A new Anime has started this season, which is actually only for fans of the series. However, fans find it so good that it sits at number 3 of the best current new releases.
Which anime is it about? By now, the first episodes of all the animes starting this season have begun. One of them is Fate/strange Fake. The series takes place a few years after Fate/stay night. Here, wizards in the USA attempt to copy a Japanese ritual.
Once again, a Holy Grail War is at the center of attention. It’s basically a magical battle royale to the death. The participants are divided into pairs: one Master, a wizard, and one Servant, basically a benevolent spirit from the past. The last remaining pair gets to use the energy of the Holy Grail to make a wish come true.
This time, however, the setting isn’t Japan, but the fictional American city of Snowfield. Unlike the Grail War that took place a few years prior, things are going wrong:
- The Saber class cannot initially be summoned
- Strange, extremely powerful Servants are summoned
- The system begins to correct itself amid all the chaos, and simultaneously initiates a true Holy Grail War
The chaos leads to many more services than usual competing against each other, factions mixing, and absolutely overpowering beings clashing.
New anime is not for beginners, but it is well received
How well is Fate/strange Fake received? When looking only at the animes that started in 2026, Fate/strange Fake ranks third among the highest-rated series on MyAnimeList. Above it are only Season 2 of Frieren, which is currently topping itself, and Season 3 of Jujutsu Kaisen.
Currently, the rating stands at 8.48 out of 10 possible points (as of January 21, 2026). Not as many votes have come in as for the animes above it, which, however, shows that Fate/strange Fake is a real gem among the new animes.
Is it something for beginners? If you want to watch the anime right away, we need to slow you down a bit. If you have no connection to the universe, you should catch up on the following animes first:
- Fate/Zero
- Fate/stay night
This way, you will get to know the character Gilgamesh, how he ticks, and why he is so powerful. Without this knowledge, many of his scenes lose their impact. You should also be familiar with the basic rulebook of the “Holy Grail War”. Otherwise, the chaos won’t have the same impact as it does in the anime.
In 2026, there are more blockbuster titles launching this year. If you have little time, it’s hard to watch all these series. The most important animes to keep an eye on are listed by us on MeinMMO: 7 animes that will make 2026 one of the best years for fans
