In this article, we will see a complete list of all the anime isekai. We will recommend the best of the genre, we will also mention virtual reality anime, reverse isekai anime, novels, mangas, and others. Ready to go to another parallel world?
Isekai anime takes place in a parallel universe or dimension that is unknown to the protagonist. There is an immense diversity of worlds, many of which are different from reality. Some are worlds of non-human creatures, while others are virtual worlds.
Today this genre is very popular, and every year anime in this style is released. Let's get to know some of these anime, from the oldest to the most recent. I will divide it into two basic categories, world or parallel dimensions and virtual worlds.
Table of Content
What does Isekai mean?
Isekai [異世界] means "different world" or "parallel universe." Isekai is the term used to define the genre of anime, mangas, games, and light novels where the protagonist gets trapped in another world or dimension. A Western example of this genre is the famous work Alice in Wonderland from 1865.
Usually the protagonists of this genre are NEET, hikikomori or a gamer, who is transported to a parallel universe after dying, being summoned or finding some kind of portal. In this new world, the protagonist will be able to acquire skills.
Usually isekai anime takes place in a fantasy world with magic, elves, monsters, angels, witches or anything that doesn't exist in our world.
In recent years, the genre has become popular, with the emergence of successful titles such as Re:Zero and KonoSuba. Starting in 2016, this unprecedentedly generated a gigantic amount of anime and light novels with the same type of story.
Due to its huge popularity, a Japanese contest of light novels has even banned any isekai stories. There are even subgenres of isekai anime such as:
- isekai ten'i [異世界転移] - Transition to another world;
- isekai tensei [異世界転生] - Reincarnation into another world;
The concept of isekai has its origins in ancient Japanese literature, particularly the story of Urashima Tarō , a popular tale widely known in Japan that isekai writers grew up with.
What is the First Anime Isekai?
The first anime and manga titles that can be classified as isekai include Aura Battler Dunbine (1983), Mashin Hero Wataru (1988) NG Knight Ramune & 40 (1990) Fushigi Yûgi (1992) and El-Hazard (1995).
Other 1990s titles identified as isekai include the drama and anime series The Twelve Kingdoms (1992), Magic Knight Rayearth (1993), the visual novel game YU-NO (1996), the manga and anime series InuYasha (1996 ).
The Spirited Away anime film (2001) was one of the first isekai anime films known worldwide, although the term was not used. Digimon (1999) and .hack (2002) were among the first to introduce the concept of isekai as a virtual world.
The Best Isekai anime - Dimensions and Parallel Worlds
Isekai is a fantasy genre in which a person from Earth is transported, reborn, or imprisoned in a parallel universe or fantasy world. The anime below do not include cases of interception in a video game, but both subgenres are included in the Person in a Strange World tag.
Outbreak Company
Outbreak Company – 2013 (12 episodes) Our protagonist is called Kanou Shinichi, and he is an otaku fanatic. The anime starts with him taking a QUIZ about anime and manga. Due to his answers in this QUIZ, a company calls him for a "service".
Upon arriving at the company, he is doped and sent to another reality. In this reality or parallel world there are elves, dwarves, dragons and various mixtures of races. He was sent there for one purpose, to spread and propagate otaku culture in this world.
Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu
Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu – 2016 (25 episodes) In this anime we have the protagonist named Natsuki Subaru, who starts his life from scratch in a different world. One day he is ripped from his everyday life and transported to another world, very different from his own.
But in this world, he gains a certain skill. Every time he dies in this world, he picks up again where he left off last time. But only he remembers what happened before, the people around him don't. So, until something happens to break this endless cycle, he will remain in this dilemma.
No game no life
No game no life – 2014 (12 episodes) Here we have a protagonist duo, Sora and his younger sister named Shiro. Both are great experts in all types of games. This leads them to get quite bored and consider the real world to be a bad game.
But all that changes after receiving an email, where they were challenged to a chess match in another world. They defeat the challenger and discover that he is called Ted, the "god" of this world. The brothers are invited to live in this new world, where violence is completely banned and all kinds of problems and conflicts are resolved with games.
The Rising of the Shield Hero
The Rising of the Shield Hero 2019 (25 episodes predicted) Iwatani Naofumi is a young otaku who is suddenly summoned along with 3 other young men in a parallel world. The four are considered the predestined heroes to save that world from great threats.
