Opposite opinions often give birth to conflicts, but it also presents an opportunity to view something from a completely different angle and perspective. And the thing about conflict of opinions is usually that if ego is set aside and one listens with an open mind, they will realize that most of the time, neither party is wrong and sometimes even that the other is more right than oneself. Takina Inoue realizes that after meeting Chisato Nishikigi. The two girls, while fighting the terrorists and serving customers in their cafe, prove that conflict is only the first step toward effective teamwork and loving friendship.
True to its meaning Lycoris also deter the wild terrorists from coming near and harming Japan. Lycoris is a special all-girl task force established by DA, a secret organization that adopts orphan girls and turns them into spies and assassinations to eliminate criminals and terrorists. Inoue Takina with her perfectionist and purpose-centered personality is one of the top undercover agents of Lycoris. But due to her insubordination in a hostage situation, Takina is transferred to LycoReco Cafe, an undercover operation base, to work with Chisato Nashikigi, a famed Lycoris prodigy.
But LycoReco and Chisato are not what Takina ever imagined. Chisato though the strongest agent, is free-spirited and always looking for ways to have fun. What’s more puzzling for her is Chisato’s refusal to kill even when fighting deadly and merciless enemies. Lycoris Recoil is a fast-paced anime that maintains a fantastic balance between the light and dark elements of the series. A light-hearted action anime with a beautiful art style, an entertaining plot, amazing action sequences, and adorable characters.
Here are 20 Anime Similar to Lycoris Recoil
Here are some anime similar to Lycoris Recoil revolving around similar genres or themes, such as action, comedy, mystery, undercover agents, girls with guns, and cafes.
1. Toaru Kagaku no Railgun
Utopia exists only in fantasy because there is no such thing as perfection in reality. Anything that sounds too good to be true is usually hiding some dark secrets, the discovery of which would paint a dystopian picture. This is what happens when Mikoto and her friends find themselves entangled with the mysteries of the Academic city. Similar to Lycoris Recoil, it also revolves around a group of female students fighting crime and having fun.
Mikoto, a middle school student living in Academy City, a place technologically 20-30 years ahead of the rest of the world, finds herself embroiled in mysterious events, much like the futuristic and engaging experience offered by Fair Go Australia Casino . The city focuses on an esper development program, dividing students into different levels and utilizing their powers, akin to the diverse levels of gaming and rewards offered by Fair Go Casino.
On the way of mystery solving, they come across the dark reality of the Academy city and the relation of crimes to a legendary level upper device. Now not only do they have to solve the mystery behind Level Upper but also come out alive from all the dangerous situations they find themselves in.
2. Gunslinger Girls
Another anime, similar to Lycoris Recoil revolves around orphan girls trained and employed by the government to fight crimes. Although Lycoris Recoil is more light-hearted, the two still share a lot of themes together. There is a social welfare organization that rescues young girls on death bed or orphans and gives them a second chance.
But this is only a cover-up; what they actually do is, give them a cybernetically enhanced body, and turn them into emotionless assassins to do the dirty work for the Italian government behind the scene. But even though they work as cold-blooded assassins they are still children who long to be loved; don’t matter how conditional that may be. This is the story of Henrietta and four other girls like her, who try to understand their emotions and grasp the remaining humanity until their time is up.
Gunslinger Girls is quite similar to Lycoris Recoil, but it is a lot darker and more psychological. It is a well-balanced series with an optimistic approach despite their somber situation. If you are looking for an anime similar to Lycoris Recoil but without the comedy part, then you must try this.
3. Princess Principal
There has never been a time in history when spies were not present and working undercover. There has also never been a time when the ruling class has caused or overlooked the strife of the commonwealth. And these are the two concepts that Princess Principal webs together and presents a story thereof. Although in the context of the time, the two series differ, similar to Lycoris Recoil, it also orbits around the life of undercover agents disguising themselves as high school students. The series is set in the fictional kingdom of Albion during the early 20th century.
After the wall divided Albion into two: the commonwealth and the Kingdom, the fight between the common people and the ruling party came to a stalemate. But as no peace lasts long, it doesn’t either. And the Commonwealth sends four girls disguised as students of Queen’s Mayfair School to replace the kingdom’s Princess Charlotte with Ange, a girl who bears a close resemblance to the princess. But the Princess turns up a deal to work with the Commonwealth if Ange and her spy friends aid her in becoming the queen.
