Hell Mode

Japanese light novel series From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hell Mode: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing (Japanese: ヘルモード ～やり込み好きのゲーマーは廃設定の異世界で無双する～, Hepburn: Heru Mōdo: Yarikomizuki no Gēmā wa Hai Settei no Isekai de Musō Suru) is a Japanese light novel series written by Hamuo and illustrated by Mo. It began serialization online in November 2019 on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō. It was later acquired by Earth Star Entertainment, who have published thirteen volumes since July 2020 under their Earth Star Novel imprint. A manga adaptation with art by Enji Tetta has been serialized online via Earth Star Entertainment's Comic Earth Star website since October 2020 and has been collected in thirteen tankōbon volumes. An anime television series adaptation produced by Yokohama Animation Laboratory premiered in January 2026.

GenreIsekai
WrittenbyHamuo
PublishedbyShōsetsuka ni Narō
Original runNovember 17, 2019 – present
Quick facts ヘルモード ～やり込み好きのゲーマーは廃設定の異世界で無双する～ (Heru Mōdo: Yarikomizuki no Gēmā wa Hai Settei no Isekai de Musō Suru), Genre ...
Hell Mode: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing
First light novel volume cover, featuring Allen (top) and Krena (bottom)
ヘルモード ～やり込み好きのゲーマーは廃設定の異世界で無双する～
(Heru Mōdo: Yarikomizuki no Gēmā wa Hai Settei no Isekai de Musō Suru)
GenreIsekai
Novel series
Written byHamuo
Published byShōsetsuka ni Narō
Original runNovember 17, 2019 – present
Light novel
Written byHamuo
Illustrated byMo
Published byEarth Star Entertainment
English publisher
ImprintEarth Star Novel
Original runJuly 15, 2020 – present
Volumes13
Manga
Written byHamuo
Illustrated byEnji Tetta
Published byEarth Star Entertainment
English publisher
  • NA: J-Novel Club
ImprintEarth Star Comics
MagazineComic Earth Star
Original runOctober 15, 2020 – present
Volumes13
Anime television series
Directed byMasato Tamagawa
Written byDaishiro Tanimura
Music by
  • Misaki Tsuchida
  • Moyu Kanazaki
  • Junko Nakajima
  • Kanada Sakuma
  • Reiko Abe
  • Kaho Sawada
  • BeauDamian
  • Tsugumi Tanaka
StudioYokohama Animation Laboratory
Licensed bySentai Filmworks
Original networkTokyo MX, MBS, BS NTV, AT-X
Original run January 10, 2026 – present
Episodes9
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Plot

Kenichi Yamada, a 35-year-old office worker and veteran MMORPG player, becomes disillusioned with modern games that cater to casual play. When he encounters a mysterious new game that promises endless progression and an extreme difficulty setting called "Hell Mode", he selects it without hesitation. Upon doing so, Kenichi is reincarnated into another world as a newborn boy named Allen, born into a family of serfs, with no status or wealth.

Living under the harsh rules of Hell Mode, Allen chooses the Summoner class, which offers vast potential, but requires significant effort to grow stronger. With only his previous memories and wits to guide him, he painstakingly experiments to understand his abilities while training from early childhood. As he steadily develops his power, Allen works toward improving his family's circumstances and escaping serfdom.

