Looking for anime like 86 (eighty-six)?
This science fiction light novel series, written by Asato Asato and illustrated by Shirabii, has gained a considerable following since its anime adaptation premiered in April 2021.
Set in a world torn apart by a war between the Giadian Empire and the Republic of San Magnolia, “86: Eighty-Six” explores the lives of the “Eighty-Sixers,” a group of marginalized individuals fighting on the frontlines.
If you are waiting for the next season and are looking for similar shows that can provide a thrilling and captivating experience, then you are in luck.
From “Valkyria Chronicles”, and “Coppelion”, to “Violet Evergarden”, Here are the 15 best anime like 86 (Eighty Six).
So, let’s get started.
15. Gungrave
In the gritty world, they called home, Brandon Heat and Harry MacDowell were inseparable friends, bound by the law of the streets.
But a fateful encounter with the wrong crowd shattered their freedom, leaving them desperate and alone.
With no refuge or escape, the offer from Millenion, the city’s ruthless syndicate, beckoned like a last chance.
Amidst heartbreak, treachery, and unspeakable loss, Brandon must wield his gun and aid Harry’s ascent within Millenion, no matter the cost.
14. Valkyria Chronicles
In the heartland of Gallia, a nation long committed to neutrality, a storm of war threatens to shatter the peace.
As the East Europan Imperial Alliance clashes with the Atlantic Federation, Gallia becomes a coveted target for its priceless ragnite ore.
The call to arms echoes through the land, summoning the Civilian Militia to action. At its helm stands Welkin Gunther, heir to a legendary warrior.
With a spirited ensemble including Alicia, Brigitte, Largo, and Isara, whose heritage breeds prejudice—they wield their greatest weapon: Squad 7 and the indomitable war machine, Edelweiss.
Together, they fight to shield Gallia’s precious freedom from the encroaching darkness.
13. WorldEnd
In the wake of a merciless onslaught by monstrous beings, the world crumbled, leaving behind sorrowful tales of shattered innocence.
Amidst the ruins, a floating haven named Regal Ele became the refuge for those fortunate enough to survive.
Willem Kumesh, awoken 500 years later in the sky’s embrace, carries the weight of failure, haunted by his inability to protect those he cherished.
Adrift in despair, an unexpected encounter with a group of fairy-like girls intertwines his fate with a newfound role as their guardian in a realm where weapons themselves possess fragile souls.
12. Gunparade March
In the dark days of 1945, Earth faced an unfathomable horror, the arrival of the dreaded Phantom Beasts, monstrous creatures that defied comprehension.
Humanity united against this relentless threat, only to realize their weapons were futile, ravaging the planet further.
Fast forward to 1999, when a student-wide draft reshapes the lives of Japanese teenagers.
Bound by destiny to fight in an unending war that predates their existence, a group of friends grapples with the cruel dance of death and the fragile solace of love.
11. No. 6
Within the opulent walls of No. 6, a bastion rising from the ashes of global conflict, resides Sion, an intellect amidst privilege.
But destiny intervenes when he encounters Nezumi, a fugitive, on the cusp of his twelfth birthday.
In an act of compassion, Sion sacrifices his rights, plunging into the depths of the lower town, where he discovers the realm of ordinary existence.
Four years later, a reunion with Nezumi thrusts Sion into a perilous labyrinth of conspiracy, as a sinister force leaves a trail of lifeless bodies in its wake.
10. Coppelion
In 2016, the Odaiba nuclear disaster plunged Tokyo into a desolate realm, its streets haunted by radiation and devoid of life.
Two decades later, Japan wrestles with the lingering environmental aftermath, relying on a beacon of hope: the Coppelions.
These extraordinary, genetically-engineered girls, resistant to radiation, heed the SOS calls that echo through the silent city.
Supported by the military’s might and boundless resources, they venture forth, peeling back the shroud of mystery to unveil the secrets concealed within Tokyo’s ghostly embrace.
9. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
In the depths of the underground haven, Jeeha, Simon’s monotonous life revolves around digging tunnels.
But his fiery comrade, Kamina, yearns to escape their stifling existence and conquer the uncharted realms above.
A chance discovery of a colossal-faced robot propels them into an exhilarating journey.
As Yoko, a gun-wielding warrior, and a fearsome Beastman invader disrupt their lives, Kamina unites Simon and Yoko to pilot Lagann, their newfound mecha.
