Isekai has been inescapable for roughly a decade, with each season producing at least half a dozen anime that fit the theme. Despite its widespread popularity and appeal, the genre is not particularly well-regarded; if anything, isekai shows are looked down upon as mindless fluff that cater to the lowest common denominator. That said, there are a few outliers that attract positive discourse, arguably none more so thanRe:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-.
Currently in its third season,Re:Zerois ambitious, unsettling, and challenging. The anime regularly and enthusiastically takes risks, willingly depicting its heroic characters in a negative light or even employing a storytelling style that rewards patience. Frankly, there are very fewisekai anime likeRe:Zero, and despite its popularity, the series has not had too much influence on the genre’s direction. Still, there are a few anime that might hit the mark with fans of Subaru’s unforgettable adventure.
Mushoku Tenseiis usually mentioned alongsideRe:Zeroas the other “mature” isekai story that leans into dark fantasy territory, which is a fair assessment. However, the shows are not that similar in the grand scheme of things, even if they shine in a few of the same areas.Mushoku Tenseifeatures some of the best world-building in the genre, with each new arc introducing or exploring magic systems,races, and cultures.
The series is willing to take chances as well, including a sequel season set entirely in a magic academy and featuring almost no action. LikeRe:Zero, character development is a big part ofMushoku Tensei, with its protagonist (Rudy) starting as a slimeball and gradually becoming a more respectable person. Rudy and Subaru share common ground in that they were both shut-ins in their previous lives, although the latter was a considerably better person.
Arelatively underrated isekai anime,The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trashis beautiful, both visually and narratively. Its animation is shockingly great, to the point of seeming movie-like at times.Re:Zero’s visuals are consistently fantastic, andWeakest Tamermanages to compare favorably in most areas.
Rather than focusing on the isekai aspect,Weakest Tamerdrops viewers into an ongoing story that finds a protagonist, Ivy, running away from her village as she has been marked for death. As a zero-star Tamer, she is regarded as useless by everyone, forcing her to escape and live out in nature. Gradually, she begins to make connections with monsters and humans from other villagers, all the while receiving guidance from her past life.
Subaru is weak, and he (eventually) accepts that. Consequently, his positive contributions nearly always revolve around bringing out the best in the people around him, be it Emilia, Rem, or Beatrice.As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I’ll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the Worldtakes a similar approach by introducing a protagonist whose value derives entirely from his ability to see the potential in people.
In this case, Ars literally sees somebody’s skills and possible stats, making it easy for him to decide whether to ally with someone or not. As he is a political figure in a world destined for an all-out conflict, Ars spends his time and energy building a party capable of turning the tide of war.
Grimgaris fantastic, at least that is true for the light novel. At just 12 episodes, the anime adaptation just serves as an introduction to this universe rather than a satisfying isolated experience; that said, it is worth a watch by both newcomers and fans of the source material. Stripped of their memories and mostly confused, a group of strangers wake up in a fantasy world where the weak and ill-prepared have short shelf lives. Wisely, they opt to form a party, which gives them a fighting chance of surviving a goblin encounter.
Isekai loves power fantasies, and there is nothing wrong with those types of stories. However, an anime that refuses to put its protagonists on a pedestal and forces them to survive without cheat codes can be refreshing, andGrimgarincorporates this aspect better than most shows.
2KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!
A Neet Gets A Second Chance And Hilarity Ensues
OK, this recommendation comes with the caveat thatKonoSuba’s tone is nothing likeRe:Zero. The former is an isekai parody that rarely takes itself seriously and features almost exclusively “terrible” characters, all of whom are generally likable. If someone wants a show that replicatesRe:Zero’s psychological horror tendencies,KonoSubamight just be the worst option out there. However, if someone is looking for a fun companion piece that provides something different, this series should be the top pick.
Also, they have some similarities.Kazuma and Subaru are both neets who have their skillsbut are not especially powerful. They have to work extra hard to get people to trust them, and they often find themselves stuck in unreliable parties or having to deal with political situations. Kazuma even dies a few times, only to be revived by a goddess. While not the focus,KonoSubatends to go big for its explosive action sequences.
A minor cult classic,Now and Then, Here and Therecan be difficult to track down nowadays, but it is a pretty easy recommendation for anyone yearning for adark and mature isekai story. Similar to Subaru, Shuu finds himself in a fantasy world while trying to protect a blue-haired girl who is facing constant threats due to her potential power.
Also, like Subaru, Shuu is hard-headed, naive, and tries to play the part of the hero, despite being way out of his depth.Now and Then, Here and Theresteadily destroys his childlike view of the world through a sobering journey defined by pain, political subjugation, and tragedy.
Special Mention: Time Travel Anime
Some of thebest anime likeRe:Zeroare not part of the isekai genre. After all, one of the main elements that separates the series from its contemporaries is Subaru’s Return by Death ability, which effectively allows him to travel back in time. This mechanic is not employed by many other isekai anime, but a handful oftime travel showsare built around a similar concept.
