Best Isekai Game Anime

Highlights

• Fall 2023 has a solid selection of isekai anime, including sequels and new shows, offering a range of fantasy worlds and gaming elements.
• “I’m in Love with the Villainess” is an adaptation of a popular light novel, delivering a fun twist on the villainess formula and providing comedic moments.
• “Demon Lord, Retry!” and “Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks?” fall short with lackluster animation and characters, while “Bakegyamon” offers a decent watch for fans of old-school battle shonen stories.

While not a recent invention,

isekai

has grown especially popular in manga and anime over the last decade. The success of series like

Sword Art Online

helped usher in a new era when everyone and, occasionally, their mother is being sent to alternate worlds defined by RPG mechanics. As tired as the formula can get at times, isekai has produced some gems that serve as fantastic wish-fulfillment series.

Which are the

best isekai

game

anime

? Synonymous as the theme might be with RPGs, only a handful of shows state that they take place within games; however, plenty of anime are set in fantasy worlds built upon traditional gaming conventions. Permitting these gaming elements are prominently featured, these types of shows will also be considered for this discussion. An example of a series that does not qualify is the brilliant

Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World

, as its universe does not function that much like a game outside of Subaru’s respawn power.

Updated November 4, 2023 by Mark Sammut:



Fall 2023 is underway, and the season has one

isekai anime set in a game

. Although it is still too early to definitively proclaim its brilliance, this series is shaping up to be a treat.

Along with quality, the rankings also take into account the importance the isekai anime gives to the “game” aspect of their worlds.

Fall 2023: I’m in Love With The Villainess

As always, Fall 2023 has a couple of isekai anime, and it is overall a solid selection.

The Eminence in Shadow Season 2

is the standout pick, and the anime is refreshingly set in a world that is not stitched together from MMO tropes. After the disappointing second season,

The Rising of the Shield Hero

has managed to steady the ship with a much-improved follow-up.

The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent

and

The Faraway Paladin

are also airing sequels, and while they have been largely overshadowed, they are solid enough fantasy shows in their own right. The former should really hit the spot for those seeking a more laid-back option.

When it comes to new isekai anime, Fall 2023 has an okay bunch.

Butareba -The Story of a Man Who Turned into a Pig-

is simultaneously fascinating and dull, while

I Shall Survive Using Potions!

is a harmless show that goes in one ear and out the other. Finally, there is

I’m in Love with the Villainess

, which is based on a popular light novel. Although perhaps not fully living up to expectations so far, the adaptation is still pretty good and one of the season’s funnier comedies.

Overworked to death, Rei awakens as the protagonist (Rae) of one of her favorite otome games, and she instantly sets out to woo the villainess, Claire. The latter is perplexed and creeped out by Rae, at least initially, but they do eventually start to form a friendship.

I’m in Love with the Villainess

offers a fun twist on the villainess formula, and Rae is a force of nature that regularly attracts hilarious reactions from Claire.

23


Demon Lord, Retry!

MyAnimeList: 6.55

Demon Lord, Retry!

flew by without leaving much of an impact when it aired in 2019, and it is not difficult to see why. Along with stiff animation, this anime does not offer much that allows it to stand out from the crowd. After working on a game for more than a decade, Akira Oono finds himself living as the overpowered Demon Lord in the

MMORPG

‘s world. He quickly forms a bond with Aku, a young girl, and sets out to understand why this turn of events happened and also to establish a steady income.

A mostly lighthearted affair that ends on an arc devoted to a hot spring,

Demon Lord, Retry!

lacks much in the way of tension or memorable characters. For all the anime’s flaws, Akira’s maturity makes for a refreshing change of pace from the typical teenage isekai protagonist.

22


Do You Love Your Mom And Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks?

MyAnimeList: 5.55

Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks?

takes place in an MMORPG dedicated to nourishing parent-child relationships. Naturally, this causes Masato to be teleported into the game’s world alongside his mother, Mamako. While the son takes the game seriously and gets very little to show for it, his mother is incredibly powerful from the get-go, to the point that she constantly overshadows her child.