Yet, emerging onto the surface unveils foes of unimaginable might.
8. Darling In The Franxx
In a desolate future, humanity seeks refuge within the mobile fortress city, Plantation.
Within its confines, the youth reside in Mistilteinn, a “birdcage” oblivious to the outside world and the skies’ liberating embrace.
Their existence revolves around battling enigmatic colossal creatures known as Kyouryuu, piloting their lifeblood, Franxx robots.
For these children, piloting defines their purpose. Hiro, once hailed as a prodigy, now languishes in insignificance.
Without a Franxx, he’s an echo of existence.
One day, a mysterious girl named “Zero Two” emerges, adorned with two horns, ushering Hiro into a destiny entwined with secrets and salvation.
7. God Eater
As the early 2050s dawn, a nameless terror grips the Earth.
The insatiable “Oracle cells” emerge, consuming all life in their path.
These enigmatic beings, dubbed “aragami,” defy weapons and instill dread in mankind’s hearts.
Urban civilization crumbles as humanity teeters on the precipice of annihilation.
Yet, a glimmer of hope illuminates the darkness. “God Arcs,” living weapons infused with the very cells that threaten existence, offer humanity’s last stand.
6. Aldnoah.Zero
In the aftermath of Heaven’s Fall, the shattered moon’s cataclysmic impact, a tenuous cease-fire holds between Earth and the VERS Empire of Mars.
Princess Asseylum Vers Allusia descends as a beacon of hope, striving for reconciliation.
Yet, amidst lingering tensions, Inaho Kaizuka, a determined Terran student, and Slaine Troyard, devoted to the princess, find their paths intertwined.
Tragedy strikes when a missile shatters Asseylum’s motorcade, igniting a conflagration that propels both societies into the abyss of a new war.
5. Psycho-Pass
In a future governed by the all-seeing Sibyl system, order reigns supreme.
Akane Tsunemori, a fresh-faced Inspector, embarks on a career defined by predicting and preventing crimes.
But as Sibyl’s calculations determine destinies and classify individuals, Akane questions its infallibility.
Her path intertwines with the enigmatic Enforcers, former criminals now part of the police force, treated as mere tools.
Determined to challenge the system’s iron grip, Akane must bridge the divide, forging an unlikely alliance.
4. Violet Evergarden
Forged as a weapon, Violet found solace in Major Gilbert’s unwavering presence.
Now, scarred and armless from the horrors of war, she seeks healing in the Evergarden household.
Trained as an Auto Memories Doll, Violet unveils the power of written words, crafting letters that unveil hidden emotions.
From distant lands, she kindles love and solace for her clients.
Yet, the true journey lies within herself, as she navigates her own shattered past, unraveling the depths of her own emotions.
3. Code Geass: Akito the Exiled
In the tumultuous year 2017 a.t.b., as Lelouch assumes the mantle of “Zero,” a rebellion brews in Europe against the oppressive Holy Britannian Empire.
Amidst the invasion, Akito Hyuuga, a valiant pilot, joins the E.U.’s last hope, the formidable “W-O” division.
Led by Layla Malkal, a former Britannian Aristocrat, and backed by the courageous Wyvern Knightmare corps, a group of Japanese youths, they defy the odds in a deadly battlefield where survival hangs by a thread, a mere 5%.
2. Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans
In the aftermath of a ravaged Mars, young security agents rise against the treachery of their adult oppressors and an oppressive Earth regime.
As the remnants of Earth’s governing order crumble, a new world emerges with fresh systems of power.
Amid a fragile peace, an insidious strife brews in the distant Mars Sphere.
There, the seeds of a burgeoning conflict take root, fanning the flames of rebellion and setting the stage for a battle that will shape the destiny of two worlds.
In this terraformed frontier, the children become the catalysts for change, defying their betrayers and forging their own path.
1. Attack On Titan
In a world plagued by Titans, enigmatic beings that consume humanity without reason, survival hinges on fortified walls shielding the last remnants of mankind.
Eren and Mikasa, living in relative tranquility, witness their existence upended when a colossal Titan shatters the fragile barrier, plunging them into chaos.
As terror engulfs their once-peaceful lives, they embark on a harrowing journey, unmasking the secrets of the Titans and confronting the true nature of their world.
In this battle for survival, their courage and resilience will be tested, as they become the vanguard against the relentless tide of annihilation.
