You found access to anime with “Sword Art Online” and are looking for series that take a similar line? We have some strong recommendations for you here.
For many, “Sword Art Online” was the gateway to the world of anime. Not surprising, after all, the series was about the “dream” of many a gamer, to be able to permanently immerse themselves in a beloved game world and lead a real life there. Even if Sword Art Online is not the first or the most original representative of this genre, it is one of the most well-known “Isekai” anime of the last few decades.
But the genre has many other solid representatives to offer. We have therefore picked out 5 anime series for you that you should definitely take a look at, as they follow a similar basic idea – the “Isekai”.
What is the “Isekai” genre?
Isekai is a sub-genre of fantasy in which the main character is usually transported to a foreign world (“Isekai” = “Other World”), in which other rules and laws prevail than in the protagonist’s original world. Often, but not always, this occurs through “rebirth”: the protagonist dies on their home world and is reborn on another world.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Alternative names: Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken, TenSura, “My rebirth as a slime in another world”
Sub Genres: Fantasy, action, adventure
Stream available on: Crunchy roll
Episodes: 51
Satoru, in his mid-thirties, saves the life of a co-worker during a robbery, but becomes a victim of the attack himself and is killed. As the world descends into darkness, he suddenly hears a computer voice reading new skills and traits to him like a tutorial. As he gradually regains his senses, he discovers that he has been reincarnated: albeit as a “slime” enemy in a fantasy world. By devouring objects, he constantly learns new skills and also the ability to adapt his form more and more.
As “Rimuru” he then begins to build a new life in the world. He joins forces with other monsters to build his own village and expand this bit by bit into a kingdom that thrives on trade with humans and other races – and is repeatedly plagued by great threats.
What to expect from the anime: The “Slime” anime puts a lot of time into world building and explains many connections between individual races. Bit by bit you can watch how the protagonist builds the village into a city and faces increasing political problems.
Despite the clearly amusing starting position, the anime never gets silly, after a gentle start it even comes up with a good portion of suspense, drama and character depth, which make the passages between the interesting fights worthwhile.
KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!
Alternative names: Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo!, Konosuba
Sub Genres: Fantasy, comedy, action, adventure, ecchi
Stream available on: aniverse (Amazon)
Episodes: 20
The nerd Kazuma leaves the house after a long time – and apparently just in time, because he manages to save a girl from being run over and gets hit by the truck himself.
He awakens in a dark environment where a goddess named Aqua allows him to be reincarnated in an alternate world with an object of his choice. When Kazuma mentions why he is here in the first place, the goddess laughs at him: The girl was never exposed to any danger, because the truck was actually a slow tractor. He himself died of shock and in such a ridiculous way that even his family had to laugh at the sight.
Provoked by this, Kazuma decides to simply take Aqua as his “object of choice” – and takes them with him to a new world where they have to hire themselves out as adventurers. Joining them are the all-powerful sorceress Megumin, who can only cast one spell and only once a day, and a heroic paladin, Darkness, who never meets an enemy and takes a little too much pleasure in serving as a shield and being humiliated.
What to expect from the anime: Konosuba sees itself as a playful parody of the Isekai genre and really pokes fun at the clichés. However, the series manages to do this without ever appearing flat or superficial. The interactions between the protagonists are pure, well thought-out comedy – however, some anime newcomers may be irritated by some “questionable” camera poses and flexible bust sizes.
If everyone is annoying you with “You have to watch this anime”, there are good reasons for that
overlord
Alternative names: /
Sub Genres: Fantasy, action, adventure
Stream available on: aniverse (Amazon), Crunchyroll
Episodes: 52
Breaking up with a beloved MMORPG is a hard thing. When the full dive online game Yggdrasil shuts down after 12 years, the guild leader Momonga of the monstrous guild Ainz Ooal Gown stays online until the last moment. But the decisive point in time passes – and the world stays the same. Stranger still, the NPCs no longer follow their routines but have developed personalities of their own, roam freely and swear allegiance to him.
As the last remaining “player”, Momonga decides to increase the glory of his guild – and to enslave the rest of the world. As a sinister “overlord,” he seeks to understand the rules of this new existence while unleashing all of the superpowered items and spells his guild has collected over the years.
What to expect from the anime: Overlord reverses the typical Isekai journey and features not a hero but a sympathetic villain bent on dominating the world. Combat is clearly the focus of the series and despite some brutality and cool staging of the battles, the comedy isn’t neglected either – mostly through a helplessly in love virgin succubus enjoying a bit too much of the master’s campaign of annihilation.
See page 2 for more series like Sword Art Online.