Based on a light novel, the

Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks?

anime is probably best described as amusing trash. Except for a surprisingly dark sub-story revolving around a secondary character, the series primarily maintains a lighthearted tone. Mamako’s overpowered nature means battles are devoid of tension; however, her relationship with Masato produces a couple of laughs, along with a few uncomfortable moments.

21


Bakegyamon

MyAnimeList: 6.60

Bakegyamon

has been all but forgotten since its 2006 run, and it was never particularly known outside of Japan to begin with. Based on a shonen manga, the story follows an energetic boy who gets dragged into a backward version of Japan to take part in a card game called Bakegyamon, which consists of cards that summon monsters. The setup seems to take inspiration from popular shows like

Digimon

and

Yu-Gi-Oh!

, and while somewhat by the numbers during its initial arcs,

Bakegyamon

does eventually start to differentiate itself from those more popular properties.

Even though it is by no means an underappreciated masterpiece, Radix’s anime is a decent enough watch that deserves to be slightly more well-known than it currently is. While definitely not the

best isekai game anime

,

Bakegyamon

is likely to satisfy people who enjoy old-school battle shonen stories. The manga is also a solid option and arguably slightly better than the adaptation, mainly because it has a stronger final act.

20


I’m Standing On 1,000,000 Lives

MyAnimeList: 6.51 (Season 1)

I’m Standing On 1,000,000 Lives

follows three classmates who are teleported to a fantasy world by a Game Master. They are assigned classes and tasked with completing ten quests.

All three characters are introduced as stereotypes, but the anime does eventually begin to hint that it wants to be something more. The first season very much feels like a prologue that mainly exists to set up a more interesting sequel, one that will hopefully justify the existence of this series.

19


The Beauty Blogger

MyAnimeList: 6.68

A Chinese shoujo series that aired in 2018,

The Beauty Blogger

focuses on cosmetics and has quite a relaxed tone compared to most other isekai anime. After tragedy strikes, the titular blogger finds herself in a game world based on Imperial China. Through love, comedy, and a lot of makeup, she learns to exist within this world while slowly changing its naturally traditional characters.

The Beauty Blogger

has solid animation, unsophisticated but largely inoffensive characters, and some serviceable romance. While far from a must-watch anime, this show is worth a try for those looking for something different.

18


I’ve Been Killing Slimes For 300 Years And Maxed Out My Level

MyAnimeList: 6.93

Although this show does not outright state that it takes place in a game, the world is built entirely on RPG mechanics. Due to dying from exhaustion, Azusa is sent to a fantasy realm by a goddess where she can lead a relaxing and endless life. Enjoying her days on her farm, Azusa spends her time killing slimes; after repeating this daily grind for 300 years, Azusa inadvertently maxes out her stats. Naturally, her power sends ripples across the land as people come to challenge her.

Lighthearted and leisurely paced,

I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level

strikes an easy-going pace and maintains it for most of its run. Azusa’s lifestyle might be threatened on occasion, but she is never in any actual danger. Isekai fans searching for a show with slice of life elements should add this 2021 anime to their watch list.

17


Skeleton Knight In Another World

MyAnimeList: 7.17

The Spring

2022

season was stacked with isekai anime, quite a few of which were happy to directly state they occur within game worlds.

Skeleton Knight in Another World

follows Arc, a gamer stuck as their reasonably powered character in a fantasy world defined by discrimination. Also, as the title suggests, Arc has a skeleton avatar, which is not a common sight in this universe.

Skeleton Knight in Another World

‘s strength lies in the relationships that form between the main characters. Arc, Ariane, and the adorable Ponta have a charming rapport that brings out the best in each of their personalities. As the story allows all the heroes to shine rather than just Arc, they come across as a genuine party whose members are equally vital in their own ways. For all its positives,

Skeleton Knight in Another World

‘s tone is all over the place, and the story often struggles to balance its mature themes and lighthearted banter.

16


Death March To The Parallel World Rhapsody

MyAnimeList: 6.45

Rather than a player,

Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody

teleports a programmer into a world inspired by the video games he worked on. This change only impacts the anime’s backstory because the end result is another overpowered protagonist who has a habit of collecting women as party members.

