Key Takeaways
-
The Eminence in Shadow
is an amazing anime that ended on a major cliffhanger, ultimately leaving fans hungry for more stories like it. - It is a fantastic story that plays around the typical Isekai tropes while also featuring unique characters and storyline.
- While
EIS
may feel one-of-a-kind to many fans, there are several other novel series that scratch the same itch.
With The Eminence In Shadow anime ending on a cliffhanger, fans were quick to catch up on its manga and light novel (LN). It ends in Chapter 47 of the manga and in the middle of Volume 4 of the LN. Plus, it has garnered massive love from the audience due to its various tropes that don’t take itself seriously at times.
From the standard isekai trope of reincarnating to another world following the accident from the beloved ‘truck-kun’ to the overpowered protagonist, there is something for everyone. Fortunately, many other light novels share the same tropes that the readers can enjoy. The following titles share similar tropes as The Eminence In Shadow, which will keep fans occupied until season 3 arrives.
Updated September 29, 2024, by Sumit Agarwal :With the latest trailer release of the movie The Eminence in Shadow: Lost Echoes, fans are revisiting the earlier two seasons to refresh their memories. The announced movie will continue where the anime series left off with a cliffhanger in season 2. Although the release date hasn’t been announced, fans can continue the story by reading the manga or the light novel.
The Eminence in Shadow is one of the most loved isekai, as it covers the most common tropes without taking itself too seriously. It has everything one looks for in an isekai, from being overpowered to introducing new inventions or using past-life knowledge. While fans wait for the movie’s release, they can indulge in similar light novels with the same entertainment value.
10 Overlord
Overpowered Protagonist, Underlings, Misunderstandings
- NovelUpdates Score: 4.5
- Author(s): Maruyama Kugane
- Status: 16 Volumes (Ongoing), 1 Side Story Volume
An avid gamer has spent most of his time playing the YGGDRASIL game. Sadly, the game has decided to shut down its server, so he chooses to spend the last few moments playing as his character, Momonga. Surprisingly, he finds that he and his entire guild, Ainz Ooal Gown, have been transported into a new world. What follows next is his journey to find more information about this alternate world while ordering his underlings to do his bidding.
Like The Eminence in Shadow, Overlord has a manga adaptation and an anime. Fans of the series loved the callous nature of Momonga, which makes it a dark and gritty experience. However, the protagonist often finds himself at a crossroads, trying to play the Overlord while maintaining his human personality. The Overlord light novel has everything from drama and comedy to action and thrills. It sheds light on the underlings, their personalities, and their characteristics. Although Momonga participates in the planning process, his underlings, like in The Eminence in Shadow, do most of the work. He also does not shy away from fighting, and his underlings comically misinterpret his intentions, praising him for his actions. Recently, the movie Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom was released in Japan, with a worldwide release expected in early 2025. Moreover, the fifth season of Overlord is currently in development, with a release date yet to be announced.
9 I’m The Evil Lord Of An Intergalactic Empire!
Overpowered Protagonist, Misunderstandings, Lucky Coincidences
- NovelUpdates Score: 4.3
- Author(s): Mishima Yomu, Wai
- Status: 243 WN Chapters / 14 WN Volumes (Ongoing), 39 Chapters Gaiden Spinoff (Ongoing), 2 LN Volumes Gaiden Spinoff (Ongoing), 8 LN Volumes (Ongoing)
The protagonist is reborn as Liam Sera Banfield, and aims to become an evil lord in a monarchic society. His past life ended too soon, and he lost everything. This new life promises a new journey with swords, magic, and even outer space! Although he wants to be an evil lord, everyone misunderstands him as righteous and virtuous.
There have been mixed reviews for the title despite its positive rating, but interested readers should note that they should take the plot with a grain of salt. It is comedy and fantasy first before anything else. It shares some of the tropes from The Eminence in Shadow, and is greatly enjoyable. Like Cid, everything conveniently falls into place for Liam without him having to do much. However, I’m the Evil Lord Of An Intergalactic Empire! mostly thrives on the misunderstanding trope that can put off some readers. Liam does not think about his actions, which drives the plot in his favor. The interactions between him and the other characters are enjoyable, and the novel shows that he is just trying to live his life to the fullest. If readers love the novel’s setting, they can also read I’m the Heroic Knight of an Intergalactic Empire!, which is set in the same universe.
8 Trapped In A Dating Sim: The World Of Otome Games Is Tough For Mobs
Protagonist As Background Character, Overpowered Underling
- NovelUpdates Score: 4.0
- Author(s): Mishima Yomu, Wai
- Status: 13 LN Volumes (Completed), 176 WN Chapters (Completed)
Reincarnated as Leon Fou Bartfort, an office worker finds himself in a dating sim game with a matriarchal society. From the same author as I’m the Evil Lord Of An Intergalactic Empire!, Leon has the advantage of knowing future events. He had previously completed the game before the accident and had purchased an overpowered companion.
