13 Best Dungeons In Anime

Highlights

• Dungeons in anime are filled with mystery and danger, luring adventurers with treasures but often leading to their demise.
• Each dungeon presents unique challenges and risks, separating the brave from the lucky in their quest for survival.
• From the Unending Dungeon to the Ruins of the King’s Tomb, the journey through dungeons is as uncertain as the destination.

Often called hells that spiral down to the unknown, dungeons portrayed in anime series are as varied as anime shows themselves. They often introduce a sense of mystery and danger that adventurers cannot wait to explore. Unfortunately, very few survive the ordeal as they journey into deep, dark abysses, never to return.

Many anime series use dungeons to further their storylines and introduce dangerous and fantastical elements. While there may be opportunities at the bottom of said dungeons, they usually come with great risks that the ordinary man cannot fathom. With many dungeons portrayed in anime, the wheat must be separated from the chaff, with the best-portrayed dungeons brought to light.

Updated March 16, 2023, by Oluwatokiloba Folami: Dungeons can be quite fascinating, but equally dangerous. These structures are mysterious, and filled with monsters, deadly traps, and treasures. Conquering a dungeon takes skill, strategic thinking, and many tricks up an adventurer’s sleeve. For Himmel the Hero in Frieren: Beyond The Journey’s End, for example, dungeons are exciting, and every path should be explored instead of just sticking to a route and trying to get out as fast as possible. When characters enter a dungeon, either seeking its treasures or on a quest to kill rare and dangerous monsters that reside in it, they tend to uncover their strengths and weaknesses. Unfortunately, some characters are not fortunate enough to make it out alive; some abandon their mission or quest and run for their lives. When it comes to dungeons, the journey is equally as important as the destination, because it is a journey of uncertainty, danger, and wonder.

13 The Unending Dungeon

A Mysterious and Dangerous Dungeon Only Noir Can Enter

• Series: The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter
• Japanese Title: Ore Dake Haireru Kakushi Dungeon
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Ecchi
• Studio: Okuruto Noboro

The name alone should scare any adventurer, but Noir enters this dungeon, home to many rare but powerful monsters and dangerous traps, and comes out successfully with a little present. Before entering the dungeon, everything was going badly for Noir, and the one thing he wanted was to attend Hero Academy. However, Noir has powers that allow him to communicate with the Great Mage, and she advises him to get stronger before enrolling at Hero Academy.

In order to get stronger, he has to go into the Unending Dungeon. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, Noir embarks on this dangerous journey. Not only is he successful, but he also meets Olivia, who grants him powerful skills, making it easy for him to join the Hero Academy.

12 Ninomiya Dungeon Land

Home Of Rich Crystals That Makes Kinji Rich Again

• Series: The Dungeon of Black Company
• Japanese Title: Meikyuu Black Company
• Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
• Studio: Silverlink

Kinji was living his best life until he found himself in another world. In his previous life, he was rich, comfortable, and very proud, but now he is poverty-stricken and works for a mining company. As a miner, Kinji works in a dungeon, where he extracts crystals for his company. Eager to get rich again, he is ready to do anything, even exploit his colleagues.

Soon enough, a way appears for Kinji as he finds a shortcut to the deepest part of the dungeon. This path is free from monsters, and he drags his co-worker, Wanibe, along with him. Kinji could not believe his eyes when he found a big supply of Demonite at the bottom of the dungeon. Not only did he find these crystals in surplus, but he was also able to attain the title of ‘Dungeon Master.’ Things are working out well for Kiniji, as he has now attained the rich and successful status he left behind in his previous life.

11 Ruins Of The King’s Tomb

A Dungeon Only Those Worthy of Being First Class Mages Can Conquer

Frieren and Fern encounter this dungeon during the First Class Mage Exams. Sense, a proctor of the exam, instructed the candidates to successfully get to the deepest level of the dungeon. This test sounds simple enough, but this dungeon has a reputation for being unexplored, and adventurers who have tried to explore and reach the deepest level have never returned to the surface.

Just like most dungeons, the Ruins of the King’s Tomb is filled with monsters, traps, and even one’s perfect replica that adventurers must battle with. This unique feature is the reason why the Ruins of the King’s Tomb remain unconquered in the world of Frieren. Also, they are filled with treasures that Frieren enjoyed collecting during the exam, and Fern thinks they are magical junk.

10 Keele’s Dungeon

A Beginner Dungeon For Adventurers

Full of comedic moments, KonoSuba depicts the life of former high school student Kazuma Satou, who is given a chance at reincarnation. Before being reincarnated, Kazuma is given the opportunity to choose a single item, and he chooses the goddess Aqua. Unfortunately, Aqua loses most of her divine powers and is pretty useless in helping Kazuma in his quest to defeat a Demon King.

In one of his adventures, Kazuma explores Keele’s dungeon, an underground dungeon created by a former archwizard who became a lich. The dungeon stands out because of the backstory behind its creation. After the structure was imbued with magic, it became able to spawn stronger monsters while also regenerating itself. The dungeon could also generate pathways and traps, making it difficult to navigate.

9 Great Orcus Labyrinth

Difficult To Enter Without Completing The Other Six Labyrinths

The Great Orcus labyrinth is one of seven special dungeons known as the Great Labyrinths. These locations are scattered around the world of Tortus, one of the nine alternate realities portrayed in the Arifureta series.

Like many dungeons, the Great Orcus labyrinth was designed with a concept in mind. This concept allowed it to test a specific aspect of a challenger: “giving strength and experience to challengers to overcome their own limits.” The Great Orcus labyrinth was created 1000 years ago and was to be the most difficult of dungeons. It features an upper level, and then the true labyrith below. The upper level contains 100 floors, and the true labyrinth contains another 100 floors. The monsters on the true level are more bloodthirsty and aggressive.

