Shōnen has always been one of the most beloved genres in anime, and recently, it’s managed to gain even more popularity. There is a myriad of incredible shōnen series for fans to dive into: from classics like Dragon Ball Z and One Piece to smash-hits of the modern day like Chainsaw Man and, well, One Piece.
Out of every great modern shōnen anime series, however, two have taken 2025 by storm: Solo Leveling and Lord of Mysteries. They’re two exceptional series that have defined the year, and they both have the potential to be big names (if they aren’t already) in the world of anime.
While these two series don’t have a lot in common on the surface, they do share one key aspect that may be hinting towards the future of anime. This seemingly small component has contributed massively to both series, and if other series learned from them, it could change anime forever.
Shōnen Isn’t Just Growing — It’s Evolving
The Genre Is at an All-Time High
It’s not an exaggeration to say that there’s never been a better time to be a fan of shōnen. It’s the most popular genre of anime in the West for a reason, and lately, that reason has been easier to see than ever. Shōnen isn’t just growing: it’s taking over anime as we know it.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle became the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time in 2025, taking American movie theaters by storm. Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc followed right behind, showcasing one of the best anime films in years.
There are a ton of promising new shōnen franchises as well. Gachiakuta is the spiritual successor of Hunter x Hunter in the best way possible. It’s a dark, gritty, relentless series with a ton of great fights, an adorably absurd main character, and a beautifully intriguing world.
Haikyu!! is arguably the greatest sports anime of all time with some of the best arcs in the entire subgenre. My Hero Academia has been on a three-season-long peak, marking itself as a must-watch series for anyone who claims to be a fan of action anime.
Crunchyroll Has the Best Shōnen Around
It’s the Best Streaming Platform in the West for a Reason
There are a few streaming services competing for all the best titles, but when it comes to the shōnen genre, no platform has quite as many hits as Crunchyroll does. One Piece, Dragon Ball, and Bleach can all be seen on Crunchyroll, and those are just the biggest hits from the previous generation of shōnen series.
Crunchyroll also has Chainsaw Man and Black Clover in its catalog, two of the newer shōnen anime series looking to make their mark on the genre. Chainsaw Man the Movie: Reze Arc was brought to the theaters with help from Crunchyroll as well, showing that their influence extends beyond their own platform.
While streaming sites like Amazon Prime and Netflix have tons of great hits, Crunchyroll is the only platform that houses both Solo Leveling and Lord of Mysteries. They’re two monstrously good series that make a subscription to the service a necessity.
Solo Leveling and Lord of Mysteries Dominated 2025
They’re Two of the Strongest Anime of the Year
There isn’t another pair of anime series that have been more successful in 2025 than Solo Leveling and Lord of Mysteries. While Demon Slayer and Chainsaw Man both had great years, they were at the box office, not on streaming. Solo Leveling’s second season solidified its status as a modern great, and Lord of Mysteries’ first season is showing that the Chinese franchise can do the same.
Lord of Mysteries’ massive success also proves that China is catching up on Japan in the world of anime. As the creators of anime, the Japanese have always had quite a lead within their own art form. Korea and China have had a few decent series, but nothing that tops the likes of One Piece, Dragon Ball, or Naruto.
Lord of Mysteries has the potential to become China’s One Piece. With the backing of Tencent, one of the largest Chinese holding corporations, the future of Lord of Mysteries is looking good. B.CMAY PICTURES, the animators behind the first season, also revealed a 10-year-long roadmap cementing their plans to fully adapt the popular manhua into an anime/donghua.
There isn’t much that can be said about Solo Leveling that hasn’t been said already. Its unrivaled success pushed anime even further into the mainstream, showed that edgy anime doesn’t have to be bad, and redefined the limits of anime in only two seasons.
Both Solo Leveling and Lord of Mysteries Lean into Video Game Elements
Leveling Systems Make Both Series Better
Solo Leveling isn’t an isekai series (even though it can feel like one), and Lord of Mysteries is. While the two series don’t look like they have a lot in common, both place a significant role in a leveling-up system. Leveling up is one of the most video-game-like elements any anime can add to their equation, and neither of these series would be the same without one.
Solo Leveling’s name comes from the fact that Sung Jinwoo is the only character in the series capable of getting stronger. He quite literally levels up solo, distributing his newly acquired points into a variety of stats that improve both his everyday life and his abilities in combat.
Zhou Mingrui, the main character in Lord of Mysteries, also learns how to level up once he’s reincarnated into the body of Klein Moretti. He discovers the world of the Beyonders, characters with supernatural abilities. By completing certain formulas through rituals and actions (reminiscent of quests), Klein is able to advance his Pathway (reminiscent of leveling up).
Video gamers and anime fans are usually one and the same, so it makes sense that anime would adopt some aspects from video games. It’s interesting that the two best series of 2025 both shared this trait, making it look like video games will play a larger role in the future of anime.
Will Video Games Play a Bigger Role in Anime Going Forward?
Blending the Two Art Forms Is Genius
Solo Leveling and Lord of Mysteries weren’t successful by accident. They’re two of the strongest series of the past decade, and their respective decisions to rely on video game elements may have larger implications for the future of anime.
Series like Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt So I Maxed Out My Defense and My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero’s also heavily rely on video game elements. Going forward, a lot more anime franchises will most likely look to these series and replicate some of their video game informed decisions when building their worlds.
