There are multiple genres of anime, from shounen and sports to fantasy and slice of life. But over the years, another genre has garnered the attention of anime fans – isekai. A common theme of isekai anime involves the main character being transported to another world, far different from what they are accustomed to.
With the growing number of isekai animes, a lot of them might be already piling up on your watch list. Worry not, as we've put together a top 10 list of the best isekai anime both newbies and longtime fans would enjoy. Still can't choose which one to watch? Read our viewer's guide so you can narrow down your options. There are also a few more anime suggestions if you're exploring other genres.
Quick List - Top Isekai Animes
Fuse
A Journey from Being the Weakest to Being the Strongest
Natsume Akatsuki
An Unexpected Hero Gets Transported Into a Fantasy World
Tappei Nagatsuki, Shin'ichirou Otsuka
The Struggle of a Hero Against Death, Time, and Despair
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
Table of Contents
Most isekai anime feature an avid gamer, hikikomori, or NEET, a person not engaged in education, employment, or training, who is transported to a fantasy world by being summoned or reincarnated, among other ways. Their knowledge from the previous world is intact, but they gain some sort of power in the new world.
In other series or movies, there are themes related to gaming, like leveling up or having quests to gain XP and weapons. There is also reverse isekai, where the protagonist comes from a fantasy world and ends up in a “normal” world. The world can be in a different time period but have mystical elements, like Inuyasha.
If you’re looking for an anime that allows for action, personal growth, and fantastic animation, then isekai anime is the one for you! We’ve provided some things you can consider when selecting the next anime you can watch.
When browsing online or on streaming sites, the best way to know if an isekai anime is right up your alley is by reading the plot and reviews. This way, you can get a gist of what the series or movie is all about. On the other hand, doing this might lead you to accidentally read spoilers.
If you want to avoid spoilers, watching trailers might be your best bet. They reveal some snippets of the important parts of the anime that you should watch out for. There are also trailers and short descriptions provided for each show on online streaming platforms.
Aside from the overarching theme, several sub-genres are present to add depth to the story. Some of these can be a mix of action, adventure, and fantasy, with comedy on the side. When choosing which genre to watch, you can refer to the previous shows you’ve seen or read our tips down below.
Isekai animes generally have a fantasy component because of the trope of being transported or reincarnated into another unfamiliar world that often contains magical elements. As for the characters, they are composed of demi-humans, fairies, mystical creatures, and more.
This genre is for people who want to get lost in a fantasy setting and fully immerse in it. You can watch a fantasy to forget about your own struggles and problems in life, even just for a little while. At the same time, the protagonist takes you on their personal quests and daily experiences living in a fantasy world as a newcomer.
If you want to take it easy, put on a slice of life or comedy isekai anime. Slice-of-life animes feature characters just going about their lives while encountering normal and mundane events. They offer perspectives on other people's lives in a different setting than yours. Who knows, you may even learn some life lessons from the characters' experiences!
On the other hand, comedy isekai provides comic relief. With these, you will have a few good laughs after a rough day in school or work. The plot is usually simple and easy to follow. Even action, adventure, fantasy, and other genres have a bit of comedy to balance out the more serious scenes.
Filipinos are known to love action and adventure shows because of the intense fight scenes. In isekai animes, there are usually sword fights and clashes between protagonists and antagonists. These will definitely bring you to the edge of your seat as the main character faces a powerful foe, not knowing who will come out on top.
To achieve a goal, the lead character must explore different settings and places. This is a typical feature of adventure anime. Some of those who got “isekai’d” generally want to return back home or uncover the truth about why they were transported into another world. As they traverse unfamiliar territory, there poses dangers and challenges to test their skills.
Isekai anime, in general, may be animated, but they are way different from cartoons. Some of them tackle mature themes that are inappropriate or disturbing for young children. It is crucial to check the age rating or restriction of the isekai anime if you often watch with kids and minors.
Research the age rating on websites or any film and series database like My Anime List or IMDb. You can also see it in the description indicated in online streaming services. The rating can be categorized as PG or parental guidance, or by age like 18+, meaning only those 18 years old and above can watch it.
You might be inclined to watch on sketchy and illegal sites because they are free of charge. Only subscribe to legal streaming platforms like Netflix, Crunchyroll, iQIYI, Prime Video, and others. Although the monthly subscriptions require a fee, you can support the creators legally.
