Isekai is a genre of anime that has taken over the anime industry in the past few years. These anime follow a main character who is sent to a new world by some means, where they must accomplish some sort of task. Isekai anime have the reputation of repeating the same elements, such as an overpowered protagonist, with a slightly different plot each season.
Sometimes the world they are sent to is better than the world they came from, and sometimes it’s not. This list looks at some of the best worlds in isekai anime as well as some of the worst. The list is influenced by themes of the world, how strong monsters are, and the plotline of their respected series.
10 Don’t: Re:Zero - Starting Life In Another World
The world of Re:Zero doesn’t seem initially bad. The capital city in Lugnica is where Suburu lands in the anime. It’s a nice area where the royal family lives. It also has the slums, where we meet Felt. Outside the capital city is Roswaal Mansion where the rest of the main cast is introduced.
The mansion is near a small village where Suburu often visits. However, next to this village is a forest where children are kidnapped. Red flag number one. The second red flag is that roaming around the world is the White Whale. The White Whale roams the land eating anything in its path. The White Whale brings a mist wherever it goes. Hard pass.
9 Do: KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!
Konosuba takes place in a fantasy town known as Axel. The town is peaceful, although occasionally it is attacked by a demon lord who really isn’t a threat at all. Inside the town, residences can join the adventurer’s guild to become adventures.
The guild is responsible for giving out quests and being a common area for adventurers to hang out. If adventuring isn’t your thing, the guild will try to offer other career paths based on your skills.
8 Don’t: Goblin Slayer
A world where everyone goes by their title instead of their names. If you’ve ever played an RPG game, then you know grinding against the beginner enemies can be a drag. Now, imagine a world where you’re constantly fighting against the basic enemy, but on steroids.
The goblins in Goblin Slayer are not your average everyday anime goblins. The goblins will murder and assault you. Stay very far away from this world.
7 Do: In Another World with my Smartphone
The world in In Another World with my Smartphone is every NEET’s dream. A fantasy world, but with cell phone reception. The world is filled with magic, but does that even matter if you’re able to use your phone? The amount of possibilities this world brings is endless.
Being able to do things that no one in the world could do would instantly bring attention, making the traveler from another world among the strongest in all the land. The show’s main character Touya Mochizuki can solve any problem that he runs into. While this doesn’t create many plot points for an anime, if we were living in this world, it would be ideal.
6 Don’t: Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody
Another fantasy RPG world, Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody is not the world you want to be in. Upon arrival, there are enemies waiting to attack you. In the anime, lizardmen are waiting for Ichirou Suzuki, known as Satuu, and attack him instantly.
Luckily for him, there are some high-level adventurers nearby. However, if there are high-level adventurers then the enemies are strong enough for them to get to these levels, which leaves some scary monsters.
5 Do: Sword Art Online
To clarify, this is specifically the world of Aincrad and not the world of ALfheim Online. Aincrad is the name of the floating castle in Sword Art Online. A castle that stacks for 100 floors finds home on the land. Each floor gets smaller as you ascend and there’s a single staircase that allows you to pass in between floors.
Inside each floor, there can be found villages, towns, and cities. Because Aincrad is built vertically instead of horizontally, it makes passing to a new floor very simple. The only thing guarding the stairs is a boss. This concept for a world gives a unique concept to living and exposes its residence to travel and adventure.
4 Don’t: Saga of Tanya The Evil
The world in Saga of Tanya the Evil is based on the real world, but the only difference is magic is involved. However, there currently is a war going on. Admittedly, being transported into a world where the country is being attacked by other nations is not exactly pleasant.
The world is split into different nations and resembles Eastern Europe. If coming to this world, the ideal place to go would be the nation called the Empire. This is where the anime mostly takes place. The Empire has a strong military but is being attacked by multiple neighboring countries.
3 Do: Maou-sama Retry
Another world that is currently being taken over by a demon lord, but instead of the world domination plotline, he’s more interested in economizing a city.
This one is an easy decision; all the monsters of the world live on the outskirts and the city and villages are mostly safe. The demon lord just wants to run a successful hot springs services and since he has the power to create anything at will, you’re getting a top-class service.
2 Don’t: Gate
Sent to another world but on a business trip? Another world called “Special Region” is connected to Earth, and it is possible to go back and forth between the two. In the anime, Youji Itami is sent to the special world to make peace but if he misses up then he will likely start a war.
The entire fate of both worlds relies on his interactions and I wouldn’t want to leave it up to him of all people to be the peacemaker. It would be way too big of a risk living in this world, especially being from Earth.
1 Do: No Game No Life
Possibly the greatest fantasy world to get transported to is No Game No Life's Disboard. The catch here is that the land is built on a games board. there is no fighting, no wars, and only games. Everything revolves around playing games. Conflict from a casual argument to distributing land is settled by playing games.
The world is run by a 6,000-year-old boy named Tet who doesn't belong to any race in No Game No Life. If you want to become the new god of Disboard then you’re going to have to beat him in a game of chess.