- Read InuYasha or From Far Away for classic manga written before isekai became a popular genre.
- Read Sword Art Online, The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic, or The New Gate for beginner-friendly introductions to isekai manga.
- Choose That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime, So I’m a Spider, or Solo Leveling to read a more popular title.
- Pick Ascendance of a Bookworm, My Next Life as a Villainess, or A Veterinarian in Another World for wholesome stories suitable for all ages.
Sword Art Online
Sword Art Online traps its characters in a deadly fantasy video game. An immersive VRMMO becomes a lethal battleground when an unidentified hacker makes a startling announcement: from now on, if you die in the game, you die in real life. Many fans credit Sword Art Online for establishing the bulk of the tropes found in later isekai stories, so this one’s a must-read if you’re new to the genre.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime blends punchy action with clever humor. After a 37-year-old businessman dies from a stab wound, he wakes up in the form of a helpless slime. He’s not helpless for long, though, as he gradually becomes stronger and finds himself the leader of a gang of goblins. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is one of the most popular isekais, so get reading if you want to take part in the hype. This manga offers a fun perspective through its mature-but-lowly protagonist, and watching his journey toward becoming the leader of a fantasy troupe of colorful characters is hugely rewarding.
So I’m a Spider, So What?
So I’m a Spider follows a spider heroine as she struggles to survive. When a former highschooler hatches as a newborn spider, she must learn to navigate a new and dangerous world with nothing but her smarts and her new, 8-legged body. Featuring plenty of monster battles and clever tactics, So I’m a Spider, So What? is a good read if you’re looking for something other than the usual humanoid fantasy protagonist.
The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic
Healing Magic trades fearsome weapons for magic medicine. The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic uses plenty of the usual isekai tropes, but with one huge twist: the protagonist, Usato, is a healer rather than a fighter. Usato learns to wield his unique power to survive alongside his friends. Read this if you’re looking for a beginner-friendly introduction to the isekai genre that still has a unique angle.
Solo Leveling
Solo Leveling brings the fantasy monsters into the real world. When reality is overrun by demons, a young student takes to monster hunting in order to pay for his mother’s medical bills, and maybe save the world while he’s at it. And he’s got a handy trick up his sleeve: the newfound ability to level up endlessly. This fun twist makes Solo Leveling a wild ride. Solo Leveling is great for readers looking for overpowered protagonists and intense story progression.
Ascendance of a Bookworm
Ascendance of a Bookworm is a brainy, book-crazy take on isekai. It follows Myne, a college student who gets crushed by her own bookcase and wakes up as a young girl born to a poor family in a fantasy world where only the richest people have access to books. Myne becomes determined to make her own books, and Ascendance of a Bookworm lets us follow along on her journey. Bookworm is wholesome, adorable, and has a protagonist readers of any age can root for.
The Berserker Rises to Greatness
Berserker is a classic fantasy isekai with a romantic twist. In The Berserker Rises to Greatness, the protagonist, Kelvin, finds himself in a video game-like world and soon learns he’s traded all his memories for enormous power. But he does remember the girl he loves. We follow Kelvin as he helps other adventurers and works toward reuniting with the love of his life. Berserker (also called “Black Summoner”) may not reinvent the isekai wheel, but its true-love angle is a sweet addition to the genre for anyone looking to read a manga with a dash of romance.
The New Gate
The New Gate combines video-game mechanics with time travel. Shin, a video game player, and his friends defeat the game’s big boss, but Shin finds that he mysteriously can’t log off, even as his friends say goodbye. Things get even more strange as he inexplicably jumps 500 years in the future and must make new friends and learn how his world has changed. This one ticks all the essential isekai boxes, but adds a healthy dose of mystery for readers who want a bit more intrigue.
A Veterinarian In Another World
Veterinarian gives its protagonist a job instead of fantasy powers. But maybe his profession is a superpower of its own. Past-life veterinarian Kazami must find a way to help an imperiled kingdom that’s home to a number of fantastical creatures using only his animal skills. “A Veterinarian in Another World” is perfect for animal lovers in search of strange, new fantasy creatures.
InuYasha
InuYasha warps its heroine back to a dangerous, demon-infested past. In this classic, a young girl’s life is turned upside down when a demon drags her into a well, a mishap that lands her 500 years in the past. Now, Kagome must navigate a long-ago world of demons and magical artifacts. Read InuYasha to get your retro ‘90s manga fix, complete with dreamy sidekicks and meticulous historical details.
