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HELL MODE: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing

TV anime2026–

2 seasons1 announced25 episodes aired

Original: light novelHamuo

Looking for the manga? This page follows the light novel; the manga adaptation has its own volume numbers.

Suggested reading (English · J-Novel Club): Season 2 ends at Ep 13 (overall Ep 25). Continue with Vol. 5. As of 2026-10-05, the original light novel is still being published; the latest is Vol. 14. The English edition (J-Novel Club) has reached Vol. 10.

Kenichi Yamada, a single, 35-year-old businessman, has spent the majority of his adult life playing every MMORPG to hit the market. Tired of the constant cycle of repetitive, newbie-centric gameplay, he is immediately drawn in by the promise of a new game that, on top of being never-ending, offers up a "Hell Mode"—a difficulty level that makes it nigh impossible to level up but also promises uncapped growth potential. Upon selecting the newly released Summoner class, Kenichi finds himself reborn as Allen, an infant in a serf family, with nothing but his wits and old memories to guide him.

Synopsis: TMDB
Book language
EditionJ-Novel Club

Season 1

Medium confidence

12 episodesJan 2026 – Mar 2026

Anime ends at
Ep 12

After the 12-episode first season, continue the original light novel from volume 3, where Allen enters the academy. This is a volume-level reading guide; the exact chapter boundary has not been confirmed.

Hell Mode, Vol. 3: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing

J-Novel ClubEnglishPaperback

Buy Vol. 3 on Amazon
Also in other languages:
Also in manga:
  • Hell ModeVol. 4Buy on Amazon
    After the 12-episode first season, start the manga adaptation from the beginning of original manga volume 4 to avoid skipping the transition. Its opening overlaps Allen and Cecil’s escape near the finale and leads toward the academy story. This is a cautious volume-level guide; the exact chapter boundary is unconfirmed.

Season 2

Medium confidence

13 episodesJul 2026 – Sep 2026

Anime ends at
Ep 13 (overall Ep 25)

After the second season ends at episode 25, continue the original light novel from volume 5. It follows the Rohzenheim war with Allen’s next goal: the S-rank dungeon. This is a volume-level reading guide, with no confirmed exact chapter boundary.

Hell Mode, Vol. 5: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing

J-Novel ClubEnglishPaperback

Buy Vol. 5 on Amazon
Also in other languages:
Also in manga:
  • Hell ModeVol. 9Buy on Amazon
    After the second season ends at episode 25, continue the manga adaptation from original manga volume 9, which moves from the Rohzenheim war toward the S-rank dungeon. This is a volume-level reading guide; the exact chapter boundary has not been confirmed.

Season 3

Announced

The third season, covering the S-rank dungeon arc, has been announced but has not aired. There is no completed third-season ending from which to continue yet.

All volumes

J-Novel ClubThe English edition is at Vol. 10. Vol. 11 is due Jan 2027. Sources

  • Hell Mode (Manga)

    Adaptationmanga

    Kenichi Yamada, a single, 35-year-old businessman, has spent the majority of his adult life playing every MMORPG to hit the market. Tired of the constant cycle of repetitive, newbie-centric gameplay, he is immediately drawn in by the promise of a new game that, on top of being never-ending, offers up a “Hell Mode”—a difficulty level that makes it nigh impossible to level up but also promises uncapped growth potential. Upon selecting the newly released Summoner class, Kenichi finds himself reborn as Allen, an infant in a serf family, with nothing but his wits and old memories to guide him. Allen works diligently to level himself up despite Hell Mode requiring vast amounts of experience between levels. In doing so, he hopes to uncover the secrets the Summoner class holds. All the while, he dedicates himself to freeing his new family from serfdom.

    • Season 3: The third season, covering the S-rank dungeon arc, has been announced but has not aired. There is no completed third-season ending from which to continue yet.
    Buy Vol. 1 on Amazon · Japanese

Before you read

Earth Star Entertainment: The Japanese edition is at Vol. 14.

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