While not a recent invention, isekai has grown especially popular in manga and anime over the last decade. The success of series like Sword Art Online helped usher in a new era when everyone and, occasionally, their mother is being sent to alternate worlds defined by RPG mechanics. As tired as the formula can get at times, isekai has produced some gems that serve as fantastic wish-fulfillment series.
Which are the best isekai game anime? Synonymous as the theme might be with RPGs, only a handful of shows state that they take place within games, even though plenty of shows are set in fantasy worlds built upon traditional gaming conventions. Therefore, let's explore those shows that specifically send their protagonists into video games.
Along with quality, the rankings also take into account the importance the isekai anime gives to the "game" aspect of their worlds.
Updated November 2, 2025 by Mark Sammut: As 2025 is almost over, we've updated this article to include isekai trapped in a game anime that aired this year.
19 Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra: World Conquest Starts with the Civilization of Ruin
MyAnimeList: 6.64
Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra
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- July 6, 2025
- Japanese Title
- Isekai Mokushiroku Mynoghra: Hametsu no Bunmei de Hajimeru Sekai Seifuku
- Studio
- Maho Film
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator(s)
- Fefu Kazuno
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Nearly every isekai anime set in a game focuses on MMORPGs or otome, to the point that dozens of series seem like they take place in the same world. Consequently, Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra deserves praise for shifting to another genre: Grand strategy. Yes, Takuto Ira reincarnates as the ruler of a dark civilization in a strategy game he used to play, and he must use his knowledge to gradually build a haven for himself and his followers. The anime emphasizes the strategy aspect quite a bit, and it incorporates more gaming mechanics than most of its peers.
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That said, Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra is somewhat dull. The story moves at a glacial pace, and most sequences just amount to characters talking to each other about lore in bland environments. It does not make for a very interesting watch, and a lot of episodes drag. Ultimately, this series is worth a watch if you want to see something a bit different.
18 Skeleton Knight In Another World
MyAnimeList: 7.17
Skeleton Knight in Another World
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2022 - 2022-00-00
- Japanese Title
- Gaikotsu Kishi-sama, Tadaima Isekai e Odekakechuu
- Studio
- Studio Kai, Hornets
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Ennki Hakari
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
The Spring 2022 season was stacked with isekai anime, quite a few of which were happy to directly state they occur within game worlds. Skeleton Knight in Another World follows Arc, a gamer stuck as their reasonably powered character in a fantasy world defined by discrimination. Also, as the title suggests, Arc has a skeleton avatar, which is not a common sight in this universe.
Skeleton Knight in Another World's strength lies in the relationships that form between the main characters. Arc, Ariane, and the adorable Ponta have a charming rapport that brings out the best in each of their personalities. As the story allows all the heroes to shine rather than just Arc, they come across as a genuine party whose members are equally vital in their own ways. For all its positives, Skeleton Knight in Another World's tone is all over the place, and the story often struggles to balance its mature themes and lighthearted banter.
17 In The Land Of Leadale
MyAnimeList: 6.95
In the Land of Leadale
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2022 - 2022-00-00
- Network
- Tokyo MX
- Directors
- Naoyoshi Kusaka, Masakazu Takahashi, Hiromichi Matano
- Japanese Title
- Leadale no Daichi nite
- Studio
- Maho Film
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- Based On
- Novel & Light Novel
- Creator
- Ceez
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
In the Land of Leadale is an enjoyable slow-life show about a woman who is reincarnated in a world based on a virtual reality MMORPG she used to escape to during her life. Not everything about Leadale is exactly as Keina, or Cayna in-game, remembers, but the one thing that has remained the same is the world's fantastical elements.
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Putting aside the occasional action sequence, In the Land of Leadale is predominantly happy to allow Cayna to exist peacefully in her new home. The protagonist (and audience) is not on a mission to defeat some huge threat, even though she is quite powerful, but she primarily focuses on crafting a quiet and peaceful place in this universe. This premise makes for a relaxing isekai anime.
