‘Welcome to the Classroom of The Elite’ or ‘Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e’ is a psychological thriller anime set in a high school. The school separates students into classes based on their performances. Class A is for the elites, while D is for the losers. But the students of Class D can rise up, and there are no rules barring them from doing so. It is entertaining to see how people behave in such a cutthroat situation. If you enjoyed watching this anime and are looking for more shows that explore similar themes and ideas, then you have come to the right place.
12, Liar Liar (2023)
The Academy Island also known as the Four Seasons’ Island is located a few hundred kilometers southeast of Tokyo Bay and is notorious for its Games that are used to settle every dispute. The best student there earns a ranking of Seven Stars and is respected by everyone. One day a transfer student named Hiroto Shinohara turns the tables on everyone by defeating Sarasa Saionji, the strongest empress, while also figuring out the untold truth about her identity. This marks the beginning of a dangerous game of lies and bluffs that has a surprise in store for the viewers at every turn. ‘Classroom of the Elite’ fans who wish to watch a school anime with a lot of psychological drama and mind games, would definitely enjoy watching ‘Liar Liar.’
11. Tomodachi Game (2022)
Yuuichi, Shioho, Yutori, Makoto, and Tenji are close high school friends whose friendship goes through an unexpected crisis when funds for the school trip that two of them were tasked to collect go missing. Sometime after the incident, the four of them are summoned forcefully by the controversial figure Manabu-kun who pushes them to play a psychological game to pay the debt of twenty million yen. Although the high schoolers are better off cooperating with one another, things do not go as they have expected as dark truths about their pasts are uncovered. ‘Tomodachi Game’ is a perfect show for the fans of ‘Classroom of the Elite’ who are looking for another psychological drama involving teenagers with tons of strategic twists and turns.
10. Kakegurui Twin (2022)
A spinoff and prequel to ‘Kakegurui,’ ‘Kakegurui Twin‘ follows the transfer student Mary Saotome, who upon her arrival at the Hyakkaou Private Academy immediately draws attention after proving her talent through gambling, which determines a student’s worth at the school. Naturally, the hostile and dangerous student council members are not really happy with her rise to prominence. Meanwhile, Mary is determined to free her friend Tsuzura Hanatemari from the school’s unjust system. Just like ‘Classroom of the Elite,’ ‘Kakegurui Twin’ is a great psychological thriller revolving around students at a prestigious school. Both shows share a number of similarities and are a great watch for fans who are looking for an anime similar to their favorite psychological school anime.
9. Sonny Boy (2021)
‘Sonny Boy’ follows a group of school students who find themselves bewildered after ending up in a void-like dimension. As if this was not frightening enough, supernatural events lead to conflicts, which further complicates the delicate situation. As they try to adjust to the mysterious circumstances, extraordinary events and challenges continue to shock and challenge them at every turn. ‘Sonny Boy’ offers viewers a journey through a mysterious realm that keeps them guessing. While the show is not exactly like ‘Classroom of the Elite,’ it still presents a somewhat similar air of confusion and shock that fans of the genre will definitely find entertaining.
8. Talentless Nana (2020)
In order to protect the human race from the enemies of humanity, teenagers gifted with supernatural abilities are trained on a secluded island. Unfortunately, Nanao Nakajima is unlike other students as he possesses no special power and frequently gets bullied by his peers. While things are in general not that bad for the students on the island, everything starts looking suspicious as they start to mysteriously disappear one after another. ‘Talentless Nana’ shocks its audience with unexpected tragedies and incomprehensible twists every few episodes. Quite like ‘Classroom of the Elite,’ the supernatural series is a great psychological thriller that plays with the viewers’ line of thought and keeps them in the dark with its imaginative storytelling. So if you have watched either one of the shows, we recommend watching the other as well.
7. Prison School (2015)
‘Prison School’ is one of the most entertaining ecchi anime that has a lot of fanservice and lewd moments. Interestingly, the plot is also intriguing, the character development is decent, and the animation is just spot-on. The reason why ‘Prison School’ is on this list is because of certain similarities it shares with ‘Classroom of the Elite.’ Both of these shows are set in a high school. The schools have strict laws separating students into groups. While in ‘Classroom of The Elite,’ the segregation is based on the student’s performance, in ‘Prison School,’ it is all about discipline and following school guidelines.
Hachimitsu Private Academy recently became a co-ed school. Previously, it was the most prestigious all-girls boarding school. As a result of the new change, five boys enroll in the academy. The current members of the all-girls underground student council are not too happy about the change and don’t like the idea of sharing a classroom with them. But the boys end up digging a grave for themselves when they are caught peeping at a girl taking a shower. They are then sent to the prison within the school premises. Now, if they behave well, they will get a chance to attend school. But it seems that the council members are not willing to let that happen.
6. Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu (2010)
‘Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu’ is another entertaining anime set in a high school. Like ‘Classroom of The Elite,’ the school in ‘Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu’ has rules that separate high-performing students from low-performing ones. The students at the higher level get more respect and resources from the school, which the lower ones don’t. Both series have a main character who needs to gain points to get his class to the upper level.
Fumizuki Gakuen’s High School segregates its students into classes. Class A has prodigies, while class F is for losers. Class A students receive comfortable seats and air-conditioned rooms, but Class F students receive worn-out mats to sit on. Akihisa Yoshii, a student of Class F, plans on getting his class to the upper level by making them use the fantasy creatures that his academy summons in a battle against the elites.
5. Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei (2014)
‘Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei’ is a science-fiction supernatural anime. The series is quite like ‘Classroom of The Elite’ and revolves around students’ lives’ in a high school. The school separates students based on their performances. The students at a lower level don’t get enough respect and must work hard to improve their status quo. Magic is a common thing in this anime. It is no longer the stuff from fairy tales or folklore; rather, it is a refined technology that finds its use in the daily lives of people.
First High School is a prestigious academy that trains students in magic. The school has a policy by which they put students in two groups based on their performance on the entrance tests. The Blooms are the high performers, while the Weeds are under-performers. Tatsuya ends up in the Weeds course, while Miyuki, his cousin, being a prodigy, ends up taking the Blooms course. But Tatsuya isn’t dumb. He has decent technical knowledge and nice combat skills. He also has a unique set of magic techniques.
4. Kakegurui (2017)
‘Kakegurui’ is a psychological thriller that has a lot in common with ‘Classroom of The Elites.’ Both anime take place in a school setting. Students of both schools view money as a sign of status, and those having more money enjoy more respect than the poorer students.
Hyakkaou Private Academy is a place where education isn’t really important. The school prepares the students for the real world. Of course, there are regular courses that take place during the day. But that is boring and not the main focus here. During the nighttime hours, the students indulge in high-stakes gambling. People who win make lots of money, and in this academy, money is power. Yumeko Jabami is a transfer student at the academy. She is pretty and seems naive, but her unorthodox approach to gambling might make her the gambling queen at the academy.
3. Grisaia no Kajitsu (2014)
‘Grisaia no Kajitsu’ is a harem anime. But unlike most harem anime, it takes a different turn. It is not blatantly trying to make pretty girls fall head over heels in love with the male protagonist, but rather there is a logical and emotional build-up. Also, the show has a lot of drama and not as much comedy as one may expect from a show of the same genre. The reason I put this anime on this list is because of how the characters are explored. Both ‘Classroom of The Elite’ and ‘Grisaia no Kajitsu’ focus a lot on the characters’ backstories, making them really complex and layered.
‘Grisaia no Kajitsu’ revolves around the people of Mihama Academy. But this academy is unlike any normal school since there are just five students (all girls) and a principal. Yuuji Kazami, an introverted teenager, gets transferred to the Mihama Academy and tries to keep to himself. But in a surrounding where there are a small number of students sharing a common space, interactions are inevitable. Yuuji learns a lot about these girls and understands that they are all troubled souls who are struggling with their worldly problems. Can he help them out when he himself has his own unresolved issues?
2. Ansatsu Kyoushitsu (2015)
‘Ansatsu Kyoushitsu’ is on this list because of its similarities with ‘Classroom of The Elite.’ The first similarity, like all others in this list, is obvious: both anime are set in a high school. Another similarity is that the students in both these anime are segregated based on their performances. The lower-level students don’t receive any respect and try their best to reach the top tier.
Class 3-E of Kunugigaoka Middle School is filled with misfits and under-performers. They are students who could not perform well or have broken the guidelines. But they never would have imagined that they would have the chance to save humanity. So, when a mysterious creature destroys half of the moon, people are alarmed. Their fears are justified as he promises to do the same thing to Earth unless he is killed. But he isn’t merciless. He is going to give them enough chances to assassinate him. Not only this, but he is also going to teach the students of Class 3-E, giving them ample chance to execute him. Are they up for the task? Should they try to kill the best teacher they ever had?
1. Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. (2013)
Like ‘Classroom of The Elite,’ ‘Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru’ is also set in a high school. Though there are no guidelines pertaining to segregation between students, the main characters in this anime are meant to join a club because of their behavior. The backstories of these characters matter a lot, just like in ‘Classroom of The Elite.’ Hachiman Hikigaya is a narcissist and a semi-nihilist. He thinks that he knows the truth about life and everyone else is just trying to fool themselves. In an essay assignment, he drafts an essay mocking modern social relationships. This does not sit well with his teacher, who makes him join the Volunteer Service Club, which helps students in need. Yukino Yukinoshita is another member of the club. She is unsocial and has an ice-cold personality. Are they suitable for helping others? Is Hachiman’s objective and pessimistic view about the world going to help him in his tasks, or will it become an obstacle?
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