We all desire to live in fantasy worlds, alternate universes, and virtual dimensions. Well, these Top Isekai Anime give us exactly what we want. They introduce us to one of the best fictional worlds that we could ever imagine. Besides the new world, these anime series also have some of the most compelling characters of all.
The Isekai genre is extremely popular all around the globe. The anime series in this genre features a character that travels from the world they know to an unfamiliar one. Most of the time, this fantasy world is full of magic, where the leading character either suffers or enjoys existing. Hence, here’s a short list of top Isekai anime that everyone must watch at least once in their lives. Moreover, one of the best fictional worlds that we could ever imagine can be found here.
1. Re:Zero
Re:Zero – Starting Life In Another World is one of the best Isekai animes of all time. The critically-acclaimed series by White Fox studio is directed by Masaharu Watanabe and written by Masahiro Yokotani. The story of the show revolves around a young hikikomori Subaru Natsuki who gets summoned into an unknown world. Upon being killed by an assassin, it is revealed that he now has the ability to “return by death.” Hence, this ability enables him to reverse time by dying. The character then goes on a thrilling adventure in the alternate world.
The debut season of the anime came out in April 2016. Re:Zero Season 2 is set to premiere in April 2020.
2. Sword Art Online: SAO
A-1 Picture’s popular anime introduces us to the virtual reality massively multiplayer online role-playing game (VRMMORPG) called Sword Art Online (SAO). This game traps 10,000 players that log in to play. The players must beat all 100 floors of a steel castle in the virtual world in order to be free. However, whoever suffers in-game death will suffer real-life deaths.
The plot mainly revolves around one of the testers, Kazuto “Kirito” Kirigaya, one his mission to set himself free from the game. SAO debuted back in 2012 and has a total of three seasons. Moreover, the remaining 11 episodes of Sword Art Online Season 3 are set to premiere in April 2020.
3. KonoSuba: God’s Blessing On This Wonderful World!
Studio Deen’s KonoSuba: God’s Blessing On This Wonderful World! is yet another popular Isekai anime on the list. The story of the series follows a shut-in NEET, Kazuma Satō. Upon an untimely and embarrassing death, he is given two offers: to go to heaven or be reincarnated in a fantasy world with MMORPG elements. Well, Kazuma chooses the latter and begins his journey of surviving in the strange world.
Why Russia has banned Isekai Anime? Find out here.
4. Death March To The Parallel World Rhapsody
Death March To The Parallel World Rhapsody is a 2018 anime by Silver Link and Connect. It is another Isekai anime based in an MMORPG setting. Besides, the story revolves around a gaming programmer Ichiro Suzuki who gets trapped in a parallel world. Unable to get out of the game, Ichiro sets out to uncover the secrets of this strange fantasy world.
5. That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime
Eight Bit’s critically-acclaimed anime has one of the most unique storylines from the list of top Isekai animes. A 37-year-old man Satoru Mikami who meets an untimely death and is reincarnated an alternate world. He is born in a young girl’s body who is a Slime and acquires the ability to devour anything and mimic its appearance and skills. Moreover, the character soon embarks on different adventures in the new fantasy world.
That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime debuted back in October 2018. A second season of the anime is set to premiere around the fall of 2020.
6. Overlord
Madhouse is one of the most successful animation studios of all, with a history of producing several TV shows and films since the 1970s. The ‘One-Punch Man’ studio has also animated another thrilling anime series, Overlord. A young man, Momonga, is trapped within an MMORPG called Yggdrasil. Being unable to get out of the game, Momonga sets out to make this new world his own empire. Then follows a series of exciting adventures.
Madhouse debuted in 2015 and has a total of three seasons, as of now. Besides, a fourth installment of the Top Isekai Anime is extremely likely.
7. No Game No Life
Well, since we were talking about Madhouse, here’s another Isekai anime created by the studio. No Game No Life is a critically acclaimed sci-fi anime with one of the strangest storylines on the list. The series talks about two hikikomori siblings who are incredible gamers. One day, the two of them are offered to live in Disboard, a world that centers around games.
