20 Best Isekai Anime Series That You Should Watching Update 04/2024

Best Isekai Anime Series

Fans of Isekai should make a point of watching each of these classic series from beginning to end.

They are both inventive and enjoyable with a great deal of heart in Isekai animes. To survive in the Isekai genre, characters must discover a means to get back to their own worlds and accomplish some sort of objective or quest. Allows action, contemplation and personal growth as well as stunning animation.

Every year, a slew of Isekai-style anime are released, some of which go on to become cult favorites. The amount of anime classics in this genre is incomprehensible. The Isekai genre has produced some of anime’s best stories because it allows writers to let their imaginations run wild.

Mark Sammut made the following update on December 26th, 2021: It used to be considered a craze, but after around a decade of fame, it appears that isekai anime will be around for a while. It’s unlikely that the upcoming Arifureta, How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom, She Professed Herself Pupil of the Wise Man, and World of Leadale seasons will alter that trend in the coming winter of 2022. Now, the question that must be posed is whether these shows will be considered among the greatest isekai anime of all time. They’re up against a lot of tough competition.

1. Grimgar: Ashes And Illusions

Grimgar Ashes and Illusions (2016)

Initially, Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions seems like any other isekai anime about video games: a group of teens wake up in an unfamiliar world based on MMO cliches and must figure out how to make their way through it all. Unlike most other shows, Grimgar is not governed by the regulations of massively multiplayer online games. Death is not something that can simply be brushed off in Grimgar, where even the most inconsequential of dangers might prove fatal.

With its large array of characters, Grimgar takes its time to introduce them to the world it has created.

2. Now And Then, Here And There

Anyone looking for a respite from isekai power fantasies can check out Now and Then, Here and There, which came out just around the turn of the century and has since become a classic. It’s about a normal lad named Shuu who meets an intriguing female, is kidnapped by horrifying demons, and then spends the next 13 episodes in hell.

A character-driven animation, Now and Then, Here and There’s focus extends beyond the protagonists. In spite of being a single-episode series, the 1999 isekai series does an excellent job of exploring its memorable cast of characters.

3. The Rising Of The Shield Hero

The Rising Of The Shield Hero

The Shield’s Rise As the first season went, Hero’s reputation deteriorated. Naofumi Iwatani is sent to a fantasy world to serve as its shield hero, only to be wrongly accused of a crime and thereafter rejected by the inhabitants of the planet.

When The Rising of the Shield Hero began, its first few episodes were purposely frustrating and engrossing; they also indicated that this was going to be a more adult and gloomy isekai anime, something the series didn’t entirely live up to later on. Despite its controversial nature, The Rising of the Shield Hero is an excellent choice for fans of the power fantasy genre.

Spring 2022 will see the return of The Rising of the Shield Hero for a second season.

4. Digimon Adventure

As a renowned anime classic, Digimon Adventure is often overlooked when discussing isekai shows. This may be due to the fact that many people saw it before they were familiar with the term. Digimon Adventure is mostly focused on the DigiDestined’s time in the Digital World, despite the fact that the anime does spend some time in the human world.

The original series of Digimon Adventure has held up quite well throughout the years. Action, drama, comedy, and character development are all skillfully woven together in this timeless work of art. Digital World time spent by the main protagonists in Digimon Tamers is significantly less than that of Tai and company.

 5. Ascendance Of A Bookworm

Nothing wrong with escapist fantasy shows; anime is a wonderful way to quickly leave behind the realities of the real world and enjoy a wild adventure without much in the way of tension While Isekai has proven to be a good fit for this format, a few presentations deviate from it.

Urano Motosu, the protagonist of Ascendance of a Bookworm, is a bookworm who is reborn as Myne, a poor and vulnerable young girl in a fantasy world divided along social class lines. Myne resolves to write her own novels because she doesn’t have access to any. While tackling complex subjects in a refreshingly mature manner, Ascendance of a Bookworm features an endearing protagonist motivated by a singular goal rarely explored within the context of an anime narrative.

