Summary

  • How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom offers a unique focus on cunning strategy over typical isekai tropes.
  • Fans eagerly awaiting a second season can enjoy similar shows like Handyman Saitou in Another World.
  • Unlike overpowered heroes, series like How a Realist Hero highlight political diplomacy and intellect.

How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom is very peculiar among isekai anime. Instead of exploring dangerous dungeons and gaining unbelievably broken powers, Souma Kazuya is rebuilding his kingdom's economy and negotiating tough deals with other countries. The series puts a strong focus on solving problems through cunning and strategy, making it unique amongst anime with isekai settings.

How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom is airing its second part right now, and fans of the first season and the light novels are eagerly tuning in. However, even a weekly wait between episodes can be too much to bear. Here are some similar shows to check out while waiting for the next episode to release.

Updated August 6th, 2024 by Danny Guan: While the How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom light novels have been trucking along without much problem, there is unfortunately yet to be any news about a second season to adapt more of the story for anime audiences. This is bad news for fans of the series, especially since the anime was a very unique take on the isekai concept. Instead of focusing on an overpowered hero with an endless number of abilities, How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom instead focuses on Kazuya Soma's intellect, administrative know-how, and political diplomacy.

While there aren't all that many isekai that are similar to How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom, there are plenty of stories that feature protagonists with similar skill sets or that have the focus on administrating or ruling a territory. For fans eagerly awaiting a possible second season, here are some similar anime to check out for those who enjoyed How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom.

19 Handyman Saitou In Another World

An Unconventional Hero With Unique Strengths

handyman saitou anime
Handyman Saitou in Another World
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Studio
C2C
Japanese Title
Benriya Saitou-san, Isekai ni Iku
Number of Episodes
12
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll

Saitou is a skilled Japanese handyman, but he is underappreciated at work and eventually fired by his boss. By chance, he is transported to a fantasy world where he ends up working with a group of adventurers. Though his skills went without praise in Japan, here his abilities make him a useful asset, allowing him to gain the confidence he deserves.

Handyman Saitou in Another World is a standard dungeon-spelunking fantasy isekai, but instead of having a standard hero with special powers, the main protagonist, Saitou, is simply a normal man using skills that are more than easy to learn in the real world. He may not be the strongest adventurer around, but he is the most useful.

18 Kyo Kara Maoh!

Falling Face First Into Kinghood

Kyo Kara Maoh
King From Now On!
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Studio
Studio Deen
Japanese Title
Kyo Kara Maoh!
Div
Number of Episodes
117
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll

While attempting to save a classmate from bullying, Yuri Shibuya finds himself a target instead, and has his head forced into a toilet in the girls' bathroom. By happenstance, a portal appears and sucks Yuri in, transporting him to the Great Demon Kingdom, where he learns that not only is he half-demon, but the next king as well.

Kyo Kara Maoh! Is a classic isekai series whose origin predates many popular modern isekai series like Re:Zero and KonoSuba. While Yuri ultimately develops powers like the typical anime protagonist, a good part of the story is focused on political maneuverings and brokering peace between demons and humans.

17 Tsukimichi - Moonlit Fantasy

Establishing A Country After Discrimination

tsukimichi makoto interviewing gorgons
Tsukimichi - Moonlit Fantasy
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Studio
C2C (Season 1), J.C.Staff (Season 2)
Japanese Title
Tsuki ga Michibiku Isekai Douchuu
Number of Episodes
37
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll

Makoto Misumi is sent to the world of Elysion, due to a pact between his parents and a goddess. However, the goddess finds him ugly, and banishes him to the edge of the world while granting him the power to understand any language except that of humans. Saved by the mercy of Tsukuyomi, Makoto ends up starting a new civilization with a collection of demihumans and mythical creatures.

Tsukimichi - Moonlit Fantasy is a fantasy isekai anime that also follows a young man in his attempt to create a new civilization in a barren land. While the main character is certainly more powerful than the one in How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom, their goals are very similar.

16 Campfire Cooking In Another World With My Absurd Skill

Conquering Medieval Challenges With Modern Conveniences

Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skills character
Campfire Cooking in Another World With My Absurd Skill
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Studio
MAPPA
Japanese Title
Tondemo Skill de Isekai Hourou Meshi
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll

Four people from Japan find themselves transported to another world and hailed as heroes. While three of them receive incredible powers, the last, salaryman Tsuyoshi Mukoda, only receives the power to buy things from an online Japanese supermarket. Convincing the king that his powers are no good, Mukoda sets out adventuring on his own using his power for his own needs.

