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Over the past decade, isekai has proven to be the trend that isn’t going away. Like moe, it may very well shape the future of anime in a very permanent way. However, there wouldn’t be new isekai series every season if there wasn’t an audience for them. Everyone likes a little friendly escapism, and I think isekai fills that void a bit. Regardless, there are a lot of isekai series out there now, and while it is not guaranteed that if you like one, you will like all of them, there is a decent chance of just that. If you are looking for that next great isekai anime to fill the void in your life, we can help you find it.
Popular Isekai Anime Series
These isekai series were wildly popular. You’ve probably seen them already. They’ve been talked about to death and nothing more really needs to be said to make the recommendation. If you haven’t seen them already, chances are good you will like them if you do watch them.
Sword Art Online
With the aid of NerveGear technology, video game players can now experience their playable worlds like never before – in virtual reality. For Kazuto Kirigaya, his game of choice is Sword Art Online. After beta testing the game, he logs into the launch and finds himself, as well as ten thousand other players, trapped in the game world.
Log Horizon
Like in Sword Art Online, Log Horizon starts off with thirty thousand Japanese players of the popular Elder Tale game being unable to log out of the game with the latest update. The story focuses on the socially awkward college student Shiroe, a master strategist in-game, and his friends as they try to navigate their new reality.
Gate
Japanese Self-Defense Force solider and otaku Youji Itami is in the Ginza district of Tokyo feeding his hobby one afternoon when a gate to another world opens and medieval soldiers flood modern day Japan. While Itami, in conjunction with the local police, manage to save many civilian lives, his hero status forces him to go beyond the gate with his fellow soldiers to explore a mysterious new world filled with swords, magic, elves, and dragons.
Overlord
As the final hour approaches the life cycle of the MMO Yggdrasil, Momonga, a powerful wizard and leader of the dark guild Ainz Ooal Gown, is there to see it off. However, to his surprise, the servers don’t go down and even stranger is that all the NPC characters have come alive with their own unique personalities.
Konosuba
On his way back from buying a new game, Kazuma Satou died a pathetic death. However, he awakens before the Goddess Aqua who gives him two choices: go to heaven or reincarnate into an actual fantasy world. Naturally, the gamer picks the fantasy world. Now Kazuma must deal with defeating an evil demon king, useless party members, and paying living expenses.
Re:Zero
When Subaru Natsuki goes out for a midnight snack run, he suddenly finds himself transported to another world. As a bewildered teen in a land of swords and magic, he wanders around and ends up attacked by thugs. After being saved by a mysterious woman, he agrees to help her get back something that was stolen. Unfortunately, it ends in both their deaths. With his dying breath, he finds that he possesses the power of revival, escaping his death by the repeating the last few hours.
No Game No Life
In the real world, siblings Shiro and Sora are NEET shut-ins. However, in the virtual world, they are the legendary gaming duo. One day, after a strange email, they find their reality taken away as they are transported to the realm of Tet, God of Games. Here, Shiro and Sora must play games to defeat the sixteen races of this world as well as Tet in order to become the new gods.
The Rising of the Shield Hero
The stories tell of four heroes summoned from another world – the sword, spear, bow, and shield heroes who will prevent calamity. With darkness bearing down on them, the Kingdom of Melromarc summons these heroes from modern day Japan. For otaku Naofumi Iwatani, unfortunately he is labeled the shield hero, the weakest of the group. Worse yet, betrayal sees him labeled as a criminal and outcasted. With hatred and vengeance consuming him, he sets forth to grow strong.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
After a run in with a robber, the 37-year-old Satoru is suddenly killed. However, he finds himself able to reincarnate into a fantasy world as a slime named Rimuru Tempest. This allows him a fresh new life of adventure while being surrounded by a number of other unique beings.
Isekai Quartet
One day, a mysterious switch appeared, and if they press it, these isekai characters were transported to yet another alternative world!This anime series is essentially anime characters taken from many of the above series, sent to another-another world, and put in a classroom. It is parody and jokes.
Lesser Known Isekai Anime Series
You may not have heard of these, or just may not have given them a chance. Maybe we can help persuade you that it is something you might be into.
