5 Best Isekai Anime Except for 'That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime', Ranked by IMDb
Here are both comedic parodies and epic fantasy.
Isekai is a genre of anime, manga, and light novels in which characters escape their familiar reality and enter a completely different world that is often fictional, fantastical, or game-based.
The genre has its own set of rules and tropes. For instance, the protagonist often gets hit by a truck, retains their memories in their new life, possesses a unique weapon, and is tasked with saving the world.
Some projects embrace these tropes, while others mock them.
5. 'No Game, No Life', 2014
IMDb Score: 7.5/10
Sora and Shiro, stepbrother and sister, are complete hikikomori, or social shut-ins. They don't study or work – they stay home and play video games.
One day, they accidentally win a game of chess against a being who claims to be a game god from another reality. The god transports them to Disboard, a world where games decide everything.
This world is inhabited by 16 races, including elves, werewolves, and dragons. All of them wield magic except humans, which is why they are considered the weakest race on Disboard. Now, the brother and sister must save the local human race from certain defeat.
4. 'Drifters', 2016-2018
IMDb Score: 7.5/10
The Battle of Sekigahara took place in 1600 and the legendary samurai Toyohisa Shimazu fought on the losing side of the Western Army. Seriously wounded, he tries to flee the battlefield when something strange happens – he finds himself in a long corridor with many doors.
There, he meets a man named Murasaki who looks like a simple office clerk. Murasaki directs Toyohisa to one of the doors, which opens to reveal a completely different world.
Thus, Shimazu finds himself in a fantasy world. It quickly becomes clear that he is not the only one drawn to this world – he meets the legendary general Nobunaga Oda and Yoichi Suketake, an unrivaled archer from the ancient Heian period.
The warriors discover that the world is engulfed in war – a human empire led by the descendants of Adolf Hitler is pursuing a policy of genocide against non-human races.
3. 'The Eminence in Shadow', 2022-2023
IMDb Score: 7.7/10
Since childhood, Minoru had dreamed of gaining strength and power, of becoming a shadow kingpin and ruling people from the shadows. He trained diligently to achieve this goal, but his plans were thwarted when he was hit by a truck and reincarnated in another world.
Now, his name is Cid, and he is a member of a noble family in a classic fantasy world – it's here that he decides to make his dream come true.
The only problem is that there's no absolute evil in this world. To gain power, Cid must invent it, however, the sinister cult that frightened his minions turns out to be real.
2. 'Konosuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!', 2016-2025
IMDb Score: 7.8/10
16-year-old hikikomori gamer Kazuma Sato saves a girl from being hit by a truck. He rushes to her aid and finds himself in the afterlife, where he is greeted by the water goddess, Aqua.
She laughs at his absurd death and offers him a deal. He can be reborn in a fantasy world with RPG mechanics and defeat the Demon King. As a bonus, he can take one legendary weapon or ability with him.
Frustrated, Sato chooses Aqua herself as his assistant. Now, they must assemble a team of heroes and defeat the monsters.
1. 'The Twelve Kingdoms', 2002-2003
IMDb Score: 7.8/10
Youko Nakajima is a model high school student, but she is laughed at because she has red hair, which is considered unusual in Japan. She considers her appearance a curse and secretly dreams of becoming "normal" – one who goes unnoticed.
One ordinary school day, a boy bursts into class, kneels before Youko, and swears allegiance to her. He calls himself Keiki and claims that Youko is his mistress, destined to take the throne of his kingdom.
Immediately afterward, demons from another world attack the school. Keiki saves Youko, transports her to a parallel world, and then disappears. Thus, Youko finds herself alone in a strange land where she must not only survive, but also become ruler of one of the kingdoms.
