The casts of Re:Zero, Overlord, Konosuba, and The Sage of Tanya the Evil are transported to a parallel world—a high school—when a mysterious button appears out of nowhere. That’s right, our battle-hardened heroes must now negotiate the perilous terrain of adolescence, complete with uncomfortable crushes and cafeteria food fights.

Isekai Quartet is the ultimate crossover extravaganza that parodies every “other world” anime trope. It’s jam-packed with chibi versions of our favorite Isekai characters, and it’s a blast to watch them interact. Where else would you find Subaru from Re:Zero and Kazuma from KonoSuba bickering about whose world stinks the most? Or the ineffective Aqua from KonoSuba attempting to compete with the no-nonsense Tanya from Youjo Senki? So, ignore the standard summoned-to-another-world anime routine, and prepare to laugh your isekai-loving heart out.

Takuma Sakamoto, an introverted gamer, is zapped into his favorite video game, Cross Reverie, and transformed into his fearsome avatar, the Demon Lord Diablo. Takuma discovers that the two beautiful heroines have summoned him to save the day, but his social anxiety makes it difficult to maintain the demonic act.

Takuma is an expert at crushing foes, forging alliances, and directing summoned monsters in the game he’s stuck in. But when it comes to mingling, he’s as slick as sandpaper. It’s a typical Isekai instance of mistaken identity, and the anime milks it for all its hilarious value. With a familiar MMORPG backdrop, an all-powerful hero, and ecchi humor, this anime has all the components for the ultimate dream getaway—especially if you’re looking for a little fan service on the side.

After years of service, the world’s greatest assassin is betrayed by the very organization for which he worked. Nevertheless, before reincarnating onto another planet, a goddess offers him the opportunity to keep his memories if he does one thing for her: murder the new world’s greatest hero. This is a difficult task because the hero is born with greater talent and power than any other individual on the globe.

World’s Greatest Assassin quickly garnered popularity since it was so different from what people were used to with isekai. While the protagonist is technically young, he has the intellect of an older man, and as a result, his perspectives toward the world around him have altered. It’s also far less upbeat than some isekai series, while yet retaining plenty of fantastic fantasy skills.

Realist Hero demonstrates that not every isekai must be fully centered on action. Souma Kazuya is a man who aspires to be a public servant in this planet. He finds himself transferred into a fantasy world one day, when he is supposed to be dispatched to another nation to assist the kingdom of Elfrieden with their debt.

To avoid becoming a mere “tribute,” Souma plans to free the kingdom from debt in order for Elfrieden to pay their tribute. Souma restores the country through sound economic policies and is elevated to the position of King as a result of his abilities.

It’s unusual for an anime version of a mobile game to be much more than a corporation cash grab, but Princess Connect! Re: Dive demonstrates that there are a few jewels in that department. Connect with a Princess! Re: Dive fully embraced isekai tropes, telling a story about a man who falls into an unknown world and flips it around to the point that he doesn’t even matter in the end.

On the other hand, Princess Connect! Re: Dive is the pinnacle of all anime that features pretty females doing cute things. It’s hardly a novel concept, but Princess Connect! Re: Dive plays on trope tropes and creates an enjoyable show as a result.

A Japanese salaryman dies and is resurrected as a baby in a mystical land. Shin, an adolescent with extraordinary magical abilities but zero people skills, is raised in seclusion by a wise old wizard, Merlin Wolford. So, what should a magical misfit do? Of sure, enroll in the kingdom’s magical academy!

Kenja no Mago enters the list for one reason and one reason only: it’s inadvertently amusing. Shin, our hero, is a wizard with the charm of a houseplant. Just seeing his social gaffes is worth the price of admission. When he’s not clueless, he’s busy being OP in ridiculous fights. There’s also the obligatory world-saving with Shin and his friends foiling some evil plot.

The best example of a reverse isekai is Re:Creators. As fictional characters from popular manga and light novels begin to materialize in the real world, the series begins. The plot revolves around Souta Mizushino, a high school student aspiring to be a creator who collaborates with Silesia, a heroine from another universe.

As the fictitious characters understand their creators are responsible for their deaths, Souta and Silesia must collaborate to both safeguard the other creators and figure out how their worlds have intersected. Re:Creators manages to make references to dozens of anime clichés while also presenting important issues about the nature of tales and what producers put their characters through for “fun”.

Who knew a show about the Devil working at a McDonald’s imitation would be so entertaining? The Devil is a Part-Timer! has gotten to the top of many isekai anime viewers’ favorite list by generating such interesting and engaging characters.

Not only is the 2013 season brilliantly animated, but it also has great humor, with several situations that will have fans laughing their heads off. While not horrible, The Devil is a Part-Timer! Season 2 has struggled to live up to expectations, and is presently airing as part of Summer 2022. Season 2 has gone away from some of the things that made its predecessor so fun, such as the fast food location, in addition to having uneven animation. The entrance of Alas Ramus, a charming child who treats Maou and Emi as her parents, further weakened the duo’s relationship because they are now content to simply get along.

