The mangaka Reki Kawahara is the creator of one of the most well-known and first Isekai series ever. Now, his next story is being adapted into an anime, and the premise may sound familiar to you.
What kind of anime will this be? Since 2022, the author has been writing the story of Demon’s Crest. There is both a light novel and a webtoon, as well as a manga. Once again, it is about teenagers getting pulled into a virtual game:
- The story takes place in the year 2031. Sixth grader Yuuma Ashihara participates in the beta test of the world’s first full-dive VR MMORPG, Actual Magic, along with his twin sister Sawa.
- After the group defeats a dungeon boss, Yuuma’s avatar is suddenly enveloped in red light, and he loses consciousness. A normal logout is no longer possible as it was in Sword Art Online.
- Yuuma comes to and finds himself in a mixed reality where the video game and the real world have merged. Here, too, a fight for survival begins once again.
Unlike Kirito, who was the protagonist in Sword Art Online, Yuuma discovers a classmate from the real world. Sumika is actually the sweetest girl in the class, but in the mixed world, she suddenly looks like a terrifying monster.
There is also a first trailer for the anime.
New Anime from the Creator of Sword Art Online
What do the two animes have in common? The premise that a student is irreversibly pulled into a virtual world to fight for their life is the same in both animes. Additionally, both series are set in a future setting.
As in Sword Art Online, the protagonist in Devil’s Crest is reborn into a new world. Sword Art Online was one of the first Isekais and a pioneer of the genre. This led to many series where increasingly bizarre premises occur, such as a person being resurrected as a vending machine in another world.
When is it supposed to be released? According to the trailer, the anime is set to be released sometime in 2026. At least it was not included in the winter and spring seasons now, so it can be assumed that it will premier either in summer or in fall.
Meanwhile, it is known which animes will be launching in spring 2026. You can find the biggest highlights you should not miss in the following list on my MMO: 8 Anime Recommendations for Spring 2026, one of which has the potential to be the best anime of all time