Restaurant to Another World
The nondescript Youshoku no Nekoya is a cafe that has been in business for 50 years. However, while it serves salarymen and other workers most of the week. On Saturdays, it closes down to the public in order to serve special guests, mythical creatures that come from another world looking for comforting cuisine.
This is very much a food anime, but with the added twist of various fantasy patrons coming to out world to eat delicious human food.
The Ambition of Oda Nobuna
High schooler Sagara Yoshiharu has the misfortune one day to time travel back to the Sengoku time period. However, all the powerful feudal lords are actually cute girls. On chance, he happens across Oda Nobuna, and begins to serve her in the place of recently deceased Kinoshita Tokichiro.
This series explore that common historical fantasy of “what if your favorite Feudal Japanese lords were hot ladies?” It’s more fun if you know your Japanese history, if only from the Samurai Warriors version of Dynasty Warriors.
Nobunaga Concerto
Saburou is a carefree student who is jarringly thrown back in time to the Sengoku era. He lands directly in front of Oda Nobunaga who, is unexpectedly frail and fleeing his retainers. As the two look similar, Nobunaga proposes that they switch places in order to go relax.
Very similar to The Ambition of Oda Nobuna, this series keeps the genders true to history, but a modern dude switching places with Nobunaga. It is, if nothing else, and interesting historical series to ponder.
Drifters
While forming the rear guard for his uncle’s escape, Toyohisa Shimazu manages to mortally wound I Naomasa, but is critically wounded himself in the process. While trying to limp back home, he finds himself transported from the field to a hallway lined with doors. There a mysterious man sends him spiraling into another world. Dragged into the forest by two young elves, Toyohisa is patched up from two others from the Land of the Rising sun that turn out to be Yoichi Suketaka Nasu and Oda Nobunaga. From there, Toyohisa and his fellow historical figures, named “drifters” must save (or conquer) their new world.
Unlike the previous two historical series, Drifters takes historical figures from all throughout world history and places them in a fantasy world. It is interesting to see what powers they manifest, and the artwork of the Hellsing author always lends a distinct aura of psychopathy to anyone.
Ascendance of a Bookworm
Motosu Urano loves books. She recently got her librarian certification and was about to enter her dream job when an earthquake caused her to be crushed by her collection of books. She is reincarnated into a new world as the five year old daughter of a soldier. Unfortunately, in this world, books are reserved for the elite nobility. What do you do when you station does not afford you access to books? Make your own.
This is a lower key story that focuses on a character passionate about something. It isn’t really a battler, which allows it to focus on building out the world and the characters.
My Next Life as a Villianess
At eight years old, Katrina Claes, the only daughter of a duke, hits her head and suddenly remembers she was once a seventeen-year-old otaku that got isekai’d. She realizes that she is now in the world of Fortune Lover, the otome game that she had been playing before her death. Unfortunately, she is not the heroine, but rather the villainess who usually ends up dead or exiled at the end. As such, she endeavors to change her fate and avoid all doom flags.
Imagine an isekai in which a female main character not only charms her entire man harem, but collects a female harem as well. Furthermore, she is not even focused on her romance, which is refreshing. It is a pretty wholesome show and nice if you want some comedy to make you feel good.
Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody
Suzuki Ichirou is a programmer for a game company, and in order to keep up with demands, he frequently sets his work pace to “death march” in which he works for days straight with little sleep and without going home. During one of these death marches, he falls asleep and when he wakes up, he is somehow transported inside of one of his games.
This is one of those anime series that tends to blend in with all the others. Honestly, aside from the interesting MMO system, there is not a lot of unique highlights to it. It is an alright show and more of what some people are looking for.
Hataage! Kemono Michi
Shibata Genzo is both a professional wrestler and an animal lover. One day, he is summoned to another world by a princess. She makes the mistake of asking him to rid her kingdom of these evil beasts. Instead of doing that, Genzo suplexes her and heads off to start a monster pet shop.
Genzo, his muscles, and his wrestling ability would have made a powerful hero. Instead, they made a show about him owning a pet shop. This is a refreshing breath of fresh air among all the standard battle plots. It also shows off a lot of unique creatures and issues they have in that particular world.