Isekai adores a superpowered protagonist who can blow through skyscraper-sized adversaries with ease. When the goddess Ristarte summons Seiya to assist her preserve a planet on the verge of extinction, she gets a hero who will only enter dangerous circumstances if success is certain. Essentially, this entails a lot of training and taking no chances during conflicts.

Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious is a generally amusing adventure based on Seiya and Ristarte’s love/hate relationship. The anime, which is mostly driven by humor, takes use of its protagonist’s peculiar worldview to deliver comedic gold.

Minoru, the protagonist of The Eminence in Shadow, desires nothing more than to rule the world from the shadows. Minoru spends the majority of his time practicing in order to get magical skills. But, his wish is not granted until he is reincarnated into another universe. Minoru is resurrected as Cid Kagenou in this new planet and joins the Shadow Garden organization.

Cid’s imagination drives him to form a fighting force for Shadow Garden in the Cult of Diabolos. The only problem is that everyone in Shadow Garden knows this Cult is real, save Cid. Eminence in Shadow is a self-aware satire of all the common isekai cliches, such as an overpowering protagonist and a supporting cast enamored with the protagonist. It’s exactly the kind of show for individuals looking for a change from the standard isekai formula.

Urano Motoso, a bookworm, died tragically and was reincarnated as a tiny girl named Myne. Unfortunately, books are few in her new environment, and her family is in financial difficulty. Yet Myne isn’t one to give up. She’s determined, with a bright mind and a can-do attitude, to write her own books and save this weird new planet one page at a time.

Forget huge quests and Isekai beefcakes; Bookworm isn’t your normal “stuck in another world” job. Myne is a different kind of hero, a tiny book lover navigating a society where books are rare, social hierarchy is a thorny issue, and the religious order is a thorny issue. There’s no heart-pounding action here, but the vivid animation, lovely tunes, and stunning bookbinding art will captivate you. It’s a slice-of-life anime about a young girl’s tenacity and curiosity that you won’t want to miss!

Tokyo was minding its own business when BAM! A magical doorway arises, allowing an army of fantasy villains such as orcs and dragons to emerge. Panic erupts, and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces charge in to defend their territory and figure out what’s on the other side of the barrier. The crew, commanded by Youji Itami, a soldier-turned-otaku, attempts to make friends with the otherworldly dwellers while being on the lookout for malevolent forces attempting to take over both realms.

GATE is a modern military action/fantasy combination that essentially smoochs the Japanese army. The plot does not sugarcoat warfare, but it is primarily concerned with cross-cultural conversation (with some jokes tossed in) and diplomatic obstacles. GATE keeps the sword vs. pistol action grounded, with no high-stakes fights but plenty of military prowess.

Unfortunately for mecha aficionados, the popularity of the genre has declined since its peak in the 1980s or even the 1990s. Isekai, on the other hand, has grown so much that they now have their own mecha anime. Ernesti Echevalier, an otaku enamored with huge robots, is resurrected into a realm filled with magic and giant robots.

Ernesti’s passion with robotics drives him to join the royal military in order to develop his own personalized robot. Each mini-arc is simply about him building and testing new robots on his approach to developing the perfect big robot.

Iruma Suzuki is the unluckiest 14-year-old in history, and his fate looks to worsen when his parents sell him to a demon. To his astonishment, Iruma discovers that life as the grandchild of a demon school’s principal is lot more enjoyable than it seems; in fact, it’s quite amazing. Yet, as a human residing in the Netherworld, Iruma must effectively mimic a demon or risk becoming someone’s supper.

Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun is a well-rounded shonen novel that delivers action, comedy, romance, and adventure with ease. Iruma is endearing, and he is supported by a fantastic cast of characters who each contribute something unique to the play.

Sword Art Online is one of the most popular and financially successful Isekai anime. In contrast to the usual fantasy world, the protagonist Kirito is transported into a virtual reality in this anime. After being stuck in a virtual reality MMORPG with a thousand other players, he and the other players must either survive in the new virtual world or risk dying in real life.

Sword Art Online’s tempo and writing garnered mixed reviews. Fans, though, laud it for its gorgeous animation and jaw-dropping action scenes. Considering its international appeal, there is no disputing that Sword Art Online is one of the best isekai anime available.

When Kagome Higurashi time-travels to Sengoku Japan during a demon-human battle, her high school life takes an unexpected turn. Along comes Inuyasha, a half-demon grouch on a quest for the broken Jewel of Four Souls. These two work together to collect the shards and keep them out of the hands of the wrong people.

Inuyasha combines Isekai charm with Shounen grandeur. What begins as a gateway quest quickly transforms into a fascinating fantasy adventure across feudal Japan. Consider magic, Yokai, and epic battles. That isn’t even the finest part. Inuyasha is a fantasy adventure suit-clad epic anime love story.

