A popular subgenre of isekai is when the main character gets reincarnated as the villain of a novel or story they had encountered during their past life. What makes this genre so enjoyable is how the newly reincarnated villainess tries to change their story. Often faced with a bad ending, it is up to them to figure out how to ensure their safety.
From comedic attempts to avoid lovers, who will inevitably kill them, to utilizing the role of villainess for their benefit, the "bad girls" of the story often become the fan-favorite characters.
9 The Villainess Versus 'Hard Mode' (Villains Are Destined To Die)
After suddenly waking up as Duke Eckart's fake daughter, the villainess of a popular romance simulation game, Penelope is faced with multiple challenges. Faced with a father and two older brothers who have no affection for her, crazy love interests, and a game system built to make her life difficult, Penelope must use all the tools at her disposal to clear the game.
With the goal being survival, Penelope will utilize the mantle of villainess in order to clear the game's 'Hard Mode' and avoid her death.
8 The Villainess Will Save The Heroine! (Beware The Villainess)
Stuck in a typical romance novel, inhabiting the villainess' body, Melissa will do anything she can to live life her way. In order to avoid tormenting the heroine and survive the plot.
However, once she learns that the heroine is stuck with crummy love interests, Melissa will do everything in her power to save her. Despite inhabiting the villainess' body, Melissa is going to change the story her way to ensure the happiness of her friends and punish the fools of the original novel.
7 The Evil Stepmom Will Protect Her Daughters (Wicked Tale Of Cinderella's Stepmom)
Not the typical Cinderella fairy tale, in Wicked Tale Of Cinderella's Stepmom, the main character is reincarnated as Cinderella's stepmother, Mildred. Twice widowed, financially struggling, and caring for three daughters, Mildred will do her best to raise her girls and prepare for the royal ball.
Confronted with a society where not every girl has a fairy godmother, Mildred is determined to ensure the future of all three of her daughters. She and her daughters encounter their fairy tale endings in ways they didn't expect.
6 The Male Lead Is In Love With The Villainess (Villainess In Love)
Reincarnated as Yunifer Magnolia, the villainess from a novel, Yunifer has done everything in her power since she landed in this world to avoid the male lead. However, after a drunken one-night stand, she finds herself dating Duke Ishid Lucrenze, the one man she tried so hard to avoid.
Unable to break his heart, Yunifer agrees to date him in hopes of amicably breaking up when he meets the heroine. Will things go according to the original plot when Ishid has no intention of breaking up with Yunifer?
5 The Villainess Will Survive In The Palace (The Villainess Wants A Divorce)
Carnelia Easter, the puppet of the villainess Empress and wife of the First Prince, Caesar, is doing everything she can to survive the palace. Thankfully, she has been reincarnated and has knowledge of the original plot.
By using this knowledge, Carnelia aims to befriend and earn Caesar's trust. Ensuring his survival at the hands of the Empress as well as her own, at least until he meets the heroine. Then, instead of severing their relationship with her execution, it'll be with divorce papers, or will it?
4 The Villainess Will Save The Male Leads (When The Villainess Is In Love)
Waking up in the body of her favorite character, the misunderstood villainess, is a complete dream for Libertia. Even when her brother, the Prince, wants to kill her and she is already suffering from a terminal illness. Instead of worrying about every little detail, Libertia plans to enjoy her time fangirling over the male leads.
In hopes of ensuring that her favorite characters get happy endings, Libertia will change the novel's plot. Will the kingdom still see Libertia as a villainess once she's done meddling?
3 The Villainess Will Be Empress (What It Takes To Be A Villainess)
After falling into a river, Hwayoung finds herself in the body of the villainess Satiana. Despite coming to grips with being House Kaylon's daughter, she finds herself thrown into battle over the empress seat. When she finds out that the First Prince's beloved Irene isn't as saintly as she appears, Satiana will take up the mantle of villainess.
No longer caring about receiving the First Prince's love, she will do everything in her power to earn the empress' seat in order to protect her new family. Satiana might even find out that she has more in common with the First Prince than she thought.
2 The Villainess Will Protect Her Favorite Character (The Lady Tames the Swordmaster)
Reincarnated into her favorite novel, The Goddess Of The Empire, after being struck by lightning has Istina ecstatic. Her dream of meeting her favorite character, the swordmaster Laon, is now a possibility. However, she's now stuck in the body of the one character that terrorized Laon relentlessly.
How will she befriend Leon now? Her new goal now is to change her reputation in order to become closer to her love, Laon. Istina will use even the most harebrained schemes at her disposal if it means saving Laon from his inevitable unfortunate fate.
1 The Villainess Will Not Lose (Master Villainess The Invincible)
Originally a second-rate novelist, Yeoju wakes up in the body of Haewon Tang, Namgung Clan's villainess. Haewon is a victim of her stepmother's machinations and the villainess to the male lead. In order to clean up the original Haewon's mess and avoid her brutal murder, Haewon annuls her engagement and sets off to her grandfather's residence.
She begins training her body and improving her martial art skills, becoming a force to be reckoned with. How will the plot of the original story alter with a powerful villainess in the mix?