Isekai anime tend to be both imaginative and fun with loads of heart. The isekai genre focuses on characters that are transported to other worlds and must find a way to survive while usually completing some kind of mission or quest. The entire premise of the genre allows for action, introspection, personal growth, and fantastic animation.

A good deal of anime that fall into the isekai genre are released every year with some of them going on to be utter classics. The sheer number of anime classics that reside in this genre are too numerous to count. Due to allowing creators to let their imaginations run wild, the isekai genre is fertile land for some of the strongest storytelling in fiction. What are the best isekai anime ever?

Reverse isekai anime are featured in a separate article.

New Spring 2024 Isekai Anime

Spring 2024 might just have the strongest lineup of isekai anime ever. Three of the themes' biggest and best franchises are returning for new seasons: KonoSuba, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. Not only do these shows represent isekai at its peak, but they are also widely different from each other. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is the closest to a "prototypical" power fantasy, albeit one executed to near perfection. Controversial as some parts might be, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation features fantastic world-building and consistently ambitious storytelling. Finally, KonoSuba is hilarious.

These three anime will overshadow every other Spring 2024 isekai story, to the point of potentially consuming them entirely. As Rimuru, Rudeus, and Kazuma will spend a lot of time in the spotlight over the next few months, let's use this opportunity to highlight a few newcomers.

1. Re:Monster is basically Slime but with goblins and a lot more questionable content, at least when it comes to the source material. The opening episode did a good job of establishing its main character, the proactive Rou, who is determined to make the most of his second life. Solid start aside, this isekai anime might not be to everyone's tastes.
2. As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World follows an ordinary guy who reincarnates into a powerful family with the ability to view people's stat points. Ars uses this skill to surround himself with capable individuals as he plans for a future where he might need to lead instead of his father.
3. Chillin' in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers shakes things up by primarily focusing on romance, something treated as an afterthought by most isekai anime. While seemingly weak, Flio is secretly overpowered, and he quickly strikes a connection with a charming woman named Fenrys. The source material is mostly a slow-life fantasy story, which should make for a charming and relaxing adaptation.
4. The New Gate should hit the mark with people craving power fantasies. After surviving a hellish "trapped in a game" scenario, Shin finds himself teleported to the future, forcing himself to continue his neverending battle for survival.

Now, on to the best isekai anime ever...

35 Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered But Overly Cautious

MyAnimeList: 7.48

Isekai loves an overpowered protagonist who can blast through skyscraper-sized enemies while barely breaking a sweat. When the goddess Ristarte summons Seiya to help her save a world on the brink of annihilation, she gets a hero who is only willing to dive into threatening situations when victory is 100% assured. Basically, this means a lot of training and taking no chances during battles.

Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious is a mostly lighthearted adventure built upon the love/hate dynamic between Seiya and Ristarte. Driven primarily by humor, the anime uses its protagonist's unique mindset to produce comedy gold.

34 I'm In Love With The Villainess

MyAnimeList: 7.40

Villainess stories are starting to become commonplace, with most seasons seemingly producing a new variant. I'm In Love With The Villainess presents a nice twist on this formula since the protagonist awakens as an otome game's heroine rather than its villainess; however, she decides to romance the latter rather than any of the reverse harem's male candidates.

Inori's manga and light novel are both highly regarded, setting the stage for a potentially brilliant anime; ultimately, the adaptation fell slightly short of expectations, but it was still solid. Although the humor can get repetitive since jokes tend to follow a similar setup and payoff, in a vacuum, the punchlines are funny. Rae and Claire have a fun dynamic right from their first scene together, and their one-sided love affair is gradually shifting from stalker-ish behavior to something a little more wholesome.

33 KamiKatsu: Working For God In A Godless World

MyAnimeList: 6.75

The son of a cult leader, Yukito, is killed by his father as part of a ritual, and he reawakens in a world with no concept of gods. Although not as exciting as he was hoping it would be, Yukito eventually comes to see his new life as a big step up from his previous existence; however, that changes when he learns that two of his friends have been chosen to be killed simply because they fear death. A lack of spirituality has, for some reason, spawned a society that treats death as a mundane event and villainizes anyone who does not share that mentality. Luckily for Yukito, his former cult's deity pays him a visit.

