The Best Isekai Anime Set In Games, Ranked

Highlights

• While isekai as a genre may feel formulaic at times, gems like The New Gate offer a fresh take on trapped in a game anime.
• The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen stands out in the trending villainess isekai niche by putting the lead in a genuinely villainous role.
• Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear excels in showcasing the protagonist’s friendships over its forgettable MMORPG world-building.

While not a recent invention, isekai has grown especially popular in manga and anime over the last decade. The success of series like Sword Art Online helped usher in a new era when everyone and, occasionally, their mother is being sent to alternate worlds defined by RPG mechanics. As tired as the formula can get at times, isekai has produced some gems that serve as fantastic wish-fulfillment series.

Which are the best isekai game anime? Synonymous as the theme might be with RPGs, only a handful of shows state that they take place within games; however, plenty of anime are set in fantasy worlds built upon traditional gaming conventions.

Updated April 27, 2024 by Mark Sammut: Spring 2024 is underway, and only one isekai anime features a protagonist trapped in a game. While way too early to write off the show or sign its praise, this series is shaping up to be among the season’s weaker isekai offerings, even when compared solely to new shows like Re:Monster and As a Reincarnated Aristocrat. Still, it warrants a spotlight.

Along with quality, the rankings also take into account the importance the isekai anime gives to the “game” aspect of their worlds. Also, anime that feature a lot of MMO mechanics but don’t specifically state they are in games have been removed from this discussion.

15 Spring 2024: The New Gate

MyAnimeList: 6.71

As the Spring 2024 anime season is still in its infancy, The New Gate‘s quality cannot be fully predicted yet. So far, this trapped in a game anime has been a mixed bag, squandering a somewhat fresh premise on a cookie-cutter protagonist. Still, it has demonstrated enough promise to suggest things could improve; at the very least, the series should remain watchable. Also, while the current season does not lack isekai stories, most of them take place in traditional fantasy worlds rather than games. Re:Monster and Chillin’ in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers feature RPG mechanics quite prominently, but that is just standard practice for the genre by this point.

The New Gate starts with its most novel idea. Shinya, the protagonist, is one of many players trapped in a game called The New Gate, and they have been fighting for their freedom for a long time. Finally, Shinya takes on and defeats the final boss, allowing everyone to log out of the game. However, before he can do the same, the MC is transported centuries into the future, arriving in a society that has continued to change and develop. Now, Shinya and the rest of the players’ exploits are just part of history, with their departure being seen as a catastrophic event.

Most isekai game stories start and end with the human player’s arrival and departure, so the idea of seeing what became of a world following that turning point has potential. Unfortunately, The New Gate has not done much with this concept, at least up to this point. Shinya quickly signs up to become an adventurer, and his skill level and inventory are well beyond every other character introduced so far. By the second episode, The New Gate settles down into the standard isekai routine, its opening twist amounting to little more than just an extra step. Hopefully, the story pick up and Shinya develops into a more interesting protagonist.

14 Skeleton Knight In Another World

MyAnimeList: 7.17

The Spring 2022 season was stacked with isekai anime, quite a few of which were happy to directly state they occur within game worlds. Skeleton Knight in Another World follows Arc, a gamer stuck as their reasonably powered character in a fantasy world defined by discrimination. Also, as the title suggests, Arc has a skeleton avatar, which is not a common sight in this universe.

Skeleton Knight in Another World‘s strength lies in the relationships that form between the main characters. Arc, Ariane, and the adorable Ponta have a charming rapport that brings out the best in each of their personalities. As the story allows all the heroes to shine rather than just Arc, they come across as a genuine party whose members are equally vital in their own ways. For all its positives, Skeleton Knight in Another World‘s tone is all over the place, and the story often struggles to balance its mature themes and lighthearted banter.

13 In The Land Of Leadale

MyAnimeList: 6.95

In the Land of Leadale is an enjoyable slow-life show about a woman who is reincarnated in a world based on a virtual reality MMORPG she used to escape to during her life. Not everything about Leadale is exactly as Keina, or Cayna in-game, remembers, but the one thing that has remained the same is the world’s fantastical elements.

Putting aside the occasional action sequence, In the Land of Leadale is predominantly happy to allow Cayna to exist peacefully in her new home. The protagonist (and audience) is not on a mission to defeat some huge threat, even though she is quite powerful, but she primarily focuses on crafting a quiet and peaceful place in this universe. This premise makes for a relaxing isekai anime.