Most streaming sites have a one-month free trial. So if you’re saving up, watch as much as you can in that time frame. A way to choose which subscription you would like to get is to browse their line-up of isekai anime if possible. Prepare a list of the series or movies you want to watch and avail of a streaming service that has all or most of them.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Fuse That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime|2018 | ![]() | A Journey from Being the Weakest to Being the Strongest | |
2 | Mamare Touno Log Horizon | ![]() | Stuck in a Game World Where Players Must Create a New Reality | |
3 | Natsume Akatsuki KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!|2016 | ![]() | An Unexpected Hero Gets Transported Into a Fantasy World | |
4 | Tappei Nagatsuki, Shin'ichirou Otsuka Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World|2016 | ![]() | The Struggle of a Hero Against Death, Time, and Despair | |
5 | Kugane Maruyama Overlord | ![]() | When a Virtual Game Becomes the Reality of a Guild Leader | |
6 | Reki Kawahara Sword Art Online|2012 | ![]() | Life-or-Death Quest in a Virtual Reality Game | |
7 | Kei Azumi Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy | ![]() | A Fantasy Series' Tale of Second Chances | |
8 | Rifujin na Magonote Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation|2021 | ![]() | The Redemption and Growth Journey of a Reborn NEET | |
9 | Aneko Yusagi The Rising of the Shield Hero|2019 | ![]() | Hero's Journey From Being an Outcast to Savior | |
10 | Yuki Tachibana The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent | ![]() | A Story of Self-Discovery and Acceptance of Fate |
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is not your ordinary isekai anime; it follows Satoru Mikami, a salaryman who is unexpectedly reborn as a slime in another world as a result of an unforeseen set of circumstances. That slime was given the moniker Rimuru Tempest, who had unusual skills such as imitating obtaining the capabilities of others after devouring them.
This anime is an excellent mix of fantasy, action, slice-of-life, and comedy, and it addresses numerous topics such as friendship and leadership. You will instantly be engrossed in its world-building and eccentric characters. The second season has already finished airing, so if you have not gone around to watch this anime, it is the best time to do so you won't miss out!
Comedy and isekai come together in KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! It recounts the story of Kazuma Satou, a reclusive gamer who dies in an accident trying to save another person. He awakens in the afterlife, where a goddess named Aqua gives him the chance to bring one powerful item or ability into a fantasy world.
In a fit of frustration, he chooses to bring Aqua herself, who turns out to be more trouble than she's worth. Together with other quirky characters, he goes into silly and heroic quests in a whole new world. KonoSuba is your best pick if you want an anime that will make you laugh nonstop with lots of adventures and parodic sequences. This anime proves that isekai can be funny too!
Subaru Natsuki was a normal person until he was transported to the world of Lugunica. He discovers that he possesses a rare power known as "Return by Death." This enormous power comes at the cost of reliving his past. Re:Zero incorporates topics like pain, development, and the consequences of one's choices – making it a very immersive and relevant experience.
If you like stories with the "butterfly effect," you'll be involved in this series since anything Subaru does impacts the entire plot – which complicates matters because he must make his decisions carefully every time. With just 25 episodes in its initial season, this emotional rollercoaster of a series will undoubtedly grab your heart.
If you could enter the world of any game that you like, would you consider it? Kirito finds himself trapped in the world of "Sword Art Online" with a thousand other players following the game's debut. This may seem like fun, but dying in-game also means dying in real life. The problem is that they can't log out of the game until they've completed all 100 levels.
What distinguishes this series is that it is one of the animes that established the isekai genre! It is considered one of the most recommended series because of its deep storylines, heart-thumping romance, and powerful fighting sequences, making it an easy suggestion for newcomers!
Have you ever wished you were living a different life? Well, that’s exactly what happens to the unnamed protagonist. With his parents’ death, this NEET (not in job, education, or training) concludes that life is useless. He gets hit by a truck and is reborn in a new universe as Rudeus Greyrat, a baby.
Determined to create a new life for himself, he decides to make his life more meaningful this time around. And just when things were looking well, disaster struck, causing turmoil in the land he now calls home. Rudeus wishes to restore things as they were and live his second life in the best way he can.
After reading a fantasy novel, Naofumi Iwatani was summoned to a parallel world. He finds himself bestowed with the title "Shield Hero" to avoid Melromarc's devastating end. Despite this, Naofumi is regarded as the weakest of the heroes. Following a sequence of tragic circumstances, he is accused and branded as a criminal, pledging revenge on those who harmed him.
He tries everything he can to improve himself, promising to become stronger. Along the way, he meets a demi-human named Raphtalia and a bird-like entity named Filo, who become his closest companions. Its most recent season aired in October 2023, so if you're searching for a reason to binge-watch the show, this may be it!
There is a lot of anime out there that it might seem impossible to get through with your watchlist. One way to move forward with the series or movies you got lined up is to start with the best of the best. Check out our top choices in several genres like shounen, comedy, sports, and romance. Happy watching!
Author: Patricia Catimpo
Re-editors: J. Cuizon, Cheimon Gweneth Cruz
Our viewer's guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors. We used the viewer's guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the movie recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different sites like Netflix, iQIYI, and more.
No. 1: Fuse|That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime|2018
No. 2: Mamare Touno|Log Horizon
No. 3: Natsume Akatsuki|KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!|2016
No. 4: Tappei Nagatsuki, Shin'ichirou Otsuka|Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World|2016
No. 5: Kugane Maruyama|Overlord
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