In a world where survival is the only means to live, Ryouta finds himself in the midst of a game of death, where every choice he makes can either make or break his entire existence. In Btooom!, we see Ryouta being transported from the video game world which he had a passion for, onto a mysterious island filled with killers out for his head, and their own survival. An unknown individual sought out to recreate the ultra violet Btooom, and equipped every player with heavy explosives called BIM. His video game fantasy soon turns into a harsh reality, as he now must use the power of the embedded crystal in his hand, equipped with various tools of his own to not only escape this island, but to stay alive.

Ganta is found guilty of a crime he didn't commit and is thrown into the fire to fend for himself. Every minute of his life is tested by random encounters who only have the intention to survive for themselves. Ryouta is in the exact same dilemma where he finds himself in a world where danger lurks around every corner, and he must use extreme caution if he intends to stay alive much longer. The game of life and death haunts them both as they're outnumbered and have limited options to choose from, which force them to use strategy and what ever weapons they find lying around. Ganta and Ryouta are forced to team up with a female lead who also has to keep her neck in tact, so that she can also get out in one piece.

Mirai Nikki follows the turbulent life of Yukiteru who soon discovers that his habit of conversing with imaginary friends through his diary, eventually becomes a fearful reality. As fate would have it, Yukiteru is confronted with a girl named Yuno who he builds a strong attraction to throughout the series. This close relationship however eventually becomes a survival game, where both Yukiteru and Yuno must pursue and take down their enemies, while using their equipped diaries that allow them to assist one another in this fierce battle conducted by God himself. The winner is rewarded with the ultimate power of becoming the ultimate leader of the universe.

Yukiteru and Ganta are thrown into a game of survival where the two must rely on sound judgment in order to make it out alive. They're accompanied by a female protagonist who aids in their survival, but also find themselves trapped in the entire game of uncertainty. They're under constant attack by a barrage of enemies who don't have any remorse for them, and only see their death as a means to their own way out. There's a large reward that's given to the winner who manages to survive, which all comes from the sick and twisted mind of a creator who finds satisfaction in their suffering. Each character now must rely solely on what they possess, and use it to the best of their abilities.

Thor and his twin brother, Rai, two strong and determined characters, are cast off to a forsaken planet by unknown masked men after witnessing the suspicious death of their parents. Given only the choice of using a beam knife and a smelly satchel, they explore together in search of civilization on the primarily plant based world. They soon discover the plants have the upper hand and other agendas. Only the strong survive; the ones who throw away their humanity and become the beasts humans once were.

What all of these anime have in common is that every character is thrown into the lion's den, and are only given specific items to aid them in their survival. In the case of Rai, he can only rely on a beam knife and satchel while his enemies have an overabundance of tools to use at their disposal. This limitation is what creates the thrill factor of the survival game, since you can only fight your way through every obstacle with what's provided. Ganta and Rai are both placed in a world they both had no place being in due to an unfortunate circumstance they had no control over. The action grows intense in each scene as both characters are put under severe pressure, and have to act fast otherwise it may cost them.

When Kei Kurono is killed without warning, he thus finds himself caught in such a game—a test of his skills, morals, and will to survive. Kei’s life is not his own; his death is spat on and squashed over and over again. He is unable to make much out of his situation since there's a much higher form of control above him. What happens if Kei fails to adhere to the rules? Only the higher power knows of his fate. Just a word of caution: Gantz is not for the weak at heart, but neither is it as simple as it looks. Kei must witness acts of rape, gruesome murders and must come to terms with all of it, while doing his very best to understand why he's here in the first place.

Gantz is a popular series in Japan which saw a movie release, showcasing much of what the anime explained. Kei is killed instantly without reason, and now he finds himself racing against time as he must use his skills to survive at all costs. A higher power has all the control over the destiny of each protagonist, and so they can play whatever game they want with them as they please. This sick fantasy is what creates the game of survival, where both Ganta and Kei are constantly pushed to their limits, testing their morals in order to see another day. When the exit seems to be closing in, another extreme test is placed upon them creating even more risk along the way.

Kiritsugu now stands at the center of a deadly game of survival, squaring off against six other fierce competitors, each armed with an ancient familiar, and fueled by unique desires and ideals. Accompanied by his own familiar, Saber, the notorious mercenary soon finds his greatest opponent in Kirei Kotomine, a powerful priest who seeks salvation from the dark void within himself in pursuit of Kiritsugu. Fate/Zero depicts the events of the Fourth Holy Grail War—10 years prior to Fate/stay night. Watch as Kiritsugu must fight his way through a battle royale in which no one is guaranteed to survive.

Kiritsugu is an epic character who just embodies a cool looking character, with a supreme will to survive. His life is on the line at every moment, while six other opponents are after him for the same reason; to survive and reclaim their freedom as quickly as possible. Sabre and Kiritsugu must work together much like Ganta and Shiro in order to make it out alive of this epic battle to the death. Each character in the series has had their life stolen from them in an instant, and now they must fight for their right to live which proves to be an extremely difficult and deadly ordeal.

The story starts off Jin Kanzaki, a young man with the ability to transform into a superhuman being known as Zet, and Kouga Amagi, a young man with a strong sense of justice who uses technology to fight as Alphas. The fates of these two men and those around them come together as they fight to protect mankind and destroy monstrous man eating abominations known as Players.

Both main protagonists are given very little to survive, while a psychopath holds all the answers to their existence. They must obtain and use any information to destroy the enemy before it's too late. Kouga and Jin work as a team using their superhuman powers to fight off evil, while Ganta and Shiro must do the same while digging deeper to seek out the truth behind all that's transpiring. Their fate relies on their ability to work together under severe pressure, while pinpointing the weak spots of their enemy and eliminating them as swiftly as possible before they become the victims of another survival game. Each time Ganta or Kouga find themselves on the brink of death, their sidekick always comes in to save them but then are both placed under life threatening scenarios. It's always a game of back and forth since there's never a guarantee of making it out alive, despite how skillful you are.