12 I’m The Villainess, So I’m Taming The Final Boss

MyAnimeList: 7.22

I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss hits a few road bumps but is generally a smooth and enjoyable ride. On the day she has her engagement broken by the kingdom’s prince, Aileen realizes she is the villainess of an otome game she played in her previous life. To avoid a bad ending, she sets out to woo the Demon King, the charismatic Claude Jeanne Elmir.

I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss is at its best when focusing on Claude and Aileen’s relationship since they have great chemistry. The story starts reasonably strong as well, but it loses some momentum when Aileen begins to live through the otome game’s sequel; however, the anime ends on a decent note.

11 Ixion Saga DT

MyAnimeList: 7.14

“Isekai” is more of a premise than a genre, as any show featuring a protagonist who is transferred to another world qualifies. This premise leaves a lot of room for variety when it comes to tone. For example, Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World and Ixion Saga DT are both isekai anime, but the former is grim and complex while the latter is comedic and unapologetically stupid.

A great player in an MMORPG, Kon Hokaze receives a friend request and, naturally, winds up in a fantasy world. Kon meets a princess, joins a party, and sets out to save the world. As its humor is quite immature, Ixion Saga DT is not for everyone, but it can be hilarious at times.

10 Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss but I’m Not the Demon Lord

MyAnimeList: 7.13

Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss but I’m Not the Demon Lord might initially just seem like another run-of-the-mill take on isekai’s villainess subgenre. At face value, that prediction might not seem to be off-the-mark, especially since the show takes place in an otome game world like quite a few of these stories; however, Villainess Level 99 is one of the fresher takes on the concept, a statement that can be credited entirely to Yumiella Dolkness, the protagonist.

Rather than reincarnating as an arrogant aristocrat, Yumiella is a secret boss who is largely a minor character during the main story, with the latter culminating in the defeat of the demon lord. As the protagonist would rather avoid a future where she is killed by the heroine and her group of (not-so) good boys, she decides to try and keep a low profile while attending school. Naturally, the exact opposite happens, and she ends up attracting a lot of attention due to her power level being 99, something she achieved by grinding dungeons solo.

Yumiella is a delight. While not bad, protagonists in villainess isekai stories tend to have similar personalities, both in terms of traits and their outward behavior. Yumiella is awkward, funny, and quite stoic, which allows her to stand out from her contemporaries. The anime adds an element of mystery to its setting by hinting that the world might not be a direct copy of the otome game.

9 Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

MyAnimeList: 7.23 (Season 1)

Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear is about Yuna, a girl who gets teleported into her favorite MMORPG with overpowered equipment that trivializes every battle. In this case, the protagonist’s OP status is not that much of an issue as the focus is on Yuna’s friendships with the girls she meets on her travels, and this aspect of the show works well. The characters are likable, their interactions are amusing, and the humor is decent for the most part.

One aspect of the anime that falls flat is world-building. Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear‘s World Fantasy Online is devoid of any unique features that separate it from other isekai anime set in MMORPGs; consequently, the setting is quite forgettable. Still, as a slow-life option, this show does its job.

8 My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom!

MyAnimeList: 7.46 (Season 1)

The light novel industry has been obsessed with villainess otome stories for several years, but the trend took a while to pick up steam in anime. My Next Life As A Villainess was among the first adaptations to make that transition, and it demonstrates the subgenre’s appeal well. Katarina Claes suddenly realizes she has been living in an otome game called Fortune Lover and that she is the villain who has a future of bad endings to look forward to. This awareness inspires Katarina to get creative, as she tries to go against destiny and attain a happy ending for a character who is specifically forbidden.

Despite being set in a dating sim, My Next Life As A Villainess primarily focuses on its main character’s development and drive, with romance taking somewhat of a backseat. The first season is especially memorable since Katarina is genuinely fighting an uphill battle to carve a safe future, a process that delivers plenty of laughs along the way. While still enjoyable, the sequel season lacks much of that tension, resulting in a more forgettable experience.

7 How Not To Summon A Demon Lord

MyAnimeList: 6.85

More often than not, an isekai anime will center around a hikikomori who spends all of his time in an MMORPG. Be it death or a summoning gone wrong, the character ends up in a fantasy world where he is an instant hero, mainly because he retains his stats from the MMORPG. How Not to Summon a Demon Lord is a stereotypical isekai anime in a lot of ways, but it rises above its contemporaries through sheer personality and strong comedic timing.

