We mentioned this one in the first list, and with how insanely similar it is to Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry it's impossible to leave out. Gakusen Toshi Asterisk's setting is virtually identical to Rakudai's, featuring an overpowered protagonist, Ayato, at a school for special ability users, fighting for the sake of beautiful, troubled girls. Of course, his school life doesn't start off simply, with him accidently peeking on Julis, a fellow student and the princess of Lieseltania, while she's changing and resulting in being challenged to a duel on his first day. Sound familiar? Asterisk focuses mainly on a tournament, known as the Phoenix Festa, held between the six schools that make up the academy city, and the various stories surrounding it.

Gakusen Toshi Asterisk and Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry are so similar it almost makes more sense to discuss their differences instead. Both have main protagonists and heroines with a similar appearance, personality, powers, and introduction, as well as several other characters with similar story arcs and archetypes. The main difference between the two series is where they choose to take the story, with Asterisk trying to keep the harem setup going, rather than clearly stating which girl the protagonist is interested in. If you enjoyed Rakudai, there is little no chance you won't enjoy Gakusen Toshi Asterisk, in fact, we'd be surprised if you haven't already seen it.

We'd be surprised if you don't know this one, but for those of you that somehow missed out on the Sword Art Online craze, here's a brief overview. In the near future, Sword Art Online is the latest and most advanced VRMMORPG to ever be released, that Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game. Shortly after the new players are done logging in, however, they are informed by the game's creator that they are now trapped within the game, with no way of logging out, and completing the game is the only way of getting out alive. The story follows beta-tester and highly skilled solo player Kirito as he makes his way to the top of the 100-floor tower Aincrad, and just generally trying not to die.

The world of Sword Art Online and Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry share little, bar them both being set in fantasy worlds, however, there are some significant similarities in their story themes and build up. Kirito and Ikki share the same utterly broken power levels, which they both wish to hide from both their friends and foes if possible. Them revealing their power is central to their character development, with both of them finding reasons and people they want to fight for as the series progresses. The most important people, of course, being the main heroines, and one interesting thing both Rakudai and SAO do is that despite they are often classed as, and marketed as, harem shows, they both make it exceptionally clear from the beginning who the main heroine is. This was one of the main big draws of both shows, for those of us who can get a bit tired of harems sometimes, and just want the guy to make a decision. Another one many of you will no doubt have already seen, if you've somehow managed to avoid Sword Art Online until now, we'd recommend giving it a watch.

A series that aired alongside both Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry and Gakuen Toshi Asterisk, Taimadou Gakuen 35 Shiken Shoutai is another series in the ever popular school harem action genre. As the English name implies, the show focuses on AntiMagic Academy's 35th Test Platoon, the lowest ranked platoon in the school for witch hunters. Platoons score points by taking on various missions, so as you can imagine platoon 35 are particularly terrible when it comes to accomplishing anything. When a new highly skilled, ex-witch hunter is introduced to the platoon however, their leader Takeru sees it as an opportunity to turn the group around and start ranking up.

Taimadou Gakuen 35 Shiken Shoutai starts with a similar battle school style like Rakudai, but with more of a military feel to it, though magic and fantasy comes into the story much more as it progresses. We also have the "weakest in the school" plot point, with the 35th Test Platoon being mocked in the same way as Ikki for their weakness, despite their hidden strengths. Both series also take themselves fairly seriously, focusing on the story more than their girls and featuring some fairly dark scenes. Although not praised quite as highly as Rakudai, Taimadou Gakuen 35 Shiken Shoutai is in the same league as both it and Gakusen Toshi Asterisk, and a show we'd highly recommend to fans of either.

Following yet another seemingly pathetic protagonist, Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut's main man Lux Arcadia was originally the prince of the Arcadia Empire before it was felled five years ago by a mysterious Black Drag-Knight, now a student at the Royal Knight Academy, a school for training new Drag-Knights, Lux is looked down upon as the "Weakest Undefeated" due to him winning every battle he's in despite his apparent weakness. As he spends his time helping out various beautiful girls at the academy, more and more disturbing revelations about the ruins lying around the country and the stability of the new kingdom start to become apparent, and Lux must reveal his true strength if he wants to be able to protect his new life.

Lux's build up is much the same as Ikki's with his strength going from zero to a demigod in a mere 12 episodes, but is none the less awesome to watch. Along with this, we, of course, have the battle school setting, along with the harem of beautiful girls. Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut is more of a standard harem setup than Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry, but whether you prefer that or not, we think you'll still be pleased by the level of fanservice present in Bahamut. Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut is another great zero to hero story, with plenty of action, cute girls, and a decent plot to top it off.

Now here's something with some more subtle similarities, Strike the Blood centers around normal high schooler turned fourth primogenitor vampire Kojou Akatsuki, whose life becomes significantly more hectic after gaining his powers. With him recently becoming an insanely powerful vampire, Kojou now has several other powerful people coming after him, including the adorable but dedicated Himeragi, a sword shaman from the Lion King Organization. With her help, he begins the process of working out just who is on his side, who his enemies are, and what exactly he is.

Overpowered protagonist aside, Strike the Blood is a series which although fundamentally different from Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry, has a very similar feeling to it. Despite clearly having some awesome fan service throughout, much like Rakudai Strike the Blood takes its story seriously and prioritises it over ecchi or quickly establishing a harem. Kojou has also quite clearly chosen the girl he likes from the start which, along with several other plot revelations, makes the series less about the other girls, and more about the two of them and their relationship. There's also a harshness or darkness to their world as well, which is present is Rakudai, but which is not normally pulled off very well in other action ecchi series, and makes the story feel that bit more real. Although the storyline is fairly different to Rakudai's, we think Strike the Blood offers a similar and very enjoyable viewing.

One more we've mentioned before, Mahouka Koukou no Rettouei is too similar to Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry to miss out on. Set in an alternate version of Earth where magic has become a science and is taught and studied in school, brother and sister Tatsuya and Miyuki Shiba are new students at the highly elite First High School for young magicians. Students at the school are split into First Course "Blooms" and Second Course "Weeds" depending on the level of their magic ability, and unfortunately for the siblings, despite Tatsuya's high intelligence and physical ability, his weak magic gets him put in the Second Course, with his dear sister placed in the First. Although now subject to hate and ridicule as a lesser student, Tatsuya's main priority remains the protecting his little sister, and he has an unexpected ace up his sleeve with which to do so.

Tatsuya and Ikki both have to deal with being seen as weak constantly, despite their true abilities, but being honourable young men have higher priorities than worrying about the judgement of others. Rettousei also has both the heroine Tatsuya is dedicated to from episode 1, and the obsessive little sister character that Rakudai has, although in this case, they're both the same character in Miyuki Shiba. Mmmm incest. One other major story related similarity is that in both series, it feels like the institution is determined to crush our protagonist no matter what, with no end of characters who are supposedly on the side of good, trying to put Tatsuya in his place as some kind of lesser human. Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei sadly misses out on the romance of Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry, but if you're after action, plot, and overpowered protagonists Rettousei is a great choice.