Best Of
15 Best Isekai Anime to Watch Right Now
Isekai (isekai) is the biggest trend in modern anime, and also the most crowded. For every masterpiece there are ten forgettable clones. Here are 15 that actually earn the hype, whether you want deep drama or pure fun.
The essential isekai
- Re:Zero — A psychological gut-punch that weaponizes the "respawn" idea. Dark, emotional, unforgettable.
- Mushoku Tensei — The gold standard for world-building and animation. A flawed man reincarnates and genuinely grows.
- That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime — The friendliest entry point. Cozy, fun, endlessly bingeable.
- KonoSuba — A parody that roasts every isekai cliche. One of the funniest anime ever made.
- The Rising of the Shield Hero — A betrayal-fueled revenge arc with real emotional stakes.
- Ascendance of a Bookworm — Slow-burn and wholesome, for readers who love competence and craft.
- Overlord — You play the villain for once. A guild master trapped as his undead avatar.
- No Game No Life — Two shut-in geniuses conquer a world ruled by games. Stylish and clever.
- Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash — The grounded, melancholic take where survival actually hurts.
- The Devil is a Part-Timer! — Reverse-isekai comedy: a demon lord flips burgers in modern Tokyo.
- Saga of Tanya the Evil — A ruthless salaryman reborn as a tiny soldier in a magical war.
- Sword Art Online — The one that kicked off the boom. Flawed but foundational.
- The Eminence in Shadow — A chuunibyo who wants to be a background schemer, accidentally becomes a real one. Hilarious.
- Log Horizon — Trapped in an MMO, but about politics and society instead of just fighting.
- Frieren: Beyond Journey's End — Technically post-adventure fantasy, but essential viewing for anyone who loves the genre's heart.
New to the genre?
Start with Slime or KonoSuba, then work toward Re:Zero and Mushoku Tensei once you're hooked. Confused by the lingo around these shows? Our Anime Jargon Decoder explains every term, and you can check where to watch them for any title on this list.
Most of the anime here stream on Crunchyroll, many with a free, ad-supported tier so you can start tonight.