Isekai anime is in abundance. There are many based on video game worlds, alternative timelines, and even demon dimensions. While a protagonist transported to another world isn’t a new concept, it’s the characters and development that keep fans watching episode after episode. Here are the best Anime to watch if you love Rising of the Shield Hero.
RELATED: The Best Anime Series For People Who Don’t Like Anime
Updated on July 2, 2022 by C.M Edwards: Rising of the Shield Hero is one of the most popular isekai anime as of late, and the show ended its second season in Spring 2022. Naofumi continues to take on the harsh and unforgiving world that he has been summoned to, trying to live his life as best he can regardless of the rumors that circulate around him. Raphtalia and Filo continue to follow Naofumi in their adventures and demonstrate an undying loyalty to the discouraged isekai hero. However, the other heroes summoned continue to go about their own way of doing things while continuing to ignore and overlook Naofumi’s insights and good deeds. There are many isekai anime available on multiple streaming services; many shows are perfect for watching while waiting for the next season of Rising of the Shield Hero or just to take a break in general. Here are the best isekai anime like Rising of the Shield Hero.
15 No Game No Life
No Game No Life is an interesting and unique take on the Isekai genre. The story follows two step-siblings, Sora and Shiro, whose lives revolve around being the best at online games. The story ramps up when they’re challenged by the god of games himself, Tet.
In a separate realm, gods leave the fate of humanity up to chance in a series of games as they rule over their kingdom. Shiro and Sora attempt to dethrone the deity and become rulers themselves. No Game No Life has stunning visuals and a very engaging story that any isekai fan will enjoy.
14 Sword Art Online
Sword Art Online is the staple and blueprint isekai that has been a dominant series for over a decade; the main protagonist, Kirito, is one of the most popular of the genre. The story follows Kirito after he is trapped inside a new hyperrealistic VRMMO along with fifty thousand players who must all fight for their lives because of the stipulation that if you die in the game, you die in real life.
RELATED: Best Shonen Anime
Sword Art Online is filled with spectacular fights and dramatic moments as Kirito journeys through the video game world, losing comrades, fighting bosses, and gaining a partner. Sword Art Online has several iterations and crosses over into four different game worlds, making it one of the best series to binge on before Rising of the Shield Hero is released.
13 Grimgar
Grimgar is a short and special series that focuses more on the challenges faced when teleported to another world. Grimgar follows a small group of oddballs that form a makeshift party in an attempt to survive the fantasy world they’ve been transported to.
RELATED: Best Isekai Of All Time
None of them are especially skilled or gifted and have the hardest time taking on the weakest of monsters. Grimgar goes for a hyper-realistic adventure that places the party of adventurers against true danger and certain death if they are not absolutely careful.
12 Gate
Gate is another unique take on the isekai genre; the story tweaks the ”teleported to another world” trope in having the other world attack first. Yoji Itami is the main character and a soldier in Japan’s defense forces; he is charged as an investigator after a portal opens up in the middle of Japan and an army of medieval warriors attack.
Itami travels to the other world on a peace-finding mission; in the process, he saves a kingdom being attacked by a dragon and, in turn, is well received by the kingdom and its royalty. The story follows as Itami, and his new, somewhat harem-like comrades set out to bring a partnership between the two realms before a vicious war breaks out on both sides.
11 Jobless Reincarnation
Jobless Reincarnation follows Rudeus, a middle-aged NEET who has no meaning in his life whatsoever. This changes when he gives his life to protect someone else and finds himself reborn in the body of a newborn in a new world but retaining all his memories. In this new world, magic is common, and swordplay is a necessity; with the mind of a grown adult, Rudeus excels at learning new skills.
As a result, Rudeus thrives for the first time in his life and begins to recover and overcome his past trauma; he finds new friends, new aspirations in life, and even the possibility of love. Jobless Reincarnation scratches all the right spots that fans of isekai will enjoy and find refreshing.
10 Overlord
Overlord is an anime that starts with the leader of a guild in an MMO computer game that awakens in a fantasy world as the class and race he picked in the game. Suzuki Satoru has no memory of how he came to be in this new world but possesses all the skills and strengths of his character, making him the most powerful being in the realm.
The story follows Satoru as he falls deeper into the mindset of his character, becoming ambitious and calculating, plotting to take over the new world with the help of his guild’s NPCs. Satoru takes the moniker of Ainz Ooal Gown, completely leaving the life he once knew behind and reveling in his power as the lord of Nazerisk.
9 Log Horizon
Log Horizon follows a similar theme compared to Sword Art Online. Hardcore strategist Shiroe is trapped in a new MMO game with thousands of other players with no sign of freedom in sight. He and his best friend take on the challenges of adapting to the world and dealing with the NPCs and the call to adventure while also trying not to die in the process. Shiroe excels at using his mind to figure things out; in no time, he handles every encounter with poise, similar to Lelouche from Code Geass.
