Isekai is a kind of fantasy anime where a protagonist is transported or reborn from the realm they know to an unknown one. Typically, the Isekai series will place a character in a magical realm of fantasy, though hardly ever in reverse.
In current years, there has been a huge influence of isekai anime, somewhat due to the worldwide fame of Sword Art Online. However, this isekai anime list will not cover SAO. Rather, we will concentrate on other fantasy anime that is, dare we say, more enjoyable than SAO.
Here are 27 isekai anime titles that approach the isekai genre in unique and innovative ways.
Read Also:
Best Isekai Anime
My Isekai Life: I Gained a Second Character Class and Became the Strongest Sage in the World!
My Isekai Life: I Got a Second Character Class and Became the World’s Strongest Sage is an action-packed anime with a gripping story and excellent character development. Yuuji Sano, the protagonist, gets transferred to a game-like fantasy realm after working himself to death in a tough business atmosphere.
When he arrives, he sees that he has been given the title of Monster Tamer, which is one of the weakest ranks an adventurer can have. Yuuji sets off on a journey with his slimes to learn magical spells and become a powerful enough sage to protect this new world from harm.
Demon Lord, Retry!
After an unexplained event, Akira Ono finds himself in the body of his character, Demon Lord Hakuto Kunai, as he prepares to shut down the servers of his creation, the MMORPG Infinity Game. The new world he awakens in appears to be set within Infinity Game, but there are some differences.
He meets and summons various companions who accompany him on his journey, and his reputation as the “Demon Lord” spreads throughout the land, making him a target. As he continues to pursue his mission of discovering why and how he was summoned, Ono/Kunai finds himself dealing with the sociological problems of the Kingdom of Holy Light and the Satanist cult that opposes it.
TSUKIMICHI: MOONLIT FANTASY
Tsukimichi -Moonlit Fantasy- is a great Isekai anime with a great MC for 2023. This thrilling fantasy story follows Makoto Misumi, a young man from Earth who is unexpectedly taken to another world because to a strange pact made years ago by a goddess and his parents. Thrown into this strange environment, he quickly discovers that the goddess has deemed him ‘hideous,’ taking him of his hero status.
Makoto’s inherent physical and magical powers are awakened as part of adapting between these two worlds, despite his disappointment at being exiled to the outer regions of a wasteland with no one else in sight.
It isn’t long before he encounters various demihumans and mythical beings, all enthralled by their unexpected guest’s abilities and eager to join him in building a suitable civilization where they can live harmoniously together away from human company.
HOW A REALIST HERO REBUILT THE KINGDOM
When Kazuya Souma is unexpectedly transported to another world, he realises the people are expecting him to be a hero. But Souma’s definition of heroism is more rational than most: he wants to rebuild the flagging economy of the new land he’s found himself in! Betrothed to the princess and unexpectedly installed on the throne, this realist hero must assemble a talented team to assist him in reestablishing the country’s footing—not through war or adventure, but through administrative reform!
CHEAT PHARMACIST’S SLOW LIFE
The Slow Life of a Cheat Pharmacist is one of the top Isekai anime for all otaku fans out there. Reiji Kirio, an average corporate slave who is suddenly transferred to a new realm filled with magic and fantastical creatures, is at the core of it all. He runs a pharmacy with Noera (a canine character) and Mina(a ghostly character), using his newfound superhuman understanding of drugs.
They sell potions, mixtures, and other goodies to consumers that visit their store. It’s easy to see why this show has been so popular since its release – not just because it gives viewers fantastic comic moments but also offers a very relatable message about being brave facing life’s biggest obstacles by employing “brain over brawn”.
The Dungeon of Black Company
Kinji Ninomiya is a NEET who has amassed enough money through real estate investment to fund a penthouse lifestyle without ever working. This changes when a portal unexpectedly transports him to a fantasy world, where he is quickly enslaved to a mining company extracting crystals from a dungeon.
Kinji, desperate for a way out of this new poverty, tries to regain financial stability by any means possible, amassing an unusual adventuring party – the titular black company – in the process.
The Evolution Fruit
The Fruit of Evolution: Before I Knew It, My Life Was Made is one of the best Isekai anime, with an outstanding main character. This anime follows Seiichi Hiiragi, who gets bullied because of his poor self-esteem and lack of social skills. When a god suddenly hacks the school intercoms, he orders all the students to be transferred to another world, where they are given special abilities and tasked with defeating the Demon King who destroys their land. Unfortunately for Seiichi, no one wants him as a comrade, so he is abandoned and sent off alone into this strange new world far from civilization.
However, in the middle of all this bad luck, Seiichi makes an unexpected discovery: a fruit known as “Fruit of Evolution,” which provides Seiichi with the opportunity for hope and transformation not only for himself, but for everyone on the world. The plot follows Seiichi’s adventure as he grows stronger and strives to become a hero worthy of saving his teammates and standing up to bad powers such as the great Demon King.
The Devil Is A Part-Timer!