The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me?
One day, 25-year-old Shingo Ichinomiya goes to sleep and wakes up a 6-year-old in a medieval noble family. Unfortunately, he soon comes to learn that his noble family is not only quite poor, but he is actually the 8th son and looking at virtually no inheritance. He is, however, talented at magic and decides to work to bring prosperity to his family.
This started with an interesting premise, but kind of wasted it. By the second episode, all his brothers were gone and he had collected himself a harem. It has some interesting visual effects with the magic, but the plot was nothing too impressive.
The Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einherjar
Yuuto Suoh and his childhood friend set out to prove an urban legend one day at a nearby shrine. However, when he does, he is transported to another world called Yggdrasil. In this land of constant war, he is taken in by the Wolf Clan who struggle due to their inferior tactics. However, using his knowledge of tactics (and his smartphone) he gains the affection of both the patriarch of the clan and a group of warrior maidens known as the Einherjar.
The most notable thing about this series is that it is a Norse-inspired isekai. That’s pretty rare, but outside of that, it has all your usual isekai earmarks. He’s good at strategy because he can google it, which of course earns him the love of some strong ladies.
Demon Lord Retry
Akira Oono manages the MMORPG Infinity Game. After 15 years, he has decided to shut down the servers. However, at midnight, he finds himself in the game and transformed into Hakuto Kunai, the demon lord of the MMO. Further puzzling things, he saves a girl that he does not remember creating in the game.
This series has a premise much like many of the popular isekai shows. It fumbles around with it for a bit. The most interesting bit of the show is its initial mystery of who that girl is and where she came from. However, given the material, it doesn’t do much with it.
Do You Love Your Mom?
After finishing a random survey, Masato becomes involved in a government scheme that transports him inside of a game. Excited to begin his new life as an adventurer, he is thoroughly disappointed when his mother Mamako ends up being there as well. Eventually giving in to her companionship, they start their journey.
MILF isekai. The mom is cute, but the schtick gets old pretty quickly. Still, if you like a mother’s meddling ruining her son’s fantasy life, well…
Didn’t I Tell You to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life
Because of her exceptional abilities, Misato Kurihara never got to live a normal life. However, after her sudden death, she is offered reincarnation and one wish. Her wish is to have average abilities so that she can live an average life. Unfortunately, reincarnated as a noble’s daughter, she still has impressive magic ability. Determined to still have her normal life, she flees to a far away hunter school and attempts to hide her abilities.
This is classic cute girls doing cute things in an isekai world. Not much happens, and the comedy stems from trying to hide how good the main character is at everything.
Arifureta
Otaku Hajime Nagumo and several of his classmates are summoned to a fantasy world and tasked with saving mankind. However, while his classmates are gifted with great abilities, Hajime only has transmutation skills that have no real offensive use. He is soon betrayed by a classmate and sent into an abyss filled with monsters. Deciding to escape, he teams up with an imprisoned vampires to return to the world above.
Arifureta has the type of plot that could have easily made it a popular isekai series, but it squanders its potential. It is still a pretty good isekai series if you like early betrayal like The Rising of the Shield Hero, but it was widely overlooked because it didn’t take many risks.
Endride
Shun is a normal middle schooler. However, after he touches a crystal that his father had, he is transported to the unknown world under the Earth known as Endra. There he meets recently captured Prince Emilio and sets off into a new world of adventure.
This one has an interesting story of trying to get home, but also helping a guy out with revenge. It fumbles about a bit with that, though. Furthermore, the weapons are so ridiculous that it become pretty enjoyable.
Princess Connect: Re:Dive
The main character is sent to a new world. Kokoro, a girl chosen to be the guardian of her lord travels to that specific location, told that she would find her lord. While teaching him of his new world, she meets several other companions and they decide to form a Gourmet Guild in search of delicious things to eat.
Admittedly, this barely counts as an isekai. The main character is transported to a new world, but he is silent for 98% of the series because this is based on a gatcha game and he is a literal avatar for you. Yet, his female companions are both cute, funny, and likable. It is also a food-based anime which combines our cuisine with the fantasy ingredients of the world.
