15 Darkest Isekai Anime Of All Time

by

As a dedicated fan of the digital realm and its infinite possibilities, I find myself utterly captivated by these intriguing narratives that merge our virtual passions with real-life stakes. Each story presents an immersive journey into alternate worlds, offering unique perspectives on friendship, power, love, and survival.

As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but be captivated by the allure of the isekai genre in anime. These stories often revolve around characters who find themselves whisked away to fantastical realms. The narrative usually encompasses elements of exploration, romance, adventure, humor, and lighter tones – all designed to create an enjoyable experience for viewers.

An increasing number of isekai anime delve into more complex and mature subjects, including violence, bloodshed, explicit sexual content, societal corruption, human nature, trauma, morality, and other dark themes. Remarkably, these renowned isekai series strike a chord with their audience, even though they present disturbing narratives and graphic stories.

15 The Faraway Paladin

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.8 / 5

The story, titled “The Faraway Paladin,” follows an unremarkable person who, feeling discontented with their previous existence, finds themselves transported into a mystical realm. Born in a lifeless land, our protagonist, Will, is nurtured by three affectionate, though undead, guardians: a skeleton, a mummy, and a spirit. Each of these unique caretakers imparts wisdom and raises him to become a warrior, graced by the divine favor of a deity, possessing arcane knowledge far beyond his years. Most importantly, he learns the profound meaning of love.

As I mature, I’m gradually unveiling and learning about the realm I’ve been reborn into, preparing me for my independent journey ahead. The time eventually comes when I must part ways from my family. In this process, I uncover the concealed truths about my undead protectors, and along the way, I discover the secret truths of this enchanted world. Without the wisdom of my parents, I’m compelled to accept that this world is not as I was taught and make a decision based on all that I’ve learned.

14 The Twelve Kingdoms

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.9 / 5

The series “The Twelve Kingdoms” centers around a high school student named Youko Nakajima, who yearns for a normal life. Despite her efforts to excel academically and even becoming class president, she’s never truly felt at home because of her distinctive red hair. However, everything changes when she crosses paths with a man called Keiki, who asserts he hails from another realm and proclaims Youko as the empress to his kingdom’s throne.

In my excitement to flee with Youko, two of her schoolmates unintentionally joined our journey into another realm. Yet, our predicament has just begun as we lost our guide, Keiki. Now, in a foreign land brimming with magic and fearsome beasts, where even the skies are alien to us, we – Youko and her companions – are left clueless about our location or destination. We must now navigate this strange new world, fighting to survive against its harsh environment or face an uncertain fate.

13 Now And Then, Here And There?

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.7 / 5

As a gamer, I’m immersed in a captivating blend of sci-fi and fantasy, where my life mirrors that of the character, Shuuzou ‘Shuu’ Matsutani. Living an otherwise tranquil existence with friends, my heart beats for the martial art of kendo. The bitter sting of defeat lingers after losing to my arch-rival in the sport, and I find myself atop a smokestack, seeking solace in the setting sun. There, I unexpectedly encounter an enigmatic girl named Lala-Ru, whose indifferent demeanor doesn’t deter me from trying to forge a friendship with her.

One evening, Shuu’s tranquil life takes an unexpected turn when a woman accompanied by two machine-like creatures, resembling serpents, enters the scene, intent on capturing Lala-Ru. In a moment of reckless courage, Shuu attempts to rescue Lala-Ru from her abductors. As a result, they are all whisked away together to a desolate landscape that resembles a desert. Upon arrival, Shuu realizes the importance of Lala-Ru in this foreign world, as she may be the key to their survival. Coerced into serving as a child soldier amidst the war, Shuu must find means to endure his current nightmare and devise a plan for escape and return home.

12 Dead Mount Death Play

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.8 / 5

In a twist to the usual Isekai genre, I’m drawn to “Dead Mount Death Play,” a story that unfolds right here on our home turf, Earth. The narrative revolves around an epic clash between the legendary Hero and a formidable adversary known as the Corpse God. However, their supposed final battle doesn’t end as expected, leaving a strange sense of unease. In a surprising twist, the Corpse God manages to cheat death by reincarnating! This time around, he is born as Polka Shinoyama in contemporary Tokyo.

