HIDIVE has announced that the new isekai action anime HELL MODE: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing will stream as part of its Winter 2026 season. The series will premiere in January and will be available to viewers in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.
Before the official release, fans will get an exclusive first look at HELL MODE Episode 1 during its North American premiere at Anime Frontier 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas. HIDIVE has also shared the official English-subtitled trailer to give fans a preview of the upcoming series.
Official Trailer:
Key Visual:
CAST:
Mutsumi Tamura as Allen
Mayu Iizuka as Krena
Tasuku Hatanaka as Dogora
Sayaka Senbongi as Cecil
Hideo Ishikawa as Rodin
Sayaka Ohara as Theresia
Makoto Koichi as Mash
STAFF:
Director: Makoto Tamagawa
Series Composition: Daishiro Tanimura
Character Design: Kei Tsushima
Animation Production: Yokohama Animation Lab
Written by Hamuo, HELL MODE began in November 2019 on Shōsetsuka ni Narō before being picked up by Earth Star Entertainment in July 2020 under the Earth Star Novel imprint. The series now spans 12 volumes and also inspired a manga adaptation launched in October 2020. Both the light novel and manga are available in English digitally via J-Novel Club, with Yen Press handling the print edition of the novel.
HIDIVE describes HELL MODE anime as follows:
Thirty-five-year-old Kenichi Yamada has spent his life playing every single MMORPG he can get his hands on. Tired of new games that cater to casual players, he leaps at the chance to try out a never-ending game with an intimidating “Hell Mode” that raises the difficulty (and chances to level up) to impossible heights. But, as soon as he selects the “Summoner,” Kenichi finds himself transported into the world of the game and reborn to a family of serfs as a baby named Allen! With nothing but his memories and wits to guide him, Allen sets off to conquer Hell Mode, unearth the secrets of the Summoner class, and free his newfound family from their fate.
Source: Press Release
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