Summary

  • Dive into the fascinating world of MMO anime with The New Gate and other thrilling isekai series like SAO and Bofuri.
  • Experience the classic.Hack//Sign and the action-packed Sword Art Online, paving the way for the isekai genre we know today.
  • Explore unique takes on isekai, from overpowered characters in Arifureta to intense thriller elements in Good Night World.

This anime season is packed full of new and returning series that will have fans occupied with watching something almost every day of the week. With fan-favorite anime series like My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer continuing their stories and several new anime, such as Kaiju.08 and the Manwha-based series Viral Hit, it's genuinely a great time to be an anime fan. Among the slew of new anime released, the ever-expended isekai genre has a new show for MMO fans called The New Gate.

best isekai anime ever - tanya, eminence in shadow, drifters-1
Best Isekai Anime Of All Time, Ranked (2026 Edition)

From classics to modern standouts, these are the best isekai anime of all time—ranked by impact, staying power, and relevance in 2026.

17

Shinya was the hero, trapped inside his favorite virtual reality MMO on a journey to save his friends and the thousands of other players trapped in the game world with their lives at stake. As a veteran player who knows the ins and outs of the game and has the best combination of skills, Shinya makes it to the final boss and claims victory. Unfortunately, instead of being freed from the game, Shinya finds that he is still in the game, and five hundred years have passed. Now, his journey starts anew with the task at hand yet to reveal itself. There are many isekai anime set in gamer worlds with interesting predicaments for the main character. Here are some of the best anime to watch similar to The New Gate.

6 .Hack//Sign

Classic Isekai Story With A Great Story

The cast of .hack//Sign
.hack//Sign
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Studio
Bee Train
Number of Episodes
26
Streaming Service(s)
Tubi

.Hack//Sign is a classic among isekai anime, being one of the original series to inspire most of the anime of the genre today. Set in a game called The World, Tsukasa is an enigmatic player who takes it upon himself to investigate the serial occurrences of players becoming comatose after they log out of the game. However, Tsukasa is also battling his own demons, as he has no memory of who he is outside of the game. This series is more than just an action fest and does a truly wonderful job of adding a bit of thrill to the main story.

5 Sword Art Online

Top Notch Isekai Action

Sword Art Online Kirito In Combat
Sword Art Online
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Studio
A-1 Pictures
Creator
Reki Kawahara
Number of Episodes
96
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll, Hulu

While there are plenty of Isekai anime that came before Sword Art Online, there are few that revolutionized the genre in such a way that it permanently put the entire genre on the map.

Isekai Anime and Manga With Ruler Protagonist
14 Isekai Anime & Manga Where The Protagonist Becomes A Ruler

Protagonists summoned to a new world undergo all sorts of predicaments, yet some are lucky enough to find themselves in royalty and power.

When a brand new VRMMO hits the shelves, thousands of players dive in for the first time and are met with terror instead of joy as they are trapped and their lives are put on the line. Kirito becomes the shining beacon of hope that can lead a party of players to the final tower and free everyone's minds. The Sword Art Online franchise is perhaps the most popular isekai series in the anime community for its incredible animation, action, and lovable characters.

4 Arifureta

Overpowered Main Character That Subverts Expectations

Nagumo and Yue in Arifureta From Commonplace to World's Strongest
Arifureta: From Commonplace To World's Strongest
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Studio
Asread, White Fox, Studio Mother
Creator
Ryo Shirakome
Number of Episodes
42

When a class full of teenagers is transported to another world, they all receive powerful abilities and are chosen to be the hope of the world to protect it from calamity. Unfortunately for Hajime, his ability doesn't compare to most of his comrades, and while on a dungeon crawl, he is betrayed and left for dead. Falling into a pit of despair, Hajime finds his resolve and fueled by his anger; he feeds on monster flesh, which expands his skillset and turns him into a powerhouse mage. Arifureta takes a darker tone with overpowered main characters and a much more colorful cast of supporting characters.

3 Skeleton Knight In Another World

Powerful Main Character With A Strong Goal

Arc in Skeleton Knight in Another World
Skeleton Knight in Another World
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Studio
Studio Kai, Hornets
Creator
Ennki Hakari
Number of Episodes
12
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll

Arc wakes up in a magical world unlike any he's seen before, wearing sparkling white armor. He's also armed with a magic sword and powerful abilities that make him a powerful threat. Upon his first few seconds of consciousness, Arc saves a maiden from a deadly assault and realizes he may be able to live out his dream of being a real-life hero. Unfortunately, Arc also had the rotten luck of being brought into this magical world as an undead race. As he is roped into a number of adventures, Arc decides that if he is to reside in this new world, he must find a way to change himself back to normal. Skeleton Knight in Another World is an excellent series with low investment and has finished airing.

2 Log Horizon

Great Character Driven Stories And Stunning Animation

Log Horizon Promo
Log Horizon
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Studio
Satelight, Studio Deen
Creator
Mamare Touno
Number of Episodes
62
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll, Hulu

The most popular MMO in Japan, with over thirty thousand players, became a prison when a recent update removed the option for players to log out. Being a veteran player, Shiroe takes this challenge by the horns and seeks to improve the state of living for the players trapped in the world.

Featured Image with Kazuma from Konosuba panicking, truck and subaru from Re : zero standing from right to left
9 Best Games Based On Isekai Anime, Ranked

Isekai stories don't always make for good video games, but these games based isekai anime do a fine job of replicating the feeling of their series.

Hoping to get to the bottom of the mystery and save everyone's lives, Shiroe masterfully uses the world around him. Log Horizons' plot is very well-paced, and the series has a wide variety of characters. The animation and action are cherries on top of the cake that make the series a great watch while waiting for new episodes of The New Gate.

1 Sword Art Online: Alicization

A Diamond In The Rough Of A Beloved Franchise

Sword Art Online Alicization Lycoris
Sword Art Online
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Studio
A-1 Pictures
Creator
Reki Kawahara
Number of Episodes
96
Based On
Light Novel
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll, Hulu

Sword Art Online is one of the most successful isekai franchises where Kiroto has liberated three multiple worlds from shady organizations that seek to manipulate the public with the use of virtual reality games. Alicization is the fourth world that Kirito himself has had a hand in making, and he finds himself trapped yet again, but this time with his memories tampered with. Alicization is highly praised as the series getting back on track with multiple seasons that have strong action and character-driven stories.