The isekai subgenre of Japanese anime has been soaring in popularity in recent years, and every anime season adds a few more titles to the isekai pool. Even if some anime fans feel burnt out by now, plenty more are eager for new isekai anime series to lose themselves in.
Isekai anime features main characters who are either transported or reincarnated, mostly with the help of the infamous Truck-kun, to another world. Whether an anime fan is newly exploring the genre or looking for their next anime to binge-watch, Crunchyroll has the best anime available on stream.
Update on October 15th, 2023 by Louis Kemner: Isekai anime has plenty to offer, and that includes similar genres like reverse-isekai and even meta-series like Isekai Quartet. Crunchyroll's library of isekai is massive and adds new anime titles all the time. This list has been updated to include more of the best isekai on Crunchyroll.
The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent
The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent is another example of great isekai anime that don't rely on overpowered protagonists to tell a compelling story. The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent is a fine isekai Crunchyroll title that stars Sei Takanashi. Tired of her everyday working life in Japan, Sei finds herself in a fantasy world one night.
This is Sei Takanashi's chance to live a relaxing, pleasant life far away from the endless grind of 21st-century Japan, a premise that quite a few modern isekai titles have. In that new world, Sei will launch a new career as an herbalist and researcher, putting her skills to use to be of service to others.
The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me?
The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me? is an amusing isekai on Crunchyroll that has strong comedy elements and even a harem. The protagonist, 25-year-old Shingo Ichinomiya, is a salaryman who ends up in a fantasy world where nobles practice polygamy. However, Shingo is the 8th son of the nobleman Artur Baumeister, so he can't count on inheriting much.
Instead, Shingo, now named Wendelin, will study magic and find his fortune as an adventurer, and it will pay off enormously. Amusingly, Wendelin will marry five different girls, satisfying the cliche of isekai protagonists ending up with a wish-fulfillment harem sooner or later.
Wise Man's Grandchild
Wise Man's Grandchild is a fairly popular isekai on Crunchyroll that may feel conventional for the most part. However, it still has undeniable charm, hence its good rating on Crunchyroll. It starts off in typical fashion, with a relatable salaryman dying in an accident and getting reincarnated as a child in a fantasy realm.
Now going by Shin Wolford, the hero will learn magic from his foster grandfather, Merlin himself, but he must learn common sense, too. So, by the time Shin turns 15, Merlin will send the boy to a local magical academy on certain conditions. It's up to Shin to make the most of this and learn some good sense while making new friends.
Isekai Izakaya: Japanese Food From Another World
Isekai Izakaya is a delightful and simple reverse-isekai for fans of food-oriented anime and fantasy anime that only lightly touch on isekai's common elements. In this anime, an izakaya called Nobu is connected to a fantasy city named Aitheria. The izakaya's two staff members are always happy to serve their otherworldly patrons.
Isekai Izakaya's narration is based more on a premise than a plot, making it easy and comforting to follow. The owner of the izakaya, Nobuyuki is always welcoming to his exotic guests and will even expand his menu to suit their tastes, such as including Western foods. The waitress, Shinobu, is also a welcoming host and reacts comically anytime Nobuyuki teases her.
Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon
The original, classic InuYasha anime may not be on Crunchyroll, but its sequel certainly is, and Yashahime's a wonderful watch for fans of the original series. Even if Yashahime isn't a landmark isekai anime like InuYasha is, it boasts plenty of familiar characters, fun new characters, and modern production values.
Yashahime has a few protagonists, including Sesshoumaru and Rin's daughter Towa, who got transported to modern Japan and was raised by Kagome's family. The story also includes Setsuna, Towa's half-sister, as well as Kagome and InuYasha's energetic teenage daughter, Moroha.
Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody
Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody is one of the best isekai on Crunchyroll for fans of conventional isekai anime with an OP hero. In this case, protagonist Ichiro Suzuki took a nap one day at his game programmer job and awoke in a fantasy game world he had created as a 15-year-old — and he's stuck there.
An early incident levels him up to level 310 right away, but being the strongest isn't Ichiro's real goal. Instead, he will explore this world to uncover its mysteries and keep his enormous power hidden as he makes new friends in an adventure where fun comes before action.