The novel explores his comedic journey to spark a revolution so that he can enjoy a quiet and easy life in the countryside. It also has a manga and anime adaptation. One of the main highlights of the novel is that the protagonist is easily relatable and logical about his actions. Plus, the playful banter with the other main and side characters is an enjoyable experience. Anime fans will love the light novel, as the anime faithfully follows the source. As a result, less than 5% was covered in the anime so far. If Cid is an overpowered character trying to live in a mob, Leon is a mob forced to become overpowered for his survival. Due to the plot’s convenience, the author does not fail to throw jabs at the ridiculous world of dating sims.
7 Story Of The Ancient Demon King!
Overpowered Protagonist, Role-Playing, Misunderstanding
- NovelUpdates Score: 4.0
- Author(s): Ichiniisan
- Status: 302 WN Chapters (Part 1 Complete), 1 LN Volume (Ongoing)
After losing his life in a tragic accident, the protagonist is reborn into a world of witchcraft and magic as Chrono Mak. In his previous life, he had longed for stories involving good and evil. Unfortunately, no such thing existed in the new world, so he takes it upon himself to act as a demon king and train heroes to fight him.
Many readers loved the story and protagonist for its similarity to Cid and Liam from The Eminence in Shadow, and I’m the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire!. Chrono plans to become the ultimate demon king and fake his death at the hands of the hero, which results in some great moments. Creating and training a hero to defeat him is a fresh new take on the isekai genre. One key difference from EIS is that this novel focuses on how Chrono’s presence in the world has shaken its balance. Chrono also shares other features with Cid, with him having a grand idea of good vs evil. Like Momonga from Overlord, Chronos doesn’t particularly enjoy being evil when acting as the demon lord. He views it as a means to an end while he tries to nurture heroes who can defeat him in an epic battle. Story of the Ancient Demon King! is guaranteed to satiate the reader’s isekai itch left behind by The Eminence In Shadow.
6 Trash Of The Count’s Family
Confident Protagonist, Powerful Underlings, Misunderstanding
- NovelUpdates Score: 4.5
- Author(s): Yu Ryeo Han
- Status: 1140 Chapters (Ongoing) – Part 1 “The Birth of a Hero”: 776 Chapters + 23 Extra Chapters (Completed) – Part 2 “The Laws of the Hunt”: 341 Chapters (Ongoing)
Kim Rok Soo suddenly wakes up in the world of a novel he had been reading. He finds himself in the body of Cale Henituse, the son of a count and a minor villain in the book he had been reading. He takes it upon himself to try and change his fate by gaining the favor of powerful characters and increasing his power little by little.
The misunderstanding of the protagonist stems from the original personality of the body Kim is inhabiting. Everyone thinks he is a drunkard, which is why not many people take him seriously. Eventually, the protagonist becomes the villain while involving himself in the main story. This results in Trash of the Count’s Family derailing further from its original plot line. Readers love the novel for its impeccable world-building and its detailed characters. Even the side characters have three-dimensional depth, making them memorable. Like Cid from EIS, Cale often invites trouble by acting as he sees fit without explaining to anybody else. Cale also doesn’t want to let himself be known, and wishes to be a mob while securing his safety. He also becomes overpowered along the way, and readers can expect some decent action. Currently, it has a manhwa adaptation as well.
5 Reborn As A Space Mercenary: I Woke Up Piloting The Strongest Starship!
Overpowered, Skilled and Confident Protagonist
- NovelUpdates Score: 3.9
- Author(s): Nabeshima Tetsuhiro
- Status: 533 WN Chapters (Ongoing), 13 LN Volumes (Ongoing)
Reborn as a Space Mercenary revolves around Satou Takahiro transmigrating to the world of his favorite video game. He wakes up as Hiro in one of the most notable spaceships in the world. Thankful for the new opportunity, he goes on to become a space mercenary and live his life to the fullest.
Voted as one of the best space isekai novels by its fans, this light novel sticks to its slice-of-life genre with a feel-good plot. The protagonist uses his previous knowledge to work to the top, similar to Overlord, Trapped in a Dating Sim, and Trash of the Count’s family. The other characters are well-fleshed out, and the main character is intelligent and confident in his skills. He can also be shameless sometimes, making him feel relatable and human. There are some epic battles, and readers can expect romance without a harem that develops as the story progresses. Regardless, the light novel offers an excellent science-fantasy setting in the isekai genre. Plus, the author does a great job of making the overpowered protagonist likable without it being too over-the-top.
4 Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy
Overpowered Protagonist, Underlings
Misumi Makoto finds out that his parents are from another world, and had contracted with the Goddess for him to travel to that world. However, the Goddess was not thrilled to find that he had average looks. which she considered ugly. She kicks him out to the edge of the world, but his Earth’s God, Tsukuyomi, saves him. He grants Misumi a different power before falling into a deep slumber. Tsukimichi also has a manga and anime adaptation, and season 2 has currently been released.