Each of them receives a weapon, spear, sword, bow and shield. Naofumi receives the shield, and is soon regarded as the weakest. This leads to him being betrayed and accused of stealing by his colleagues. This causes him to be despised and shunned by everyone. So, Naofumi sets out to evolve and prove to everyone that they were wrong.
Drifters – 2016 (12 episodes) The anime tells the story of the samurai Toyohisa, who was fighting in a great war in the year 1600. In this battle he is seriously injured, but before he dies he is transported to another world, where ocrs, dwarves, elves, humans, and other races live.
Warriors from all ages and worlds are transported to this dimension. These warriors are known as Drifters, each with a different skill to help keep this world in balance.
ISEKAI QUARTET
A simple comedy anime that mixes characters from Re:ZERO, Overlord, Konosuba and other isekai anime in a classroom. Despite looking like a generic anime that uses the fame of others, it was quite successful and has already won two seasons.
Other isekai anime from parallel worlds or dimensions
Below we will leave some recommendations of other isekai anime, but at the end of the article you will find a complete list ordered by the most popular and with their year of production. There you can also find movies and OVAs.
- Konohana Kitan - 2017 (12 eps);
- Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! 2016 (10 episodes);
- Hataraku Maou-sama! - 2013 (13 eps);
- Re: Creators- 2017 (22 eps);
- When I was reincarnated as a slime - 2018 (24 eps);
- Zero no Tsukaima: the familiar of zero - 2006 (13 eps);
- Gate Jieitai Kano Chinite, Kaku Tatakaeri - 2015 (12 eps);
- Isekai wa smartphone tomo ni;
- Hai To Gensou no Grimgar;
- Knights and Magic;
- Death March;
- Isekai Maou and the Summoner Girls' Slave Magic;
- The Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einherjar;
- Blood Lab;
- Spirited Away;
- Dias do Cão.
- Problem Children Are Coming from Another World, Aren't They?
Isekai - Anime of Virtual and Digital Worlds
Some claim that anime of the isekai genre cannot be anime of virtual worlds. There are no rules regarding this. Still we separate for better understanding. Also remembering that it is not necessary for an anime to take place in the parallel world, it is enough to involve elements of parallel worlds.
In these anime, characters are trapped in a video game or in a Virtual Reality world. It is typically a high stakes game where players cannot leave until they win the game and in extreme cases dying in the game means they die in real life.
Digimon série
Digimon -1999: When I started writing about isekai anime the first thing I thought of was the Digimon saga. The story of all anime in this saga is basically the same, a group of children from Earth end up in Digi Mundo, a digital world. In this world there is a whole society of different creatures.
The protagonists of these stories always join the digimons to fight the evil forces, which affect both the Digi World and the real world. There are several versions/seasons of this anime, both epic.
Sword online
Sword online – 2012 (1st season – 25 episodes) In 2022, the VRMMORPG, Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online RPG, is launched. With the help of a virtual reality helmet called Nerve Gear, which stimulates the player's five senses through the brain. This allows users to control virtual characters with their minds. Kazuto Kirigaya, known as Kirito, is one of the 10,000 players who managed to buy the game.
But something unexpected happens, all players cannot log out. They are told that they can only log out if they beat 100 floors in the game. But something worse is announced, death in the game means death in real life. Finding himself in this desperate situation, Kirito decides to get stronger in order to get out of the game as soon as possible and save everyone.
Log Horizon
Log Horizon – 2013 (25 episodes) 30,000 players of the MMORPG called Elder Tale are transported into the game, during the launch of the 12th expansion pack, with the appearance of their avatars.
Shiroe, the protagonist of this story, joins Akatsuki and Naotsugu. Together, they form a group in order to face the difficulties of that world and find a way to return to their real life.
Overlord
Overlord – 2015 (13 episodes-season 1) The protagonist of this story is called Momonga, and he is a regular player of a popular online game called Yggdrasil. But soon the game would be over. So Momonga decides to spend the last few minutes playing him. But even after the game is turned off, it remains logged in.
He notices that the NPCs are much more realistic than usual. Then he realizes that somehow he got trapped inside the game. Not knowing how to get back to the real world, he decides to get stronger and stand out more and more in this new universe.
