Although not a recent creation, isekai anime has become borderline inescapable over the last decade. The unstoppable success of Sword Art Online propelled forward a new era dominated by teenagers being transported to alternate worlds typically (but not exclusively) based on MMORPG mechanics.
Best Isekai Anime
From classics to modern standouts, these are the best isekai anime of all time—ranked by impact, staying power, and relevance in 2026.
Ultimately, isekai is a premise; a launching pad for a franchise that can then go on to set its own tone. Shows such as Now and Then, Here and There and Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions opt to tackle mature subjects in a semi-realistic manner; on the other hand, some anime prefer to adopt a lighter touch. For those looking to explore a new world and have a laugh along the way, these are the best comedy isekai anime out there.
Updated February 24, 2025 by Mark Sammut: The Winter 2025 season has quite a few new isekai anime, and most of them are fairly lighthearted. If anyone is a big fan of sentai anime, they should watch The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World, which is a fun love letter to that genre (more so than a great isekai anime). Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf! Is primarily a slice of life, although it can be funny at times. While those two shows are fine, they are not the season's funniest isekai anime. Click below to jump directly to this series.
28 My Instant Death Ability is So Overpowered, No One in This Other World Stands a Chance Against Me!
An Isekai Anime Parody About Killing Isekai Anime Tropes
My Instant Death Ability is So Overpowered, No One in This Other World Stands a Chance Against Me!
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- January 5, 2024
- Japanese Title
- Sokushi Cheat ga Saikyou sugite, Isekai no Yatsura ga Marude Aite ni Naranai n desu ga.
- Studio
- Okuruto Noboru
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Tsuyoshi Fujitaka
- Streaming Service(s)
- HIDIVE
Ever wanted to watch a comedy isekai anime that seems to really hate isekai? Well, My Instant Death Ability should be able to scratch that itch. A schoolbus worth of students are summoned to a fantasy world, and they all get abilities except for a small handful. While the weaklings are left to die, one of them happens to be Yogiri, who is just the most overpowered entity to ever grace an anime. With a simple thought, he can kill anyone. It is like he has the Death Note in his head and without any of its restrictions.
My Instant Death Ability largely consists of Yogiri and a female companion traveling across a messy world filled with isekai stock characters and situations. More often than not, the latter meet quick ends at Yogiri's hands; sometimes, he kills off end-of-the-world threats by accident. My Instant Death Ability is very hit-and-miss in terms of humor, with arguably more misses than hits. However, it is a unique type of comedy.
27 How Not To Summon A Demon Lord
An OP Protagonist Who Desperately Trying To Play The part
How Not to Summon a Demon Lord
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2018 - 2021
- Japanese Title
- Isekai Maou to Shoukan Shoujo no Dorei Majutsu
- Studio
- Ajia-do Animation Works, Tezuka Productions, Okuruto Noboru
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Yukiya Murasaki
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Similar to Overlord, How Not to Summon a Demon Lord derives its humor from an overpowered "evil" protagonist who is out of his depth, at least on a personality level. While Overlord's Momonga has a built-in mechanic that helps him keep up the charade, How Not to Summon a Demon Lord's Diablo is left to fend for himself.
Whenever Diablo's mask falls off, hilarity ensues thanks to the character's great voice acting and comedic timing. During the first season, Diablo walks a fine line between being overpowered and a bumbling fool who is just trying to survive in an unprecedented situation. Unfortunately, the second season falls short in the humor department.
26 Reborn As A Vending Machine, I Now Wander The Dungeon
The Silliest "Reincarnated As A Thing" Concept
Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2023 - 2025-00-00
Except for Mushoku Tensei Season 2 and, to lesser extents, The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen and The Great Cleric, Summer 2023 was not a particularly strong season for isekai. Of those three highlights, only Mushoku Tensei is really worth watching, and even that show tends to be polarizing. To be fair, The Great Cleric has a few fine comedic moments, but the anime is also too slow-paced for its own good. Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon also aired during Summer, and while far from great, it is a pleasant watch.