High School Prodigies Have it Easy Even in Another World
High School Prodigies is one of those isekai anime on Crunchyroll that gives away the entire premise in its lengthy title, but that doesn't spoil all the fun. The anime begins with a private plane filled with highly intelligent and talented teenagers who end up in a fantasy world, and they're ready to change that world for the better.
High School Prodigies' unofficial protagonist, Tsukasa Mikogami, is an expert in the political arena and will help lead his fellow teenage geniuses on their quest to build a better society. They'll also rely on the aid of the locals, who are deeply impressed by what Tsukasa's squad is capable of.
Grimgar, Ashes and Illusions
Grimgar, Ashes and Illusions ranks among the best isekai on Crunchyroll because it focuses a little less on action and adventure, and more on serious character drama. That makes the Grimgar anime's main characters less like power fantasy self-inserts and more like real people who found themselves in a strange new world.
Protagonist Haruhiro and his allies must also balance their party between different classes and abilities to make sure they can survive against the odds, with Haruhiro electing to become a thief while Ranta is a dark knight and the shy dandere Shihoru is a wizard.
Knight's & Magic
Knight's & Magic has a fairly formulaic premise for the most part, but anime fans still count it among the best isekai on Crunchyroll because it has one major twist. In this isekai anime, giant robots are the norm, and they contrast well with the fantasy world they inhabit. Mechs called Silhouette Knights fight to defend innocent people from Demon Beasts.
Protagonist Tsubasa Kurata, a software engineer and a big fan of mecha anime, will see all this for himself when he dies in a car accident and finds himself in the fantastical Fremmevilla Kingdom. He will also assume the new identity of Ernesti, the son of a noble family, and enroll at a magic school where he may learn to pilot those giant mechs for himself.
Kyo Kara Maoh
Kyo Kara Maoh is an older isekai anime that aired before the isekai boom of the early 2010s or so, and even with all this competition, fans recognize it as a fairly good isekai anime on Crunchyroll. Kyo Kara Maoh's story begins when Yuri Shibuya intervenes to save his friends from bullies, only to get his face shoved into a toilet -- only to fall into a portal in the process.
Now Yuri is in a brand-new world far from home, but even weirder still is Yuri's newfound demon status. He is destined to become the demon king and is is happy to build a new life here, but he still misses his old life in Japan and may feel rather conflicted at times.
The Rising Of The Shield Hero
The Rising of the Shield Hero follows the titular hero, Naofumi Iwatani the Shield Hero, as he ventures to farm experience, acquire new powers, and survive in a world that has forsaken him. The anime is darker than the typical isekai anime, featuring a number of betrayals and discrimination. The Rising of the Shield Hero also tackles more serious themes, like religious influences, power struggles, and slavery.
Despite mixed reception to the anime, The Rising of the Shield Hero is a decent isekai with a unique power system. Fans who are looking for the tried-and-tested isekai formula can't go wrong with The Rising of the Shield Hero, as it also offers the familiar power fantasy and plenty more. As of the Fall 2023 anime season, Shield Hero's third season of isekai mayhem has begun airing.
Ascendance Of A Bookworm
Urano Motosu is a self-acclaimed bibliophile who can't live without books. Just as she is about to achieve her dream of being a librarian, she meets her demise and gets reincarnated into a medieval-style world. The problem is that a division across social classes inhibits her access to books, so she strengthens her will and decides to create them instead.
Ascendance of a Bookworm shies away from the usual power fantasy and tackles mature themes in a non-aggressive manner. The anime also features a refreshing young protagonist with a very clear motivation, which has nothing to do with getting stronger or killing monsters.
Saga Of Tanya The Evil
When a salaryman challenges a higher being on his deathbed, he gets reincarnated as a young girl in a war-torn world. She then uses her prior knowledge of the World Wars to prove the god wrong. Saga of Tanya the Evil pushes a sinister character as a protagonist in Tanya Degurechaff, a vicious antihero with a clear goal in mind.
The young maiden with the mind of an old man does not hesitate to use sacrifices if it means guaranteeing her victory, and her being called evil is not just an empty accolade. Tanya uses every dirty trick in the book for the sake of being promoted to a cushy position away from blood and warfare.
