Isekai, a relatively popular fantasy subgenre, is a concept where a protagonist from the real world travels into a more fantastical world. Examples that come to mind when it comes to this type of genre include the likes of Digimon or Re:Zero. However, the genre has since evolved into something truly special and has since entertained fans all around the world. Originally coming out of light novels, there have been a dozen of manga adaptation variants. But some series are just better at adapting its source material than others.
As such, here are the 10 best Isekai manga adaptations ever, according to GoodReads.
10 So I'm A Spider, So What? (4.19)
After a fight against the Hero and the Demon King, its magic crosses over to another world and destroys a high school. All of the students that were caught in the crossfire reincarnated and were transported into the new world.
The main character turns into a spider, specifically one of the weakest variants in an RPG, and must use her wits to survive. Although following the web novel, for the most part, one of the distinct differences with the manga is that it skips through most of the side stories.
9 In Another World With My Smart Phone (4.22)
Originally a light novel created back in 2013, Touya Mochizuki is a teenager who gets accidentally killed by God. After apologizing, God sends him to a new world since he couldn't bring him back to his world. With one request, Mochizuki is able to bring his smartphone with him which allows him to access data from the old world, however, he isn't able to contact anyone. Combined with his physical and magical abilities getting amplified, the manga essentially tells the tale of Touya Mochizuki as he makes new friends and travels from country to country.
8 No Game No Life (4.24)
Sora and Shiro are step-siblings who venture into the world of the Disboard after winning a chess game against the God of Games. Disboard is a world where every dispute must be determined by playing games where rewards get enforced after the fact. Drawn by Mashiro Hiiragi, the wife by the writer of No Game No Life Yuu Kamiya, the art in the novel is incredibly faithful to the work done by her husband. Full of color and full of expression.
7 Death March To The Parallel World Rhapsody (4.27)
After taking a nap, 29-year-old Ichiro Suzuki wakes up in a parallel world that looks similar to the RPG games he has worked on. Reincarnated as a 15-year-old named Satou Pendragon, Ichiro Suzuki accidentally kills a god of that world when he was attacked by an army of lizardmen. This results in all of his stats increasing dramatically. Now a level 310, Ichiro Suzuki travels all over the new world as he discovers its secrets as well as being allies with the denizens of the new world.
6 Re:Zero - Starting Life In Another World - Chapter 2: One Week At The Mansion (4.27)
A continuation of the first chapter, Re:Zero - Starting Life In Another World - Chapter 2 details Subaru's time at the mansion. Having the ability to repeat the same day over and over again through numerous gruesome deaths, Subaru meets the two maids Rem and Ram. Although his time in the mansion seems peaceful, a mystery begins to unravel after dying again. Wishing to learn more about the circumstances, this manga is filled with mystery and intrigue.
5 Ascendance Of A Book Worm (4.32)
Following a young woman named Motosu Urano, she dies after being buried by a bunch of books following an earthquake. Her last wish before she passes away is to be reincarnated in a world where she gets to read books forever. Becoming a young 5-year-old girl named Myne, she decides to create her own books to read all over again when she reincarnates in a world where books are rare to find and are only available to the elite class.
4 Reincarnated As A Sword (4.32)
Following a devastating car crash, the main character gets transported into another world. Remembering everything except for his name, he becomes a legendary sword that seeks a user to wield him. After seeing a caravan of slaves getting attacked by a bear, he gets wielded by the catgirl Fran to kill the fearsome beast. Now called "Teacher," the two travel around the world as they seek adventures together as the bond they share grows stronger.
3 That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime (4.32)
Another reincarnation tale, however instead of a sword, the protagonist reincarnates into a slime. 37-year-old Satoru Mikami gets stabbed by a random assailant after meeting with his colleague. After regaining his consciousness, he learns that he has reincarnated into a Slime akin to the famous monster from Dragon Quest. However, he also has a dangerous ability which allows him to absorb monsters and mimics their abilities. Now within his new circumstances, he travels this new world as his reputation begins to rise.
2 Arifureta: From Commonplace To World's Strongest (4.38)
A unique Isekai, Hajime Nagumo gets transported to a parallel world along with the rest of his class. After being betrayed by one of his classmates at a dungeon, he is eventually stuck at the very bottom.
Cold and alone, he eventually climbs his way back up getting stronger and getting used to his new abilities to create weapons. The manga details his journey after leaving the dungeon where he eventually becomes friends with all sorts of characters from a vampire to a dragon.
1 My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom! (4.46)
My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom!, is a story about Catarina Claes, the daughter of a noble house who remembers her past life as an otaku after bumping her head. Realizing that she is reborn in an otome game called "Fortune Lover," she learns that she is destined to be a villain whose routes always lead to bad outcomes for her.
As a way to avoid this, she tries to commit to different countermeasures in order to avoid this inevitability. However, over the course of the series, she quickly learns that there are some dire consequences that happen with the relations within the world.