A Spring 2023 anime, KamiKatsu might as well be called Tonal Whiplash: The Anime, and that is somehow a compliment. The series jumps back and forth between fairly juvenile comedy and shockingly dark scenes, and the story's frantic pacing means these moments can take place within the same minute. Depending on the viewer, this isekai anime could be deemed awesome or terrible, but almost nobody will find it boring.

32 Why Raeliana Ended Up At The Duke's Mansion

MyAnimeList: 7.51

After being pushed to her doom, Rinko awakens as a supporting character in a fantasy novel she once read. To make matters worse, her host, Raeliana, is destined to meet an untimely end at the hands of her fiance. As Rinko would very much like for that to not happen, she sets out to strike a deal with the powerful Noah, a duke who appears charming and noble but is really quite devilish and complicated.

Raeliana/Rinko carries the entire show on her back, and she is more than strong enough as a protagonist to bear the burden. Smart without being omnipotent, Raeliana works as a surrogate for the audience while also having a clearly defined personality that elevates her beyond self-insert leads. Noah is also fun and mysterious, with his actions and motives being difficult to pin down.

31 The Wrong Way To Use Healing Magic

MyAnimeList: 7.57

Out of Winter 2024's many isekai anime, The Wrong Way To Use Healing Magic has been the biggest surprise. The show follows Ken Usato, who is summoned to another world alongside two classmates. While the latter were picked as hero candidates by their summoning kingdom, Ken was just an accident, although he proves to be a valuable ally as he is capable of using healing magic. Before long, Ken finds himself under the tutelage of Rose, a terrifying leader who plans to whip her new student into a soldier.

The Wrong Way To Use Healing Magic is a show of two halves. The first couple of episodes lean heavily into comedy, and they are consistently funny thanks to Rose's intimidating demeanor and Ken's hilarious reactions. As the season has progressed, the humor has subsided in favor of drama courtesy of a pending war with demons, which is now in full swing. Although arguably better as a comedy, The Wrong Way To Use Healing Magic works quite well as an action drama, even if the animation could be slightly better.

30 Grimgar: Ashes And Illusions

MyAnimeList: 7.65

On the surface, Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions seems like any other game-themed isekai anime: teenagers wake up in a strange world constructed on MMO tropes and they must get by. The thing that separates Grimgar from most other shows is that while the world might pull from MMOs, it is not governed by their rules. Minor threats in other anime can be deadly in Grimgar, and death is not something that can be just waved off.

Grimgar moves at quite a lethargic pace, focusing more on establishing its quite big cast of characters as it (harshly) eases them into its world. Unfortunately, the anime only scratches the surface of the source material, ending after just 12 episodes. While still worth watching, the show is little more than a sample of the light novel.

29 King From Now On!

MyAnimeList: 7.62 (Season 1)

King From Now On! starts with its protagonist, the unassuming Yuri Shibuya, having his head flushed down the toilet, an ordeal that teleports him to another universe. Before long, he finds himself crowned as Demon King, a role that puts him right in the middle of the demon world's strained relationship with humans. This bizarre start reflects the rest of the show's direction, as Kyou kara Maou! often blurs the line between silly high jinks and dramatic intensity.

King From Now On! is a relatively old show that has somewhat slipped from the public consciousness since its original run. While by no means perfect, this 2000s isekai anime is generally decent, mainly thanks to characters like Wolfram and, yes, Yuri. The show does have some pacing issues and can get a bit formulaic at times, but it is worth a watch.

28 Uncle From Another World

MyAnimeList: 7.81

Suffering multiple delays that caused its single cour run to stretch over nine months, Uncle from Another World started hot and ended ice-cold. By the time the final episode aired, the comedy anime was old news, relegating it to a footnote of 2022's anime offerings rather than a potential highlight. As frustrating as these issues were, nowadays, Uncle from Another World can be watched in its entirety; however, is it worth it?

Well, the answer is subjective, as most comedies tend to be. After spending nearly two decades in another world, Ojisan awakens in a hospital bed on Earth and reunites with his nephew, Takafumi. While initially skeptical of his outlandish claim, Takafumi becomes a believer when Ojisan displays magical powers, including a TV-like ability that acts as a flashback machine to show his adventures in the other world.