8 Great Elroe Labyrinth

Dangerous Dungeon To Man But Home To Kumoko

• Series: So I’m A Spider, So What?
• Japanese Title: Kumo desu ga, Nani ka?
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Mystery
• Studio: Millepensee

This labyrinth is the largest portrayed in the world of So I’m a Spider, so What? The labyrinth is so large that it connects the continents of Daztrudia and Kasanagara together. Known as Hell on Earth to some, the Great Elroe labyrinth consists of four different levels. Each level gets progressively harder to pass through.

The four layers of the Great Elroe labyrinth are the Upper Stratum, Middle Stratum, Lower Stratum, and Bottom Stratum. As the Great Elroe labyrinth connects two continents together, many use it as a form of passage because of the vast ocean and dangerous sea monsters separating the continents. While the upper layer of the labyrinth has many monsters, its monsters are relatively weaker, and humans can navigate their way.

7 Aincrad

A Floating Dungeon

In the Sword Art Online anime, a group of players are imprisoned in a virtual reality MMORPG. The first season takes place in the 100-floor dungeon Aincrad, which serves as the main location for the protagonists’ struggle to leave the game and return to reality.

As Aincrad is a virtual reality environment with its own distinct laws and perils, it differs from other dungeons depicted in anime. In addition to battling enemies and monsters scattered across 100 floors, the heroes must also contend with the psychological effects of being imprisoned in a game, including the very real prospect of dying there and in real life.

6 Great Tomb Of Nazarick

Formerly Unconquerable, Now Home To Ainz

Overlord tells the story of Momonga, a powerful wizard who gets sucked into the Yggdrasil virtual reality game. What starts off as a simple game suddenly transforms into a life-or-death struggle when Momonga finds that he is the last player left in the game, and that the virtual environment of the game has become his reality.

The series includes the amazing underground stronghold known as the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Momonga and his devoted followers live there, and it is full of traps, monsters, and treasure. The tomb turns into a major battleground, setting off titanic battles with far-reaching effects. It is one of the best-portrayed dungeons in anime thanks to its intricate design, which provides depth to the Overlord universe and boosts the popularity and iconic status of the series.

5 The Abyss

Countless Uncovered Layers And Dangers

Made in Abyss is a visually stunning and emotionally charged anime series that takes place in a world unlike any other. The series follows the story of Riko, a young girl who dreams of becoming a great cave raider, and her robotic companion Reg as they journey deep into the heart of a massive and mysterious abyss.

The abyss is a unique and dangerous place filled with hidden treasures and mysteries. Although it is a place of wonder and adventure, the abyss also serves as a place of darkness and despair, where danger lurks around every corner. As Riko and Reg journey deeper, they find out that the spiraling abyss is more mysterious than first imagined.

4 The Depths Of Palm

An Always Changing Structure

Log Horizon is a compelling anime that blends imagination and reality. The series features Shiroe and his inept video gaming pals imprisoned in the fantasy world of Elder Tale. Soon after becoming trapped, establishing a civilization while exploring dungeons and fighting off monsters becomes a reality.

With the many fantasy elements contained in the anime, the Depths of Palm dungeon quickly becomes an area of great intrigue for fans and characters alike. What sets it apart from other dungeons is the fact that it is constantly changing. The dungeon is a complicated labyrinth of antiquated tunnels and mining shafts. Furthermore, the dungeon serves as a base for demi-human rat-men that cause plagues.

3 Dungeon Of Orario

The Only Dungeon in Orario

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? (also known as Danmachi) is an anime series that takes place in the city of Orario, where adventurers come from all over the world to explore a massive underground labyrinth known as the Dungeon. The story follows the youngster Bell Cranel, who, along with the goddess Hestia, navigates the dangers of the Dungeon and battles monsters to become stronger.

The Danmachi anime series does an excellent job of showcasing the dungeon’s vastness and complexity, making it feel like a living, breathing world. Additionally, the unique design, raging monsters, and challenging obstacles make it an integral part of the series’ story, setting it apart from other dungeons portrayed in anime.

2 Dungeon Zagan

Its Shifting Layout Makes It Difficult To Explore

In the anime series Magi, the characters of Aladdin, Alibaba, and Morgiana go on numerous dungeon exploration quests in search of wisdom and riches. Every dungeon is different and comes with its own set of perils, including traps, creatures, and puzzles. The dungeons are guarded by strong creatures called Djinn, who can bestow magical abilities on those who merit them.

Of the many dungeons portrayed in Magi, Zagan’s Dungeon stands out. One of its most prominent features is how the Djinn of the dungeon used humans as nectar to nurture plants and animals. Furthermore, the constantly shifting layout of the dungeon makes conventional mapping and exploration techniques useless, raising the stakes for the protagonists.

1 Tower Of Druaga

Gives Adventurers The Chance To Gain Power and Hidden Treasures

One of the best dungeons in anime is depicted in The Tower of Druaga series alongside Jil, a young warrior who aims to ascend the tower-like dungeon and conquer each level. The upward journey to hell begins when Jil teams up with a magician, a thief, and a princess. As they progress into the tower and discover the horrifying truths about its history, the party encounters increasingly challenging obstacles.

Jil and his comrades must piece together information about the different secret hidden corridors and mysterious forces at work, because the tower is completely cloaked in mystery. As they explore further, the recurring traps, riddles, formidable adversaries, and progressive revelation of knowledge increase not only the protagonists’ fascination with the dungeon, but also the viewers’ engagement.