Isekai is an anime subgenre where the main character suddenly finds themselves transported to another world. Through magic, summoning, or their own death (cue Truck-kun), the protagonist reincarnates into another world often filled with fun, fantasy elements; they could become apprentices to a magician, embody an avatar within a video game, or assume the identity of a regular person just trying to survive.
Within the isekai genre, these are just some of the many tropes continually being recycled with each show. Although a story's premise might be reborn multiple times from the same generic outline, some isekai series manage to break the mold by giving a fresh perspective on the genre's worn-out clichés.
10 Reclusive Rudeus Gets Truck-Kuned To Become A Hero (Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation)
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation starts with an unnamed Japanese man saving someone from a runaway truck. After his subsequent reincarnation as Rudeus Greyrat, he uses his new magical skills to escort Eris, a noble, home following the Teleport Incident.
Rudeus' journey veers off from traditional Isekai following the Teleport Incident; mainly, he finds himself thrown into the path of the Human-God, a mysterious being with questionable intentions. After envisioning the Human-God destroying everything he cared for, Mushoku Tensei focuses on Rudeus' efforts to ensure the deity's demise.
9 Haruto's Journey Merges The Stories Of His Previous & Current Lives (Serei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles)
Haruto, a Japanese man, found himself reincarnated as Rio, a child living in the slums of Bertram Kingdom, following a bus accident in Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles. After witnessing his mother's murder, Rio swears revenge and awakens Spirit Art, a magical ability that sets him apart from the noble students of Bertram's Royal Academy.
Part of Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles's unique allure is its realistic representation of Bertram's class system; Rio faces abuse and ill-treatment due to his socio-economic status and jealousy from his peers due to his power. He forms satisfying friendships to overcome these hurdles and discovers several important secrets about his heritage while he continues his quest to avenge his parent's deaths.
8 Momonga Becomes Ruler Of Yggdrasil After Being Trapped In A Video Game (Overlord)
In the year 2138, virtual reality worlds like Yggdrasil are the next step for gaming in Overlord. When the popular MMORPG announces the close of its servers, Momonga decides to play until the game shuts down; however, he gets sucked into the game to become Yggdrasil's most powerful skeletal wizard, an avatar called Ainz Ool Gown.
Despite adopting the generic isekai video game concept, Overlord explores Momonga's disassociation from reality after his acceptance of his role: an evil, unstoppable force that leaves havoc in his wake. In his quest to take over the entire world, the lives of its non-playable characters (NPCs) are explored as the NCPs gain sentience to become human.
7 Shin Creates The Ultimate Magic Research Society & Achieves S-Rank Magic (Wise Man's Grandchild)
Shin is a typical isekai protagonist in Wise Man's Grandchild; after his death, he reincarnates as the pupil of the Hero Sage Merlin. After gaining incredible powers, he creates the Ultimate Magic Research Society; despite lacking common sense, he becomes an S-Rank magician and develops his ultimate attack, the Hydrogen Bomb.
In an isekai world where knowledge equals power, Shin's previous life experience sets him high above his peers. His understanding of Japanese enables him to create complex spells while his understanding of science and physics affords extreme spell-casting. As such, Wise Man's Grandchild's take on the "genius-magician" protagonist is entirely interesting and refreshing.
6 Rimuru Makes Enough Friends To Fill An Entire Nation (That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime)
Satoru becomes Rimuru Tempest in That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime following his fatal stabbing. With his unique skill, Predator, Rimuru absorbs and mimics the skills of others; after consuming Veldora, a Calamity-Class monster, Rimuru gains unfathomable power and uses it to build the nation of Tempest.
While the desire for building friendships is iconic to most isekai, Rimuru takes this a step further: he amasses so many friends, both monsters and regular people, that he builds an entire nation full of them. As its undefeatable ruler, Rimuru leads his nation to great heights, creating advanced industry to make Tempest the jewel of Jura Forest.
5 Myne Spreads Knowledge In Ehrenfest By Becoming A Librarian (Ascendance Of A Bookworm)
Ascendance Of A Bookworm follows Myne, a college graduate who gets reincarnated as a 5-year-old girl. An avid book lover, Myne uses her previous life's knowledge to bring literature to a bookless Ehrenfest; along the way, she makes several improvements to life within her medieval town, including crochet needles and all-in-one shampoo.
Like in most isekai, Myne uses her old knowledge to improve her current life; unlike others, however, she doesn't hide her brain. Instead, she gives what she has to offer freely to whoever she meets. Myne raises her family's financial standing, barters to gain tools, and works towards her goal of becoming a librarian with a cute, yet calculating, determination.
4 Ichiro Accidentally Kills A God To Become The World's Strongest Warrior (Death March To The Parallel World Rhapsody)
Ichiro was a programmer sucked into a fantasy MMORPG in Death March To The Parallel World Rhapsody. After using Meteor Rain to wipe out an army of lizard men, Ichiro accidentally becomes the world's strongest warrior by killing a God passing by. With maxed stats and no way home, Ichiro wanders the world in disguise.
While the MMORPG aspect and accompanying harem might be overdone, Ichiro's actual travels in Sieryuu certainly aren't. Through his exploration of the new world, and quest to understand his reincarnation in it, Ichiro gains an army of loyal friends armed with unique magical weapons.
3 Shiroe & His Friends Rely On Each Other To Survive In Elder Tale (Log Horizon)
After Elder Tale, a massive MMORPG, releases its twelfth expansion pack, 30,000 players find themselves transported into the virtual world of Log Horizon. Shiroe, a typical gamer, teams up with Naotsugu and Akatsuki to survive their dangerous new world; through teamwork, they conquer many obstacles together that would've otherwise defeated them alone.
With Naotsugu's perverted nature aligning with isekai anime character types, Log Horizon fleshes out its characters well within the MMORPG setting and is filled with gamer talk. The series focuses on its characters building a life for themselves while stuck within a video game. It's realistic and refreshing, as well as a must-watch for lovers of MMORPGs.
2 The Seven Prodigies Revitalize Elm Village & Bring Democracy To Freyjagard (High School Prodigies Have It Easy Even In Another World)
In High School Prodigies Have It Easy Even In Another World, seven students survive a plane crash to find themselves in Freyjagard, a medieval fantasy world. To repay Winona, their rescuer, the group uses their skills to improve Elm Village; in doing so, they attract the unwanted attention of Frejagard's oppressive Empire.
The Seven Prodigies broke the mold by using their prodigious skills to create a new nation instead of just taking over the old one. Despite having the power to rule over Freyjagard as monarchs, the group builds a democratic nation where its citizens are entitled to freedom and equal rights.
1 Naofumi Becomes A Cardinal Hero & Defends The World (The Rising Of The Shield Hero)
Naofumi Iwatani became one of four Cardinal Heroes after being summoned to fight hordes of monsters called Waves in The Rising Of The Shield Hero. After receiving the Legendary Shield, Naofumi's luck ran out after his partner robbed him and unjustly accused him of sexual assault. Together with Raphtalia and Filo, Naofumi must battle his way back to gain the people's trust and admiration.
Naofumi's redemption arc is atypical for isekai: immediately after being summoned, he's taken advantage of and shunned due to his partner's betrayal. His wrecked reputation must be gleaned from countless heroic actions, culminating in Naofumi's shining moment during his investigation into the Waves' origin and his role in it as the Shield Hero.