Uncle from Another World uses its clever premise to parody isekai tropes, all the while throwing a bunch of references to the '90s (and, mainly, Sega). That said, the show's humor is rather juvenile, particularly when it comes to Ojisan's interactions with a female elf, so it might not be to everyone's fancy.

27 Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play

MyAnimeList: 7.61

Fushigi Yugi is a minor classic that, while far from unwatchable, has not aged especially well over the last 25 years. In this day and age, someone's appreciation for this show might come down to whether they have any nostalgic attachment to it, or if they are at least fond of older shojo tropes. Miaka reads a book that sends her to another world, and she quickly learns that she is a priestess who will play a pivotal role in conjuring a god.

Miaka can only complete this ritual if she is, well, a virgin, so quite a few episodes revolve around ensuring this remains a fact. Containing a love triangle and a fully realized fantasy world that is fascinating to learn about, Fushigi Yugi is an engrossing series despite its share of frustrations. Considering its animation was not even great for the mid-'90s, this anime could really use a modern adaptation.

26 The Rising Of The Shield Hero

MyAnimeList: 7.96 (Season 1)

The Rising of the Shield Hero's reputation declined as its first season progressed, and the sequel only exasperated matters. Naofumi Iwatani is summoned to a fantasy world to serve as its shield hero, only for the protagonist to be falsely accused of a crime and then shunned.

Although far from subtle, The Rising of the Shield Hero's opening few episodes are purposefully infuriating and gripping. They also suggest this is going to be a more mature and darker than normal isekai anime, something the series doesn't fully live up to later down the line. Even though this anime is divisive, those seeking a power fantasy-style show can do much worse than The Rising of the Shield Hero.

25 Digimon Adventure

MyAnimeList: 7.77

A beloved classic that helped introduce countless children to the exciting world of anime, Digimon Adventure is not commonly cited among isekai shows, perhaps because most people watched it before they were familiar with the term. While the show spends a decent chunk of time in the human world, Digimon Adventure predominantly revolves around the DigiDestined's time in the Digital World.

Focusing on the original series, Digimon Adventure has aged shockingly well. The anime confidently blends action, drama, humor, and character development to craft an epic journey that continues to be celebrated more than two decades following its end. Digimon Tamers is also fantastic but the main characters spend far less time in the Digital World than Tai and company.

24 Campfire Cooking In Another World With My Absurd Skill

MyAnimeList: 7.67

Tsuyoshi Mukouda is summoned to a new world by a kingdom searching for heroes, but he is left to his own accord due to his seemingly weak ability. Rather than overwhelming strength or an affinity for every magic type, Tsuyoshi can order Earth-based items through an app. Using this service, the human indulges in his cooking hobby, which quickly nets him a very powerful and very hungry familiar.

Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill follows Tsuyoshi's relaxing adventure as he tries to live his best isekai life. So far, the anime has stayed away from fights or even an overarching narrative, opting for a lighthearted and casual tone instead. Tsuyoshi's friendships with his familiars, Fel and Sui, serve as the story's heart, and these interactions have been a constant delight.

23 The Magical Revolution Of The Reincarnated Princess And The Genius Young Lady

MyAnimeList: 7.48

The best Winter 2023 isekai anime barely mentions its protagonist's reincarnation, despite its title. Anisphia is a science-driven princess in a magical world, and her interest in the field stems from visions of a past life set in a realm with flying vehicles. Rather than concentrating solely on the princess, The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady divides its time between Anisphia and Euphyllia, the latter of whom was set to be the kingdom's new queen before her engagement to the prince fell through.

Their relationship serves as the story's beating heart, and they complement each other beautifully. Strong-willed and headstrong, Anisphia inspires Euphyllia to live for herself, something she is not accustomed to doing since she has dedicated her existence to filling the role thrust onto her.

22 Tsukimichi -Moonlit Fantasy-

MyAnimeList: 7.71 (Season 1)

Tsukimichi -Moonlit Fantasy-'s first season is an enjoyable power fantasy that largely sticks to the genre's standard tropes, which is fine as long as they are executed well. The story's defining feature is that Makoto Misumi, the protagonist, walks the line between being a traditional-overpowered protagonist and a parody of one. His looks are constantly mocked, and his summoning sequence is close in spirit to KonoSuba; however, he has quietly transformed into a more conventional MC, while still managing to remain likable. Season 2 emphasizes Makoto's strengths by shining a light on two other summoned heroes who are twisted versions of isekai protagonists (albeit, one more so than the other).