6. Drifters

DRIFTERS (2016)

If you’ve ever wondered what a “who’s who” of historical characters would look like in an isekai series, Drifters is the answer. Drifters and Ends are essentially historical individuals that find themselves in a fantastical world where they must fight to the death.

The Drifters operate as a counterweight to the harsh dictatorship of the Ends, resulting in many memorable encounters, such as Toyohisa Shimazu’s battle with a psychotic Jeanne d’Arc. Drifters’ brief run hurts its appeal because the tale isn’t finished, but the quality of the content is excellent.

7. The Twelve Kingdoms

The Twelve Kingdoms, adapted from Fuyumi Ono’s best-selling novel series, is a stunning work of fiction. When it comes to Chinese Mythology kingdoms, the anime focuses solely on the kingdom of Kei, while the novels cover a wide range of them.

In this way, the kingdom and its protagonist, Yoko Nakajima, may be examined in greater detail. In Yoko’s case, the obstacles she faces are relatable to people from a wide range of backgrounds.

8. The Boy And The Beast

The Boy and the Beast, a film by Mamoru Hosoda, depicts the heartwarming story of two outcasts who find each other and spend the better part of an hour arguing. Ren, a young orphan who has been abandoned by his family, travels with Kumatetsu, a young beast, to Shibuten, a hidden city hidden from human view. Ren and Kumatetsu take a long time to warm up to one another since they are both so stubborn, but once they do, they form an unbreakable friendship.

Ren is a fantastic lead in The Boy and the Beast, a visually stunning picture that explores a variety of intriguing subjects. Despite a rushed second half and a disappointing ending, the rest of the film is rather good.

9. The Vision Of Escaflowne

The Vision of Escaflowne

In 1996, Sunrise’s The Vision of Escaflowne debuted and it hasn’t lost any of its luster since. With mecha, flawless architecture that feels at once once familiar and exotic and political intrigue, Hitomi Kanzaki finds herself in a bizarre realm named Gaea. She also meets Van Fanel, a prince who at first appears to be brash but ultimately turns out to be much more complex. Almost all of the key characters have some sort of secret dimension to their personalities that they keep hidden from view.

The Vision of Escaflowne seeks to appeal to both sexes with a mix of genres. In addition to action and adventure, the isekai anime manages to juggle romance as well. Despite its age, the animation is consistently excellent.

10. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

Mushoku Tensei aka Jobless Reincarnation is the narrative of one anonymous 34-year-old homeless guy and how he reincarnates in a fantasy world. Beginning with a character who appears to be at the end of his rope and is hoping to accomplish one last nice deed before passing away, the show immediately stands out.

This sombre tone sets the stage for a surprisingly contemplative evening, which is a pleasant surprise. What the protagonist does with his second chance at life is quite inspirational. This show, like a few other Isekai anime, will leave viewers pondering for a while.

11. The Saga Of Tanya The Evil

It’s not uncommon for an isekai to introduce a villain or anti-hero as the main character. While Youjo Senki’s English title portrays a picture of a considerably more menacing main character than the anime actually delivers, Tanya Degurechaff’s distant and chilly personality makes for an intriguing watch, especially due to the anime’s dismal environment.

The self-proclaimed god Being X takes a man on the approach of death and resurrects him as a girl in an alternate universe ripped apart by conflict. Tanya sets out to prove Being X wrong by surviving and drawing on her knowledge of World War II.

12. Overlord

Overlord 1 & 2 (The Video Game Series)

Isekai series Overlord is one of the most popular and imaginative in recent years. This sweeping, hilarious, touching, and expertly animated series examines a number of problems that most anime tends to gloss over. It’s intriguing to see how an entity with nearly infinite power thinks and feels.