The Devil is a part-timer! includes the Demon Lord Satan as its main protagonist, who is forced to flee through a dimension rift and ends up in modern-day Tokyo. There, he plays Sadao Maou, a regular guy who works at McDonald’s to make ends meet. Sadao’s desire to conquer Ente Isla remains unaffected despite his lack of magical abilities in a world without magic. The comedy anime offers an amusing look at ordinary life from his unique perspective, with lots of laughs along the way.
For those looking for much more than mindless amusement, The Devil is a Part-Timer delves far deeper into themes such as ambition, morality, and loyalty, all mixed with comedy. It clearly communicates that there is never an excuse not to build something amazing out of your life, even if it seems impossible – making it one of the best Isekai anime with op mc today.
Re:Zero
Subaru Natsuki is a NEET who just plays video games. He is suddenly transported to another realm after visiting a store late one night. With no clue of who summoned him, he quickly helps Satella, a silver-haired half-elf girl, and her buddy Puck. Stella states that a thief named Felt took her emblem.
Subaru awakens after he and “Satella” are unexpectedly killed and realises that he has gained the power to “Return by Death,” which allows him to travel back in time by dying.
GATE
GATE is an anime that combines modern military and fantasy elements. It follows Youji Itami, a self-proclaimed otaku and a member of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), who is sent to explore a mysterious portal that connects Japan to a medieval world full of magic and monsters. There, he meets various characters such as an elf, a demigoddess, a mage, and a princess, and helps them fight against their enemies. Youji is not only a skilled soldier, but also a smart and resourceful leader who uses his knowledge of otaku culture and history to his advantage.
The Rising of the Shield Hero
The Rising of the Shield Hero is one of the most spine-chilling isekai anime on this list. Naofumi Iwatani, a young student, was summoned to a parallel planet alongside three other young men from other worlds to battle inter-dimensional hordes of monsters.
Unlike the other heroes, who are fully supported by the kingdom and gain plenty of powerful allies, Naofumi’s luck runs out after his single companion, revealed to be the kingdom’s princess, fools him, steals all of his belongings, and abandons him after falsely accusing him of se*ually assaulting her.
The Familiar of Zero
The Familiar of Zero is an anime that revolves around Louise de la Vallière, a young mage who attends a prestigious academy of magic. Louise is nicknamed “Zero” because she has no talent for magic and often fails at casting spells. During a summoning ritual, she accidentally summons Saito Hiraga, a normal high school boy from Japan, as her familiar. Saito soon discovers that he has a special power called “Gandalfr”, which allows him to use any weapon or tool with ease. Together, they face various challenges and adventures in the magical world.
Overlord
Overlord is an anime that follows Momonga, a powerful skeletal mage who is the leader of Ainz Ooal Gown, one of the strongest guilds in an online game called Yggdrasil. When the game is about to shut down, Momonga decides to stay logged in until the end. However, he finds out that he and his loyal NPCs have been transported to a new world where magic and monsters exist. Momonga decides to take over this world as the ruler of Nazarick, his guild’s base, and uses his overwhelming power and intelligence to achieve his goals.
The 8th Son? Are you kidding?
The 8th Son? Are you kidding? is an anime that follows Wendelin von Benno Baumeister, a young boy who is reincarnated as the eighth son of a poor noble family in a medieval world. He soon discovers that he has an aptitude for magic and becomes a pupil of Alfred Rainford, a famous mage. Wendelin uses his magic to improve his life and explore the world, while also dealing with various problems such as politics, wars, monsters, and romance.
In Another World with My Smartphone
A 15-year-old kid named Touya Mochizuki is the subject of the anime In Another World With My Smartphone after he is unintentionally slain by God and resurrected into a fantastical setting.
He goes from country to country resolving political conflicts while having fun, making friends with a wide variety of individuals, mostly ladies, in this new world. Although there are ecchi themes in the anime, it also focuses on Touya’s interactions with the characters he meets in his new life.
Wise Man’s Grandchild
A young salaryman who died in an accident was reborn in another world filled with magic and demons. As a baby, he was picked up by the patriot hero “Sage” Merlin Wolford and was given the name Shin.
He was raised as a grandson and soaked up Merlin’s teachings, earning him some irresistible powers.
However, when Shin reached the age of 15, Merlin realised, “I forgot to teach him common sense!” Museum, King of the Earlshide Kingdom, recommends Shin attend his Magic Academy on the condition that he not be used in political warfare. Shin saves two girls, Maria and Sizilien, from thugs in the capital, and later establishes a club with him and others.
No Game No Life
Sora and Shiro are two hikikomori step-siblings who are known as Blank, an unbeaten group of gamers, in the online gaming world. Tet, a god from another reality, challenges them to a game of chess one day. The two are successful and are given the opportunity to live in a world centred on games.
They accept, thinking it’s a joke, and are transported to a reality known as Disboard. There, a spell known as the Ten Pledges prevents the citizens of Disboard from causing harm to one another, forcing them to settle their differences by playing games with magically enforced rules and rewards.
