There’s a reason why the isekai genre in anime, manga, and light novels is as popular as it is. It serves as the perfect power fantasy. Who doesn’t want to be transported into a fantasy world where they’re more than just a regular human being? Who hasn’t wished to live in their favorite video game world?
With so many isekai works, finding one that caters to a specific demographic shouldn’t be too difficult. With shonen isekai in particular, the protagonists are often teenage boys, and the works themselves borrow some elements from battle shonen. These tend to have a much more idealistic tone than seinen isekai, and are more action-heavy than shojo works.
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10 Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody
MyAnimeList Score: 6.45
Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody
- Release Date
- January 11, 2018
- Creator
- Hiro Ainana
- Studio
- SILVER LINK., Connect
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- Japanese Title
- Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyousoukyoku
Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody follows a programmer named Ichirou Suzuki, who gets transported to a fantasy world after falling asleep. He discovers the world is like the fantasy RPGs he was debugging, and despite gaining incredible powers, he wants to live a peaceful life.
Ichirou decides to make the most of his situation since he has no way to return home. He meets new friends, embarks on adventures, and explores the mysteries of the new world he’s found himself in.
9 Sword Art Online
MyAnimeList Score: 7.20
Sword Art Online
- Release Date
- July 8, 2012
- Creator
- Reki Kawahara
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
- Number of Episodes
- 96
Possibly the best-known isekai, Sword Art Online tells the story of Kazuto ‘Kirito’ Kirigaya, who gets trapped in a virtual reality MMORPG in its beta test phase. Since he can’t log out, he and other players are forced to band together to face the game’s challenges.
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Sword Art Online is considered responsible for the explosive popularity of the isekai genre. It is a huge franchise in and of itself, inspiring several spin-offs, video games, and an upcoming Netflix live-action series.
8 Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious
MyAnimeList Score: 7.48
Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious
- Release Date
- October 2, 2019
- Creator
- Light Tuchihi
- Studio
- White Fox
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- Japanese Title
- Shinchou Yuusha: Kono Yuusha ga Ore Tueee Kuse ni Shinchou Sugiru
Cautious Hero: The Hero is Overpowered but Overly Cautious is a comedic take on the isekai genre. A goddess named Ristarte has summoned a human named Seiya Ryuuguuin to protect her world from the Demon Lord. Seiya has incredible stats, but he is a little too cautious about everything.
He demands multiple sets of armor, refuses to enter even the world’s safest areas, and uses his strongest powers to kill the weakest enemies, just to be on the safe side. Given the kind of world Gaeabrande is, though, Seiya’s overly-cautious nature might be justified.
7 Tsukimichi ~Moonlit Fantasy~
MyAnimeList Score: 7.71
Tsukimichi – Moonlit Fantasy
- Release Date
- July 7, 2021
- Creator
- Kei Azumi
- Studio
- C2C (Season 1), J.C.Staff (Season 2)
- Number of Episodes
- 37
- Japanese Title
- Tsuki ga Michibiku Isekai Douchuu
Tsukimichi ~Moonlit Fantasy~ is about an average high school student named Makoto Misumi. Having parents who hail from a fantasy world, he is summoned to the land of Elysion by a goddess. However, the vain goddess immediately rejects him due to his unremarkable appearance.
Forced to fend for himself in the strange land, Makoto befriends all sorts of beings, from dwarves to orcs to dragons. They decide to form a community and go on many adventures.
6 The Devil is a Part-Timer!
MyAnimeList Score: 7.74
The Devil Is a Part-Timer!
- Release Date
- April 4, 2013
- Creator
- Satoshi Wagahara
- Studio
- White Fox, Studio 3Hz
- Number of Episodes
- 37
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll , Hulu , Tubi , Funimation
- Japanese Title
- Hataraku Maou-sama!
Plenty of isekai stories are about a regular person who gets transported into a fantasy world, but what about a series that does the reverse? The Devil is a Part-Timer! follows Satan after his plans to dominate his land get foiled. He is forced to retreat through a dimensional portal to modern-day Tokyo.