KonoSuba: God's Blessing On This Wonderful World!
KonoSuba: God's Blessing On This Wonderful World! has a knack for satirizing typical anime tropes. The anime tells the story of Kazuma, who dies not from getting run over by a truck but from the shock of thinking he did. Kazuma is given the option to ascend to heaven or get reincarnated.
He chooses to start all over again and takes the obnoxious goddess Aqua as his blessing. Instead of helping, the goddess proves to be more trouble than she's worth and the same is true for the rest of his entourage. More recently, Crunchyroll started airing the official spinoff in the Spring 2023 anime season, Konosuba: An Explosion on This Wonderful World!. It's a partial isekai anime, a prequel following Megumin on her misadventures in the months leading up to her meeting with Kazuma, Aqua, and Darkness.
That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is popular not because it reinvented the isekai subgenre with daring new ideas, but because it simply follows the formula so well and makes the most of its many clichés. This is the tale of Rimuru Tempest, the blue slime who wishes to build a peaceful kingdom for monsters.
Reincarnated as a Slime is optimistic and constructive, because Rimuru isn't fighting hard to glorify himself, but to make life better for other monsters and give them a new, tolerant home nation to live in. The series also features a colorful cast of engaging characters, eye-popping combat scenes, and great comedy routines, too. All that and more makes Slime one of the very best isekai on Crunchyroll.
Overlord
When his favorite online RPG is about to shut down, Overlord's Satoru Suzuki finds himself in the body of his in-game character. This time, however, there is no longer an option to log out. He continues his character's role, an almighty evil figure, and continuously expands his domain.
Despite having an anti-hero protagonist like Saga of Tanya the Evil, Overlord's Momonga avoids any unnecessary evil. Similar to That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, the anime features a slew of subordinates with interesting personalities, including a passionate succubus and an amusing brother/sister duo.
Sword Art Online
Sword Art Online is a classic of the isekai genre, influencing the rise of anime with game-like themes, so many fans consider it a must-watch isekai anime on Crunchyroll. Set in a world where virtual reality has progressed to the point of being able to control game avatars using thought, a nightmare occurs when thousands of players get trapped within the game.
To make matters worse, death inside the game equates to real-life death. But that's just part of the anime's charm. SAO features a beautifully-crafted world with a heavy emphasis on RPG activities, making it a perfect escape fantasy anime.
The Ambition Of Oda Nobuna
Yoshiharu is a typical high school boy who gets sent to a not-so-typical world. At a glance, he seems to be sent back to the Warring States Period of Japan, but the setting is not as he remembers. He meets Oda Nobuna, not Oda Nobunaga, and her all-female retainers. Nobuna teams up with Yoshiharu to fulfill her dream of ruling the world.
Unlike most isekai anime, The Ambition of Oda Nobuna is set in a more or less non-fictional world. Yoshiharu also does not receive any perk, skill, or power after being transported back in time. In fact, he remains clueless as to how he gets there in the first place. The anime's implementation of political and military strategies makes it stand out among the dozens of isekai anime of today.
I'm The Villainess, So I'm Taming The Final Boss
I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss is actually a seinen isekai anime, but it presents itself more as a shojo otome game anime, similar to My Next Life as a Villainess. Protagonist Aileen Lauren d'Autriche is reborn as the antagonist in her favorite dating sim, and she needs to get some plot armor right away.
Aileen breaks things off with prince Cedric and rushes into the arms of the kuudere demon king Claude, who is surprised at first but then welcomes his new lover. Aileen must figure out her new destiny with Claude by her side, all so she can survive her doom and, most of all, overcome Lilia Rainworth's cruel schemes time and again.
Dr. Stone
Dr. Stone is a bit off-beat compared to other isekai anime titles since it doesn't involve video game worlds, medieval European-inspired settings, or Truck-kun. Instead, scientist hero Senku Ishigami finds himself in a new Stone Age 3,700 years after an energy wave trapped humanity in stone.
Senku must scrape together every mineral, stone, and plant he can find to rebuild all of humanity's best inventions in this primitive new world and bring back civilization at all costs. Even if Dr. Stone is ultimately more edutainment than conventional isekai, open-minded anime fans can easily rank it among the best isekai anime on Crunchyroll.