Isekai anime with great storytelling

Isekai anime has become one of the most beloved and prominent genres when it comes to anime. Each anime season, new stories are released where an obscure person is thrust into a world completely different from the one he knows by mysterious and sometimes unfortunate circumstances. Whether it's a speeding truck or a portal that pops up in their living room, their ordinary lives are over, and they become the hero of their own journey.

More often than not, these stories are balls of fun, tasking the hero to slay the monster and save the world. But, on special occasions, isekai anime can tell an incredible story about discovery and coming of age. Encompassed by well-crafted characters and surrounded by intriguing worlds, these anime leave a lasting impression on viewers. Here are some isekai anime with the best storytelling.

8 Rising of the Shield Hero

A unique character growth journey that defies expectations

Naofumi is a reluctant hero of isekai anime, as nothing has gone his way since the moment he was summoned to another world. Paired with three other young men summoned as heroes and gifted with a sacred weapon, Naofumi was chosen as the SHIELD hero. Surprisingly, Naofumi's arrival is very different from his peers as he is framed for a crime, banished from the kingdom, and ostracized from society on his first day. The Rising of the Shield protagonist handles Naofumi's struggle well and forces her to learn the world she inhabits on an intimate level, starting from the bottom with nowhere to turn back. Additionally, Naofumi's character is tested as he tries to cut off his attachment to people but cannot fight his good nature of wanting to do the right thing. Each season of The Rising Of The Shield Hero makes great progress in not only Naofumi's journey but also his growth.

7 At that time I was reborn as Slim

Interesting character tests for the hero of the story

Rimuru's old life ended in the blink of an eye when he was killed saving his friends from a thug. This one moment portrays Rimuru as a kind and caring person, when he is reincarnated as a demon in another world. The strongest storytelling in the series revolves around Rimuru and how she adapts to her new lifestyle.

While retaining his kind and gentle nature, Rimuru developed, showing that he is capable of making brutal decisions regarding the safety of his people and the lives of his friends. While on the surface, Rimuru appears to be an innocent young boy, the subtle change as he embraces his demon lord status is a sharp contrast that makes the plot of the series interesting to see how much Rimuru will change as time progresses.

6 Grimgar: Ashes and Confusion

Realistic aspects of a fictional setting

Grimgar is probably one of the most unique isekai anime in the genre, and it involves being teleported to another world in a very drastic fashion. A large group of able-bodied people sprouts up in the fantasy world, and while most find their way right away, a small group stumbles and ends up aimless in their efforts. Coming together, they experience a life of hard knocks where, just to survive and scavenge enough to feed themselves, they must put their lives on the line to kill some goblins. Grimgar shows a more realistic outcome for ordinary people who are told to live by magic and sword. Each character has their own problems and grief as they try to adapt, fail and try again. In a world where fortune favors the bold, the meek must struggle and pick through the scraps.

5 The Saga of Tanya the Evil

A rare character dynamic where the main protagonist rebels against the powers that be.

When a somewhat narcissistic atheist dies, cursing God with his last breath, he becomes the focus of God, who decides to place him in a world where he must accept his existence or suffer. Reincarnated as a young girl in a world engulfed in war, Tanya decides to spit in the eye of fate and push the so-called god's patience to its limits. Throwing caution to the wind, Tanya joins the army and soon becomes the most decorated warrior in the magical infantry. Pettiness is a trait that most heroes lack. However, in Tanya's story, it is her pettiness that propels the story forward in her battle against the powers that be, trying to prove that they are not, in fact, omnipotent and have no dominion over her.

4 The Boy and the Beast

A great story of acceptance and coming of age

A young boy named Ren finds himself alone among his family and stumbles into another world trying to escape his unfortunate circumstances. He gets his wish and begins a new journey where he finds himself under the control of a beast-man named Kumaketsu.

We need each other to move our lives beyond the mundane. Kumaketsu seeks to become the sovereign leader of the Beast Kingdom, and Ren wants his place. However, as time progresses, the bond their pact creates heals wounds they didn't know existed. The Boy and the Beast excels in emotional depth and does a great job of showcasing the differences between people from two different backgrounds.

3 Excellence in shade

A main character unlike any other

The Eminence in Shadow is one of the newer isekai releases and has blown away fans for its stark contrast to the genre and classic protagonist. Cid is killed in his first life and gets a second chance after being reborn in another world. Unlike most heroes, Cid does not dream of becoming a hero but instead the ruler of this new world. Sid increases his power to ungodly levels and begins taking pillars of power from the shadows to increase his control of the kingdom. While Sid is indeed a sinister character, the story portrays his insane ways in a fascinating way that makes for pure entertainment. While there have been other Isekai centered on villainous main characters, none have achieved an aura quite like Sid and The Eminence in Shadows.

2 Unemployed avatar

Fantastic character development

Jobless Incarnation follows a NEET man who is given a second chance at life and reincarnated in a fantasy world with his memories intact. Rudius takes full advantage of his rebirth and decides to act differently than in his shameful past life, but it soon becomes apparent that old habits die hard.

Unfortunately, it takes real hardships for Rudeus to realize that not only is he wasting his second chance, but that the consequences of his actions are far more dire in this world than his last. Jobless Incarnation does a flawless job of demonstrating an ambiguous protagonist and how maturity is not a time-sensitive journey and how long it takes to catch up. Rudeus' mistakes and his journey to grow from them is an extraordinary character development unlike any other isekai anime of its kind.

1 Zero again

A very unique take on Second Life in another world

Subaru is surprised when he pops up in a vivid fantasy world. Quickly concluding that this is his chance to become a sword-wielding hero just like in his favorite video games, Subaru arrives at this unknown location with optimism and joy. Unfortunately, the rules are not on his side, as Subaru experiences the fallout of being a stranger in a strange place. Just when things start to take a turn for the better, Subaru encounters a universal constant in life: death. But to his surprise, again, he returns to the fantasy world. The concept of Subaru having the power of “last save” is a heavy story element that adds an incredible amount of depth to his daily adventures. While the experiences he has and the friends he makes are entertaining, the idea that it can be lost on second glance as the dangers escalate sets a strange tone throughout the story. Zero again.