Other anmes isekai - Virtual Worlds
- Accel World - 2012 (24 eps + 2 Eggs);
- Ixion saga DT - 2012 (25 eps);
- .hack//SIGN - 2002 (26 eps);
- Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody - 2018 (12 eps);
Below is a complete list of Virtual Worlds Anime in order of most popular by year of production:
| Nome do Anime de mundo virtual | Year |
| Overlord III | 2018 |
| Overlord | 2015 |
| Log Horizon | 2013 |
| Overlord II | 2018 |
| Log Horizon 2 | 2014 |
| Overlord: Shikkoku no Senshi | 2017 |
| Overlord: Fushisha no Ou | 2017 |
| Sword Art Online | 2012 |
| How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord | 2018 |
| Demon Lord, Retry! | 2019 |
| .hack//SIGN | 2002 |
| Log Horizon Recap | 2013 |
| Sword Art Online: Alicization - Recollection | 2019 |
| Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks? | 2019 |
| Kenja no Deshi wo Nanoru Kenja | |
| How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord: Omega | 2021 |
| Log Horizon: Entaku Houkai | 2021 |
We appreciate the possible shares and comments. I hope this list of isekai anime has cured your curiosity. If you think an anime is missing from the list, comment!
Reverse or Reverse Isekai Anime
Unlike typical Isekai titles, where a person from Earth is transported, reborn, or trapped in a parallel universe or fantasy world, these otherworldly anime characters find themselves on Earth through similar means.
I won't talk much about these animes, but we can briefly mention Hinamatsuri, a very hilarious and essential comedy. Re:Creators, a great inverted isekai anime with an amazing soundtrack by Hiroyuki Sawano.
Another popular Inverted Isekai comedy is Kobayashi Dragon Maid, which has spawned numerous internet memes. GATE also deserves a bit of prominence. The rest I don't know, but the list is ordered by the most popular:
| Nome do Anime Isekai Invertido | Year |
| Hinamatsuri | 2018 |
| Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid | 2017 |
| GATE | 2015 |
| The Devil is a Part-Timer! | 2013 |
| Restaurant to Another World | 2017 |
| Re:Creators | 2017 |
| Kuromukuro | 2016 |
| Isekai Izakaya: Japanese Food From Another World | 2018 |
| Mirmo Zibang! | 2002 |
| Eiyuu Kaitai | 2016 |
| Sengoku Collection | 2012 |
| Laidbackers | 2019 |
List of Isekai Novels and Manga
Here is a list of popular isekai manga according to the ranking of MAL and Anime-Planet:
| Nome do Mangá Isekai | Year |
| The Beginning After the End | 2018 |
| Who Made Me a Princess | 2017 |
| Who Made Me a Princess (Novel) | 2017 |
| That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime | 2015 |
| Overlord (Light Novel) | 2012 |
| Youjo Senki: Saga of Tanya the Evil (Light Novel) | 2013 |
| Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp | 2017 |
| The Boy and The Beast (Light Novel) | 2015 |
| That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (Light Novel) | 2014 |
| The Legendary Mechanic (Novel) | 2017 |
| Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint | 2020 |
| Fuguushoku to Baka ni Saremashita ga, Jissai wa Sorehodo Waruku Arimasen? (Light Novel) | 2018 |
| Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp (Novel) | 2016 |
| Spirited Away | 2001 |
| Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter (Light Novel) | 2015 |
| Trash of the Count's Family (Novel) | 2018 |
| The Faraway Paladin (Light Novel) | 2016 |
| Ascendance of a Bookworm (Light Novel) | 2015 |
| Release that Witch (Novel) | 2016 |
| The Eminence in Shadow (Light Novel) | 2018 |
| Overlord | 2014 |
| Ascendance of a Bookworm - Part 3 | 2018 |
| Fushigi Yugi: Byakko Senki | 2017 |
| Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- (Light Novel) | 2014 |
| GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakeri (Light Novel) | 2010 |
| The Twelve Kingdoms (Light Novel) | 1992 |
| So I'm a Spider, So What? | 2015 |
| I Belong to House Castielo | 2018 |
| So I'm a Spider, So What? (Light Novel) | 2015 |
