Best Isekai Anime Of The 2020s – Investment Policy

The concept of being transported to another world – often seen in anime known as “isekai” – isn’t new. Shows like Digimon Adventure and The Vision of Escaflowne explored this idea long before Sword Art Online made it incredibly popular. While isekai gets a lot of criticism these days, it remains a consistently popular genre, with several new shows appearing each season. The 2020s have seen a surge in the number of isekai anime, but simply having a lot of shows doesn’t guarantee they’re all good.

Despite often being criticized, the isekai genre has produced a surprising number of excellent anime. It’s given us everything from fun, lighthearted comedies and moving dramas to truly beautiful animated series. While many isekai shows are just okay, the very best ones from the 2020s are exceptional and stand out even within the genre.

Here are some criteria for an anime to qualify:

Only isekai anime that started in the 2020s. If a show released its first episode in the 2010s, it will be left out. For example, series like Re:ZERO and Overlord will not be included, even though they released new seasons during this decade.
No movies.
While part of a general ranking, this article aims to highlight the best isekai anime of different subgenres, just to try and provide a suggestion for most people’s tastes.

Honorable Mentions

With tons of new shows released each season, it’s impossible to cover everything good. So, here are a few standout isekai anime from the 2020s that deserve a mention.

A Wild Last Boss Appeared!
Dead Mount Death Play
From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated!
I’m In Love With The Villainess
Ishura
My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!
No Longer Allowed in Another World
So I’m a Spider, So What?
Why Raeliana Ended Up At The Duke’s Mansion

10. Reincarnated As a Sword

The Nicest Isekai Surprise Of The 2020s

I’ve been following the isekai genre for a while now, and honestly, it’s gotten a little wild! It feels like every new show tries to one-up the last with increasingly bizarre reincarnation scenarios – we’ve seen protagonists reborn as vending machines, pigs, even goblins! And let me tell you, only one of those really hit the mark. When I first heard about Reincarnated as a Sword, I worried it would be another overpowered protagonist story built on a silly premise. But surprisingly, it really stood out! What makes it special isn’t the reincarnation itself, but the genuinely heartwarming friendship at the core of the story. It’s one of the most wholesome relationships I’ve seen in the whole genre.

While the sword itself is incredibly strong, it needs someone skilled enough to truly unlock its power. That person is Fran, a young woman who has faced many hardships. At first, she’s shy and guarded, but as she connects with the sword – which surprisingly talks – they build a close, heartwarming relationship that feels like a father-daughter bond.

9. The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash

Best Slow-Life Anime Of The 2020s

Although it started slowly, The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash became increasingly popular during its Winter 2024 season. From an animation standpoint, it’s one of the most visually stunning isekai anime of the last few years. The animation quality is often exceptional, almost like watching a movie, especially when it comes to the backgrounds and environments. Studio Massket deserves significant recognition for the impressive presentation they delivered.

Beyond its appealing visuals, The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash offers a compelling story. The series is set in a world where people are judged by their abilities, and when Ivy, the main character, is deemed the weakest, she’s exiled from her village. Forced to survive on her own, she uses her monster-taming skills to befriend creatures like slimes and build a new life. The story also features a mysterious voice guiding her, which is the only fantastical element reminiscent of the ‘isekai’ genre.

Following a fast-paced start, The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash finds its groove as a relaxing and captivating slice-of-life story.

8. Uncle From Another World

Best Reverse Isekai Comedy Anime Of The 2020s

I remember when Uncle from Another World first came out – it really grabbed my attention! But then things got strange. The show was spread out over a really long time, with episodes trickling out over eight months. By the time it finished all thirteen episodes, it felt like everyone had moved on. It’s a shame, because the episodes themselves were still good – the show just lost its initial impact because of the delays. Once it lost that early momentum, it felt impossible to get it back.

Okay, so you won’t believe my life! I spent over ten years thinking I was an ogre – seriously, in a whole other fantasy world! Then I woke up back on Earth after being in a coma, and get this – my magic stuck with me! Now I’m living with my nephew, and things are… chaotic, to say the least. I keep getting into trouble, and there’s this elf… she’s tough, acts cold, but I think she secretly cares. It’s a wild ride, let me tell you!

I’m absolutely loving Uncle from Another World! What’s so great about it is how perfectly it mixes the typical ‘stuck in another world’ story with a flipped version of that idea. It’s funny no matter which angle they take! Honestly, the uncle character is the heart of the show, but everyone around him is either really endearing or just plain hilarious – the whole cast is fantastic.

7. Sonny Boy

The Most Experimental Isekai Anime Of The 2020s

Isekai anime often fall into predictable patterns. While there’s comfort in familiarity, the genre would benefit from more shows willing to be truly original and take chances. These shows don’t even need to be perfect. Sonny Boy is a particularly divisive isekai – even dedicated fans might not love it. But whether you enjoy it or not, it’s a show you won’t easily forget, a quality reserved for only the most outstanding – or the most terrible – isekai series.

A group of students suddenly find themselves in a bizarre world outside of normal time and space, and some begin to develop superpowers. As they travel to different worlds, the story focuses on a few characters at a time. The series explores internal conflicts, thought-provoking questions, and uses symbolism through its unique and visually appealing art style. While Sonny Boy can be challenging and sometimes feel aimless, it’s also captivating and offers moments of genuine insight.