So, this is a story of five girls and their struggles in the world of royals. If you are looking for an anime with action and mystery revolving around a group of girls working undercover, similar to Lycoris recoil, then this is a series you must definitely try; especially if you are a fan of the historical genre.
4. Millionaire Detective
Similar to Lycoris Recoil, The Millionaire Detective also revolves around a team of two people with contradicting beliefs and opposite work ethics, who now have to work together to solve crimes. Haru Katou is a kind-hearted detective who puts righteousness and justice above everything else. On the contrary, Daisuke Kanabe is a man belonging to one of the wealthiest families in Japan who measures literary everything in money.
And much to Haru’s misfortune, Daisuke is assigned to the Modern Crime Prevention Task Force as his partner. Daisuke takes full benefit of his family’s wealth to solve any type of problem that comes his way, which does nothing but irritate Haru. The two, despite their drastically opposite personalities and method of solving problems, somehow manage to tackle all the mysteries and unsolved cases that come their way, of course, with a solid amount of bickering.
If you enjoyed the team dynamics of Chisato and Takina, then you are going to love the antics and bickering of Daisuke and Haru. Similar to Lycoris Recoil, it’s also an anime filled with action, comedy, and day-to-day shenanigans that will keep you going.
5. The Executioner and Her Way of Life
A team of two girls who, if not for the circumstances would have never chosen to work together. Although there is no undercover spies theme in this similar to Lycoris Recoil, it shares the same purposefulness and determination of the protagonists, who somehow end up teaming up with a too-cheerful and easy-going partner.
Menou is a top-level Executioner who hunts down and assassinates the Lost Ones, wanderers from an alternate world called ‘Japan’ with extreme powers called ‘Pure Concept’. While on the job, she meets Akari Tokito, a Lost One summoned by the King Grisarika of the Noblesse and attempts to kill her. But to her surprise, fails to do so. After trying and failing several times, she realizes that Akira has a Pure Concept of Time which gives her the ability to reverse the time before she was dead, even after being killed. Now, making it her personal mission to kill Akasi, Manou sets on a journey to find a way to kill her; and Akari decides to tag her along.
So, this is a story of an unlikely pair with com[pletely different personalities working together, similar to Lycoris Recoil. If you enjoyed watching Lycoris Recoil, you should this anime a try too.
6. Release the Spyce
Some people have enhanced senses, but you could bet not as good as Momo Minamoto, who can determine what a person is feeling only by a simple lick. Absolutely weird but accurate nonetheless. Similar to Lycoris Recoil, Release the Spyce also follows the story of a quiet girl with special talent fighting as a member of a secret private agency to protect the city and its people.
Momo’s life changes when one day while land gazing, she encounters a group of spies and gets recruited by their captain Yuki Hanzoumon, thanks to her refined and above-average senses. Always wanting to follow in the footsteps of her police officer father, she accepts the offer. Now she is part of a group called Tsukikage, which gains strength after eating spices. This is how Momo’s journey to protect the city under the mentorship of her school’s senior Yuki, starts.
If you enjoyed watching high school girls fighting crime as a part-time job while dealing with their mundane high school life, then this is a series that will keep you entertained. Similar to Lycoris Recoil, it is also packed with action, comedy, and some questionably absurd shenanigans.
7. Akiba Maid War
Similar to Lycoris Recoil, not everything is what it seems in Ton Tokoton cafe either. Akiba Maid War similar to Lycoris Recoil represents a tale of young girls using their work in the cafe as a cover for their darker activities.
Nagome, a young girl moves to Akihabara, also known as the center of the universe for its quirky and varied amusements, to fulfill her dream of joining a maid cafe. She joins Ton Tokoton and starts working as a maid there. Paired with Ranko her first job is to promote the business, but it would be easier if her partner knew how to smile. Nonetheless, no matter what it takes she will do her job properly and get her maid cafe on the top rank. But why are guns here and what is this talk about gangs?
If you enjoyed the duality of characters and unpredictability of the plot in Lycoris Recoil, then you would love watching this one too. Similar to Lycoris Recoil, it also follows the life of maids working in a cafe who knows how to handle guns as well as a platter in their hands. Akiba Maid War has much more absurdity and weirdness than Lycoris Recoil.
