, but it's certainly enjoyable. If you've finished Rebirth of the Thief Who Roamed the World and you're just dying for more reincarnation thrills, it's a worthy follow-up.

Phantasy Star Online 2: The Animation -- MMORPG Anime

What's better than finding great MMORPG anime to watch? Finding great MMORPG anime to watch which incorporates an MMO we already enjoy. And don't be fooled into assuming it's just an animated version of the Phantasy Star Online 2 storyline. No, Phantasy Star Online 2: The Animation is set in the year 2027, a year in which the 2012 F2P RPG Phantasy Star Online 2 dominates society (hey, no one said anime has to be realistic).

At Seiga Academy, every student is obsessed with the game except Itsuki Tachibana - who, shockingly, doesn't like gaming at all. When the game is criticised for having a negative influence on the kids, the game's survival eventually falls on the shoulders of Itsuki as he's challenged to learn to play while maintaining his grades. Yes, the plot sounds like it was written by a thirteen-year-old. Yes, it's as silly as it all sounds. But with only 12 episodes, you may as well dive in.

.hack//ROOTS -- MMORPG Anime

Those of you who caught our last list of great MMORPG anime to watch will have read our high praise of the .hack series and it's most well-known MMO iteration .hack//SIGN. Frankly, between intersecting movies, games, free PS2 DVDs, and various licensing deals, the huge .hack universe is one we get pretty confused by.

Our favourite part of the .hackverse is The World -- a dynamic and often dark MMO game which unites much of the .hack and .hack Conglomerate publications. .hack//ROOTS follows Haseo as he joins the Twilight Brigade guild for The World's second iteration. He then rises sharply to a power that may well be his undoing and is granted the rank -- "The Terror of Death". What happens next is best discovered for yourself. .hack//ROOTS is the last Bandai Namco licensed .hack entry and it sets up the history of Haseo before the popular .hack//G.U. Rebirth.

Overgeared -- MMORPG Manga

As promised, we're breaking up our list of the best MMORPG anime to watch with MMORPG manga to read. Overgeared is an addictive read in spite of the fact that protagonist Shin Youngwoo (Grid) is a pain in the backside. While playing the fictional VR MMORPG "Satisfy", Shin comes across a legendary item which transforms him from everyday-nobody to champion-of-champions. As he finds out, being the best-of-the-best isn't everything it's cracked up to be.

Sadly, we'll probably never get an Overgeared anime adaption -- as some point out, that could be related to the fact there are some pretty dubious nationalist themes stuck in there. We did say the protagonist is unlikable...

Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? -- MMORPG Anime

The anime series, Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? is more commonly known as the less verbose DanMachi. First things first, let's address the elephant in the room. It is a very silly, very thirsty show with ridiculous levels of bouncing cleavage and blushing adventurers.

It is, however, also kind of really good. The score is excellent, the animation is stunning, and protagonist Bell Cranel's hapless herculean quest through the subterranean labyrinthian "Dungeon" is pretty engaging.

Just to keep this confusing, if you're looking to play a non-MMO anime RPG about this MMORPG anime, there is a game available on Steam: Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon: Infinite Combat.

BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, So I'll Max Out My Defense -- MMORPG Anime

BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense is like the antithetical loquacious sibling of One Punch Man. Gamers have always loved to min-max but raising your defence so high that you can't move, that's a different story -- except that for new character, the shield-wielding Maple, it works.

Maple is a player character in the massively multiplayer game NewWorld Online (no, not that one). She escalates through a series of challenges including battle royales, medal runs, starting a guild and more. Over time (and a series of kooky adventures), Maple somewhat accidentally becomes a real force to be reckoned with.

It's a great light-hearted story with some truly epic scenes and plenty of relatable MMO gaming moments.

Final Fantasy XIV: Dad of Light -- MMORPG Live Action

While granted this would have been better off in our list of MMORPG TV shows, we couldn't finish this list without a mention of the live action MMORPG-focused show -- Dad of Light.

Dad of Light is a heart-warming Japanese Netflix series exploring a family's attempts to bring together a father and son via the beautiful medium of playing Final Fantasy XIV together. At only eight episodes, it's not the longest running show about an MMORPG out there, but what it lacks in episodes it more than makes up for in sanguineness. It's a touching and grounding snapshot of a family trying to bond in a changing and uncertain world wherein a father steps out of his comfort zone in an effort to connect with his child.

With a cold winter ahead of us, it's the perfect time to grab a big fluffy blanket and find yourself some brilliant MMORPG anime to watch. Let us know on Twitter if we forgot any good ones, and follow the author too.