Best Anime Of Summer 2023 (& Where You Can Stream Them)
Jujutsu Kaisen, Mushoku Tensei, and Horimiya are just some of the Summer 2023's standout anime.
Considering its premise, Reborn as a Vending Machine plays things a bit too safe. This series might have been better served by embracing its potential for weirdness rather than settling for a slow-life comedy tone with spurts of action. Still, there are worse ways to spend a few hours.
25 Campfire Cooking In Another World With My Absurd Skill
More Of A Slice Of Life, But Has Decent Humor
Campfire Cooking in Another World With My Absurd Skill
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2023 - 2025-00-00
- Japanese Title
- Tondemo Skill de Isekai Hourou Meshi
- Studio
- MAPPA
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Ren Eguchi
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Comedy comes in many forms. Some series go for broke as they seek to leave audiences crying on the floor with laughter; meanwhile, other shows are happy to just paint a constant smile on a viewer's face. Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill falls within the latter category. Tsuyoshi is summoned to a fantasy world in search of heroes; however, his summoners are not particularly impressed with his ability to use a magical version of Amazon, so he is left to his own devices. Using his gourmet skills, Tsuyoshi quickly befriends a powerful Fenrir (Fel) and a cute Slime (Sui), who agree to become his familiars. The anime follows this peculiar trio as they visit a few cities, battle goblins, and eat all sorts of yummy treats.
Campfire Cooking has a carefree tone, almost to the point that it starts to feel like a slice of life. The three main characters are not only likable but also have consistently funny banter, particularly Tsuyoshi and Fel. While rarely laugh-out-loud hilarious, this Winter 2023 comedy isekai anime is amusing.
24 Princess Connect! Re:Dive
A Lighthearted Harem Comedy
Princess Connect! Re:Dive
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 7, 2020
- Studio
- CygamesPictures
- Based On
- Game
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
An adaption of a mobile RPG, Princess Connect! Re:Dive drops a player stand-in into a fantasy world, gives him a harem of girls, and sets them along a lovely adventure packed to the brim with humor. Princess Connect! Re: Dive's stars are its trio of main girls, Karyl, Kokkoro, and Pecorine, all of whom are delightful and come with some hidden depth.
The Best Anime Series On Max, Ranked
While not lacking in movies, Max has very few anime shows. Still, Warner Bros' streaming service has some good stuff.
The anime's season 1 devotes most of its time to following the four main characters in their everyday lives, providing very little in the way of plot progression. Humor is very much the name of the game here, and it is generally amusing.
23 Drifters
Vicious Action And Over-The-Top Comedy
Drifters
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2016 - 2018-00-00
- Studio
- Hoods Drifters Studio
- Based On
- Manga
Drifters is deranged. Teleporting an array of historical figures to a dark fantasy world and then throwing them into a war against each other, Drifters is gruesome, violent, and unpredictable. This is predominantly an action anime and a pretty gory one at that.
Best Isekai Anime For Adults, Ranked
While most shows target teenagers, there are a few great isekai anime that adults are also likely to enjoy.
When not filling the screen with blood or fire, Drifters loves to suddenly throw out some slapstick. These shifts in tone might sound jarring, but Drifters is so constantly over-the-top that the action and humor end up complementing each other. It is similar to Golden Kamuy in this regard.
22 From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad's Been Reincarnated!
A Dad Makes The Most Of A Bizarre Situation
From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad's Been Reincarnated!
