It always keeps the audience’s hook when the MC of anime is actually OP and hides it. To be honest, there are several anime that use this trope to please viewers. However, today we have compiled a list of the best anime in which the main character is overpowered but hides it.
These “overpowered but secretive” MC tropes can make for very entertaining and suspenseful stories as audiences experience the thrill of gradually uncovering how overwhelmingly capable the protagonist really is underneath their feigned ordinary facade.
Without further praising this trope, let’s delve into it.
14: Redo Of Healer
If we overall neglect the borderline ecchi aspect of Redo Of Healer anime, its mc perfectly fits in our description.
The anime Redo Of Healer follows the ordinary protagonist Keyaru, who was previously a good guy. After receiving tremendous corrupt healing powers, he becomes OP but prefers to keep it hidden so that he can reach the peak of his abilities.
The main character of this anime gets humiliated, but after spending time in prison, he eventually reaches his full potential and begins on a path of vengeance.
The main character of this anime gets humiliated, but after spending time in prison, he eventually reaches his full potential and begins on a path of vengeance.
13: Am I Actually The Strongest?
Am I Actually The Strongest? Is Summer 2023’s one of the most underrated ecchi isekai anime that faces backlash for its straightforward plotline approach.
Like most isekai anime, the protagonist reincarnates as a child in a different world with bottom-tier magical abilities. Even his royal family has abandoned him due to his worthless existence.
Fortunately, he was endowed with amazing powers from the goddess, and now that he is aware of his skills, he will be able to explore this world with ease while maintaining the weak boy facade. It’s quite underrated anime where mc is truly op but hides it.
12: Parasyte The Maxim
Based on the award-winning manga series created by Iwaaki Hitoshi and produced by the highly regarded Madhouse studio, Parastye The Maxim has delivered the finest violent anime with an awesome plot.
Parasyte – The Maxim, where the seemingly normal high school student Shinichi hides a terrifying secret. After an alien parasyte invades his body, Shinichi finds that he can remove the creature’s arm which then takes on a life of its own.
Displaying astounding skills in battle, this unusual limb helps Shinichi feign an ordinary existence while protecting his identity.
11: The Disastrous Life of Saiki K
If you remember JC Staff studio only for horribly animating One Punch Man season 2, please also consider their hilarious master piece The Disastrous Life of Saiki K before any conclusive remarks.
Saiki appears normal to others around him. Just a typical high school mc with no love interest. But beneath this facade exists a great power.
or you see, Saiki possesses terrifying psychic abilities. He can read minds, teleport anywhere, and even warp all of reality. Yet Saiki wishes only for a peaceful life.
So he hides his overwhelming strength, feigning ordinariness. However, each day brings new troubles.
10: The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy
The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy is may be not your super good fantasy anime but it’s a decent watch to enjoy fantasy elements blended with harem romance.
In this latest underrated show, the MC hides his identity along with his powers despite being OP demon lord.
The show follows a typical demon lord MC who once was forced to be isolated by Hero Party. Now after a thousand years, he’s awakened in a child form and struggling to adjust to humans’ advanced technology.
In this anime, mc is definitely op but hides it to learn more about this world.
9: The Eminence In Shadow
Those who crave amazing world-building within an Isekai should consider this one of the best Isekai anime with MC who is a super cool badass prodigy.
The finest thing about this anime is its main character, who is not your typical decent guy trying to rehabilitate himself, but rather a power enthusiast with an insatiable desire for power and attention.
This isekai follows Cid Kagenou who met his demise in a road accident and awakened born in a new world with insane magical abilities. Rather than chilling in this fantasy world, he chooses to be a new shadow lord in this world fighting against another corrupt organization “Cult Diablos.”
8: The Devil Is A Part Timer
Have you ever seen Demon Lord working as a part-timer at some restaurant, this could be a replica but “The Devil is a part-timer” has handled it pretty well.
The Devil Is A Part Timer is a decade-old Isekai who still outranks many in terms of hilarious comedy and run-of-the-mill adventurous storyline.
