It has been announced that the TV anime adaptation of "Hell Mode: A Hardcore Gamer Unrivaled in a Discarded Otherworld," a popular light novel and comic book adaptation, will begin airing in January 2026. The main cast has also been announced, with Tamura Mutsumi playing Allen, a boy who lives in a small, nameless pioneer village and has the unique talent of being a summoner, and Iizuka Mayu playing Allen's childhood friend, Kurena. Tasuku Hatanaka will play Dogora, a boy who hates to lose and often picks on Allen, who is of low social status, and Sayaka Sembongi will play Cecil, the daughter of the lord of the Granvel family.
The story is about Yamada Kenichi, a hardcore online gamer, who selects the highest difficulty level, "Hell Mode," on the difficulty setting screen of a mysterious online game, and ends up being reincarnated as a serf in another world. Kenichi, who has been reincarnated as a boy named Allen, begins to feel his way to becoming the strongest in a different world without strategy guides or online bulletin boards. The series has sold over 2 million copies in total.
Tamura commented, "People who are obsessed with efficiency will totally relate to this, and people who aren't will be intrigued and say, 'Oh, there's a way to spend your time and fight like that!' I'm the latter. The main character is an extremely efficient person, but he is surrounded by warm-hearted family and friends, which develops his kind heart, and he strives to save the world. It's wonderful to see him do this, and although it seems difficult, it's also exhilarating!"
Iizuka said, "If it were me trying to beat Hell mode without a tutorial or a strategy site, I'm sure I would have gotten stuck on the first try...! I can't take my eyes off the summoner who moves forward, getting stronger by testing each step, and his sense of mission, which could be described as the obsession of an avid gamer! Watching the main character live and grow alongside his family and friends sometimes brings me to tears!"
Hatanaka commented, "I thought there would be many times when I would feel really sorry for the main character, but every time I spend time with Allen, who steadily builds up his skills and enjoys it, I feel like, if only I could be like him. I am really looking forward to seeing where Allen's journey goes from here!!"
Senbongi said, "Seeing Allen use his brain to steadily increase his level while in Hell Mode was like watching a live game commentary. I was so intrigued to see how he would level up next, and how he would gain more allies and companions and progress through the story, that I became more and more absorbed!"
