The upcoming anime series, “Hell Mode: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing,” has expanded its voice cast with the announcement of three new members: Hideo Ishikawa, Sayaka Ōhara, and Makoto Koichi. The reveal came as part of the first promotional video, which also offered a glimpse into the anime’s animation, staff, and theme songs. The highly anticipated series is slated to premiere in January 2026.
Expanding the World of “Hell Mode” with New Talent
The latest additions to the “Hell Mode” cast will bring key characters to life, enriching the narrative of the isekai fantasy. Hideo Ishikawa is set to voice Rodan, Sayaka Ōhara will take on the role of Theresia, and Makoto Koichi will portray Matthew. These new cast members join the previously announced main cast, which includes Mutsumi Tamura as Allen, Mayu Iizuka as Krena, Tasuku Hatanaka as Dogora, and Sayaka Senbongi as Cecil.
First Promotional Video Highlights Production Details
Released alongside the cast announcements on October 10, 2025, the anime’s inaugural promotional video provided fans with their first extensive look at the series. The trailer showcased the animation produced by Yokohama Animation Laboratory and confirmed Masato Tamagawa as the director, with Daishiro Tanimura handling the series composition.
The promotional video also unveiled the musical talent behind the series, announcing that Atarayo will perform the opening theme, “Haku,” while Kaya will be responsible for the ending theme, “Sanctuary.”
“Hell Mode”: A Journey into a Challenging Isekai World
The “Hell Mode” anime adapts the popular light novel series written by Hamuo and illustrated by Mo. The story follows Kenichi Yamada, a 35-year-old hardcore gamer disillusioned with the ease of modern video games. After his favorite online game shuts down, he discovers an untitled game promising an unparalleled challenge, where he boldly selects the “Hell Mode” difficulty.
This choice leads to his reincarnation in another world as a serf named Allen. Without the aid of walkthroughs or online guides, Allen must navigate his new existence and unlock the secrets of his mysterious Summoner class, striving to rise to the top of a world designed with “garbage balancing” and extreme difficulty. The light novel series began serialization online in November 2019 and was later acquired by Earth Star Entertainment, with an English license held by J-Novel Club. A manga adaptation by Enji Tetta has also been serialized since October 2020.
Fans can look forward to delving into Allen’s challenging adventure when “Hell Mode: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing” officially premieres in January 2026.