They’re introduced to this unique world where gaming determines every decision. Well, both of them take no time to embark on this new adventure. No Game No Life debuted in 2014 and may get another season soon.
8. Log Horizon
The famous fantasy anime series by Satelight, Log Horizon, debuted back in 2014. Studio Deen picked up the show from the second installment. Log Horizon Season 3 is set to premiere sometime in October 2020. The story of anime revolves around a socially awkward gamer named Shiroe, his two friends Naotsugu and Akatsuki, and around 30 thousand Japanese gamers are stuck in an MMORPG called Elder Tale. Well, unlike most of RPG games on the list, Elder Tale is full of challenges and obstacles.
9. Saga Of Tanya The Evil (Youjo Senki)
This one is surely one of the darkest top Isekai animes on the list. Saga Of Tanya The Evil or Youjo Senki talks about an arrogant atheist Japanese salaryman. Upon a sudden death, he is sentenced to be reborn in an alternate universe for having insulted God. The salaryman is reborn as a 9-year-old soldier girl, Tanya. Well, it isn’t easy to survive in this new world.
The debut season of the dark anime came out in 2017. In 2019, a Saga Of Tanya The Evil film released in theatres.
10. How Not To Summon A Demon Lord
How Not To Summon A Demon Lord has one of the most interesting storylines on the list. The 2018 harem anime features the story of a hikikomori gamer, Takuma, who is sucked into his favorite MMORPG, Cross Reverie, by two young girls. The girls, Rem and Shera, were intending to use a spell in order to make Takuma their servant. However, the spell rebounds, and both of them end up becoming his slaves. Our leading hero then travels across the virtual world in order to set the girl free from the slave collars from the spell.
11. Devil Is A Part-Timer
Well, after all the serious shows, here’s an entertaining comedy Isekai anime that you need to watch at least once in your life. The seven-year-old series is still pretty funny to watch. It revolves around the Demon Lord Satan, who gets stuck into the modern world. In his quest to survive without his magic, Satan picks up a part-time job at a fast-food restaurant. The plot of the series is hilarious and brilliantly features Satan’s struggles without his powers, while more characters keep showing up in the real world.
12. The Rising Of The Sheild Hero
Kinema Citrus’ popular anime features the story of an otaku, Naofumi Iwatani, who gets summoned into a parallel world to fulfill a mission. He and three other young men from different parallel universes are collected to become the world’s Cardinal Heroes. Unfortunately, Naofumi becomes the Sheild Hero, who doesn’t have much to offer in the mission. Upon being neglected and betrayed by everyone, he begins to train as a hero to prove himself eventually.
The debut season of the Top Isekai anime became an instant hit back in early January. Besides, the sequel of the series is currently in production. Whereas the studio has already renewed the third installment.
13. In Another World With My Smartphone (Isekai wa Smartphone)
Here’s another hilarious Isekai anime for you. In Another World With My Smartphone or Isekai wa Smartphone debuted on television back in 2017. As the name suggests, the series follows a teenage boy, Touya, who is reincarnated into a fantasy world with his smartphone. Well, he surely becomes a celebrity in the new world due to his phone. This amazing anime series adds some fascinating magical features to Touya’s smartphone.
14. Drifters
For the last entry on the list, here’s another intense Top Isekai anime. 2016’s dark fantasy anime, Drifters, follows the lead character, Shimazu Toyohisa, a samurai from the sixteenth century. He is transported to an alternate world where various races exist, including elves, humans, and dwarves. Moreover, this new world also consists of several warriors from different periods in time. All these warriors, including Shimazu, are called “Drifters” in this world. The anime is officially renewed for a second season.
Hence, here was the final list of Top Isekai Animes that you need to watch at least once in your life. We’ve tried to include almost all worth-watching Isekai animes. In case we have missed any of your favorite animes in the genre, please tell us in the comments below. Do you agree with our list? How many Isekai animes have you watched yet?