The Best New Isekai Anime

The last few years have been dominated by MAPPA-animated blockbusters such as Chainsaw Man and Attack on Titan.

So, when it was announced that the legendary studio was working on its first isekai, there was a considerable amount of interest!

Campfire Cooking in Another World plays on some of isekai's cliches but delivers a much softer, charming series, complete with MAPPA's renowned animation quality.

The story follows salaryman Tsuyoshi Mukouda. Initially summoned as a hero, his unique magical power – online supermarket – renders him useless on the battlefield.

Instead, Mukouda uses his special ability to bring his favourite foods to his new fantasy world! Aided by a legendary beast and a cute slime, he travels the world one dish at a time.

Campfire Cooking in Another World made a name for itself through its incredibly detailed and beautiful food animations. MAPPA even released behind-the-scenes footage showing how the scenes were created!

Campfire Cooking in Another World premiered in January 2023. A second season has recently been announced.

Despite appearing in a stacked Fall 2022 anime season, The Eminence in Shadow more than held its own thanks to a big cast of characters and its subversion of traditional action isekai tropes.

The story follows a boy who fantasises about being a secret hero by living a normal school life. However, he struggles to come to terms with his own powerlessness until he finds himself isekai’d.

Reborn as Cid, a noble son of the Kagenou family and blessed with incredible magical power, he has another shot at living out his dream. Cid creates Shadow Garden, a secret organisation, and the Cult of Diablos, a made-up villain for them to subdue.

However, as Cid ends up with more women joining his Shadow Garden, he discovers that the Cult of Diablos may have a life of its own.

The plot sounds a bit wacky, but The Eminence in Shadow purposely plays with the classic isekai trope of a kid’s deification. If you can connect with that alongside the school humour and large cast, it’s a series well worth watching.

The Eminence in Shadow Season 2 premiered in October 2023.

Sometimes, you just need some generic, self-fulfilling isekai junk TV. We get it! Iseleve might be the perfect definition of the cookie-cutter isekai, but that doesn't mean it's not entertaining.

Yuuya is a shy kid who is bullied for his appearance, but that doesn't stop him from trying to help others. One day, he discovers a door to an abandoned house in another world, where he develops magical powers that also transform his appearance.

Now with more abilities and good looks than anyone could ask for, Yuuya starts to attract attention in both the real world and the fantasy world.

Some people have criticised Iseleve's story for how it depicts the importance of people's appearances.

However, it is still popular with fans because, sometimes, just looking at attractive characters doing cool things is fun. And often, fun is exactly what isekai is about!

Cheat Skill in Another World premiered in April 2023, and another Iseleve animation project, expected to be season 2, has been announced.

Discover: Is Cheat Skill in Another World a Harem Anime?

The Rising of the Shield Hero is regarded by many fans as one of the great isekai experiences of all time.

One big reason for its popularity is its rags-to-riches story, going against the overpowered main character trait seen in many isekai stories.

Shield Hero follows Naofumi Iwatani, an ordinary boy summoned to the fantasy world of Melromarc to take the role of one of four legendary heroes, each imbued with a legendary weapon.

Naofumi is declared the titular Shield Hero, a role seen by many as weak and useless compared to the others. A big betrayal leads to Naofumi becoming an outcast, forced to build his reputation back from zero in order to fulfil his role and find a way back home.

The first season of Shield Hero is still seen as one of the best isekai series of all time. While the second season in 2022 didn't reach the same levels, the third season is widely seen as a return to form.

The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 3 premiered in October 2023.

The isekai element in MagiRevo isn't as pronounced as in some other anime. However, it's a very solid fantasy series that made serious waves in Winter 23 thanks to the relationship between the main characters.

Anis is the boisterous princess, foregoing her right to the throne to focus on her passion for magic, despite having no aptitude for magic herself. Her brother Algard, therefore, is forced into a political marriage with a Duke's daughter, Euphyllia.

After falling for a commoner, Algard breaks off his engagement with Euphyllia in a humiliating public display. However, Anis witnesses the event and offers her a new role as her assistant.

The organic yuri relationship that forms between Anis and Euphie won over a lot of fans and many comparisons to 2022's surprise hit Lycoris Recoil. So, if you're looking for a fun, female-led action series, this could be something to try!