In his journey to acclimate to his new physical form and surroundings, Polka finds himself under attack by several organizations specializing in supernatural matters. One of these entities is Misaki Sakimiya, a high school student with the unique ability to perceive spirits, who surprisingly seems intent on causing harm to Polka from their initial meeting. To unravel the mysteries surrounding his reincarnation and grasp the reality of his situation, Polka forms an alliance with Takumi Kuruya and Lisa Kuraki – two individuals who aid him in confronting the threats that pursue him.

11 Drifters

Anime-Planet Ratings: 4.1 / 5

In this narrative, “Drifters” weaves together history, imagination, and mythology. The story primarily revolves around Toyohisa Shimazu, a valiant samurai who participates in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. As per his uncle’s orders, he acts as the rearguard for their withdrawing troops. Wounded gravely and near death, Toyohisa encounters a man with an impassive expression named Murahisa in a sterile white corridor adorned with numerous doors. In an instant, he is dragged into one of these doors only to find himself back in a world that bears no resemblance to his own once more.

In this astonishing realm teeming with bizarre beasts and legendary warriors from various epochs, I’ve found myself crossing paths with the notorious Oda Nobunaga and the venerable archer Yoichi Suketaka Nasu. They’ve shared insights into this new world of mine and revealed that I, as a Drifter, have been summoned to engage in battle against the relentless Ends, who seek to establish an empire and eradicate drifters like myself. Now, my motley crew of unlikely champions must devise a strategy to preserve harmony within this world and vanquish the Ends.

10 The Rising Of The Shield Hero

Anime-Planet Ratings: 4.3 / 5

The story centers around Naofumi Iwatani, who gets whisked away to a mystical realm alongside five others, all assigned the role of heroes meant to save the kingdom from impending doom. However, unlike his fellow summoned individuals who were showered with kindness, he was unfairly treated due to his shield being his Legendary Weapon, whereas theirs were weapons of greater prestige.

Initially alone, he later encountered a naive explorer who unjustly accused him of a crime (rape) and swindled what little wealth he had accumulated. It was eventually revealed that she was the royal princess of the kingdom. Subsequently, he stood trial, was banished, and could only return when the realm was threatened by a massive wave. His story unfolds as he gradually regains his reputation and clears his name, showcasing his journey towards power and redemption.

9 The Dungeon Of Black Company

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.6 / 5

  • Studio: SILVER LINK
  • Release Years: 2021
  • Where To Watch: Crunchyroll, Prime Video

In my perspective as an avid reader, I’d rephrase it like this: Once upon a time, I, Kinji Niyomiya, amassed a fortune through smart real estate investments, living the high life without ever setting foot in an office. But just when I thought my days were made for lounging around, a mysterious portal whisked me away to the fantastical realm of Amuria. There, I found myself shackled to a crystal mining company, forced to labor deep within the ominous dungeons.

Previously, brave adventurers delved into the dungeons, discovering them laden with the ore known as demonite. As he journeys on, he forges alliances with a dragon maiden, a crocodile semi-human, and others. His goal is to challenge the Raiza’ha Mining Corporation and eventually establish his own enterprise.

8 Arifureta: From Commonplace To World’s Strongest

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.8 / 5

Initially, Hajime Nagumo finds himself transported to a different world alongside his schoolmates. As his peers develop extraordinary powers and emerge as heroes, he acquires only average abilities, leading him to be repeatedly tormented by his classmates. On an expedition through a labyrinth one day, Hajime encounters treachery from one of his schoolmates and plummets into the abyss of the dungeon.

He discovers powerful artifacts, gains new abilities, and undergoes a transformation that changes his appearance and also his personality and makes him an outcast. He sets out to find his way home, and along the way, he makes friends with a vampire, Yue, who joins him on his quest as he struggles to come to terms with his new identity and the new world he finds himself in.

7 Re:Creators

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.8 / 5

Sota Mizushino is a high school student harboring a dream to compose his own light novel. In an unexpected turn of events, he finds himself transported into the animated world of Elemental Symphony of Vogelchevalier, a mecha anime series. Here, he encounters the show’s lead character, Selesia, amidst a fierce battle with a girl in military attire who appears to be shrouded in mystery.

