The Worst Isekai Anime of Every Year of the 2010s

Every year, many new isekai anime are released. While some have compelling stories, others fall into predictable tropes or feel strangely disjointed. The isekai genre is evolving, and recent titles are becoming significantly longer than those that premiered in the 2010s.

The 2010s saw a surge in popular isekai anime like That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, The Rising of the Shield Hero, and KonoSuba. But alongside these hits, many other isekai anime were released during that decade that weren’t as strong. While still watchable, these titles simply don’t measure up in several areas.

2010: In a Distant Time 3: Neverending Destiny

In 2010, while there weren’t many isekai anime, the ones that came out were generally well-received. However, In a Distant Time 3: Neverending Destiny didn’t achieve the same popularity as other shows from that time, like Digimon Xros Wars.

It’s not surprising that In a Distant Time 3: Neverending Destiny feels rushed – as a 56-minute special, there isn’t much time to develop the characters. The story centers on Nozomi Kasuga, who finds herself caught between two love interests during a war. As a reverse harem isekai anime, it also features a number of attractive male characters.

2011: Astarotte’s Toy

Despite appearing to be a lighthearted and enjoyable isekai anime with a sweet story, Astarotte’s Toy is actually quite different. It follows a young succubus princess who needs to build a male following – a ‘harem’ – because their life energy will power her magic for the future.

Even though the basic idea is already likely to cause debate, the story Astarotte’s Toy focuses on a single father who develops a close, and increasingly awkward, relationship with the main character.

2012: Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero

Most isekai anime focus on characters transported from our world to another, so when Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero started, fans hoped it would offer a unique twist. Sadly, the anime didn’t quite live up to its interesting concept.

Right from the start of Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero, the series focuses more on appealing to fans than on building a strong story or interesting characters. The main character isn’t very engaging, and his love interest, who seemed promising initially, quickly became less appealing as the show went on.

2013: Zinba

I remember 2013 being a really strong year for isekai anime, which made picking out the worst one surprisingly tough. There were actually a lot of hits that year, like Ixion Saga DT, Outbreak Company, and Arata: The Legend – all of which did better than I expected, honestly.

I was really hoping “Zinba” would be a fun isekai anime, but honestly, it felt like it was made just to sell toys. It went on for a whopping 52 episodes, and sadly, it didn’t have much going for it. The story was super predictable – you know, a regular kid transported to another world to battle evil, this time with a golden lion buddy. It just didn’t really grab me.

2014: Dragon Collection

While 2014 saw a surge in popular isekai anime, including the well-received No Game No Life, Dragon Collection didn’t quite measure up. It’s a largely forgettable series that hasn’t resonated with many viewers.

Similar to the 2013 anime Zinba, Dragon Collection features over 50 episodes designed for very young viewers. The show is an isekai anime centered around card battles, where characters summon monsters using cards to fight each other.

2015: Dog Days”: Limone Resort Panorama Spa

The anime series Dog Days is a favorite among isekai fans, with three full seasons and several well-received specials. However, the 2015 special, Dog Days: Limone Resort Panorama Spa, was one of the least impactful releases, clocking in at just 11 minutes.

This special episode features a brand new story focused on the characters enjoying a relaxing day together. They all end up at a hot spring, which leads to some fun and cheerful moments. While it’s an enjoyable episode, the main anime series generally has stronger scenes.

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2016: Masou Gakuen HxH

Ignore the ‘HxH’ in the title – this anime isn’t related to the popular series Hunter x Hunter. It’s similar to other isekai anime, but well-made, though the main character is fairly ordinary. His main role is to help the women he’s interested in become more powerful, usually through close relationships.

On top of having weak storytelling, Masou Gakuen HxH also has noticeable issues with its production quality and relies too much on unnecessary fan service. Although the anime attempts innovation with its female characters in mechanical armor, it isn’t enough to overcome these flaws.

2017: In Another World With My Smartphone

The idea of being transported to a new world with an all-powerful smartphone is exciting – imagine easily overcoming challenges and having limitless opportunities! However, the anime In Another World With My Smartphone doesn’t live up to that potential. The main character is bland and spends most of his time simply being admired by the female characters, making for a disappointing experience.

Toya Mochizuki is a remarkably ordinary protagonist who, even with the power of a smartphone in a new world, doesn’t really stand out. He doesn’t seem motivated to develop as a character, making his adventures feel flat and lacking excitement.

2018: Conception

Like other anime such as Astarotte’s Toy, Conception is a controversial series where the main character, Itsuki Yuge, finds himself in sexually suggestive situations with several women, all in an effort to save the world from a mysterious threat called ‘Impurities’.

Essentially, the plot of this anime revolves around Itsuki having children with multiple women, with those children then gaining magical powers to combat and cleanse the world of its impurities. Beyond this strange and problematic premise, the anime also suffers from poorly animated and choreographed fight scenes, giving viewers little reason to watch it.

2019: Dimension High School

Isekai anime often try to be unique to get noticed, but simply having a new idea isn’t always enough. Dimension High School is a good example of this – while it’s interesting for combining live-action footage with animated CGI, it doesn’t quite succeed.

I really wanted to like Dimension High School – it definitely tried something new. But honestly, I was pretty disappointed. A lot of the scenes were just uncomfortable to watch, the jokes didn’t land, and things felt really disjointed. The characters didn’t really connect with each other either. It almost felt like the whole thing was just a vehicle to showcase a group of attractive Japanese actors.

2026-03-24 21:37