The Familiar of Zero
Louise is a self-absorbed mage at the prestigious Tristain Academy. Unfortunately, she can’t cast magic right and her classmates call her Louise the Zero. One day during a summoning ritual, Louise messes it up again and summons a boy named Saito. At first she treats him as a slave until she discovers a powerful brand on him, the sign of a legendary familiar known as Gandalfr.
This ends up a lot like a more standard shounen series. A guy from our world is summoned to help a klutz, he turns out to be really strong, and they endure battles together. It has that classic mix of comedy, action, romance, and harem that you are familiar with.
Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash
Thrown into a foreign land with no memory of their previous life, a group of strangers must try and survive in a brutal world filled with dangerous monsters. While the strong quickly band together, the weak are left to make a patchwork group of their own. Slowly but surely this group becomes fighters, finally earning enough to survive each day.
What I enjoyed the most about Grimgar is that the main characters suck at everything, but not in a parody Konosuba sort of way. They legitimately have to work hard, and often fail at battle anyway. It was an easy way to make something different and likable, yet still standard isekai.
High School Prodigies Have It Easy Even in Another World
After their plane goes down, seven prodigy children wake up to find themselves in another world. However, as none of them are just normal students, they set out to improve and take over this world through the use of their specialties.
The characters themselves are each prodigies at something, which is usually the only interesting thing they have about their character. However, it is fun to watch what sort of effect they have on the fantasy world.
How Not to Summon a Demon Lord
In his MMORPG, Takuma boast overwhelming strength and was referred to as the demon king. However, one day he gets summoned to another world, still in the appearance of his character. There he discovers two girls that use the same magic he uses to turn others into slaves. However, due to his magic reflect skill, the spell was turned back on them.
This is definitely a comedy series that likes to play at some action. Mostly, it has some solid jokes because the main character is really too overpowered to be challenged by much.
In Another World With My Smart Phone
Touya Mochizuki is accidentally killed, and as an apology, God allows him to be reborn into a fantasy world. He also gets one wish. Touya chooses to use his wish to keep his smart phone that he uses to give him the knowledge to dominate his new world.
This is a series that premiered early on in the “isekai, but” trend where isekai series started to manifest twists. In this one, he got to keep his smart phone. It is super useful… In attracting his harem.
The Devil is a Part-Timer
Right on the verge of taking over the world, evil Demon Lord Satan was foiled by the hero Emilia and was forced to retreat through a dimensional portal. He ends up in this world where he is without powers and without money. In order to pay his way, he gets a part-timer job slinging fast food.
This reverse isekai has a demon lord brought to our world without his great powers. He ends up working as a fast food worker to pay the bills. It is definitely one of those “must watch” comedy anime series because it has some great jokes and characters.
Wise Man’s Grandchild
After being hit by a truck and killed, a young man was reincarnated into a new world as a baby. He was found and raised by a legendary sage named Merlin and given the name Shin. However, while Merlin taught him his skills and Shin grew in to an extremely powerful mage, living in the forest failed to teach Shin common sense and other people skills.
In this “isekai, but” series, the main character is super powerful, as isekai protagonists often are, but has poor social skills, as anime fans occasionally are. It makes for more of a set up for comedy and harem awkwardness more so than anything else.
Isekai Cheat Magicians
Two high school students are transported to a fantasy world by a beam of light. After narrowly escaping a monster attack, they travel with a group of adventurers to the guild. There they discover that they have incredible magical powers.
I’ll admit, I have a special dislike for this show in my heart. I consider it isekai’s true low point. Every trope and generic addition to an isekai was present. Certainly someone must have liked it, but it was a true struggle to get through.
Knights & Magic
A mecha otaku has died and reincarnated into another world as Eru. In this world, he discovers massive humanoid weapons, and as an otaku in another life, simply must pilot them. Thus begins his quest to become a Knight Runner, the elite few who pilot these giant mech weapons.
For as popular as isekai is, you don’t see it mixed with mecha very often. Due to this, it is a nice twist. It is the best of isekai and mecha tropes.