My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom!
Villainess focuses on a fantasy villain who doesn’t want to be a villain. After a knock to the head, noble-born Catarina comes to the startling realization that she lives in a reality in which every timeline leads to her demise as the fantasy story’s villain. With this knowledge, Catarina must work to avert her terrible fate in My Next Life as a Villainess. Crack open Villainess if you’re looking for a funny, clever twist on isekai with a female protagonist.
Re:ZERO: Starting Life in Another World
Re:ZERO brings twisting time loops to the familiar genre. Ordinary protagonist Subaru exits an ordinary convenience store and steps into a wondrous fantasy town, where he quickly meets his demise. Subaru doesn’t wake up in an afterlife, however. Instead, he wakes up in the same fantasy town just minutes before his murder. In Re:ZERO: Starting Life in Another World, we follow Subaru as he struggles to find a way out of his grisly cycle of life and death. Re:ZERO is great for any reader wanting lovable characters and an abundance of shocking twists and breathtaking turns.
From Far Away
From Far Away is a classic tale of knights, romance, and great evil. Initially debuted in 1991, From Far Away follows a young girl summoned to a strange world where she meets a dashing warrior. But the warrior is not all he seems, and he harbors a dark entity inside him. From Far Away is another case of isekai-before-isekai-was-a-thing, and is a must-read for retro manga lovers.
Welcome to Japan Ms. Elf
Welcome to Japan Ms. Elf brings the isekai protagonist to the real world. A typical office worker finds his life flipped upside down when a magical elf follows him from his dreams into the waking world. Readers get to tag along as Kazuhiro introduces his new companion to the wonders of contemporary life. Pick up this one for a laid-back, slice-of-life comedy manga.
Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash
Grimgar offers a darker, more realistic take on the isekai genre. Six young people are mysteriously drawn into a fantasy world, where they quickly learn that it’s eat or be eaten. Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash sets itself apart with its white-knuckled story of survival, as well as its thoughtful exploration of its characters as they struggle to come to grips with their new and dangerous lives. Read Grimgar if you’re looking for something more mature and with a little more gravity–or a lot of it.
The Faraway Paladin
The Faraway Paladin is a thoughtful rendition of familiar isekai tropes. The story focuses on Will, a young human who is raised by three undead mentors. Will begins to remember his disappointing past life, and resolves not to make the same mistakes. It’s an uplifting tale that also handles topics like religion and faith with nuance, and is great for readers who value emotion and thought-provoking narratives more than action-packed blockbusters.
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill
Campfire Cooking blends isekai adventures with culinary creations. The protagonist, Mukouda, was drawn to his fantasy world along with three other overpowered heroes. But in Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill, Mukouda didn’t get the powers. Instead, he can travel at-will to modern-day Japan to retrieve ingredients which he uses to cook incredible meals, meals that attract none other than the god Fenrir to Mukouda’s side. Campfire Cooking is great for readers looking for a different take on isekai, with loads of well-executed character development.
Handyman Saitou in Another World
Handyman Saitou is a hilarious, quick read. With chapters of only about 20-25 pages, you’ll blaze through this tale of an ordinary handyman trying to make his way through a perilous world, hoping to become a competent adventurer himself. Handyman Saitou in Another World has a special focus on humor, and the jokes here never let up. Go for this one if you’re looking for a light and breezy adventure with plenty of clever and resourceful characters.
My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero’s
Assassin has its cunning hero hide his overpowered abilities from his companions. My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero’s whisks an entire class of students is whisked off to another world and asked to defeat a powerful demon king almost as soon as they get there. The story follows one student, Akira, who finds he’s got better stats than any of his classmates, and chooses to lay low and bide his time. You can’t go wrong with this intriguing story of action, deception, and conspiracy.
Konosuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!
Konosuba is a hilarious parody of isekai tropes. After the protagonist of Konosuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!, Kazuma, dies from fright at the sight of an oncoming tractor, he meets a bumbling goddess who accompanies him on an afterlife quest to defeat the demon king. Read Konosuba after you’ve familiarized yourself with some other isekai, and then enjoy the way it pokes fun at those stories.
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