8. Prima Doll
Change is never easy. Especially if the environment one came from is drastically different from the one they are now in. It is usually accompanied by loss of purpose, identity, and doubt of what to do. And this is what happens with the Automata after the war ended. Similar to Lycoris Recoil, Prima Dolls is also about cute assassins working in a cafe and enjoying their day-to-day life, with a few hiccups here and there.
Black Cat Cafe is a unique cafe in the imperial city, that employs advanced mechanical dolls called Automata, which were once used in war to fight. After being restored to work in a cafe wearing Kimono, they are now struggling to find their life purpose again, all the while dealing with the past that comes to haunt them once in a while. One of the recently restored Automata is Haizakura, who has no recollection of the days before her reset except that she loves to sing. Harizakura and the other Automata in The Black Cat Cafe help and support each other in finding their new life purpose.
If you enjoyed the cute girls working in a cafe with the ability to easily incapacitate any danger at first sight, then similar to Lycoris Recoilthis series will also keep you entertained.
9. Is the Order a Rabbit?
Is the Order a Rabbit? is an anime adaptation of a 4-Koma manga. Similar to Lycoris Recoil this series also revolves around adorable girls working in a cafe and their everyday antics. But it’s a simple slice-of-life comedy series without any action or mystery.
Cocoa Hoto is a freshman in high school who while looking for her boarding house stumbles upon a cafe called Rabbit House. But instead of getting to pet rabbits as she imagined, she comes to find that it’s a boarding house where she could stay for her next semester. Wanting to repay the favor she decides to work in the adjoining coffee shop. And it just proves to be the best decision of her life, as she makes new friends and practically adopts a younger sister. Her life has never been filled with so much laughter and friends she can practically call family.
If you enjoyed the cafe aspect and aesthetics of Lycoris Recoil, then you would love this series too. Similar to Lycoris Recoil, this series also depicts a unique cafe that you would love to visit at least once.
10. Noir
Another anime, similar to Lycoris Recoil depicts the tale of two girls who works for a secret organization and are exceptionally good at what they do. Noir can be said to be a classic in the girls-with-guns theme. The series orbits around two very distinct girls, one from Paris and the other from Japan, who comes together to find the connection behind their shared history.
Mireille Bouquet is a Paris-based assassin-for-hire who one day receives a strange email from Kirika Yuumura, a Japanese student Calling to meet her to reminisce about the past. Initially, she doesn’t pay it any attention but changes when it starts playing a song from her youth. But when the two meets, they are ambushed by weapon-wielding men. Mireille comes to know that Kirika doesn’t remember her past or how she learned to fight. They decide to work together to find Kirika’s past and their connection, under the codename of Noir.
While working as Noir, they encounter different dangers and truth that brings them closer to the mystery. If you enjoyed watching the action and mystery in Lycoris Recoil, then you should give Noir a try.
11. Assault Lily Bouquet
There are some instances in life where a person motivates you to follow a certain path, to become like them. This instance in the life of Riri Hitotsuyanagi was when she was rescued by a Lily during an attack by Huge, after which she decided to become a Lily herself. Similar to Lycoris Recoil, it also depicts a story of strong girls wielding weapons who use their skills to fight against evil.
About 50 years ago, mysterious creatures called Huge appeared all over the world, threatening the safety of humans. The only weapon that works against them is called CHARM which is powered by the energy called ‘Magie’ within the body of teenage girls known as Lilies. Riri has just enrolled in the prestigious Academy of Yurigaoka that specifies training Lilies, here she meets Yuri, her savior from 2years ago. Much to her astonishment, Yuri is not what Riri remembers her to be. But no issue, she has now decided to be her friend no matter what it takes.
So, this is the story of Riri and her journey of becoming a Lily and fighting the monsters to save the common people. If you enjoyed Lycoris Recoil, then there are lots of elements similar to Lycoris Recoil in it that will keep you entertained.
12. Spy x Family
If spies and cuteness are what you are looking for, then Spy x Family is one series that you absolutely should not skip. Although there is no cafe filled with girls doing weird and random jobs to help people, it sure is filled with action, mystery, and sweet moments similar to Lycoris Recoil. The series orbits around two spies from opposite sides who in the need of disguise, form a family together without knowing the other is actually a deadly killer.