Following the battle, they discovered that various anime characters from different creators had been moved to their world. Some were aligned with the girl in military attire, who vowed to return them home, unaware of her hidden intentions. Sota and Selesia aimed to prevent her actions, protect the other characters, and thwart her potential destruction of all their worlds.

6 Grimgar Of Fantasy and Ash

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.9 / 5

Individuals mysteriously end up in a fantastical realm, with no knowledge of their past lives or how they arrived here. Some are drafted as Trainee Volunteer Soldiers by Commander Britney, while others are compelled to embark on adventurous journeys out of necessity, striving to survive and make a living for themselves.

Under the guidance of Manato, they embark on a journey, initially targeting feeble monsters, with the aim of strengthening themselves and improving teamwork. This narrative unfolds as a story about loss, retribution, and these adventurers grappling with the realities of life and death in the world of Grimgar.

5 Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.2 / 5

Due to persistent torment and embarrassment at the hands of his peers throughout school, a man chose to seclude himself within his private space for the remainder of his life. However, one fateful day, he left his sanctuary and bravely put himself in harm’s way to shield a group of schoolgirls from an oncoming speeding vehicle, making the ultimate sacrifice.

In another realm, he is born as Rudeus Greyrat, son of the village leader Paul and the explorer Zenith. In this fresh start, he learns to rely on others and make friends, while nurturing his inherent magical abilities. After a calamity separates him, his family, and his cousin Eris across the immense continent, they must journey together to find their way back.

4 Sword Art Online

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.0 / 5

Sword Art Online stands as one of the trailblazers within the isekai anime category. This series revolves around the world’s initial Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG), leveraging full dive technology, which gamers find captivating. However, this fantasy soon turned into a nightmare as players found themselves unable to log out of the game, and their in-game deaths led to their real-life demise.

Embarking on the quest to conquer the game becomes my sole means of finding my way back home. Being a natural-born gamer like no other, Kirigaya Kazuto, known as Kirito, finds himself trapped within this digital world too. Alongside me, there’s a girl named Asuna who shares my predicament. We form alliances with others, including parties with common objectives, such as a notorious group of player killers referred to as the Laughing Coffin.

3 Overlord

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.2 / 5

In this anime, there’s a storyline centered around an MMORPG set within a full-dive system. This popular game was about to be taken offline following years of prosperity. He used to command a powerful guild with numerous members, but now only four remained. Determined to experience the final moments of the game before the servers were turned off, he persisted until the shutdown. To his surprise, upon termination, the game continued to function, and eventually, he found himself mysteriously transported into the world of the very game he had been playing.

He embarks on a quest to discover other players who may have been transported alongside him, aiming to unravel the enigma surrounding their arrival. Along the way, he adopts the name “Ainz Ooal Gown” as a sign for fellow travelers. The narrative unfolds about an individual learning to navigate life within a video game, wielding immense power without moral boundaries.

2 Re:Zero – Starting Life In Another World

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.2 / 5

In a different realm, Subaru Natsuki gets summoned. Trying to aid Emilia, a half-elf he develops feelings for, he meets an untimely end. However, he’s miraculously resurrected in the past. Later, he learns that he can rewind time whenever he perishes. After multiple deaths and assisting Emilia, her master eventually invites him to serve as a butler in one of his mansions.

Subaru opts to employ his powers for shielding his freshly discovered affection, who is a potential successor to rule over the Kingdom of Lugunica. Despite enduring immense suffering with every death that alters an unfortunate fate, he bears his pain quietly, as this secret is unknown to those around him.

1 The Saga Of Tanya The Evil

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.2 / 5

A Japanese atheist found himself in a new world, created by a self-proclaimed deity, who intended to challenge him with hardships designed to provoke faith. In this life, he was born as Tanya Degurechaff, an orphan girl, within the Empire, where magic is a vital part of their military system.

The God which she named Being X, promises to condemn her to eternal damnation in hell if she does not die a natural death or if she refuses to have faith in it. She decides to join the Empire’s Mage Corps and attempts to climb their ranks as soon as possible so as to remain far from the battlefront and reduce the risks of getting killed. She becomes a ruthless soldier who cares less about the lives of people, especially those that get on her bad side.

Read More

2024-09-30 02:04