The Most Popular Isekai, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the Isekai you think is the most popular!
Updated on Apr 26, 2024 06:41
In the realm of fantasy genres, Isekai holds a special place, captivating audiences by transporting characters from an ordinary world to an extraordinary one. This shift not only fuels the narrative with endless possibilities but also allows for a unique exploration of themes like adventure, self-discovery, and the clash of different cultures. However, with the abundant array of stories, it becomes crucial to distinguish which ones truly capture the essence and deliver on their promise of escapism and adventure.
Here, fans of the genre come together to cast their votes and help determine the cream of the crop. By participating, voters not only contribute to a dynamic, fan-powered ranking but also find recommendations tailored to their tastes. This engaging activity ensures that the best Isekai aren't just recognized by critics but are also cherished and recommended by the community that loves them the most.
What Is the Most Popular Isekai?
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154votes
Sword Art Online (SAO)
Reki KawaharaThis was one of the first Isekai anime to gain widespread popularity and has a huge fan base. It features a virtual reality MMORPG where players are trapped and must fight their way out to survive.Sword Art Online (SAO) is a popular Isekai anime and light novel series. It is set in a virtual reality MMORPG world where players enter a fully immersive virtual reality game using advanced technology. The series follows the protagonist, Kirito, and his friends as they navigate through various virtual worlds, facing both virtual and real-life challenges.- Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
- Original Run: 2009 - present
- Light Novel Volumes: 25 and ongoing
- Anime Adaptation: Aired in 2012
- Main Protagonist: Kirito
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228votes
Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World
Tappei NagatsukiThis anime is known for its unique take on the Isekai genre, where the protagonist Subaru finds himself in a time loop where he dies and restarts at previous checkpoints.Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World is a popular Isekai anime and light novel series. It follows the story of Subaru Natsuki, a normal high school student who is suddenly transported to a fantasy world. There, he discovers that he possesses a unique ability called 'Return by Death,' which allows him to rewind time whenever he dies. Subaru embarks on a journey to uncover the mysteries of this new world and protect the people he cares about.- Genre: Fantasy, Isekai
- Original Run: 2012 - Present
- Anime Adaptation: 2016 - Present
- Light Novel Volumes: 26+
- Manga Adaptation: 2014 - Present
Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World in other rankings- Position 9 of 10 in Most popular new anime
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314votesThis anime follows the journey of a man who is reincarnated as a slime monster in a fantasy world and becomes a powerful leader. It gained a lot of popularity due to its unique concept and likable characters.That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is a popular anime series that revolves around the story of a 37-year-old man who is reincarnated as a slime in a fantasy world after he is killed. With his newfound abilities as a slime, the protagonist sets out on a journey to build a peaceful and prosperous community in the new world.
- Genre: Isekai, Fantasy, Adventure
- Original run: October 2, 2018 – March 19, 2019
- Episodes: 24
- Studio: 8-Bit
- Licensed by: Crunchyroll, Funimation
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime in other rankings- Position 2 of 10 in Most popular anime involving reincarnation
- Position 8 of 10 in Most popular Isekai Manhwa
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420votesThis anime follows the story of a player who is stuck in a virtual reality game and becomes the game's main villain. It gained popularity due to its unique concept and great animation.Overlord is a popular anime series that involves reincarnation. It is set in the virtual reality game world of Yggdrasil, where the main character, Momonga, finds himself trapped after the game servers are shut down. Momonga, also known as Ainz Ooal Gown, a powerful skeletal sorcerer, decides to conquer the new world with his loyal NPC followers to uncover the truth behind his situation.
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
- Episodes: 3 seasons: 39 episodes
- Studio: Madhouse
- Original run: July 7, 2015 – present
- Main character: Momonga / Ainz Ooal Gown
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59votesThis anime is a parody of the Isekai genre and follows the story of a NEET who is transported to a fantasy world and joins forces with a goddess to defeat the demon king. It gained popularity due to its humor and likable characters.Konosuba, officially known as Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!, is a popular anime series that falls under the genres of comedy, fantasy, and adventure. The story revolves around Kazuma Sato, a high school student who dies a comically embarrassing death and is then transported to a parallel world filled with monsters and magic. There, he forms a dysfunctional party with three other quirky and flawed characters: Aqua, the useless goddess; Megumin, the explosion-obsessed archwizard; and Darkness, the masochistic crusader. Together, they embark on absurd and hilarious adventures while trying to save the world.
- Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure
- Episodes: Two seasons with a total of 22 episodes
- Original run: January 14, 2016 – March 16, 2017
- Studio: Studio Deen
- Director: Takaomi Kanasaki
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614votesThis anime follows the story of a young man who is summoned to a fantasy world as a hero but is betrayed and forced to become a shield hero. It gained popularity due to its unique take on the Isekai genre and its themes of betrayal and redemption.The Rising of the Shield Hero in other rankings
- Position 3 of 10 in Most popular anime involving reincarnation
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72votesThis anime follows the story of players who are transported into a MMORPG and must learn to survive in this new world. It gained popularity due to its unique take on the Isekai genre and its focus on strategy and politics.Log Horizon is a popular Isekai anime and light novel series. The story revolves around a socially awkward gamer named Shiroe, who gets trapped along with thousands of other players in the massively multiplayer online game called Elder Tale. In this new reality, they must learn to adapt and survive in the game world while also uncovering the mysteries behind their predicament.
