'Hell Mode' Gets Second Season in Summer 2026

The 12th and final episode of Hell Mode: Yarikomizuki no Gamer wa Hai Settei no Isekai de Musou suru (Hell Mode: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing) ended with an announcement on Friday that a second season is in production, revealing an additional cast, key visual (pictured), and teaser promotional video. The second season is scheduled to premiere in July 2026.

Takahiro Sakurai (Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken) is joining the anime series as Helmios.

Produced by Yokohama Animation Lab, the television anime adapting Hamuo's adventure fantasy novel began airing on January 10. Sentai Filmworks licensed the anime, with HIDIVE simulcasting the series with multiple subtitles.

Hamuo began writing the novel on the Shousetsuka ni Narou website in November 2019. Earth Star Entertainment acquired the novel under its Earth Star Novel imprint in July 2020, featuring illustrations by Mo. The 13th volume went on sale on January 9.

Enji Tetta began drawing a manga adaptation on the Comic Earth☆Star web magazine in October 2020. The 13th volume was released on January 9.

J-Novel Club licensed both the light novel and manga in English in July 2021 and July 2023, respectively. The ninth light novel volume went on sale in December 2025, with the tenth volume scheduled to go on sale on May 12. The ninth manga volume shipped in December 2025.

Synopsis
"Level up even while offline?! That's not a game on 'easy mode'—that's just an AFK game!" The online game Kenichi Yamada had been playing religiously is shutting down its servers, leaving him with a void in his heart. He looks for a new game to fill it, but everything he finds is way too easy. The kind of game he likes—the kind punishing enough to make players want to spend thousands of hours on it—just isn't around anymore.

"What's this? 'You are invited to a game that will never end.'" Kenichi stumbles upon an untitled game, one promising incomparable challenge with unprecedented potential. Without hesitation, he selects the "Hell Mode" difficulty. Lo and behold, he finds himself reincarnated in another world as a serf! Now called Allen, he sets out to unlock the secrets of his mystery-laden Summoner class; without the convenience of walkthroughs, game guides, or online forums, he must grope his way to the top of his new world! (Source: J-Novel Club)

Teaser PV


Official site: https://hellmode-anime.com/
Official X: @hellmode_anime

Source: Comic Natalie

Hell Mode 2nd Season on MAL