Outbreak Company
With parents that write light novels and draw eroge, Kanou Shinichi was born to be an otaku. One day, he finds himself transported to a fantasy world full of elves and dragons. In this world he is given a quest, not to fight monsters, but to become a moe missionary to teach everyone on the finer points of being an otaku.
It’s a lewd comedy that isn’t very ecchi because it is very moe. That is appealing to a very specific sect, but if you enjoy lewd humor, then it is a good way to spend some time.
These Problem Children are Coming From Another World, Aren’t They?
Three extraordinary teenagers are blessed with psychic abilities, but are bored with their mundane lives. Unexpectedly, they are invited to go to a mysterious new place to participate in a high-stakes game using their abilities.
Pretty similar in premise to No Game No Life, but not as clever or visually pretty. If you like interesting games in your isekai, it is still a good follow up to No Game No Life, though.
The Sage of Tanya the Evil
Once one of Japan’s most elite salarymen, Tanya is reborn as a little girl with porcelain skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes after pissing off a mysterious being that calls himself God. Now she uses the memories and experience from her past life to spread terror on the front lines of war, becoming one of the most dangerous people in the imperial army.
This series breaks the mold by being about an evil little girl as well as being set in more of a World War II sort of world. It is not your standard high fantasy isekai, and it ends up being really great.
Older Isekai Anime Series
These were isekai before the wave of popularity. The genre has always been around to some degree, but it was only recently named. These are some older series that technically fall into the genre that you may enjoy.
Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi
Arumi and Sasshi have been friends since they were children as have they lived in the Abenobashi commercial district in Osaka. However, things are changing in Abenobashi, due in no small part to the area being slowly being bought out to build a mega-mall. One day, after an accident, the two friends find that Abenobashi has really changed – into a medieval RPG world, a dating sim game, a space opera, or a film noir movie. It is one wacky adventure after the next as Abenobashi takes on the form of Sasshi’s otaku interests.
This is basically a love story to all otaku interests. Full of parody for each genre and with a energetic sort of humor ala FLCL. Every episode is a different world, and it is a really fun watch.
.Hack//Sign
In the MMORPG game simply called The World, a wavemaster by the alias of Tsukasa awakens with slight amnesia and cannot log out of the game. Believed to be a hacker with the Crimson Knights guild, Tsukasa wanders the game looking for answers and avoiding other players that seek to do him harm. After reuniting with the Crimson Knights, the players that became acquainted with Tsukasa also seek a reason as to why he cannot log out before the problem becomes worse.
Sword Art Online before Sword Art Online, .Hack, like SAO, gets real complicated over its many series. If you have an itch about people trapped in a virtual game, then this can scratch it.
El Hazard
After touching a monument at his school, Makoto and several others are transported to the world of El Hazard. There they gain special powers, but are separated to walk their own paths. Ultimately, each learns of the ultimate weapon, the demon Ifurita, and sets out to gain control of it for their own reasons.
Due to its age, this show is wildly overshadowed, but an interesting watch. He gets sent in with his enemy from school, then his enemy becomes a general, and suddenly they are on two sides of a war against each other.
Aura Battler Dunbine
After an auto accident, Sho Zama is sent to the world of Byston Well. There he is recruited by Lord Drake Luft to pilot the Aura Battler. Yet, in the heat of battle, an enemy approaches and tells him of Lord Drake’s more sinister intentions.
Another rare mecha isekai series, but this series is a little bland. It has its moments, but it is a series that you don’t find a lot of fans for because it wasn’t particularly impressive.
The Twelve Kingdoms
In what started as a normal day as a normal high school student, Nakajima Youko has her reality shattered when a strange man named Keiki appears before her, swearing his allegiance. When Youko and her friends are attacked by demons, they are pulled into a different world, one she has never known. Separated from Keiki, Youko and her friends must do whatever they have to survive this strange, harsh place.
If you like well built worlds, then this is for you. They highlight each of those twelve kingdoms that have a distinct government and culture. The world inside the series truly feels vast and is explored by the characters on their journey.
Ixion Saga DT
Kon is transferred from our world to the world of Mira. After saving a princess, he soon finds himself embroiled in the problems of this world that all involve this mysterious energy known as Alma.