Mushoku Tensei's first season was released to critical acclaim in 2021, making its sequel one of the most anticipated anime of 2023 across all genres!

On the surface, Mushoku Tensei's story isn't particularly unique. A mid-30s NEET dies at the hands of a speeding truck and reincarnates as Rudeus Greyrat, a young child with a particular affinity for magic.

Just as he begins to settle into his new life, a calamitous event sends him to the other side of the world, where he must fight his way back home.

While Mushoku Tensei isn't remarkable on paper, many fans have praised its emotional storytelling, with great highs and terrible lows for Rudeus, including some twists that have stayed with fans ever since.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 premiered in July 2023.

Raeliana is one of the most successful female-led romance isekai of recent years. It is also adapted from a Korean manhwa instead of the traditional Japanese light novel.

When Rinko dies, she is reincarnated as Raeliana McMillan, a side character in her favourite romance novel. Knowing how the story ends, she knows she is destined for a terrible life at the hands of her fiance, so she takes matters into her own hands.

Raeliana finds the main protagonist of the story, Duke Noah Wynknight, and forces him to become her fake fiance, or she will spill his darkest secrets. The Duke agrees, and so begins their unscripted romance!

Due to mixed reactions to the animation, Raeliana went under the radar when it aired. However, it has a highly devoted fanbase due to its unapologetically sweet story which makes it an easy binge-watch for romance fans!

Raeliana premiered in April 2023 and finished airing in June. There is currently no news on whether there will be a Why Raeliana Ended up at the Duke's Mansion Season 2.

Not all isekai are grand action adventures. If you want something to chill out with, Farming Life in Another World is a good slice-of-life series in its own right.

Hiraku Machio, upon passing due to a terminal illness, is granted his dream life. Gifted an incredible shape-shifting farming tool, he is reincarnated into a fantasy forest where he can live the farm life of his dreams!

Over time, Machio transforms the forest into charming farmland, slowly developing the land into a thriving fantasy society.

With a similar vibe to chilled crafting and farming sim games, this is a great series if you want something full of soft charm!

Widely seen as one of the best yuri anime of 2023, I'm in Love with the Villainess offers something different to the growing otome isekai genre.

Overworked adult Rei Oohashi spends most of her evenings unwinding with her favourite otome (dating sim) game Revolution. However, while most players are interested in matching with the Academy's male princes, Rei's heart lies with the game's villain, the noblewoman and bully Claire Francois.

One night, she falls asleep and suddenly wakes up in the world of the game as regular student Rae Taylor. Using her knowledge of the game, she strives to win over Claire's heart, much to her annoyance.

I'm in Love with the Villainess is a good comedy anime that hits a lot of popular notes when it comes to isekai themes. However, it won over a lot of fans for how it portrayed life as a member of the LGBTQ community, addressing some common stereotypes and misconceptions.

Despite airing with little fanfare in the Spring 2023 season, KamiKatsu has all the makings of a cult classic.

KamiKatsu follows Yukito, the son of a cult leader, who dies in a ritual gone wrong. However, when his wish to be reborn into a world without religion is granted, he discovers the reverse isn't all that good, either.

With his new friends on the verge of being executed by the government, Yukito prays for divine intervention, which arrives in the form of Mitama, the deity at the heart of the cult that killed him.

While the plot of this comedy isekai sounds intense, KamiKatsu made a name for itself thanks to its sharp, self-aware comedy.

The series, adapted by the manga's original creator, doesn't take itself seriously, something opitimised in a CGI tractor that went viral and led to the series being called "the best worst anime" of Spring 2023.

Despite having a very generic setup, Reincarnation of the Strongest Exorcist has been really well received by isekai fans, particularly for its ability to hold back details and expand the story as the show progresses.

Haruyoshi Kuga, the world's most powerful exorcist, is killed by one of his students. However, he reincarnates in a magical world as Seika Lamprogue, the illegitimate son of a noble family with no magic abilities to his name. Despite this, he is determined to use his unique exorcist skills and become even stronger than he was before.

With plenty of action, a harem romance and a fascinating fantasy world, there's a lot to discover in Reincarnation of the Strongest Exorcist!