8 Bofuri: I Don’t Want To Get Hurt So I’ll Max Out My Defense
Bofuri or, “I don’t want to get hurt so I’ll max out my defense” is a fun isekai anime that follows Kaeda Honjou, a young girl who is roped into trying out the newest MMO by her best friend. Kaeda adopts the name “Maple” for her character and sets out on a journey knowing nothing about gaming or MMOs.
RELATED: Strongest Isekai Protagonists, Ranked
Kaeda maps all her stat points into vitality with the simple goal of not wanting to get hurt; this sends her on a wave of accomplishments that lands her as a server-wide famous player that supposedly can’t be defeated. Kaeda learns many things and accomplishes wonders while just doing the best she can.
7 Isekai Quartet
Isekai Quartet is a sidesplitting, hilarious anime take on the genre, mixing it with slice-of-life elements. The Anime takes some of the most well-known protagonists of the top isekai Anime and brings them together after being tempted to push a big red button.
RELATED: Best Isekai Manga That Have No Anime
Now stuck in a modern-day world, all the characters must live their day-to-day lives as high school students while interacting with each other. Ains Ooal Gown from Overlord, Tonya Degurechaff from Tanya the Evil, and Kazuma from Konosub all make an appearance in this hilarious parody of one of the most popular anime tropes.
6 That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is one of the most popular isekai Anime as of late. The story follows a middle-aged corporate worker, Sotoru, who lives a completely mundane life. An unfortunate turn of events has him assaulted and killed. Instead of moving on, he wakes up in the form of a shapeless collection of goop.
While trying to figure things out, he befriends a dragon that blesses him with great power and a new name, “Rimuru Tempest.” This starts him on an amazing journey that takes him to all kinds of destinations and allows him to get the hang of his newfound power.
5 Re:Zero -Starting Life In Another World-
Re:Zero follows Subaru, a flustered teen who finds himself working at a convenience store one moment, then being beaten by robbers in a new world the next. Subaru has no idea why he was summoned to another world, and the only friend he seems to find is Satella. Unfortunately, a dark fate awaits Subaru as he makes his way through this new world; tragedy seems to engulf Subaru’s new life as he endures countless hardships and betrayals around every corner.
Even death can not free Subaru of his suffering as he returns to life at the point of his summoning every time he perishes. Re:Zero is a unique take on the isekai main character type by throwing them into a world where they are borderline powerless.
4 The Saga Of Tanya The Evil
A strange scenario in the isekai genre, The Saga of Tanya the Evil is about a man who is reincarnated into a little girl’s body and becomes the leader of an army in a world war. Secretly, Tanya is using the war as a way to combat a supernatural god in a game of intellectual chess.
RELATED: Isekai Anime That Are Just Too Short
The series follows Tanya as she carves a bloody path to her goal, gaining a reputation as a ruthless and inhumane soldier that crosses every line in front of her. Acquiring the nickname “the Devil of Rhine”, Tanya is feared as a tactical genius and a brilliant fighter and leads her forces to victory, which indirectly raises the empire she fights for to the most powerful in the country and closer to world peace.
3 Is It Wrong To Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon
Bell has never been the best fighter, and his life has been a constant standstill in a world dominated by the profession of being an adventurer. This changes when Bell finds his determination and the women in his life do their best to help him gain strength.
But secretly, the protagonist holds a great power within himself that has garnered the attention of powerful allies and enemies. Bell must navigate his way through godly politics, blood-thirsty behemoths, and rival guilds in order to make a living and protect the friends he holds dear.
2 Fate/ Grand Order: Absolute Demon Front Babylonia
The Fate series is famous for its exciting story and breathtaking animation. Absolute Demon Front Babylonia is a different take on the franchise that steps away from the routine Grail war occurrences and main cast, similar to Fate/ Apocrypha.
RELATED: Best Isekai Games Of All Time
Fujimaru and Mash, members of a secret organization of mages, are sent back in time to repair singularities caused by the great king Solomon who seeks to wipe out the human race. Along the way, Mash and Fujimaru encounter the real-life versions of the heroes that have competed in the holy grail wars and hope to sway them to take on King Solomon and save the world.
1 Skeleton Knight In Another World
Skeleton Knight in Another World is a fun and endearing tale following an undead knight named Arc as he explores a magical fantasy world with his companions. Behind the scenes, Arc is a young man from modern-day Japan who fell asleep while playing his favorite game and found himself in this new medieval fantasy world when he awoke. To Arc’s surprise, he has retained all the powers of his favorite character, even the undead traits he picked during character creation.
Arc is soon dragged into the messes of this new world after meeting a powerful female elf who is on a mission to liberate her kind from slavery. With little else to do, Arc accompanies the young elf and decides to see what this new world has to offer.
MORE: Funniest Isekai Anime, Ranked