16 The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess To Savior
MyAnimeList: 7.11
The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2023 - 2023-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Japanese Title
- Higeki no Genkyou to Naru Saikyou Gedou Last Boss Joou wa Tami no Tame ni Tsukushimasu
- Studio
- OLM
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Tenichi
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
Based on Tenichi's light novel series, The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess To Savior is among the better examples of the villainess isekai trend. As is often the case, the female protagonist is reincarnated as the antagonist of an otome game who is destined for a rough end; consequently, she must work tirelessly to change her new life's trajectory.
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Last Boss Queen shakes things up by putting its lead in the shoes of a genuinely horrible villainess, rather than one who kind of becomes evil after being rejected. Pride, the character in question, is also powerful, which is not all that common in these sorts of stories.
15 Quality Assurance in Another World
MyAnimeList: 6.54
Quality Assurance in Another World
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2024 - 2024-00-00
- Network
- TBS, MBS, BS-TBS
- Japanese Title
- Kono Sekai wa Fukanzen Sugiru
- Studio
- 100studio, Studio Palette
- Number of Episodes
- 13
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Masamichi Sato
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
A seemingly divisive series, going by MyAnimeList, Quality Assurance in Another World flew under the radar throughout Summer 2024. While nothing amazing, this anime provides a unique take on the "trapped in a video game" format by focusing on a protagonist who was hired as a quality tester. As normal, a company assigned a group of QAs to investigate an in-development game's bugs; however, abnormally, the employees found themselves incapable of logging out. A year later, most of the testers have lost the plot and are constantly using their debugger privileges to spread chaos across the world, acting as mini-gods to the NPCs. Haga is one of the exceptions, as he not only refuses to abuse his powers but has also continued to work diligently to test and report bugs.
For the most part, Quality Assurance in Another World is an adventure anime that follows Haga and a young NPC girl, Nikola, as they travel, investigate bugs, make friends, and try to undermine the other testers who are causing nothing but harm. Visually, the show is pleasant to the eyes, and there are quite a few creative monster designs. The characters are likable enough to not be off-putting, although they are admittedly quite forgettable.
Quality Assurance in Another World is mildly entertaining, which sounds harsher than it is meant to be. This is a standard 5/10 anime that does most things "fine" without really excelling at anything. Its biggest weakness is that the story can be a bit aimless at times.
14 How Not To Summon A Demon Lord
MyAnimeList: 6.83 (Season 1)
How Not to Summon a Demon Lord
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- 2018 - 2021
- Japanese Title
- Isekai Maou to Shoukan Shoujo no Dorei Majutsu
- Studio
- Ajia-do Animation Works, Tezuka Productions, Okuruto Noboru
- Number of Episodes
- 22
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Yukiya Murasaki
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
More often than not, an isekai anime will center around a hikikomori who spends all of his time in an MMORPG. Be it death or a summoning gone wrong, the character ends up in a fantasy world where he is an instant hero, mainly because he retains his stats from the MMORPG. How Not to Summon a Demon Lord is a stereotypical isekai anime in a lot of ways, but it rises above its contemporaries through sheer personality and strong comedic timing.
Although powerful, Takuma Sakamoto, the anime's resident hikikomori turned Demon Lord, retains his social anxiety while in the game world. Consequently, it is not all smooth sailing for the protagonist.
13 Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss but I'm Not the Demon Lord
MyAnimeList: 7.13
Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss but I'm Not the Demon Lord
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2024 - 2024-00-00
- Network
- AT-X
- Directors
- Shunji Yoshida, Yui Kanbe, Kim Seung-deok
- Japanese Title
- Akuyaku Reijou Level 99: Watashi wa Ura-Boss desu ga Maou dewa Arimasen
- Studio
- Jumondo
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss but I'm Not the Demon Lord might initially just seem like another run-of-the-mill take on isekai's villainess subgenre. At face value, that prediction might not seem to be off-the-mark, especially since the show takes place in an otome game world like quite a few of these stories; however, Villainess Level 99 is one of the fresher takes on the concept, a statement that can be credited entirely to Yumiella Dolkness, the protagonist.