Although powerful, Takuma Sakamoto, the anime’s resident hikikomori turned Demon Lord, retains his social anxiety while in the game world. Consequently, it is not all smooth sailing for the protagonist.

6 Sword Art Online (First Cour)

MyAnimeList: 7.20

Sword Art Online is the first anime most people are likely to think about when discussing isekai stories set in games. With a fantastic opening stretch of episodes and multiple seasons to follow, Sword Art Online presents a string of interesting worlds that are not always explored to their full potential.

Sword Art Online is far from perfect, including a rather bland protagonist, but it has enough memorable action scenes to make watching it worthwhile. It should be said that the franchise’s best incarnation, Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online, is not an isekai, instead opting to just take place within a game similar to something like Shangri-La Frontier.

5 The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess To Savior

MyAnimeList: 7.08

By law, an anime season must have at least 5 isekai shows, and Summer 2023 did not disappoint in this area. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 was undoubtedly the cream of the crop, far surpassing the theme’s other seasonal offerings. Be that as it may, the latter releases can still be worth watching in their own right. In terms of isekai anime set in games, only one Summer 2023 show was officially set within such a universe: The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior.

Based on Tenichi’s light novel series, Last Boss Queen is among the better examples of the villainess isekai trend. As is often the case, the female protagonist is reincarnated as the antagonist of an otome game who is destined for a rough end; consequently, she must work tirelessly to change her new life’s trajectory. Last Boss Queen shakes things up by putting its lead in the shoes of a genuinely horrible villainess, rather than one who kind of becomes evil after being rejected. Pride, the character in question, is also powerful, which is not all that common in these sorts of stories.

4 Trapped In A Dating Sim: The World Of Otome Games Is Tough For Mobs

MyAnimeList: 7.34

Trapped in a Dating Sim overcomes a clunky start to grow into an endearing show. After being forced to play through a dating sim by his sister, Leon stumbles down the stairs and dies. He is then reborn into the game’s world, which revolves around a society that empowers women over men. Using his knowledge, Leon sets out to craft a comfortable life for himself, but he quickly finds himself tied to the game’s heroine and villain.

Leon is refreshingly blunt and vicious, particularly during the first half of the season. His relationships with Olivia and Angelica, along with the friendship between the girls, serve as the heart and soul of the story, and they more than make up for the anime’s lackluster animation.

3 I’m in Love With The Villainess

MyAnimeList: 7.37

When it comes to new isekai anime, Fall 2023 had an okay bunch. Butareba -The Story of a Man Who Turned into a Pig- was simultaneously fascinating and dull, while I Shall Survive Using Potions! was a harmless show that goes in one ear and out the other. Finally, there was I’m in Love with the Villainess, an adaptation of a popular light novel. Although perhaps not fully living up to expectations, the anime was still pretty good and one of the season’s funnier comedies.

Overworked to death, Rei awakens as the protagonist (Rae) of one of her favorite otome games, and she instantly sets out to woo the villainess, Claire. The latter is perplexed and creeped out by Rae, at least initially, but they do eventually start to form a friendship. I’m in Love with the Villainess offers a fun twist on the villainess formula, and Rae is a force of nature that regularly attracts hilarious reactions from Claire.

2 .Hack//Sign

MyAnimeList: 6.95

.Hack//Sign is often hailed as the forefather of isekai anime set in games, but the show has quite a different tone to most series that would eventually follow it. Tsukasa, a timid player, wakes up in The World, an MMORPG, without any memories or the ability to leave.

.Hack//Sign is not interested in explosive action sequences or constantly supplying answers, opting to instead focus on Tsukasa’s psyche and his relationships with other characters. The anime moves at an incredibly slow pace that will put off some people; thankfully, .Hack//Sign‘s character writing is great.

1 Log Horizon

MyAnimeList: 7.92 (Season 1)

Like the 30 thousand players stuck in Elder Tale’s world, Log Horizon goes out of its way to ensure viewers get to experience what it is really like to exist in an MMORPG. While there is some action, the anime primarily focuses on world-building and character growth. It is firmly about how these people adapt to this situation and try to co-exist with the NPCs and wildlife that populate Elder Tale.

Log Horizon boasts a great protagonist, Shiroe, who uses his mind rather than his brawn. The first season is by far the best of the bunch, and it does a fantastic job of setting the world’s rules in a way that feels authentic to an MMORPG. While Shirou is the lead, the anime emphasizes the importance of forming a community, all the while also highlighting the NPCs who must adapt to the players. Although disappointing, the sequels are not terrible either.