Log Horizon began as just another MMORPG-based isekai, but quickly distinguished itself with its tremendously clever writing. Unlike in other series, after the main characters are transferred into the world of Elder Tale, they begin to build the world they have always imagined.

This show is smart and well-paced, making the most of action by without relying on it as a crutch during slower parts. The difficulties of establishing a new community and maintaining peace are not glossed over. Even at a slower pace, Log Horizon is one of the most clever and engaging Isekai of all time. There are two seasons now available, with a third on the way.

Naofumi Iwatani is one of four gamers summoned to save Melromarc from destruction. Yet, instead of a kickass weapon like everyone else, he is given a crappy shield. To make matters worse, he is wrongfully accused of a crime and becomes the number one public adversary. He’s now on a mission to gather allies, clear his name, and prove that being a Shield Hero is lot more fun than it seems.

Naofumi is the quintessential underdog in a world full of medieval jerks. Discrimination, betrayal, and unfairness abound, with our son coming out on the short end of the stick. Is he really a “chosen one”? But let me tell you, that pathetic shield of his is no laughing matter *wink wink*. Shield Hero isn’t the Isekai genre’s Evangelion, but it is a typical hero’s journey with a side of rage-fueled catharsis.

In most isekai series, the protagonist is summoned into a new world to help preserve it. Overlord, on the other hand, is not like that. A gamer transforms into his virtual avatar, the Elder Lich Momonga, after being unexpectedly taken to another realm. He then changes his name to Ainz Ooal Gown, king of the Tomb of Nazarick.

Ainz aims to conquer the world with his newfound strength and army of faithful followers. Although being significantly more powerful than any other character in the series, Overlord is far from dull. This series is a must-see for every isekai lover, with funny character interactions and regular displays of Ainz’s godlike strength.

On occasion, an isekai appears that shakes things up by including an anti-hero or outright villain as the protagonist. While Youjo Senki’s English title suggests a considerably more menacing main character than the anime actually provides, Tanya Degurechaff’s distant and frigid attitude makes for an intriguing watch, especially given the anime’s dismal environment.

When a dying man challenges Being X, a self-proclaimed god, the latter reincarnates the former as a girl in a war-torn globe. Tanya sets out to survive and show Being X wrong by using her knowledge of World Wars.

Kazuma Sato, a teen NEET, dies only to be resurrected in a fantasy realm with Aqua, an almost useless deity, as his companion. They meet Darkness, a masochistic knight, and Megumin, an explosion-obsessed mage, along the journey. They make a hilariously inept group that gets into trouble at every step.

Despite the fact that Kazuma’s supporters include a goddess, a knight, and a magician, things do not proceed as planned. Megumin, the magician, is obsessed with exploding magic. Darkness is a menacing masochist. Eventually, despite being a goddess, Aqua is basically useless. While not as serious as other isekai anime, KonoSuba is unquestionably the most amusing.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime tells the narrative of Satoru Mikami, who is reborn as a slime, as the title suggests. Mikami renames himself Rimuru Tempest after his reincarnation. He can absorb the skills and powers of everything he consumes thanks to the skill predator’s power.

The show has earned its place in anime history in just two seasons, and it is well deserved. One of the anime’s finest qualities is its characters and how they have matured throughout the course of the show. The Slime Diaries: That Time I Was Reincarnated as a Slime is another fantastic spin-off that is well worth seeing if you want to spend more time with the characters from this franchise.

For some reason, Shows that dive into the psyche of Hikikomori or shut-ins are always fascinating for some reason. In No Game No Life, the two main protagonists are both Hikikomoris who are also skilled gamers. They are plunged into the imaginary world of Disboard after being challenged to a game of chess by the deity Tet and winning.

No Game No Life, one of the top five anime of 2014, takes a fresh spin on typical isekai anime. Fans laud the anime for its innovative use of video games in battle, as well as its stunning animation and the character interaction between Sora and Shiro. No Game, No Life will appeal to both gamers and anime aficionados.

Mushoku Tensei is one of the few isekai series that can compete with it. Whilst the anime has certain flaws, the degree of writing that goes into creating the world and writing the characters is excellent. It’s a fantastic isekai series about Rudeus Greyrat, a man who really failed in his previous life and is reborn into a different planet where he has a second chance.

Rudeus is battling the inclinations that caused him to fail in his previous existence in Mushoku Tensei, but that isn’t the main emphasis. Mushoku Tensei conjures up a vivid, breathing world in which Rudeus is not the chosen one. Though it could have easily fallen into certain classic isekai cliches, the series instead consistently surprises viewers as they watch Rudeus grow from a newborn to a man. Its first season, beautifully animated by Studio Bind, has already established it as one of the best isekai.

1. Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World

 

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