- Genre: Isekai, Fantasy, Adventure
- Original Run (Light Novel): 2010 - present
- Original Run (Anime): 2013 - 2014, 2021
- Number of Volumes (Light Novel): 12+
- Number of Episodes (Anime): 50
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86votesThis anime follows the story of two siblings who are transported to a world where everything is decided by games. It gained popularity due to its unique concept and great animation.No Game No Life is a popular Isekai anime and light novel series that follows the story of two genius siblings, Sora and Shiro, who are transported to a magical world governed by games instead of violence. In this world called Disboard, conflicts are resolved through various games, and the siblings, known as Blank, aim to conquer the world and challenge the God of Games.
- Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Ecchi, Fantasy, Game
- Anime TV Series: 12 episodes, aired from April 9, 2014, to June 25, 2014
- Light Novel: 9 volumes, published from April 25, 2012, to August 25, 2018
- Manga Adaptation: 2 volumes, published from May 27, 2013, to September 27, 2014
- Main Characters: Sora, Shiro, Stephanie Dola, Jibril, Kurami Zell, Tet
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98votes
The Saga of Tanya the Evil
Carlo ZenThis anime follows the story of a ruthless businessman who is reincarnated as a young girl in a fantasy world and becomes a soldier. It gained popularity due to its unique concept and great animation.The Saga of Tanya the Evil, also known as Tanya the Evil, is a Japanese light novel series written by Carlo Zen and illustrated by Shinobu Shinotsuki. It has been adapted into a manga series, an anime television series, and a feature film. The story is set in an alternate world where an atheist salaryman is reincarnated as a young girl named Tanya Degurechaff. Tanya becomes a powerful and ruthless soldier in the Empire's military, known for her tactical cunning and relentless pursuit of efficiency on the battlefield. As Tanya navigates this new world and its conflicts, she faces challenges from both enemies on the front lines and political adversaries within the military hierarchy.- Genre: Isekai, Military, Fantasy
- Original run: 2013 - present
- Light novel volumes: 11
- Manga volumes: 13+
- Anime episodes: 12
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101votes
In Another World With My Smartphone
Patora FuyuharaThis anime follows the story of a young man who is transported to a fantasy world with his smartphone and gains incredible powers. It gained popularity due to its unique concept and likable characters.In Another World With My Smartphone is a Japanese light novel series written by Patora Fuyuhara and illustrated by Eiji Usatsuka. The story follows Touya Mochizuki, a fifteen-year-old boy who is accidentally killed by God. As an apology, God allows Touya to be reincarnated in a fantasy world along with his smartphone, with its functionality intact. In this new world, Touya embarks on various adventures, utilizing his smartphone's advanced features and abilities.- Publication Date: March 2013
- Genre: Isekai, Fantasy, Adventure, Harem
- Number of Volumes: 22 (ongoing)
- Original Run: 2013 - present
- Magazine: Overlap Bunko
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Discussion
Ranking factors for popular Isekai
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Storyline and plotA well-written and engaging storyline with interesting plot twists is crucial in determining the popularity of an Isekai. The level of creativity, world-building, and how well it keeps the audience hooked should be considered.
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Characters and character developmentThe depth, relatability, and growth of the characters play a significant role in the popularity of an Isekai. Strong and memorable characters with unique qualities will make the series stand out.
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Animation quality and art styleHigh-quality animation and unique, visually appealing art styles are important factors that contribute to the overall enjoyment of the series.
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PacingThe pace at which the story unfolds, as well as the balance of action, dialogue, and plot development, can impact the series' popularity.
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Genre blendingA successful Isekai often combines multiple genres, such as action, adventure, romance, and comedy. The way these genres are balanced and how they complement each other can affect the series' appeal.
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Soundtrack and voice actingA memorable soundtrack and exceptional voice acting performances can enhance the overall experience and contribute to a series' popularity.
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OriginalityWhile many Isekai follow similar themes and tropes, a popular series should bring something new or offer a fresh take, making it stand out from the competition.
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Fanbase and engagementThe size of the series' fanbase and how active and engaged it is, whether through fan art, discussions, or online communities, can be an indication of its popularity.
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Critical receptionReviews and ratings from critics and viewers can contribute to the overall perception of the series' popularity.
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Awards and recognitionReceiving notable awards or recognition from reputable anime organizations, competitions, or magazines can attest to the popularity and quality of an Isekai series.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular Isekai. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Isekai is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1672 views
- 156 votes
- 10 ranked items
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Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Isekai once every 24 hours. The rank of each Isekai is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular isekai
Isekai, which translates to "other world" in Japanese, has become a popular sub-genre in anime and manga in recent years. The premise typically involves a protagonist being transported to a fantasy world, often with RPG elements, where they have to adapt to their new surroundings and embark on an adventure. While the concept of isekai has been around for a while, it has gained significant traction in the mainstream anime community with the success of shows like Sword Art Online, Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World, and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. With so many isekai titles out there, it can be difficult to determine which ones are the most beloved by fans. That's where StrawPoll comes in, as we've gathered data on the most popular isekai titles voted on by our users.
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