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Campfire Cooking in Another World is an isekai adventure story where the main character gets out of hairy situations using food and cooking rather than magical superpowers. While the concept is a bit bizarre, it's a breath of fresh air compared to the more generic isekai stories, and the story revolves around a fun trio as the protagonist quickly gains two familiars.

15 Overlord

A Story Of A Cruel Ruler

An image of Ainz Ooal Gown
Overlord
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Studio
Madhouse
Number of Episodes
52
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll, Netflix

While waiting for his favorite Full Dive MMO YGGDRASIL to shut down its servers, Momonga decides to stay logged in until the game ends for good. When the time for server shutdown arrives, he is surprised to discover that not only can he not log out, he finds that the area he was in has been transported to another world, and the NPCs have become like real people.

Overlord is very much a dark take on series like Sword Art Online, with the main character (now going as Ainz Ooal Gown) committing heinous acts for the sake of his power. While Ainz can still be considered a sort of anti-hero, he certainly toes a very dangerous line.

14 Parallel World Pharmacy

Using Medicine To Revolutionize The World

Parallel World Pharmacy
Parallel World Pharmacy
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Studio
Diomedéa
Japanese Title
Isekai Yakkyoku
Number of Episodes
12
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll

Kanji Yakutani finds himself reincarnated in the body of Farma de Medicis, a young noble from a family renowned for their medical knowledge. Having been a pharmacist in his past life, Farma uses his new life and his new abilities to continue making medicines in this new world.

Parallel World Pharmacy is an isekai anime about making medicine with a splash of standard fantasy mixed in. While the story is largely slice of life, there is some political drama as well as some seriously thrilling developments later in the series.

13 Trapped In A Dating Sim: The World Of Otome Games Is Tough For Mobs

Trapped in a Dating Sim Leon fou Bartfort with Luxion
Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs
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Studio
ENGI
Japanese Title
Otome Game Sekai wa Mob ni Kibishii Sekai desu
Number of Episodes
12
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll

After marathoning an otome game to the point of utter exhaustion, a young man dies and is reincarnated as Leon fou Bartfort in the very game he was playing. After experiencing the injustice of living in this world, Leon decides to use his knowledge of the game to make his way in the world.

Trapped in a Dating Sim is an isekai that focuses more on slice of life and romance rather than action. However, the scheming and politics that Leon has to deal with make for a very intriguing show.

12 In The Land Of Leadale

A Leisurely Adventure In A Game World

In the Land of Leadale Cayna and Lytt
In the Land of Leadale
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Studio
Maho Film
Japanese Title
Leadale no Daichi nite
Number of Episodes
12
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll

While inside the virtual reality game Leadale, Keina Kagami's life support fails, and she dies while still logged into the game. However, her mind is uploaded into her in-game avatar Cayna some centuries after the original game. Cayna decides to live and enjoy her life in this new world.

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In the Land of Leadale is a cozy fantasy isekai that is a little lower in intensity than what the usual series has to offer. Fans who want a slower series may enjoy this series greatly.

11 Isekai Izakaya

Fantasy Denizens Encountering Modern Cuisine

Isekai Izakaya Shinobu serving two soldiers
Isekai Izakaya: Japanese Food From Another World
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Nobuyuki Yazawa owns an izakaya in Kyoto with his server Shinobu. One day, their front door suddenly opens up to the city of Aitheria, bringing in patrons from another world. The two of them conduct business as usual, providing the citizens of Aitheria with food they've never seen before.

Isekai Izakaya is a nice, soothing slice-of-life isekai that focuses on the food and the reactions of the people of Aitheria. Each episode also includes a segment where celebrities visit real Japanese restaurants. This show is great for someone who just wants something cozy to watch.

10 Drugstore In Another World

Improving Fantasy Life With Medical Knowledge

Drugstore in Another World Reiji, Noela, and Mina opening up shop
Drugstore in Another World
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Studio
EMT Squared
Japanese Title
Cheat Kusushi no Slow Life: Isekai ni Tsukurou Drugstore
Number of Episodes
12
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll

Reiji Kirio is a 24-year-old office worker that is transported to another world. There, he opens a drug store and sells medicine to the local townspeople with his new friends Noela and Mina.

Drugstore in Another World is an isekai series with elements of slice of life. While Reiji's medicinal skills are very prodigious, the stories featured in this series are very lighthearted, making this series a fun watch for anyone looking to relax. His various misadventures as a medicine man are hilarious to watch.