Isekai is one of the most popular subgenres in anime, with seemingly countless entries existing for viewers to sort through and explore. Isekai anime typically involves one or multiple characters being transported to a different world. These characters must learn to survive in the unfamiliar and sometimes hostile world they’re thrown into.
As with any anime genre, some isekai series are simply better than others. Since there are so many isekai anime out there, many have grown wary of, and have low expectations for new releases. As a result, some series end up defying expectations, surprising viewers with how good they are.
10 Restaurant To Another World Is A Delicious Slice-Of-Life
Restaurant to Another World centers around a restaurant that, once a week, opens its doors to inhabitants from a different world. Elves, dragons, and other fantastical beings come to dine on all sorts of delectable food.
An isekai series about cooking may not sound that interesting at first. However, Restaurant to Another World manages to expertly blend together its various genres, including slice-of-life and fantasy, along with isekai. The result is a series that focuses on the everyday lives of its interesting cast and the delicious-looking meals they cook up.
9 My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom! Is Surprisingly Well-Written
In My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom!, the main protagonist, Catarina Claes, remembers her past life and realizes she’s been reborn in an otome game as the main villainess. No matter what route the player takes, she’s doomed to end up dead or exiled.
The series, which follows Catarina’s attempts to change her fate, seems like just another romance anime with a reverse harem. While it does have these elements, it’s surprisingly well written and has a winning cast.
8 Now And Then, Here And There Is Shockingly Dark
Now and Then, Here and There may not have the most modern or high-quality animation, but where it shines is in its story and themes. Like many isekai anime, the series begins with its main protagonist, a young boy named Shu, being ferried off to a fantasy world.
Shu is thrown into a post-apocalyptic desert wasteland and finds himself in the middle of a brutal war. The series shows the horrors of war and the darker sides of human nature, making it one of the heaviest yet deepest isekai series.
7 The Vision Of Escaflowne Blends Multiple Genres
The Vision of Escaflowne follows the story of Hitomi, a high school student who is transported off to Gaea, a war-torn fantasy world. She joins the prince Van, who pilots a giant mecha, to fight against evil forces.
The 1996 series might seem outdated, and its premise doesn’t make it stand out particularly from other mecha or isekai anime. However, with its blend of genres, shoujo feel, incredible soundtrack, and fortune-telling main protagonist, Escaflowne is unlike any other series and, while not perfect, is well worth watching.
6 KonoSuba Hilariously Parodies MMORPGs
KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! follows the story of Kazuma Satou, a high school student shut-in. After dying an embarrassing death, he’s reborn into a game-like fantasy world and forms an adventuring party to get by.
KonoSuba doesn’t seem very different from the hundreds of other isekai anime out there. While it has its flaws, it’s easy to watch, has a great cast of characters and gorgeous animation, and it’s filled to the brim with parodying of MMORPGs. Viewers with any interest in video games will likely find this series hilarious.
5 Log Horizon Has Well-Written Characters & Storylines
In Log Horizon, thousands become trapped within the MMORPG Elder Tale. The main protagonist, Shiroe, is one such player. However, as a veteran of the game, he fits right in and sets out to explore his new reality.
Given its similarity to Sword Art Online, many didn’t give Log Horizon a fair chance and considered it a blander version of the more popular isekai series. However, Log Horizon is stronger in many ways than SAO, with better-written characters and storylines. Shiroe isn’t overpowered like SAO‘s Kirito and instead focuses on strategy.
4 The Twelve Kingdoms Is A Story Of Empowerment
At first glance, The Twelve Kingdoms looks like a generic high fantasy isekai, in which the high school-aged main protagonist is whisked off to become another world’s “chosen one.” While this is the basic premise, the series is also so much more.
After being transported to a fantasy world, Yoko Nakajima is immersed in a mess of civil upheaval and court politics. Yoko’s story is empowering, as she transforms from an insecure high schooler into a confident leader. The Twelve Kingdoms is a master class in storytelling and character development.
3 That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime Is An Enjoyable Fantasy Adventure
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime’s main protagonist Satoru Mikami, is a normal office worker in Japan who’s murdered in a random attack. He finds himself reincarnated as a slime in a different world, gifted with the ability to acquire the traits or abilities of anything he consumes.
Though the premise might seem weird, the series is a hilarious, highly enjoyable fantasy adventure. Rimuru, as Satoru, is the star of the show and is one of the most lovable isekai protagonists of all time.
2 Inuyasha Is A Classic In The Isekai Genre
Inuyasha follows Kagome, a high school girl who is transported back in time to Japan’s Sengoku period. After freeing the hot-headed half-demon, Inuyasha, from his imprisonment, the two set off on a journey to collect the shards of a sacred jewel.
Inuyasha is an isekai series that’s loved for how it blends a historical setting with fantasy, romance, and comedy. While some may be deterred by its age, as it aired in the early 2000s, it deserves all the love it gets and more.
1 Re:Zero Is Deeper & Darker Than It Might Look
At first glance, Re:Zero looks similar to any number of generic, harem-filled fantasy isekai. However, Re:Zero quickly proves itself as something in a league of its own. Like many isekai, the series begins with its protagonist, Subaru Natsuki, getting dropped into a fantasy world. However, Subaru isn’t granted any powers, and the world he’s in is deceptively dangerous.
Subaru quickly comes face-to-face with death, only to wake up right back where he started. Stuck in a nightmarish time loop, Subaru strives to survive and save the lives of his newfound friends.