| Ai wo Ataeru Kemonotachi | 2020 |
| Mesmerizing Ghost Doctor (Novel) | 2016 |
| Ascendance of a Bookworm - Part 2 | 2018 |
| No Game No Life (Light Novel) | 2012 |
| Survive as the Hero's Wife | 2018 |
| My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! | 2017 |
| I’m Only a Stepmother, But My Daughter is Just So Cute! (Novel) | 2019 |
| KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! (Light Novel) | 2013 |
| My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! (Light Novel) | 2015 |
| The Obsessive Second Male Lead Has Gone Wild | 2020 |
| By the Grace of the Gods | 2017 |
| The Boy and The Beast | 2015 |
| Akuyaku Reijou Level 99: Watashi wa Urabosu Desu ga Maou de wa Arimasen | 2020 |
| The Twin Siblings' New Life | 2020 |
| The New Gate | 2014 |
| Jishou Akuyaku Reijou na Konyakusha no Kansatsu Kiroku | 2018 |
| Seijo no Maryoku wa Bannou desu (Light Novel) | 2017 |
| Daughter of the Emperor | 2015 |
| Log Horizon (Light Novel) | 2011 |
| The Eminence in Shadow | 2018 |
| Rettoujin no Maken Tsukai: Skill Board wo Kushishite Saikyou ni Itaru | 2020 |
| Tensei Shitanode Tsugi Koso wa Shiawasena Jinsei wo Tsukande Misemashou (Light Novel) | 2015 |
| Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (Light Novel) | 2014 |
| Youjo Senki: Saga of Tanya the Evil | 2016 |
| The Rising of the Shield Hero | 2014 |
| Tilea no Nayamigoto (Light Novel) | 2015 |
| Re:Monster | 2014 |
| The Faraway Paladin | 2017 |
| Maseki Gourmet: Mamono no Chikara wo Tabeta Ore wa Saikyou! | 2019 |
| Tate no Yuusha no Oshi Nagaki | 2019 |
| GATE: Where the JSDF Fought | 2011 |
| Isekai de Cheat Skill wo Te ni Shita Ore wa, Genjitsu Sekai wo mo Musou Suru: Level Up wa Jinsei wo Kaeta (Light Novel) | 2018 |
| The New Gate (Light Novel) | 2013 |
| Fukushuu wo Chikatta Shironeko wa Ryuuou no Hiza no Ue de Damin wo Musaboru | 2017 |
| My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Comic Anthology | 2020 |
| Rekishi ni Nokoru Akujo ni Naru zo: Akuyaku Reijou ni naru hodo Ouji no Dekiai wa Kasoku suru you desu! | 2020 |
| Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter | 2015 |
| Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear (Light Novel) | 2015 |
| Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-, Chapter 3: Truth of Zero | 2015 |
| Tsuki ga Michibiku Isekai Douchuu | 2015 |
List of All Isekai Anime
Below we will share a complete list of all Isekai anime, arranged in order of popularity, along with their sequels and new seasons and year of production. Hope you like it:
| Nome do Anime Isekai | Year |
| Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part II | 2020 |
| That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime | 2018 |
| Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 2 | 2020 |
| The Rising of the Shield Hero | 2019 |
| No Game No Life | 2014 |
| Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- | 2016 |
| KonoSuba – God's blessing on this wonderful world! 2 | 2017 |
| Ascendance of a Bookworm | 2019 |
| Youjo Senki: Saga of Tanya the Evil | 2017 |
| Log Horizon | 2013 |
| GATE (2016) | 2016 |
| Drifters | 2016 |
| KonoSuba – God's blessing on this wonderful world! | 2016 |
| GATE | 2015 |
| Log Horizon 2 | 2014 |
| My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! | 2020 |
| Problem Children Are Coming From Another World, Aren't They? | 2013 |
| Kyo Kara Maoh! 3rd Series | 2008 |
| Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits | 2018 |
| Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash | 2016 |
| The Twelve Kingdoms | 2002 |
| The Familiar of Zero: Knight of the Twin Moons | 2007 |
| The Familiar of Zero F | 2012 |
| Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious | 2019 |
| The Familiar of Zero: "Rondo" of Princesses | 2008 |
| Zero no Tsukaima | 2006 |
| Knight's & Magic | 2017 |
| The Vision of Escaflowne | 1996 |
| Outbreak Company | 2013 |
| Kyo Kara Maoh! | 2004 |
| Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play | 1995 |
| Wise Man’s Grandchild | 2019 |
| Kiba | 2006 |
| Isekai Izakaya: Japanese Food From Another World | 2018 |
| Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest | 2019 |
| Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody | 2018 |
| Dog Days' | 2012 |
| Dog Days'' | 2015 |
| Those Who Hunt Elves II | 1997 |
| Didn't I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?! | 2019 |
| Magic Knight Rayearth | 1994 |
| Kemono Michi: Rise Up | 2019 |
| In Another World With My Smartphone | 2017 |
| Dog Days | 2011 |
| Mahou Shoujo Tai Arusu | 2004 |
| Those Who Hunt Elves | 1996 |
| El-Hazard: The Alternative World | 1998 |
| High School Prodigies Have It Easy Even in Another World! | 2019 |
| El-Hazard: The Wanderers | 1995 |
| Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time – A Tale of the Eight Guardians | 2004 |
| Ixion Saga: Dimension Transfer | 2012 |
| The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me? | 2020 |
| Aura Battler Dunbine | 1983 |
| Arata the Legend | 2013 |
| Super Dimension Century Orguss | 1983 |
| The Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einherjar | 2018 |
| The Titan's Bride | 2020 |
| Isekai Cheat Magician | 2019 |
| Sengoku Night Blood | 2017 |
| Final Fantasy: Unlimited | 2001 |
| Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part III | -- |
| The Dungeon of the Black Company | -- |
| My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Season 2 | 2021 |
| Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 2: Part II | 2021 |
| Kenja no Deshi wo Nanoru Kenja | -- |
| How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom | -- |
| How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord: Omega | 2021 |
| The Slime Diaries: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime | 2021 |
| That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2: Part II | 2021 |
| By the Grace of the Gods | 2020 |
| Log Horizon: Entaku Houkai | 2021 |
| That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2 | 2021 |
| Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation | 2021 |
| Kumo desu ga, Nanika? | 2021 |
List of Isekai Films
| Nome do Filme Isekai | Year |
| Spirited Away | 2001 |
| KonoSuba – God’s blessing on this wonderful world! Movie: Legend of Crimson | 2019 |
| The Boy and the Beast | 2015 |
| Youjo Senki: Saga of Tanya the Evil Movie | 2019 |
| Children Who Chase Lost Voices | 2011 |
| Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Memory Snow | 2018 |
| The Vision of Escaflowne: The Movie | 2000 |
| Tobira o Akete (1986) | 1986 |
Lists of OVAs and Isekai Specials
Now let's share a list of Specials and Isekai OVAs. The order is also from the most popular:
| Nome do OVA | Year |
| Dog Days'': Limone Resort Tenbou Onsen! | 2015 |
| Arata the Legend Picture Drama | 2013 |
| Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest - Prologue | 2020 |
| KonoSuba – God’s blessing on this wonderful world! 2 OVA | 2017 |
| Ascendance of a Bookworm OVA | 2020 |
| That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime OVA | 2019 |
| KonoSuba – God’s blessing on this wonderful world! OVA | 2016 |
| Problem Children Are Coming From Another World, Aren't They? OVA | 2013 |
| Kyo Kara Maoh! R | 2007 |
| El-Hazard: The Magnificent World | 1995 |
| Fushigi Yugi OVA: Dai Ni Bu | 1997 |
| El-Hazard: The Magnificent World 2 | 1997 |
| Fushigi Yugi OVA | 1996 |
| Fushigi Yugi OVA: Eikoden | 2001 |
| Mahou Shoujo Tai: The Adventure | 2007 |
| Harukanaru Toki no Naka de ~Ajisai Yumegatari~ | 2002 |
| Wings of Rean | 2005 |
| Choujikuu Romanesque Samy: Missing 99 | 1986 |
| Rainbow Mountain | 2003 |
| That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Veldora's Journal | 2019 |
| Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest - Omnibus: The Great Orcus Labyrinth | 2019 |
| Xie Wang Zhui Qi | 2019 |