HIDIVE is kicking off 2026 with HELL MODE: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing, a new isekai action anime. The title joins HIDIVE’s exclusive simulcast slate for the Winter 2026 season and will stream in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand starting this January.
Ahead of its streaming debut, Episode 1 will premiere in North America at Anime Frontier 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas. Commenting on the announcement, John Ledford, President of HIDIVE, said: “We’re thrilled to announce that the anime adaptation of the wildly successful HELL MODE light novel series will be part of HIDIVE’s Winter 2026 slate. Fans will not want to miss a minute of this exciting new isekai action anime when it premieres as an exclusive simulcast series on HIDIVE in January. HELL MODE is sure to be a hit with audiences this winter!”
HIDIVE also dropped the subtitled trailer to mark the announcement, which Anime Corner has the exclusive opportunity to share first.
Synopsis:
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.
The anime is directed by Makoto Tamagawa, with series composition by Daishiro Tanimura and character designs from Kei Tsushima. Animation production is handled by Yokohama Animation Lab. The main voice cast for the anime includes:
- Mutsumi Tamura as Allen
- Mayu Iizuka as Krena
- Tasuku Hatanaka as Dogora
- Sayaka Senbongi as Cecil
Hamuo writes the Hell Mode: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing (Heru Modo: Yarikomizuki no Gema wa Hai Settei no Isekai de Muso Suru) light novel series, which features illustrations by Mo. It first began serialization in November 2019 on the Shosetsuka ni Naro website, before getting acquired by Earth Star Entertainment and published in print from July 2020. There is also a manga adaptation with art by Enji Tetta.
Source: Press Release
© Hamuo / Earth Star Entertainment / “HELL MODE” Production Committee
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