For better or worse, isekai is one of the biggest anime genres over the last decade, leading many fans to wonder what the best isekai anime available on streaming are. The genre became famous for showcasing stories of normal people getting transported to fantastical worlds where they're often granted special powers that allow them to save their new world. Though the genre is varied, isekai excels at putting relatable characters in fantastical situations.

With such a large catalog of anime to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which isekai is the best to invest time in, especially when so many series within the genre can have similar-sounding plot lines on the surface. Regardless, there are plenty of isekai worth binge-watching that offer a fun, refreshing spin on the genre. The best isekai anime on streaming shows how broad and varied the genre truly is.

30 Re: Monster

Based on the Novels by Kogitsune Kanekiru

Isekai anime are bound by fans to the three-episode rule just as any other anime is, with Re:Monster taking no time to go to some weird, fanservicey places. The series has an interesting premise: the main character is murdered and then reborn as Gobrou, a baby goblin. He uses his existing experience from his previous life to become a dominant hunter and leader quickly, forming a group of survivors around him in this fantasy world.

However, as he gains levels in this world by tackling stronger threats, he becomes more powerful, eventually becoming a hobgoblin, ascending to greater roles such as ogre and beyond. With this comes greater power but also a more virile potential, at which point he quickly forms a harem. The result is Re:Monster creating one of the most talked-about scenes in 2024, embodying many of the tropes of isekai anime, but surprisingly doing it all at once and then building upon it.

29 Sword Art Online

Based on the Novels by Reki Kawahara

While .hack and The Twelve Kingdoms serve as the proto-isekai subgenre before it took off, Sword Art Online is credited with starting the craze. After Kirito, Asuna, and a collective of 10,000 players are suddenly trapped in the eponymous game world, challenged to reach the top floor of Aincrad in exchange for their freedom, under threat of real death should they die in the game, it is an immediately enticing premise.

However, it's also inspired countless anime sequels, adaptations from other character perspectives, and video games where the idea of an MMORPG as an isekai word became an anime staple.Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Sword Art Online is how it juggles action and romance.

Kirito and Asuna develop a beautiful bond while trapped inside a game. Subsequent seasons explore the pair and their potential to fall for each other in the real world outside of SAO. Given the video game premise, it's unsurprising yet undeniably impressive that the series gets new game releases annually.

28 Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon

Based on the Light Novel Created By Hirukuma, Itsuwa Kato, & Yūki Hagure

Reborn as a Vending Machine might be a new anime, but it's already one of the weirdest takes on isekai ever made. The series focuses on a nameless protagonist (referred to as Boxxo by the series' characters) who is crushed by a vending machine and wakes up in a fantasy world as a vending machine.

Far from a normal vending machine though, Boxxo has access to everything he had ever bought from a vending machine in his previous life.

Reborn as a Vending Machine has been renewed for a second season, though the exact release date is yet to be revealed.

As silly as that seems, the resulting series finds plenty of clever uses for Boxxo's wares, making this isekai anime incredibly creative. Any interested fan can check out the first season of this hot new isekai anime which just finished airing on Crunchyroll!

27 Digimon Adventure

Based on the Toy Franchise Created By Bandai

Though Digimon Adventure probably isn't the first series that comes to mind when fans think isekai, the seminal anime fits the genre quite well. Instead of one protagonist whisked off to a world where they're overpowered, Digimon Adventure sees a group of eight children band together to brave the wilds of the Digital World alongside their digital companions.

Digimon Adventure is certainly not without fault, but the series holds up surprisingly well. Old fans looking for nostalgia and new fans looking for a different take on what an isekai anime could be should check out this classic which is currently streaming on Hulu.

26 Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss but I'm Not the Demon Lord

Based on the Novels by Satori Tanabata

While the title is word soup, it brings plenty of spice in the form of varied perspectives and self-awareness to the isekai anime genre. After dying in an accident, Yumiella Dolkness is reincarnated as the final boss of the Otome RPG "Light Magic and the Hero" where isekai power fantasy tropes are quickly explored, rapidly making her overpowered.

However, instead of many typical isekai series that abandon the old world for much of their plots, Villainess Level 99 connects the two in interesting ways.Yumiella as a protagonist is fascinating in this series, not necessarily for her depth but for her self-perception and, at times, apathy.

