Summary
Often called hells that spiral down to the unknown, dungeons portrayed in anime series are as varied as anime shows themselves. They often introduce a sense of mystery and danger that adventurers cannot wait to explore. Unfortunately, very few survive the ordeal as they journey into deep, dark abysses, never to return.
Many anime series use dungeons to further their storylines and introduce dangerous and fantastical elements. While there may be opportunities at the bottom of said dungeons, they usually come with great risks that the ordinary man cannot fathom. With many dungeons portrayed in anime, the wheat must be separated from the chaff, with the best-portrayed dungeons brought to light.
Updated July 22, 2025, by Oluwatokiloba Folami:Anime dungeons remain ever intriguing to characters and fans alike. The sense of danger, mystery, and the possibility of discovering treasure make dungeons a lucrative adventure for those who have the courage to brave danger and those who are able to create dungeons for entertainment and profitable reasons. Due to the many intriguing aspects of dungeons, they serve as a recurring location,particularly in fantasy anime series. From dungeons such as the Underground Labyrinth, which was created by Rimuru Tempest, to naturally occurring dungeons such as The Abyss in Made in Abyss, there is no shortage of dungeons in anime, but some remain more memorable than others.
The Island serves as the primary setting of theDelicious in Dungeonanime and manga series. Despite its name, the island itself is a dungeon, but a compound-style one with multiple other dungeons in it. The Island’s dungeon is separated into various floors with various temperatures and environments. Some floors appear more city-like, while others appear more ancient-like. The Island’s dungeon consists of seven known floors.
The dungeon itself is said to have been created by a lunatic magician who remains a mystery. The magician is said to have sealed off a splendid nation with a golden castle, but why or how it was sealed remains unknown. As a dungeon, the island is undoubtedly unique. People just don’t adventure in it but live in it for their day-to-day lives.
Most dungeons are formed naturally, but Rimuru decided to create his own, fitting it exactly to his liking. As a created dungeon, the Underground Labyrinth is more like Aincrad and less like other regular dungeons in its layout. It’s entirely made up of different floors, and the various floors have different layouts, with some having a sky and others having rain. When it comes to monsters, the dungeon hasthe overkill Storm Dragon Veldoraas its final boss and various monsters that spawn from Veldora’s immense deathly aura. Moreover, other wild adventurers of the monster species have also been used as various dungeon bosses.
Rimuru’s dungeon is jointly managed by him and the fairy and demon lord Ramiris. With both of them overlooking the inner workings of the dungeon, Rimuru’s dungeon is a sight to behold. Moreover, various potions and equipment exist that allow players who die inside the dungeon to revive outside it, giving adventurers a perpetual reason to explore it, particularly with the chance of getting out.
Mushoku Tensei Jobless Reincarnation
Fans of the series will forever rememberMushoku Tensei’steleportation labyrinth as it left a permanent scar on Rudeus and all those involved. The labyrinth hailed as an S-class and highly dangerous labyrinth did not fail to disappoint even in the face of Rudeus’s immense power. From Tarantula Deathlords to Manatite Hydras, the teleportation labyrinth had all sorts of monsters that could kill powerful adventurers, whether it be gradually or instantly.
Aside from the monsters it houses, the teleportation labyrinth is known to be highly dangerous due to its many teleportation traps, as it is titularly named. The mechanism of teleportation is still largely unexplored in the series and is what causedthe infamous teleportation incident, which makes it highly dangerous and characters highly averse to it.
Naofumi Iwatani wasonce transported to a labyrinththat exists outside the world he was reincarnated into. According to the Vassal Hero Glass, theInfinite Labyrinthwas created by a legendary wizard who stitched various pieces of space together.
Rather than a dark, deep, eerie cave, the Infinite Labyrinth is more of an isolated island with various mazes. While in it, the Shield Hero met Kizuna Kazayama, the Hunting Hero who was imprisoned in it. Like other dungeons, the Infinite Labyrinth is capable of spawning various monsters. However, it can only possess a limited number of monsters at a time and resets the level of adventurers who enter its domain.
