10 Best Modern Isekai Anime

For the past decade, isekai has dominated anime. It’s become one of the most popular genres in the art form, and while a lot of the best isekai series around are close to a decade old, there’s a new batch that proves that the latest generation of isekai is nothing to scoff at.

The isekai genre itself is very simple and really only needs a series to follow one rule. To be considered an isekai series, an anime needs to transport its main character from the real world to a new world. After that, series are free to take their franchises wherever they want.

The best isekai series take the genre to new heights. While they all follow the same basic format, they do it in such a unique way that their series feels like it’s never been done before. Thankfully, the best new-gen isekai series prove that the genre still has a lot to offer.

The Water Magician

Animated By Typhoon Graphics, Based On The Light Novel By Tadashi Kubō and Hana Amano

The Water Magician might be the Solo Leveling replacement fans didn’t know they needed. It’s an amazing isekai series that pulls no punches, showcasing one of the most refreshing shōnen stories in years. The series is incredibly simple as well, and even anime watchers who haven’t seen isekai series could hop right in.

Ryo is a normal guy from Japan who just wants to live a normal, slow life when he gets transported to another world. He does for a while, but after helping his new friend Abel back home, Ryo finds himself at the center of whatever is going around more than once.

Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense

Animated By Silver Link, Based on the Light Novel By Yuumikan & Koin

Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense stars one of the most adorable characters in anime. Maple, the protagonist of the franchise, is so lovable that there are few others in the art form that can match her wonderful personality.

She’s unique in many ways, and one of the most important is how she approaches gaming. Instead of distributing her stats evenly like most people, Maple puts them all into her defensive stat, inadvertently making herself one of the toughest characters in the entire game.

Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense is great because it feels like the series is poking fun at the isekai genre and celebrating it at the same time. It’s a wonderful series from start to finish, and fans can complete the series in less than 30 episodes.

I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability

Animated By Tsumugi Akita Animation Lab, Based on the Light Novel By Kenkyo na Circle and Meru

I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability is more than its long title; it’s a quality isekai series that does exactly what it wants to do. While other series try to hide the fact that, at their core, they’re a power fantasy, 7th Prince wastes no time telling the story it wants to tell.

Prince Lloyd has always been interested in magic. Before he was the 7th Prince of his kingdom, he was a peasant who was brutally murdered for having little mana reserves to call upon. Everything changed in Lloyd’s new life, as he’s arguably the strongest character in the entire series.

The Saga of Tanya the Evil

Animated By NUT, Based on the Light Novel By Carlo Zen and Shinobu Shinotsuki

There are no anime series quite like The Saga of Tanya the Evil. Tanya is one of the most unhinged, psychotic, and unpredictable characters in all of anime in the best way possible. She’s one of the most entertaining characters ever created, and her brutal, intense nature is exactly why.

The Saga of Tanya the Evil stars a normal Japanese salaryman who gets killed for seemingly no reason. After having a dispute with ‘God’, called Being X, the salaryman is reincarnated into the body of a tiny, bloodthirsty girl. The series stars her adventures as a high-ranking member of the military as she exacts her revenge on everyone who wrongs her.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

Animated By Studio Bind, Based on the Light Novel Series By Rifujin na Magonote & Shirotaka

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation is an incredibly high-quality isekai anime series that has consistently pushed the genre to its limits. While the series isn’t without controversy, there’s a good story to be told. Underneath all of Rudy’s questionable actions is an amazing narrative that only gets better as the series progresses.

Mushoku Tensei follows Rudeus Greyrat from the day he’s born. He’s an amazingly powerful character who also has over 30 years of knowledge from his past life to bring with him to his new world. Combining both his intellect and potential, Rudeus becomes a force to be reckoned with, dominating most of his foes with ease.

Overlord

Animated By Madhouse, Based on the Light Novel By Kugane Maruyama & so-bin

Overlord is one of the best dark anime series ever made. While most isekai series bring their main characters to a new world and force them into the hero role, Overlord does the opposite. Instead of becoming a shining light the world can look towards, Ainz Ooal Gown is the darkness the world runs from.

Ainz Ooal Gown is so much more powerful than almost every other character in the series that it’s hilarious. He can destroy entire armies in a few seconds and win fights before his opponents have realized that they’ve fought.

The Eminence in Shadow

Animated By Nexus, Based on the Light Novel By Daisuke Aizawa and Tōzai

While series like Overlord show how dark the isekai genre can get, series like The Eminence in Shadow show how funny isekai can be. The Eminence in Shadow, like Bofuri, makes fun of the isekai genre while celebrating it at the same time, making this series perfect for both the isekai expert and the isekai novice.

In his past life, Cid wanted to be a powerful vigilante. He did a pretty good job, but when he was reincarnated into a new world and given unbelievably strong abilities, he was finally able to fulfill his wish. There isn’t another character in anime who wanted to be reincarnated more than Cid, and he proves why he’s the best candidate in every episode.

Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World

Animated By White Fox, Based on the Light Novel Series By Tappei Nagatsuki & Shin’ichirō Ōtsuka

To call Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World bleak would be an understatement. It’s one of the darkest isekai anime series ever made, and it never really gets lighter. The series features Natsuki Subaru as a protagonist who is given one of the most bittersweet powers in anime.

Subaru’s ability is called Return by Death, and it allows him to return to a predetermined point in time after he dies. While it gives him the ability to rewrite the future as he sees fit, he has to go through an oftentimes brutal death to make it happen. Subaru develops a powerful will because of it, becoming an extremely lovable character in the process.

KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!

Animated By Studio Deen, Based on the Light Novel Series Written By Natsume Akatsuki and Illustrated By Kurone Mishima

KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! isn’t just one of the funniest isekai series ever made, it’s one of the funniest anime series of all time. KonoSuba is so funny that it might ruin every other comedy anime series, as no other franchise lives up to KonoSuba’s unreasonably amazing writing.

The characters in KonoSuba are addictive. Every time one is on-screen, viewers can’t help but want more of them. The series is funny both when Kazuma’s party is out during an adventure and when they’re just hanging out. Konosuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! is a must-watch for anyone who wants to laugh.

Lord of Mysteries

Animated By B.CMay PICTURES, Based on the Web Novel By Cuttlefish That Loves Diving (Yuan Ye)

Lord of Mysteries came out swinging. In less than 15 episodes, Lord of Mysteries let the world know that it was going to be one of the best isekai series of the latest generation. It might be the best anime series to come out of China, and there’s a decent argument to be made that it could end up becoming the country’s One Piece.

Lord of Mysteries has absurdly good animation, one of the most intriguing worlds in isekai, and a plot line that only gets better and better. The hardest part about watching this series is waiting for the next episode to come out, as the story itself is absolutely tantalizing. There are few modern isekai series even half as good as Lord of Mysteries.