But what's more interesting is the series' relationship with the real world; Yumiella and her allies are in a game world, so the possibility of a human player controlling their actions is fascinating in Villainess Level 99. It adds to an overall trend of redemption arc stories, portraying villainesses not just in isekai anime but in other popular media, such as villainess isekai manhwa.

25 The Devil is a Part-Timer!

Based on the Novels by Satoshi Wagahara

The Devil is a Part-Timer! It's a refreshing and fun reverse isekai with a fair share of romance where the all-powerful Demon Lord, an incarnation of evil, Maou, takes refuge on Earth, and instead of establishing a new reign of terror, he quickly finds himself in the position of an employee of a fast-food establishment.

From its excellent introduction depicting the cultural clash of Maou and his second in command with modernity and a world devoid of magic to their constant struggles to make ends meet and the hilarious loss of perspective from their original objective due to everyday life, the anime is a delight that won’t fail to make viewers laugh. Additionally, the story doesn’t lose focus on fantasy, showing exciting magical battles and how the power intrigues of the world they come from haunt them in their new life.

24 Log Horizon

Based on the Novels by Mamare Touno

Influenced by the isekai boom generated from Sword Art Online's anime release in 2012, Log Horizon is bound to be examined with a critical eye, especially with a similar MMORPG premise which suddenly traps thirty thousand Japanese players. Shiroe is the series protagonist, who teams up with other players to face the challenges of a game world that is suddenly and inescapably their reality.

The series focuses on sticking to the mechanics of Elder Tale, the fictional game world, sometimes emphasizing immersion more than hype or spectacle to make a worthwhile isekai anime alternative to Sword Art Online. With Log Horizon not having confirmed any new episodes beyond season 3, now is a perfect opportunity to check the series out.

Dismissing the show as too similar to SAO and other MMORPG isekai anime would be a reductive exercise, as it's got a ionate and appreciative viewer base. Log Horizon is reasonably paced and great for diving into the isekai genre.

23 Inuyasha

Based on the Manga Created By Rumiko Takahashi

Another classic anime that is actually an isekai in retrospect is Inuyasha. The series follows a young woman named Kagome who is mysteriously transported back in time to Feudal Japan where she meets the titular half-demon Inuyasha. From there the series develops and increasingly complex mythology as it's revealed that Kagome is actually the reincarnation of a priestess named Kikyo who plays an important role in Inuyasha's backstory.

Though the result is quite different from a modern isekai anime, Inuyasha actually shares more in common with its spiritual successor than first appearances suggest. Any fan of isekai anime owes it to themselves to check out this classic streaming on Netflix.

22 The Vision of Escaflowne

Original Anime Series Produced By Sunrise

The Vision of Escaflowne is a classic Isekai cult series because of its groundbreaking showcase of mecha in a medieval fantasy world. The anime focuses on Hitomi, who is suddenly transported to the world of Gaea, where she meets Van, the young prince of Fanelia, a kingdom at war, and pilot of the legendary Escaflowne. Although Hitomi searches for a way to return to her world, the anime presents many storylines that cover different themes, from military conflicts to betrayals and tragedies.

However, the anime has a solid focus on romance, which led to it being classified within the shojo demographic, even though it doesn't fall into a specific genre, being able to appeal to shōnen, sci-fi, or epic fantasy fans. Escaflowne is still relevant despite the age of time, suring many modern series because of its beautiful animation, soundtrack, and cinematography, in addition to having multiple plot twists and excellent characters.

21 The Rising of the Shield Hero

Based on the Light Novel by Aneko Yusagi

The Rising of the Shield Hero is a fairly typical isekai anime series, but Studio Kinema Citrus handles the production, elevating its execution as an anime to a greater level. Naofumi Iwatani is whisked away to another world and recruited to the Cardinal Heroes, who must fight back the cross-dimensional hordes of monsters known as the Waves.

However, during his quest, one noteworthy event is when he is accused of sexual assault, destroying his reputation and fracturing his initially welcoming personality. Naofumi is an interesting isekai protagonist, given more space to explore the depths of his cynicism while not ditching his humanity outright in the anime, unlike the light novels for The Rising of the Shield Hero.

Studio Kinema Citrus handles the production, elevating its execution as an anime to a greater level.

It's proven popular among anime viewers due to this, while retaining other fantasy isekai tropes, with likable enough characters to help the crucial betrayal of the series really sink in. It's how these formative events darken Naofumi's perception of this new world, rather than him gradually embracing it, that makes this a compelling premise.