6. Zenshu

Best Original Anime Of The 2020s

Since the studio MAPPA hadn’t revealed much about the plot, the fact that it involved being transported to another world came as a real shock. Natsuko, a highly skilled animator facing challenges with her second big project, prefers to work alone and isn’t known for being a team player. One day, while having lunch, she chokes and unexpectedly finds herself inside the world of A Tale of Perishing, an anime movie she adored as a child. This movie is notorious for its bleak and confusing finale, but Natsuko believes she can use her knowledge of the story, along with a special, god-like power, to rewrite the ending and make it better.

With characters that feel straight out of classic ’80s and ’90s anime, Zenshu is a heartfelt tribute to those older shows, all wrapped up in a relatable coming-of-age story. It starts with impressive animation, lighthearted humor, and a mix of genres – enough to make it worth watching. But Zenshu truly shines in its final episodes, evolving from a good series into one of the very best isekai anime of the 2020s.

Also, due to being an anime original, Zenshu tells a complete story.

5. Campfire Cooking In Another World With My Absurd Skill

Best Low-Stakes Isekai Anime Of The 2020s

While exciting action and dramatic, high-stakes stories can be fun, sometimes a relaxing and low-key show is exactly what you need. Campfire Cooking In Another World With My Absurd Skill is just a genuinely enjoyable and comforting watch.

Tsuyoshi was brought to another world hoping he’d be a hero, but it quickly became clear he didn’t have any special powers. Luckily, he found a magic shop where he could buy anything he needed, particularly food. Using his cooking talent, he befriended a Fenrir and a slime, and together they formed a quirky team. They weren’t driven by grand quests, but rather a love of good food and a taste for low-key adventures.

Tsuyoshi, Fel, and Sui are a charming group of friends, and their bond feels genuine as it develops over the first season. It’s also nice to see an isekai hero who isn’t overpowered or completely helpless.

Season 2 was just as great as its predecessor, and it even introduced a new, cute main companion.

4. Tsukimichi -Moonlit Fantasy-

Best Traditional OP MC Isekai Anime Of The 2020s

The isekai genre is full of characters who are incredibly powerful. It’s actually quite rare to find an isekai show without a main character who can easily defeat enemies and even destroy entire kingdoms. While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a story about a powerful hero, isekai shows often don’t deliver on the potential of these characters. Many lack the resources to create exciting action scenes that showcase their abilities, or the comedic timing to play up how ridiculous the situation is. As a result, a lot of these shows end up feeling very similar to one another.

Though it doesn’t reinvent the isekai genre, Tsukimichi demonstrates how effectively this type of story can be done. It’s a solid choice among recent isekai anime, offering a good balance of appealing characters, action, humor, and a well-developed world – so much so that it even earned a second season.

Tsukimichi season 3 has been announced.

3. Lord of Mysteries

The Best Isekai Anime Of 2025

While Lord of Mysteries is a Chinese animated series (Donghua), and therefore not strictly ‘anime’ to some, it’s available on Crunchyroll, making it closely related to the genre. More importantly, it’s a truly excellent show with a fresh and intriguing world, and a complex, captivating story—though it can be a bit challenging to follow at times.

Zhou is unexpectedly transported into a world resembling Victorian England, inhabiting the body of a man named Klein. While searching for a way back to his original reality, he’s wrongly identified as a powerful figure with supernatural abilities. This leads him to acquire Tarot-based powers and start investigating mysterious, otherworldly cases, hoping they’ll ultimately lead him home.

I was really struck by how beautiful Lord of Mysteries looks – it’s a stunning show. It throws a lot at you right from the start, and honestly, the first few episodes were a little confusing. But things started to click as the story went on, especially when it settled into a pattern of focusing on a new mystery each week. It really became easier to follow after that.

2. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

The Most Complete Isekai Anime Of The 2020s

Spanning three years and four seasons with 48 episodes, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation has been a consistent hit throughout the 2020s, and the story is still ongoing. The anime follows a man who, after being reborn as a baby named Rudeus in a fantasy world, carries over his old, less desirable traits. As Rudeus grows, he experiences all aspects of life – the joys of first love and the pain of tragedy. He embarks on epic adventures, forges strong friendships, faces incredibly powerful enemies, finds love and loss, and even attends school where he deals with personal challenges.

Mushoku Tensei is a show that people either love or hate. The main character, Rudy, can be difficult to watch in the early seasons, making him compelling but not always someone you root for. While he does develop over time, his story isn’t for everyone. However, beyond Rudy himself, Mushoku Tensei stands out from most other isekai anime thanks to its grand scale, detailed world, strong storytelling, and willingness to try new things.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation season 3 is confirmed to be in production.

1. The Eminence In Shadow

Best Isekai Anime Of The 2020s (And The Funniest)

The Eminence in Shadow is a truly fantastic anime. It playfully spoofs the popular ‘isekai’ genre—stories about characters transported to another world with incredible powers—but also wholeheartedly embraces the tropes that make those stories fun. The main character, Cid, dreams of being a powerful behind-the-scenes protector, and gets a second chance to fulfill that dream when he’s reborn in a magical world. He’s incredibly powerful and, without even trying, attracts a devoted group of followers. Cid believes they’re just indulging his elaborate games, but in reality, he leads Shadow Garden, a secret organization dedicated to battling a dangerous cult.

Cid is a wonderfully funny character—somehow managing to seem both incredibly smart and delightfully foolish. His over-the-top, attention-seeking behavior provides constant entertainment. Though initially playing second fiddle to his eccentric master, the members of Shadow Garden really develop into compelling characters in the second season. While the show is primarily a comedy, The Eminence In Shadow also delivers excellent action sequences, easily ranking among the best in the isekai genre.

2025-12-27 05:07