It’s also an interesting twist on the “stranger in a strange place” cliche that many Isekai employ: being stranded in a game that has been shut down. It’s only a matter of time before this show goes down in Isekai anime history as a classic.

13. KonoSuba

As a concept, Isekai encompasses a wide range of storytelling forms, including thrillers, character studies, historical dramas, and even horror. There are many isekai comedies, but KonoSuba stands head and shoulders above the rest. When Kazuma dies in an amusing manner, Aqua gives him another shot at life, but she’s far from graceful. Aqua is the only thing Kazuma decides to bring with him when he is asked to choose one thing to take with him into the new world.

KonoSuba has a series of hilarious incidents as Kazuma assembles a team of outcasts, which often result in great laughter.

14. That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime

This show somehow manages to follow several Isekai cliches while breaking or improving on them at the same time. Despite its simple concept, That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime features some of the most likable characters in not only Isekai but all of anime.

The show has already cemented its place in anime history in just two seasons, and it is well deserving of that honor. The show’s characters have grown and changed over the course of its run, which is one of its finest qualities.

15. Inuyasha

Inuyasha

Millions of Rumiko Takahashi admirers are sucked in by her blend of action, romance, horror, suspense, and fantasy. Ranma 12 and Maison Ikkoku, two of the greatest manga of all time, are the work of her genius.

An additional one of her works is the epic tale of love and adventure, Inuyasha, which has managed to retain a high level of storytelling quality for more than a decade now. Isekai shows are defined by this series, which sets the bar high for the rest of the genre. Inuyasha is a good spot to begin a journey into the world of Isekai.

16. Sword Art Online

Sword Art Online, arguably the most popular Isekai series at the moment, is revered by many anime enthusiasts. With each passing year, the universe of this series grows more and more fascinating.

The first season, which premiered in 2012, is great and enjoyable no matter how many times it is re-watched. A person might quickly be drawn into the world of Sword Art Online by its great allure. This universe can be explored through a variety of mediums, including video games, books, and light novels.

17. No Game No Life

Shows that explore the psychology of Hikikomori or shut-ins are always intriguing. In No Game No Life, the two major characters are both Hikikomoris who are also master gamers. They are the story’s protagonists. In the Disboard fantasy world, after winning a chess match against the deity Tet, they are ushered into an other reality.

Only games are allowed to resolve disagreements on Disboard. This not only paints an intriguing image of conflict, but it also shows how the major characters interact with the world around them. The show’s intellectual writing sets it apart from other Isekai anime since it focuses on the characters.

18. The Devil Is A Part-Timer!

The Devil Is A Part-Timer

That a show about the Devil working at a McDonald’s imitation would be so entertaining was a surprise to me. The Devil Is a Part-Timer! has become a favorite among many Isekai anime viewers thanks to its unique cast of characters.

The show’s humor is top-notch, and there are numerous instances that will have viewers chuckling their heads off. There is only one season, but if the second one is even half as amazing, it will be a lot of fun to watch.

19. Re: Zero – Starting Life In Another World

Re: Zero- Starting Life in Another World is a famous Isekai anime since it focuses on a down-and-out regular guy. The overall quality of the anime outweighs many of the classic Isekai cliches that are on exhibit in this series.

Subaru is a likeable and amusing guy, and the rest of the ensemble is no less so. In just a few episodes, the first season of Isekai managed to distinguish itself from the rest of the Isekai anime available at the time.

20. Log Horizon

Log Horizon

Log Horizon’s brilliant narrative soon set it apart from other MMORPG-based Isekai games. Unlike in some other episodes, the main characters in Elder Tale immediately get to work creating the world they’ve always imagined for themselves.

This program uses action to its fullest extent without relying on it as a crutch during slower parts, which makes it clever and well-paced. It’s not brushed over how difficult it is to build a new community and maintain peace. It is one of the most clever and interesting Isekai has made, albeit at a slower pace. A third season is expected to be released in the near future.