By the Grace of the Gods
A child named Ryouma Takebayashi lives deep in the forest, far from human contact. He has a strange hobby of keeping various types of slimes as pets. Furthermore, despite his youth, he has a strong physique and a good affinity for magic. All of this is because, after enduring much hardships in his previous life, three gods give upon Ryouma a second chance to pursue one goal: to enjoy the wonders of life.
Ryouma meets people who will change his current life forever after three years of comfortable solitude. When he meets and assists some soldiers in tending to a wounded comrade, the group persuades him to accompany them to the nearby town’s ducal family. Ryouma agrees and soon sets out to explore the vast world beyond his home.
Mushoku Tensei
The story follows Rudeus Greyrat as he awakens in another world, resuming his life as a baby. With the mind of an adult, he begins to demonstrate magical talent that exceeds all expectations. He tries to make the most of his new opportunity while conquering his traumatic past. And perhaps, one day, he may find the one thing he could not find in his old world — love.
KonoSuba
Kazuma Satou, a high school student and recluse, finds himself reincarnated in every gamer’s fantasy world. Living in such a world is nothing like how it appears in a game, and Kazuma and Aqua have to work to make ends meet. But Kazuma has made a critical error—Aqua is completely useless!
Log Horizon
In the blink of an eye, thirty thousand bewildered Japanese gamers are whisked from their everyday lives into the world of the popular MMORPG, Elder Tale, after the game’s latest update—unable to log out.
Among them is the socially awkward college student Shiroe, whose confusion and shock lasts only a moment as, a veteran of the game, he immediately sets out to explore the limits of his new reality.
How Not to Summon a Demon Lord
This anime is the second season of HOW NOT TO SUMMON A DEMON LORD, The first season follow Takuma Sakamoto a shut-in gamer devoid of any social skills. Defeating hopeless challengers day by day, Takuma cares about nothing else but his virtual life—that is, until a summoning spell suddenly transports him to another world where he has Diablo’s appearance!
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Satoru Mikami, 37, is perfectly content with his monotonous lifestyle in Tokyo, save for the fact that he has never had a girlfriend. He regains consciousness as a slimy goop and gains new abilities, most notably the ability to devour anything and mimic its appearance and abilities. In exchange, the monster “Storm Dragon” Veldora bestows the name Rimuru Tempest on him in order to grant him divine protection.
So I’m a Spider, So What?
A girl is reborn as a spider of the weakest kind after an unprecedented disaster at her school. When she discovers that her new world has a system similar to that of an RPG, she tries her hardest to level up and evolve. She hopes that as she grows stronger, her efforts will be recognised and she will be granted a better life.
I’m standing on 1,000,000
Yotsuya Yuusuke and his classmates Shindou Iu and Hakozaki Kusue have been transported to a strange and unknown world populated by mythological creatures.
As soon as they arrive, they are greeted by a man who introduces himself as the Game Master and grants them a time-limited quest. To aid them in their quest, he bestows the roles of a Magician and a Warrior on Shindou and Hakozaki, respectively, while Yotsuya is given the role of… a Farmer?!
This is how a hectic life of adventuring began for three students who now have no choice but to complete random quests in the fantasy world for several phases if they want to stay alive and protect the real world from the demons and monsters they encounter.
Drifters
The anime Drifters is an excellent example of the “Isekai” genre, in which the protagonist is drawn into a fantasy world and left to fend for themselves. In one scenario, Toyohisa Shimazu, a member of his own country’s rearguard in a 1600 fight, is transported to a wholly different realm populated by mystical animals and warriors from other eras. He rapidly meets extraordinarily powerful allies like warlord Nobunaga Oda and archer Yoichi Suketaka Nasu, learning more about the Empire they have all fallen into, which has caused political conflicts between its citizens, such as humans and elves.
Though their purpose should be to restore some form of balance in this bizarre new world, it also comes down to their willingness to fight against those who appear hell-bent on decimating humanity: The Ends! With plenty of thrilling adventures along the way, this series provides one hell of an exciting journey through multiple dimensions and times provided by always unpredictable powers granted by both Gods and strangers; making coming-of-age stories mixed with epic battles full of the most creative techniques (and potentially unexpected antagonists) available for any fan worldwide looking for something more than just another everyday tv show.
SPIRIT CHRONICLES
SPIRIT CHRONICLES is a 2021 anime that is currently airing. The plot revolves around Amakawa Haruto, a young guy who died before reuniting with his childhood friend who went missing five years ago. Rio is a slum boy out for vengeance after his mother was murdered in front of him when he was five years old.
Earth and another world. Two people with diametrically opposed backgrounds and values. For some reason, Haruto’s memories and personality, which should have died, are resurrected in Rio’s body. Rio (Haruto) decides to live in this new world as the two are confused by their memories and personalities fusing together. Rio, along with Haruto’s memories, awakens an unknown “special power,” and it appears that if he uses it correctly, he will be able to live a better life.