This is definitely more of a comedy show. It certainly has action, but it is made very clear that they want you to enjoy the comedy more than anything else. It’s not a bad thing because the comedy is actually really good.
Inuyasha
Kagome’s normal life came to an end one day when a demon dragged her down into a well at the shrine where she lived. When she next woke, Kagome finds herself 500 years in the past in Japan’s feudal area, a time in history fraught with both war and demons. It is there she learns that she is a reincarnation of a priestess tasked with guarding the Shikon Jewel. With the jewel returned to the world with her, Kagome must fight off the demons that want to gain its power, including Inuyasha, a half-demon that was once a lover of her past self right up until she sealed him to a tree.
I mean, this is a classic series, but not considered a classic “isekai” series. It is an isekai series though.
Digimon
When a group of kids head to summer camp, things don’t turn out exactly as planned. In the middle of July it begins to snow and they receive these strange devices that end up transporting them to the digital world. Inside, the children each receive a digital monster as a companion, but not all monsters in the digital world are as nice as their new friends.
Again. This is a classic from my childhood, and if you want to mature it up a bit, the Digimon Tri movies are fantastic.
Fushigi Yugi
One day while visiting the National Library, junior high students Maika and Yui are transported inside a mysterious book about ancient China called The Universe of the Four Gods. Within, Maika finds herself with the responsibility of being the priestess of Suzaku, and must gather all his celestial warriors to summon him for three wishes. However, she is put at odds with Yui when she is manipulated into becoming the priestess of Seiryuu by an enemy nation.
This was the introduction to this genre for many fans. It is based on Chinese mythology, which is a new and interesting element. In general, though, this series is really carried by the characters.
Kyo Kara Maoh
After saving someone from bullies, Yuri becomes their target. When his head gets shoved in a toilet, he is sucked into another world. There, he is told that because of his black hair and black eyes, he is destined to become the next demon king. The demons view him as unworthy, but after winning a duel by utilizing his newfound magical powers, he becomes slowly accepted.
Big oof getting isekai’d from a swirly, but actually this plot has a pretty standard isekai plot. He is the person of legend despite being a normal dude, yet he grows to be that role as a person.
Magic Knight Rayearth
While on a field trip to Tokyo Tower, three girls are transported to a new world called Cephiro. There, they learn that the world is maintained by the prayers of the Pillar, but they need to rescue the current Pillar. Once done, they may be able to return to Tokyo.
This is kind of a mix of Fushigi Yugi and Sailor Moon. The sad thing is that this 90’s animation will make many give it a pass, but it has a plot and interesting characters that stood up well to time.
Those Who Hunt Elves
A group of kids are transported to a new world with a Type 74 tank. In order to return home, they must collect five spell fragments that are located on the skin of various elves throughout the world.
This one sounds brutal, but it is actually an ecchi show. You know, they go around ripping the clothes off elves to look for tattoos. It’s an ecchi comedy, and only some watchers will enjoy that.
Escaflowne
During a twist of fate, Hitomi Kanzaki witnesses a boy named Van fall from the sky and kill a dragon. After he defeats it, they are both sucked into a pillar of light and Hitomi is taken to Van’s world where she finds out he is a prince and his kingdom is at war. After his kingdom falls, they both end up on the run as they try to take his kingdom back and get Hitomi home.
Although considered a classic by some, Escaflowne is one of those truly great, but so overlooked anime series. To me, it hits like a more mature Inuyasha without the demons and less of the romantic drama.
Now and Then, Here and There
Shu is a typical Japanese boy, but when he sees a mysterious girl atop a smokestack, he follows her and is pulled into a strange desert world. It is here that Shu is forced to discover a world filled with the tragedies of war. Genocide, torture, hunger, and thirst are abound, but Shu is determined to try and save the girl that he saw.
This is a more dark isekai series. The new world he is sent to is brutal, and the kid learns hard lessons pretty frequently. If you want a break from the twee positivity and ecchi, then this is a good watch.
Hoo-boy. That was quite the list, but certainly we have forgotten some. If you have more isekai anime series that you think fans of this bursting genre should know about, let them know in the comments section below.