These types of series are a dime-a-dozen in the isekai genre, and with good reason. They are the ultimate escapist fantasies and typically revolve around central characters designed to serve as surrogates for viewers.

Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody

is an example of a stereotypical isekai anime.

15


Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

MyAnimeList: 7.23 (Season 1)

Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

is about Yuna, a girl who gets teleported into her favorite MMORPG with overpowered equipment that trivializes every battle. In this case, the protagonist’s OP status is not that much of an issue as the focus is on Yuna’s friendships with the girls she meets on her travels, and this aspect of the show works well. The characters are likable, their interactions are amusing, and the humor is decent for the most part.

One aspect of the anime that falls flat is world-building.

Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

‘s World Fantasy Online is devoid of any unique features that separate it from other

isekai anime set in MMORPGs

; consequently, the show is quite forgettable.

Season 2 is airing as part of the Spring 2023 anime season.

14


In The Land Of Leadale

MyAnimeList: 6.95

In the Land of Leadale

is an enjoyable slow-life show about a woman who is reincarnated in a world based on a virtual reality MMORPG she used to escape to during her life. Not everything about Leadale is exactly as Keina, or Cayna in-game, remembers, but the one thing that has remained the same is the world’s fantastical elements.

Putting aside the occasional action sequence,

In the Land of Leadale

is predominantly happy to allow Cayna to exist peacefully in her new home. The protagonist (and audience) is not on a mission to defeat some huge threat, even though she is quite powerful, but she primarily focuses on crafting a quiet and peaceful place in this universe. This premise makes for a relaxing isekai anime.

13


Hunter X Hunter – Greed Island Arc

MyAnimeList: 9.04

Hunter x Hunter

is not an isekai anime, but it does make a detour into a game for a single saga. The Greed Island arc is named after a game designed by Ging Freecss, Gon’s father, and it is limited to only Nen users. Hunters are physically taken into the game’s deadly world, with the ultimate goal being to collect 100 restricted cards.

Greed Island is not generally regarded as one of

Hunter x Hunter

‘s strongest storylines, mainly because it is sidelined by two of the anime’s greatest arcs and feels somewhat like a side-quest. That said, it does progress Gon’s plot to find Ging, works as a training arc for the two leads, and provides a break from the anime’s often dark tone.

12


Ixion Saga DT

MyAnimeList: 7.14

“Isekai” is more of a premise than a genre, as any show featuring a protagonist who is transferred to another world qualifies. This premise leaves a lot of room for variety when it comes to tone. For example,

Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World

and

Ixion Saga DT

are both isekai anime, but the former is grim and complex while the latter is comedic and unapologetically stupid.

A great player in an MMORPG, Kon Hokaze receives a friend request and, naturally, winds up in a fantasy world. Kon meets a princess, joins a party, and sets out to save the world. As its humor is quite immature,

Ixion Saga DT

is not for everyone, but it can be hilarious at times.

11


My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom!

MyAnimeList: 7.46 (Season 1)

My Next Life As A Villainess

has a fantastic premise. Katarina Claes suddenly realizes she has been living in an otome game called Fortune Lover and that she is the villain who has a future of bad endings to look forward to. This awareness inspires Katarina to get

creative

, as she tries to go against destiny and attain a happy ending for a character who is specifically forbidden.

Despite being set in basically a dating sim,

My Next Life As A Villainess

primarily focuses on its main character’s development and drive, with romance taking somewhat of a backseat.

10


I’m The Villainess, So I’m Taming The Final Boss

MyAnimeList: 7.23

The light novel industry has been obsessed with villainess otome stories for a number of years, but the trend has only just started to pick up steam in anime. While not isekai, Winter 2023’s

Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte

otherwise fits snuggly into this subgenre, and

The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior

has been already announced for Summer 2023. In Fall 2022, this trend was kept alive by

I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss

, an anime that hits a few road bumps but is generally a smooth and enjoyable ride.

On the day she has her engagement broken by the kingdom’s prince, Aileen realizes she is the villainess of an otome game she played in her previous life. To avoid a bad ending, she sets out to woo the Demon

King

, the charismatic Claude Jeanne Elmir.