Characters

Allen (アレン, Aren)
Voiced by: Mutsumi Tamura (audio drama, anime)[1][2] (Japanese); Luci Christian[3] (English)
Krena (クレナ, Kurena)
Voiced by: Mayu Iizuka (anime)[2] (Japanese); Natalie Rial[3] (English)
Dogora (ドゴラ)
Voiced by: Tasuku Hatanaka (anime)[2] (Japanese); Chaney Moore[3] (English)
Cecil Granvelle (セシル・グランヴェル, Seshiru Guranveru)
Voiced by: Kana Ueda (audio drama),[1] Sayaka Senbongi (anime)[2]
Rodin (ロダン)
Voiced by: Hideo Ishikawa (anime)[4] (Japanese); Jeremy Gee[3] (English)
Theresia (テレシア, Tereshia)
Voiced by: Sayaka Ohara (anime)[4] (Japanese); Annie Wild[3] (English)
Matthew (マッシュ, Masshu)
Voiced by: Makoto Koichi (anime)[4] (Japanese); Kalin Coates[3] (English)
Butler Von Granvelle (バトラー＝フォン＝グランヴェル, Batorā Fon Guranveru)
Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita (anime)[5]
Mikhail Granvelle (ミハイ＝グランヴェル, Mihai Guranveru)
Voiced by: Shōya Chiba (anime)[5]
Thomas Granvelle (トマス＝グランヴェル, Tomasu Guranveru)
Voiced by: Marie Miyake (anime)[5]
Zenoff (ゼノフ, Zenofu)
Voiced by: Akio Ōtsuka (anime)[6] (Japanese); Jay Hickman[3] (English)
Carnell (カルネル, Karuneru)
Voiced by: Takahiro Miyamoto (anime)[6]

Media

Light novels

Written by Hamuo, Hell Mode: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing began serialization on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō on November 17, 2019.[7] It was later acquired by Earth Star Entertainment who began releasing it with illustrations by Mo under their Earth Star Novel light novel imprint on July 15, 2020. Thirteen volumes have been released as of January 15, 2026.[8]

During their panel at Anime Expo Lite 2021, J-Novel Club announced that they had licensed the series for English publication.[9] During their panel at Anime NYC 2022, J-Novel Club announced that print releases of the series would be handled by Yen Press.[10]

More information No., Original release date ...
No. Original release date Original ISBN North American release date North American ISBN
1July 15, 2020[11]978-4-8030-1433-4October 13, 2021 (digital)[12]
June 6, 2023 (print)[13]		978-1-7183-8198-8 (digital)
978-1-9753-6849-4 (print)
2November 16, 2020[14]978-4-8030-1468-6January 4, 2022 (digital)[15]
September 19, 2023 (print)[16]		978-1-7183-8200-8 (digital)
978-1-9753-6850-0 (print)
3March 17, 2021[17]978-4-8030-1501-0April 13, 2022 (digital)[18]
January 30, 2024 (print)[19]		978-1-7183-8202-2 (digital)
978-1-9753-6851-7 (print)
4September 15, 2021[20]978-4-8030-1564-5July 27, 2022 (digital)[21]
May 21, 2024 (print)[22]		978-1-7183-8204-6 (digital)
978-1-9753-6852-4 (print)
5March 16, 2022[23]978-4-8030-1624-6January 11, 2023 (digital)[24]
August 20, 2024 (print)[25]		978-1-7183-8206-0 (digital)
978-1-9753-6853-1 (print)
6September 15, 2022[26]978-4-8030-1693-2July 31, 2023 (digital)[27]
November 19, 2024 (print)[28]		978-1-7183-8208-4 (digital)
978-1-9753-6854-8 (print)
7March 15, 2023[29]978-4-8030-1763-2January 15, 2024 (digital)[30]
February 18, 2025 (print)[31]		978-1-7183-8210-7 (digital)
979-8-8554-0556-9 (print)
8October 18, 2023[32]978-4-8030-1848-6December 18, 2024 (digital)[33]
June 10, 2025 (print)[34]		978-1-7183-8212-1 (digital)
979-8-8554-2143-9 (print)
9April 17, 2024[35]978-4-8030-1938-4March 26, 2025 (digital)[36]
December 16, 2025 (print)[37]		978-1-7183-8212-1 (digital)
979-8-8554-2382-2 (print)
10September 13, 2024[38]978-4-8030-2007-6September 2, 2025 (digital)[39]
May 12, 2026 (print)[40]		978-1-7183-8216-9 (digital)
979-8-8554-3343-2 (print)
11March 14, 2025[41]978-4-8030-2099-1December 26, 2025 (digital)[42]978-1-7183-8218-3
12October 16, 2025[43]978-4-8030-2198-1——
13January 15, 2026[8]978-4-8030-2252-0——
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Manga

A manga adaptation illustrated by Enji Tetta began serialization on Earth Star Entertainment's Comic Earth Star manga service on October 15, 2020.[44] The manga's chapters have been compiled into thirteen tankōbon volumes as of January 2026.[45]