Moving beyond Makoto, Tsukimichi has a strong roster of supporting characters who are allowed to develop identities that go beyond their unbreakable allegiances to their master. In lesser shows, Tomoe and Mio would be little more than cheerleaders who exist solely to stroke Makoto's ego; fortunately, they shine through as proper characters who are defined by their histories along with their relationships. Season 2 is better than its predecessor, which is decent in its own right.

21 Now And Then, Here And There

MyAnimeList: 7.60

Released right at the turn of the century, Now and Then, Here and There is the ideal option for anyone who wishes to take a break from isekai power fantasies. An ordinary boy, Shuu meets a mysterious girl, gets whisked away by terrifying monsters to a desolate reality, and then spends roughly the next 13 episodes going through hell.

Now and Then, Here and There is a character-driven anime, and its focus goes beyond just the main characters. The 1999 isekai series does a splendid job exploring its roster of unforgettable personalities, and it accomplishes an incredible amount considering it is a single-cour anime.

20 Sonny Boy

MyAnimeList: 7.79

Written and directed by Shingo Natsume, whose previous credits include One-Punch Man, Space Dandy, and Boogiepop and Others, Sonny Boy is an unconventional coming-of-age story that plays out like a more surreal version of Peter Pan. A group of students are sent to a strange island, and some of them develop supernatural powers. Naturally, this influence the characters' dynamics and power balance, leading to quite a few harrowing sequences.

Sonny Boy is unpredictable, disjointed, and not especially satisfying. The anime leaves quite a few questions unanswered, and picking up all the story's subtleties will require a second viewing. That said, the anime's ambition cannot be faulted, and this is evident in its presentation and ambiguous storytelling.

19 GATE

MyAnimeList: 7.698 (Season 1)

A gate to a fantasy world appears in Japan, causing an all-out war to break out between the invading Empire and the JSDF. The latter manages to repel the opposing forces and, in the battle's aftermath, decides to send a group of soldiers into this new world. One member of that party is Itami, an otaku who eventually befriends a trio of girls who slot into fantasy archetypes.

GATE is an entertaining anime that tells both a standard and reverse isekai story. Itami is nothing more than a decent protagonist, but he is aided by a massive roster of secondary characters. His harem is filled with lovable personalities, and they make the show what it is.

18 Magic Knight Rayearth

MyAnimeList: 7.46 (Season 1)

A classic anime, Magic Knight Rayearth is much more than meets the eye. Three school girls are teleported to Cephiro, a world that emphasizes a person's will, and they quickly find themselves on an adventure to rescue a princess. In its early hours, Magic Knight Rayearth plays things relatively safe, delivering a lighthearted action-adventure narrative with quirky characters, exhilarating fights, and amusing villains.

As things progress, the anime becomes gradually darker, a change that works in the show's favor. Although they start out as somewhat stereotypical, the three leads develop quite a bit, particularly in the second season.

17 The Vision Of Escaflowne

MyAnimeList: 7.66

Sunrise's The Vision of Escaflowne was awesome when it came out in 1996 and age has done very little to dull its appeal. Hitomi Kanzaki finds herself in a strange world called Gaea that has mecha, immaculate architecture that feels both familiar and alien, and political intrigue. She also meets a prince, Van Fanel, who initially comes across as bratty but eventually proves to be far more nuanced. Hidden depth is a staple of nearly all the main characters.

The Vision of Escaflowne balances multiple genres as it tries to cater to both male and female audiences. The isekai anime offers action, adventure, and romance; more importantly, it juggles these elements incredibly well. The animation, while clearly of its era, is also consistently fantastic.

16 Drifters

MyAnimeList: 7.89

Bringing together a who’s who of historical figures, Drifters is a bloody and gloriously outlandish isekai series that does wonders with its absurd premise. Essentially, important figures from history are dropped into a fantasy world to duke it out as either Drifters or Ends.

Drifters act as a resistance force against the Ends’ oppressive regime, leading to plenty of awesome moments such as Toyohisa Shimazu facing off against an insane Jeanne d'Arc. Drifters’ short run does somewhat hurt its appeal as the story is far from complete, but the available content is top-notch.