While it is often referred to as one,Purgatorybeing seen as a mere dungeon is a severe underestimation of its capabilities with respect totheSeven Deadly Sinsanimeseries. Unlike normal dungeons, Purgatory lies separated from the mortal world. In it, time flows much slower as compared to the real world, and the very surroundings have an oppressive air that causes one’s flesh to decay.
The environs of Purgatory are so hellish that Cath Palug, the very incarnation of chaos, was sealed inside. Due to its hellish environment, Purgatory spawns dark creatures of immense strength, which could wipe out most adventurers and demons if let loose to the outside world.
In terms of dungeons with stunning sights, theDemon Castleranks at the very top. With 100 floors of burning buildings and a burning city, the Demon Castle looks like a purgatory come alive. Moreover, with four A-S ranked bosses, such as Cerberus, who served as the gatekeeper of the dungeon, the high difficulty as well as the harsh environment of the burning castle make very few capable of challenging it.
Despite Sung Jin-Woo’s potential and power-ups,in his fight against Cerberus, the hunter was overpowered. Moreover, as Sung Jin-Woo ascended the various floors, he met stronger and stronger demons and eventually discovered that the scorching Demon Castle dungeon was a version of Seoul in an alternate reality—an astonishing revelation.
Even before its anime adaptation,Solo Leveling’s Cartenon Temple, more popularly known as theDouble Dungeon, had already become iconic within Otaku Culture. Unlike typical dungeons filled with powerful monsters and numerous traps, the Double Dungeon resembled a temple where those who entered were expected to serve a god and sacrifice their lives in his name.
True to form, the god-like beingswithin the Double Dungeonmercilessly reaped the lives of those who entered, treating them as mere offerings. Rather than having thoughtless monsters running around, the Double Dungeon had a set of rules in which “God” must be worshiped. And those who were unable to worship “God” were killed mercilessly and with contempt.
8The Unending Dungeon
A Mysterious and Dangerous Dungeon Only Noir Can Enter
The name alone should scare any adventurer, but Noir enters this dungeon, home to many rare but powerful monsters and dangerous traps, and comes out successfully with a little present. Before entering the dungeon, everything was going badly for Noir, and the one thing he wanted was to attend Hero Academy. However, Noir has powers that allow him to communicate with the Great Mage, and she advises him to get stronger before enrolling at Hero Academy.
To get stronger, he has to go into the Unending Dungeon. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, Noir embarks on this dangerous journey. Not only is he successful, but he also meets Olivia, who grants him powerful skills, making it easy for him to join the Hero Academy.
9Ninomiya Dungeon Land
Home Of Rich Crystals That Make Kinji Rich Again
Kinji was living his best life until he found himself in another world. In his previous life, he was rich, comfortable, and very proud, but now he is poverty-stricken and works for a mining company. As a miner, Kinji works in a dungeon, where he extracts crystals for his company. Eager to get rich again, he is ready to do anything, even exploit his colleagues.
Soon enough, a way appears for Kinji as he finds a shortcut to the deepest part of the dungeon. This path is free from monsters, and he drags his co-worker, Wanibe, along with him. Kinji could not believe his eyes when he found a big supply of Demonite at the bottom of the dungeon. Not only did he find these crystals in surplus, but he was also able to attain the title of ‘Dungeon Master.’ Things are working out well for Kiniji, as he has now attained the rich and successful status he left behind in his previous life.
Frieren and Fern encounter this dungeon during the First Class Mage Exams. Sense, a proctor of the exam, instructed the candidates to successfully get to the deepest level of the dungeon. This test sounds simple enough, but this dungeon has a reputation for being unexplored, and adventurers who have tried to explore and reach the deepest level have never returned to the surface.
Just like most dungeons, the Ruins of the King’s Tomb is filled with monsters, traps, and even one’s perfect replica that adventurers must battle with. This unique feature is the reason why the Ruins of the King’s Tomb remain unconquered in the world ofFrieren. Also, they are filledwith treasures that Frieren enjoyed collectingduring the exam, and Fern thinks they are magical junk.