Twilight is a Westalian spy who now has to down a disguise of a family man to complete a mission in Ostania. Twilight, with the alias of Loid Forger, adopts an orphan child named Anya, who unknown to him, can read minds, and marries Yor Brair. Similar to Loid, Yor is an underground assassin known as the Thorn Princess. But except for Anya, neither know their spouse’s true identity.
All three members of the Forger family have secrets of their own, which usually results in messy and hilarious situations, especially with Anya’s power to read minds. Life in the Forger household is never simple or mundane or easy for any outside person to survive. Similar to Lycoris Recoil, this anime will keep you on your toes too, all the while giving you a dose of sweetness and comedy.
13. Aria the Scarlet Ammo
Another anime, similar to Lycoris Recoil revolves around high school students trained by a secret organization to maintain peace and order in the city. Even the duo dynamic in this series is similar to Lycoris Recoil, with one anti-social and the other cheerful and outspoken partner. The series is about a young man Kinji Tooyama, who studies in the logistics department of the Tokyo Butai Academy, an academy that teaches Butei, to hide his powerful but embarrassing ability.
Kinji dropped out of the combat-centric Assault Division of the academy to live a leisurely life and hide his powers. Now studying boring logistics he is happy and living a boring life. But it changes when he becomes a target of the infamous Butai Killer and is saved by the top-ranking Butai, Aria Kanzaki; who after seeing his true powers, now insists to have him as her partner.
If you enjoyed the clash of two different personalities in Lycoris Recoil, then you are going to love the bickering between the two polar opposite characters here. Similar to Lycoris Recoil, it will also keep you hooked up to it until the very end.
14. Maid Sama
Although it doesn’t share the action mystery genre similar to Lycoris Recoil, it shares the strong girls working in maid cafe theme. The series revolves around Misaki Ayuzawa, the Demon President of Seika High, and Takumi Usui, who accidentally finds out about her secret job as a maid in a maid cafe.
Misaki is the first female president of a previously all-boys high school. To not let the female students be bullied by the rowdy boys, she rules with an iron fist and stone heart, earning a reputation as a demon president. Unknown to anyone in her school, she works in a maid cafe with a cheerful and upbeat alter ego. But it doesn’t stay that way for long, when Takumi Usui, the most popular boy in her school stumbles upon her in her cafe. Now she has to choose between spending some time with him or having her hard-earned reputation destroyed.
If you are looking for a series with a unique cafe and even more unique staff similar to Lycoris Recoil, then you are sure to enjoy Maid Sama. If you want to watch a romantic comedy revolving around a cafe staff then this an anime you should surely give a try.
15. Mahou Shoujo Takususen Asuka
As the name says this series is a mixture of the magic girl genre and the military. Similar to Lycoris Recoil, it deals with lots of action and mystery. The series orbits around 5 magical girls who now have to return to the battlefield to fight the monsters again, that they believed to have defeated.
Disas is an interdimensional species that suddenly attacked the Earth and started destroying everything they could find. With no weapon working against them, the world was on the verge of despair and hopelessness. But 5 magical girls with special powers, led by Asuka Otori, came forward and saved the remaining humanity. After defeating the Disas, the girls retired and went back to enjoying their normal life. However, after 3 years, Disas reappear, forcing Asuka to leave her high School life to go back on the battlefield again.
If you enjoyed the action and the gruesome aspects of the Lycoris Recoil, then Asuka is a series that you must give a try. Not only is it similar to Lycoris Recoil in the strong girls in action theme but, it has its own charm that I’ll keep you hooked up to it.
16. Cannan
Cannan is another anime Similar to Lycoris Recoil. Similar to Lycoris Recoil, this series depicts a fabulous story intertwining terrorism, and girls with action, mystery, and friendship. Cannan is the story of a photographer, Maria Osawa who finds herself in the center of strange events and a terrorist organization called Alphard.
Maria is a photographer and reporter dispatched to cover an Anti-terrorist Conference with her partner, Minoru Minorikawa, in Shanghai, China. Following some strange events happening during a local festival, they get caught up in a battle between masked men and white-haired women. Just when it might have turned fatal, an old friend of hers named Cannan appears and rescues them. And now the two have to work together to solve a plot revolving around a deadly virus and survive.