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2025 - 2025-00-00
- Network
- TBS, MBS, CBC, Tulip Television, BSN, tys, NBC, HBC, RKK, i-Television, SBS, IBC, BSS, MRO, OBS, TUF, RSK, TUY, tbc, RKB, SBC, KUTV, RBC, UTY, RCC, MRT, atv, MBC
- Japanese Title
- Akuyaku Reijou Tensei Ojisan
- Studio
- Ajia-do
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Michiro Ueyama
- Streaming Service(s)
- HIDIVE
Villainess isekai anime are generally entertaining, and a few of them sprinkle in a touch of comedy. From this subgenre's representatives so far, From Bureaucrat to Villainess is not only the funniest but also turns the concept's typical protagonist on its head without venturing 100% into parody territory. Usually, these stories reincarnate an older woman as a game/novel's villainess, challenging them to use their knowledge of the story to carve a positive ending. From Bureaucrat to Villainess shakes things up by reincarnating a middle-aged dad as an otome game villainess named Grace, and Kenzaburou relies on his parental sensibilities to get through any challenges.
While more amusing than laugh-out-loud hilarious, this isekai comedy anime consistently prioritizes humor over melodrama or action, and the characters are very likable. Kenzaburou is an absolute treat, but even the game's heroine and love interests contribute memorable months. In fact, even the protagonist's wife and daughter are central to the story, despite not being stuck in the game.
21 Overlord
Momonga Inadvertently Embarks On World Domination
Overlord
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2015 - 2022
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Kugane Maruyama
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Netflix
Like most isekai anime, Overlord isn't predominantly a comedy but uses humor to endear its characters to audiences and as a juxtaposition with the show's many dark moments. Although quite sparse, Overlord can be surprisingly hilarious when it feels like it, with most of the laughs deriving from its protagonist's conflicting natures as a human trapped in the body of a powerful evil wizard.
Momonga (or Ainz) is aided by secondary characters who all have big, lovable personalities, with the Great Tomb of Nazarick consisting of almost nothing but darkly hilarious characters. As Ainz grows more comfortable in his new role, the humor arguably lessens slightly in favor of kingdom-building; that said, the anime never loses its sense of humor.
20 No Longer Allowed In Another World
A Literary Icon Goes On An Isekai Adventure
No Longer Allowed in Another World
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2024 - 2024
- Network
- AT-X
- Directors
- Ryuta Imaizumi
- Japanese Title
- Isekai Shikkaku
- Studio
- Atelier Pontdarc
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Hiroshi Noda
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
It was bound to happen eventually – Osamu Dazai has his own isekai. Yes, the legendary and influential Japanese author finds himself summoned to a new realm that recruits otherworlders to fight off Demon Lords, a role he is not interested in fulfilling. Driven by a desire to find his lover and interesting subjects to write about, "Sensei" begrudgingly sets out on an adventure alongside the elf who summoned him and a beastgirl. Also, he is constantly trying to kill himself, but he is foiled by his companions and the world in general.
No Longer Allowed in Another World is an isekai parody, one that arguably delivers its best joke in its opening few minutes (no spoilers!). Even after that point, the series regularly pokes fun at the theme's overdone conventions and tropes, all the while telling a pretty enjoyable story that occasionally gets quite poignant. While not regularly laugh-out-loud hilarious, No Longer Allowed in Another World is consistently delightful and clever. Just a charming and funny isekai anime.
19 So I'm A Spider, So What?
A Delightful And Pretty Hilarious Protagonist
So I'm A Spider, So What?
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- January 8, 2021
- Japanese Title
- Kumo desu ga, Nani ka?
- Studio
- Millepensee
- Based On
- Light Novel & Novel
- Creator
- Okina Baba
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
On a seemingly random day, a disaster strikes a class, sending its members to an alternative world. Unfortunately for Kumoko, she wakes up in the body of a spider, a lowly monster stuck in a cave who is destined to die sooner rather than later. Rather than give in to despair, Kumoko energetically sets out to escape her den and make a life for herself.
So I'm A Spider, So What? Owes all of its success to its lead. Kumoko is irresistibly charming and has just the right blend of sarcasm, optimism, and fear. Even though the rest of the show is hit-and-miss, the protagonist is more than capable of carrying the anime on her back.