During their panel at Anime Expo 2023, J-Novel Club announced that they had also licensed the manga adaptation for English publication.[46]

More information No., Original release date ...
No. Original release date Original ISBN North American release date North American ISBN
1May 12, 2021[47]978-4-8030-1516-4September 20, 2023[48]978-1-7183-8720-1
2October 12, 2021[49]978-4-8030-1566-9December 27, 2023[50]978-1-7183-8721-8
3March 12, 2022[51]978-4-8030-1622-2April 27, 2024[52]978-1-7183-8722-5
4August 10, 2022[53]978-4-8030-1676-5August 7, 2024[54]978-1-7183-8723-2
5January 12, 2023[55]978-4-8030-1733-5December 25, 2024[56]978-1-7183-8724-9
6June 12, 2023[57]978-4-8030-1791-5April 16, 2025[58]978-1-7183-8725-6
7October 12, 2023[59]978-4-8030-1844-8August 6, 2025[60]978-1-7183-8726-3
8March 13, 2024[61]978-4-8030-1919-3October 15, 2025[62]978-1-7183-8727-0
9July 12, 2024[63]978-4-8030-1978-0December 24, 2025[64]978-1-7183-8728-7
10December 12, 2024[65]978-4-8030-2047-2——
11April 11, 2025[66]978-4-8030-2110-3——
12September 12, 2025[67]978-4-8030-2180-6——
13January 9, 2026[45]978-4-8030-2248-3——
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Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced on December 5, 2024.[68][69] It is produced by Yokohama Animation Laboratory and directed by Masato Tamagawa, with Daishiro Tanimura handling series composition, Kei Tsushima designing the characters, and Misaki Tsuchida, Moyu Kanazaki, Junko Nakajima, Kanada Sakuma, Reiko Abe, Kaho Sawada, BeauDamian, and Tsugumi Tanaka composing the music.[4] The series premiered on January 10, 2026, on Tokyo MX and other networks.[2][6] The opening theme song is "Haku", performed by Atarayo [ja], while the ending theme song is "Sanctuary", performed by Kaya.[4] Sentai Filmworks licensed the series in North America for streaming on Hidive.[70]

Episodes

More information No., Title ...
No.Title [71][72]Directed by [a]Written by [a]Storyboarded by [a]Original release date [73][b]
1Transliteration: "Tensei Shitara Nōdodatta" (Japanese: 転生したら農奴だった)UnknownUnknownTBAJanuary 10, 2026 (2026-01-10)
2Transliteration: "Kantei no Gi" (Japanese: 鑑定の儀)UnknownUnknownTBAJanuary 17, 2026 (2026-01-17)
3Transliteration: "Jiken" (Japanese: 事件)UnknownUnknownTBAJanuary 24, 2026 (2026-01-24)
4Transliteration: "Aren no Kokuhaku" (Japanese: アレンの告白)UnknownUnknownTBAJanuary 31, 2026 (2026-01-31)
5Transliteration: "Shōkansamurai no Chikara" (Japanese: 召喚士の力)UnknownUnknownTBAFebruary 7, 2026 (2026-02-07)
6Transliteration: "Tabidachi" (Japanese: 旅立ち)UnknownUnknownTBAFebruary 14, 2026 (2026-02-14)
7Transliteration: "Guranveru-ke de no Hibi" (Japanese: グランヴェル家での日々)TBATBATBAFebruary 21, 2026 (2026-02-21)
8Transliteration: "Shuryō-ban" (Japanese: 狩猟番)TBATBATBAFebruary 28, 2026 (2026-02-28)
9Transliteration: "Mādāgarushu" (Japanese: マーダーガルシュ)TBATBATBAMarch 7, 2026 (2026-03-07)
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Reception

The series won the grand prize at the 2nd Earth Star Novel Award in 2020.[74]

By December 2024, the series had over 1.6 million copies in circulation.[75]

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Production staff information is taken from the ending credits of each episode.
  2. [b]
    Tokyo MX listed the series premiere on January 9 at 25:05, which is effectively January 10 at 1:05 a.m. JST.

References

External links

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