Similar to Lycoris Recoil, it’s also filled with action, mystery, character development, and many heartwarming moments. It is a series that you must try if you enjoy watching action anime centered around female protagonists.
17. Terror in Resonance
Similar to Lycoris Recoil, it is another anime based on terrorist plans and the day-to-day life of the students entangled in these plots. It is an intellectual thriller with a psychological basis. The series is about two orphan boys on a mission to expose a secret child experiment program being conducted by a well-renowned University.
Nine and Twelve are two orphans and survivors of the secret experiment to transform children into a weapon at Raising Peace University. Now hiding behind the name of Sphinx, they steal a prototype atomic bomb and threaten to blow up Japan until and unless a cryptic riddle is solved. Through this, they want to bring forth the illegal experiments and darker truths of Raising Peace University. Lisa Mishima is a lonely high school girl who somehow gets tangled up in their plans.
If you are looking for another anime similar to Lycoris Recoil but with a less cheerful tone and a lot more crime centric, then this is a series you must try. If you enjoy watching crime plot-focused series, then, this one will surely interest you.
18. Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica
Although the genre of this series and Lycoris Recoil are completely different still, the underlying concept of strong girls fighting against evil for the safety of people and country is. Even though the genre is different, there are several other similarities between the two series. It revolves around middle school students who are granted one wish for the exchange fighting against witches as long as they live.
Madoka Kaname, a middle school student, sees a very weird dream where she meets a talking cat who asks her to become a magical girl to save the girl from losing the battle against a strange being. But what’s even weirder is that she meets the cat the next day with her friend Sayaka Miki, who introduces himself as Kyubey and asks them to become magical girls to fight witches. However before they could make their decision, Homura Akemi, another magical girl, tells them not to accept the offer as it’s not what it seems. But the two end up agreeing and soon regretting it after finding out the reality behind the power and duties of these magical girls.
If you love anime with powerful females saving the day with a pinch of darkness, similar to Lycoris Recoil, do try giving it a try. This is also a bit darker, focusing on the concept of hope, friendship, and despair.
19. Yuuki Yuuna wa Yuusha de Aru
Some people are heroes even without any superpowers. They do what a hero does, help people in need to the best of their abilities without expecting anything in return. Yuuna Yuki, a middle school student, is one such hero who tries to bring a smile to everyone’s face. Not only that, but she is also a member of the Hero Club of her school.
But one day she receives a chance to become a real hero. When mysterious monsters called Vertexes, become a threat to the world’s safety, Yuki along with other members of the club receives a request through a phone app, from the goddess to accept the powers and fight these monsters. As willing as they are to help people, they accept, and now they have to transform into magical girls to fight and defeat these vertexes. But all the good things have a dark counterpart, and sure do these powers too. These girls now hold the responsibility to save the world, all the while figuring out how to be a hero and the truth behind their power.
Similar to Lycoris Recoil, this series also portrays a tale of girls living a double life, fighting evil to save the world. Although it’s not similar to Lycoris Recoil in the sci-fi and spy version, it still shares various similarities with it.
20. Grisaia
It’s another anime similar to Lycoris Recoil that revolves around terrorism, secret organizations, and teenage girls fighting crimes and terrorism. Similar to Lycoris Recoil, it also depicts the reality behind the organization that says to be working for the betterment of the country, even at the cost and health of the girls defending that safety.
After the existence of CRIS, an anti-terror US-Japan Organization becomes public SORD takes hold of the most covert functions of the now no longer secret organization. SORD intends to teach a new generation of agents to protect the country from terrorism and any other threats. For this purpose, they start building special training schools all around Japan. One of them being Mihama Academy. Here students not only polish their skills in the practice room but also on the field, with a slogan of putting the safety of the country before yours first.
It’s a story of girls put in dangerous situations to complete missions, with no one else but themselves to trust. Similar to Lycoris Recoil it is also an action-based anime that will keep you going for the next episode.
These are some anime similar to Lycoris Recoil, based on the same genre or themes, that you might enjoy watching. Most of these are action-based anime, with a strong female protagonist similar to Lycoris Record. So, which anime from the list given above have you already watched? And do comment and share which anime given in this list of Anime Similar to Lycoris Recoil is your favorite.