Following the isekai trope, the protagonist discovers he is overpowered from the moment he enters the new world. The novel has a good plot, with the protagonist gradually growing into an exemplary character. Like Cid, Misumi meets powerful underlings on his journey and takes various species under his wing in the demi-plane. He also has no interest in romance or anything of the sort, as he views everybody as part of his family. Misumi isn’t afraid to fight for himself and save many people in the process. Moreover, he is forced to live as a mob character due to the Goddess’s curse. However, he ends up being recognized as a powerful human as the story progresses. The protagonist also tries to avoid war and politics to find a way back to his original world. Unfortunately, the Goddess and fate have other plans in store.
3 Am I Actually The Strongest?
Overpowered Protagonist, Misunderstanding, Lucky Coincidences
- NovelUpdates Score: 3.3
- Author(s): Sumimori Sai
- Status: 194 Chapters (Ongoing), 6 LN volumes (Ongoing)
The story of Ami I Actually the Strongest? revolves around a super-NEET character reborn as a prince in a fantasy world. Due to some misunderstanding, everybody thinks he is weak and abandons him in the woods when, in actuality, he is overpowered. He quickly grasps his current scenario and experiments with his magic to learn more about it. Later, he makes a powerful beast into his underling by acting as the demon lord. Taken in by Gold Zenfis, he grows up on the secluded side of the kingdom.
The protagonist may be overpowered, but he has zero interest in doing anything about it. His cute little sister is actually the main character and shares the ‘chunibyo’ trait with Cid from EIS. She gets even more influenced by anime series when the protagonist re-establishes an internet connection with his original world. The novel currently has a low score due to its poor translations. However, existing readers of the series recommend its manga adaptation as the story is better portrayed. The manga is a relaxing read, with the protagonist’s sister taking the spotlight with her antics. She forces him to use his powers for the nation’s and its people’s well-being. Essentially, the protagonist ends up with a secret identity as a superhero, just like Cid. In his original persona, he tries to avoid people, but some chosen few get wind of his abilities. The novel also got an anime adaptation in 2023.
2 Strange Grief Wants To Retire ~ The Weakest Hunter Dreams Of A Hero ~
Misunderstanding, Misinterpretation Of Protagonist’s Words/Actions
- NovelUpdates Score: 3.9
- Author(s): Tsukikage
- Status: 416 WN Chapters (Ongoing), 11 LN Volumes (Ongoing)
In a world where treasure tools grant special powers, Krai finds that everyone but himself is a talented treasure hunter. Although he wishes to live a life of peace and simplicity, his childhood friends do not make it easy for him. They string him along with them as their leader, not knowing he has no special powers.
Although the novel is not an isekai, fans love it for its similarity to Overlord and The Eminence in Shadow. The protagonist does not want to participate in his friend’s adventures and wishes to stay in one piece. Plus, he has to pretend to be their leader while always looking for ways to survive. All the people under him are absurdly strong, and their personalities are well-fleshed out. It is also one of the few light novels like The Eminence in Shadow where the female characters have great depth, goals, and ambitions. Some readers have also stated that the side characters are far more interesting than the main protagonist. The same can be said for Cid. As a result, Strange Grief Wants to Retire readers may view the protagonist’s actions as either too dumb or nothing but a stroke of genius. The side characters also misinterpret the protagonist’s words, which turn out to be true. Hence, The Eminence in Shadow fans will love it for its world-building and similar style of humor.
1 There Was No Secret Organization To Fight The World’s Darkness, So I Made One (In Exasperation)
Overpowered Protagonist, Secret Organization
- NovelUpdates Score: 4.2
- Author(s): Kurodome Hagane
- Status: 133 WN Chapters (Completed), 2 LN Volumes (Axed)
Sago Kinemitsu suddenly wakes up in the modern world with superpowers. His excitement is short-lived, as he soon discovers nobody is targeting him for his powers. No dimensional gates appear, and he is not transported to a new world. What’s more, nobody else gains any superpowers either. He soon graduates from school and works a regular job without any events occurring around him. Ultimately, he decides that if no such evil organization exists, he will build one himself.
There Was No Secret Organization To Fight The World’s Darkness, So I Made One (In Exasperation) is another non-isekai entry similar to The Eminence In Shadow. The protagonist quickly gathers other underlings within his organization that accept his ‘chunibyo’ narrative. Ultimately, he begins controlling other people’s lives to his liking and has them do his bidding. Unlike other novels on the list, the protagonist sits at the center of this story. He is an active character, without whom the world would not experience any events. He is the driving force and star of his own narrative, which makes this novel a true gem. Although the narrative may be predictable for most, the humor makes up for it in waves of comedic moments. Readers can also expect a fresh perspective on a novel focused on a protagonist trying to become an antagonist. Moreover, even the side characters under him share his ‘chunibyo’ nature and actively help him accomplish his goals.