This anime follows a demon lord MC who got transported into modern Japan while escaping from Hero Party. In this modern era, our demon lord is no more than a commoner, and therefore he’s to work to make a living.
Although he found his powers throughout the storyline but he usually hides the fact that he’s an OP demon lord of some other realm.
7: I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in the Real World, Too
There’s no more satisfying feeling than witnessing an underdog MC showcasing his true powers to adversaries.
This hugely long title anime got many bad reviews for its super straightforward storyline, but this is pretty much the whole premise of typical isekais so why complain? Just grab it and enjoy a soothing show.
This isekai with modern tech features a fatty MC who gets ridiculed by his family and society. However, he’s a wholesome boy and always tries to do the right things.
After the usual humiliation by his loved ones, he eventually found an otherworld portal at his grandpa’s house. After getting trained in this other world, he evolves into a hot prodigy with OP abilities.
The best part is – he can live anywhere, in another world or his actual one. Even with a charming personality, the MC of this anime remains his original self and helps others while hiding his op powers.
6: Noragami
Nothing beats the smoothness of anime when you know that MC of anime is immortal and undefeatable.
This masterpiece from Studio Bones follows Yato, a homeless god craving for fame and fortune. However, his lack of worshippers leaves him weak and scraping for jobs.
Beneath his mortal desires lies a prodigy God of Calamity who can bend reality to his will. Will his hidden power remain a secret? Or will circumstances force his overwhelming skills into the open? let’s see in this top-tier anime where mc is op but hides it.
5: The King’s Avatar
We don’t usually get binge-worthy Chinese action anime, yet we got The King’s Avatar, A pure action anime inspired by a video game.
This pure action tale revolves around an OP game player who returns to the game after a long time as a character called “Lord Grim.”
After a long time, this game has become super popular and many renowned guilds have noticed the capabilities of mc “Ye Xiu.” Even though many things have changed, but our MC is capable of fulfilling any challenge.
Must see, how he makes new friends while exploring the game and maintaining his low profile.
4: The Irregular at Magic High School
Bluntly speaking, 26 episodes are way too much for such a straight show. But we watch anime for fun, not for some thought-provoking. So if you can watch this anime with an enclosed mind, these 26 episodes will pass through like a breeze.
This is your typical shonen anime where Mc goes to a magic high school. The show follows a system where students are divided into two categories. Blooms with higher marks and weeds with lower marks.
Tatsuya and Miyuki Shiba are siblings. While Miyuki is selected in Blooms, Tatsuya is reserved in the Weeds section despite the fact that he greatly excels in technical knowledge and physical abilities. It happens because he chose to do so.
3: Classroom Of The Elite
Classroom of the Elite comes in with a banger by presenting the mc who hides hid true identity along his capabilities, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji.
If I am not wrong this anime is only becoming successful for two reasons, its unpredictable plot and super disguising prodigy protagonist.
The show is staged in a high school where classes are ranked and each class gets advantages according to its rank from A, B, C, and D.
Our protagonist falls in rank D. Even though he has no wish to rank up and yet he embarks on a journey to help his class rank up while hiding his identity.
2: Code Geass
Code Geass is one of the cult classic mecha anime of all time with a spectacularly revolutionary plot and mastermind protagonist.
This classic rebellious show follows Lelouch V Britannia who appears a typical student. Yet he commands a terrifying power. With his “Geass”, Lelouch can control any who meets his steely gaze.
While aiming to dismantle the imperialistic Britannian regime, Lelouch must keep his abilities hidden. Otherwise, his plans for revolution will fail.
1: Death Note
There’s no way any other anime than “Death Note” deserves the first spot in the list of anime where mc is op but hides it.
Death Note is widely regarded as one of the best suspense thrillers in anime. Its cat-and-mouse game between Light and L keeps viewers constantly guessing.
At his high school, Light Yagami seems a model student. Few suspect he wields the lethal “Death Note” notebook. With it, Light can eliminate any person merely by learning their name.
While aiming to craft a perfect crime-free world, Light must disguise the full extent of his grim abilities. As Kira, Japan’s new god of death, Light’s power grows but detection also looms.