Now living as a regular human named Sadao Maou, he takes a part-time job as a fast food worker at an off-brand version of McDonalds. Alongside his loyal general Ashiya, the two former demons struggle to adapt to the mundanity of human life.
5 Inuyasha
MyAnimeList Score: 7.86
Inuyasha
- Release Date
- October 16, 2000
- Creator
- Rumiko Takahashi
- Studio
- Sunrise
- Number of Episodes
- 193
Created by the legendary Rumiko Takahashi, Inuyasha tells the story of Kagome Higurashi, a teenage girl who lives on the grounds of a Shinto shrine with her family. One day, she gets pulled into a well by a demon, and she’s sent 500 years back to the past. There, she finds out she’s the reincarnation of Kikyo, a priestess who carries the wish-granting Shikon Jewel.
After accidentally shattering the jewel, she is forced to team up with a half-demon named Inuyasha to recover its pieces. The series’ popularity and legacy inspired an anime-only spin-off called Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon.
4 Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun!
MyAnimeList Score: 7.75
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun
- Release Date
- October 5, 2019
- Creator
- Osamu Nishi
- Studio
- Bandai Namco Pictures
- Number of Episodes
- 65
- Japanese Title
- Mairimashita! Iruma-kun
Fourteen-year-old Iruma Suzuki is kind, but gullible. His lazy, neglectful parents mistreat him in ridiculous ways, and finally end up selling him to a demon. Fortunately for Iruma, the demon Sullivan just wants a grandson and adopts him as one. He sends him to an academy called Babyls School for Demons, where Iruma tries to conceal his human identity from the demon students.
Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun! has inspired several spin-off manga. It was adapted into an anime in 2019, with a second and third season in 2021 and 2022 respectively, and a fourth season in April 2024.
3 Log Horizon
MyAnimeList Score: 7.92
Log Horizon
- Release Date
- October 5, 2013
- Creator
- Mamare Touno
- Studio
- Satelight, Studio Deen
- Number of Episodes
- 62
After the release of a new expansion pack for the popular MMORPG Elder Tale, players are transported into the world of the game. Unable to log out, they are forced to adjust to their new circumstances. A socially awkward but intelligent student named Shiroe and his friends must team up with other players to make the most of their situation.
The Log Horizon web novel was adapted into a light novel series, several manga, and a 25-episode anime in 2013. The anime got a second season in 2021.
2 That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
MyAnimeList Score: 8.14
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
- Release Date
- October 2, 2018
- Creator
- Fuse
- Studio
- Eight Bit
- Number of Episodes
- 48+
- Japanese Title
- Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken
37-year-old Satoru Mikami is perfectly content with his life as a corporate worker. However, an altercation on the street leads to him being reincarnated in a fantasy world as a slime. He gains the power to absorb and mimic other creatures, and soon stumbles upon a sealed monster named Veldora.
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The slime befriends and promises to free the monster, and as thanks, Veldora bestows him with the name ‘Rimuru Tempest’. Both the manga and the anime adaptation have received several accolades, with the second season of the anime winning ‘Best Fantasy’ at the 2022 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
1 Konosuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!
MyAnimeList Score: 8.11
KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World!
- Release Date
- January 14, 2016
- Creator
- Natsume Akatsuki
- Studio
- Studio Deen
- Number of Episodes
- 20
- Japanese Title
- Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!
One of the finest and funniest isekai parodies, Konosuba follows a NEET named Kazuma Satou, who gets a second chance at life after being hit by a truck. The goddess Aqua gives him an offer to be reincarnated into a fantasy world, and even tells him he can pick any item to aid him in his adventures. To her shock, Kazuma chooses her.
Kazuma and Aqua are accompanied by Megumin, a mage with ‘explosive’ abilities, and Darkness, a masochistic crusader. The four of them go on many (mis)adventures, including accepting quests to pay back their debt and taking on the Demon King.
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