I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss

is at its best when focusing on Claude and Aileen’s relationship since they have great chemistry. The story starts reasonably strong as well, but it loses some momentum when Aileen begins to live through the otome game’s sequel; however, the anime ends on a decent note.

9


.Hack//Sign

MyAnimeList: 6.95

.Hack//Sign

is often hailed as the forefather of isekai anime set in games, but the show has quite a different tone to most series that would eventually follow it. Tsukasa, a timid player, wakes up in The World, an MMORPG, without any memories or the ability to leave.

.Hack//Sign

is not interested in explosive action sequences or constantly supplying answers, opting to instead focus on Tsukasa’s psyche and his relationships with other characters. The anime moves at an incredibly slow pace that will put off some people; thankfully,

.Hack//Sign

‘s character writing is great.

8


How Not To Summon A Demon Lord

MyAnimeList: 6.85

More often than not, an isekai anime will center around a hikikomori who spends all of his time in an MMORPG. Be it death or a summoning gone wrong, the character ends up in a fantasy world where he is an instant hero, mainly because he retains his stats from the MMORPG.

How Not to Summon a Demon Lord

is a stereotypical isekai anime in a lot of ways, but it rises above its contemporaries through sheer personality and strong comedic timing.

Although powerful, Takuma Sakamoto, the anime’s resident hikikomori turned Demon Lord, retains his social anxiety while in the game world. Consequently, it is not all smooth sailing for the protagonist.

7


The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess To Savior

MyAnimeList: 7.08

By law, an anime season must have at least 5 isekai shows, and Summer 2023 did not disappoint in this area.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2

was undoubtedly the cream of the crop, far surpassing the theme’s other seasonal offerings. Be that as it may, the latter releases can still be worth watching in their own right. In terms of

isekai anime set in games

, only one Summer 2023 show was officially set within such a universe:

The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior

.

Based on Tenichi’s light novel series,

Last Boss Queen

is among the better examples of the villainess isekai trend. As is often the case, the female protagonist is reincarnated as the antagonist of an otome game who is destined for a rough end; consequently, she must work tirelessly to change her new life’s trajectory.

Last Boss Queen

shakes things up by putting its lead in the shoes of a genuinely horrible villainess, rather than one who kind of becomes evil after being rejected. Pride, the character in question, is also powerful, which is not all that common in these sorts of stories.

6


Trapped In A Dating Sim: The World Of Otome Games Is Tough For Mobs

MyAnimeList: 7.34

One of the nicer surprises of the Spring 2022 season,

Trapped in a Dating Sim

overcame a clunky start to grow into an endearing show. After being forced to play through a dating sim by his sister, Leon stumbles down the stairs and dies. He is then reborn into the game’s world, which revolves around a society that empowers women over men. Using his knowledge, Leon sets out to craft a comfortable life for himself, but he quickly finds himself tied to the game’s heroine and villain.

Leon is refreshingly blunt and vicious, particularly during the first half of the season. His relationships with Olivia and Angelica, along with the friendship between the girls, serve as the heart and soul of the story, and they more than make up for the anime’s lackluster animation.

5


Sword Art Online

MyAnimeList: 7.20

Sword Art Online

is the first anime most people are likely to think about when discussing isekai stories set in games. With a fantastic opening stretch of episodes and multiple seasons to follow,

Sword Art Online

presents a string of interesting worlds that are not always explored to their full potential.

Sword Art Online

is far from perfect, including a rather bland protagonist, but it has just enough memorable action scenes to make it worthwhile. It should be said that the franchise’s best incarnation,

Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online

, is not an isekai.

4


KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!

MyAnimeList: 8.11 (Season 1)

KonoSuba

is set in an alternate world that functions very much like an MMORPG, including quests, traditional party roles, and plenty of monsters to hunt. After his untimely death, Kazuma meets a somewhat arrogant goddess, Aqua, who allows the NEET to take one thing with him before he reincarnates in an alternate world. Naturally, Kazuma picks Aqua, a decision he comes to regret.

KonoSuba

is basically a parody of isekai anime. Not only does it poke fun at conventions seen in the genre and video games, but it does it all while featuring a roster of characters who are mostly awful (but in the best possible way).