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Rather than reincarnating as an arrogant aristocrat, Yumiella is a secret boss who is largely a minor character during the main story, with the latter culminating in the defeat of the demon lord. As the protagonist would rather avoid a future where she is killed by the heroine and her group of (not-so) good boys, she decides to try and keep a low profile while attending school. Naturally, the exact opposite happens, and she ends up attracting a lot of attention due to her power level being 99, something she achieved by grinding dungeons solo.
Yumiella is a delight. While not bad, protagonists in villainess isekai stories tend to have similar personalities, both in terms of traits and their outward behavior. Yumiella is awkward, funny, and quite stoic, which allows her to stand out from her contemporaries. The anime adds an element of mystery to its setting by hinting that the world might not be a direct copy of the otome game.
12 I'll Become a Villainess That Will Go Down in History
MyAnimeList: 7.33
I'll Become a Villainess That Will Go Down in History
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- October 2, 2024
- Japanese Title
- Rekishi ni Nokoru Akujo ni Naru zo
- Studio
- Maho Film
- Based On
- Novel & Light Novel
- Creator
- Izumi Okido
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
I'll Become a Villainess That Will Go Down in History is decent, but it does suffer from concept fatigue. In the last two years or so, villainess isekai anime have become common enough to appear in every season. They nearly all take place in otome games, featuring school settings, and follow a protagonist who is just trying to avoid a bad end. None of these shows have been bad by any stretch of the imagination, but they are also so similar that they struggle to stand out. Despite trying a few novel things, I'll Become a Villainess That Will Go Down in History still feels like just another one of these anime.
Still, the story has one major strength that sets it apart from the crowd, at least initially. Alicia, the protagonist, is genuinely trying to play the part of the villainess, all in the hopes of allowing the game's heroine to reach her full potential. To be honest, she does not actually do anything all that bad, and she mostly just ends up being an accidental hero. Nevertheless, this small twist is appreciated.
Beyond that, I'll Become a Villainess That Will Go Down in History is fine. The anime covers quite a wide spectrum of time, following Alicia from childhood to late adolescence. Due to this structure, the audience gets to see the protagonist grow stronger through hard work and dedication, which is neat.
11 I'm The Villainess, So I'm Taming The Final Boss
MyAnimeList: 7.22
I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss
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- 2022 - 2022
- Japanese Title
- Akuyaku Reijou nanode Last Boss wo Kattemimashita
- Studio
- Maho Film
- Number of Episodes
- 12
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Sarasa Nagase
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss hits a few road bumps but is generally a smooth and enjoyable ride. On the day she has her engagement broken by the kingdom's prince, Aileen realizes she is the villainess of an otome game she played in her previous life. To avoid a bad ending, she sets out to woo the Demon King, the charismatic Claude Jeanne Elmir.
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I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss is at its best when focusing on Claude and Aileen's relationship since they have great chemistry. The story starts reasonably strong as well, but it loses some momentum when Aileen begins to live through the otome game's sequel; however, the anime ends on a decent note.
10 Ixion Saga DT
MyAnimeList: 7.14
Ixion Saga DT
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 8, 2012
- Studio
- Brain's Base
- Number of Episodes
- 25
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
"Isekai" is more of a premise than a genre, as any show featuring a protagonist who is transferred to another world qualifies. This premise leaves a lot of room for variety when it comes to tone. For example, Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World and Ixion Saga DT are both isekai anime, but the former is grim and complex, while the latter is comedic and unapologetically stupid.
A great player in an MMORPG, Kon Hokaze receives a friend request and, naturally, winds up in a fantasy world. Kon meets a princess, joins a party, and sets out to save the world. As its humor is quite immature, Ixion Saga DT is not for everyone, but it can be hilarious at times.