Isekai (異世界, lit. "different world) anime have a lot in common. They usually involve a fantasy setting of magic and monsters. A lot of the heroes of these stories are transported into them from the real world. The world itself often takes after JRPGs, especially Dragon Quest. The goal of the series often involves killing monsters or fighting the Demon King.
The repetitive premise of isekai anime seems like a recipe for monotony, but it doesn't have to be dull. There are plenty of isekai series that provide well-told stories, fun twists on the genre, and unique styles and aesthetics that make each of them worthwhile. Here are some such isekai available to watch on Netflix. As a fair warning, many of these series are region-locked and may not all be available in the same country. Any anime available on Netflix outside the US will be marked with a (*).
Sword Art Online Popularized the Genre
Sword Art Online is often credited for initiating the boom in popularity of isekai starting in the 2010s. Many isekai light novels published since its first season aired have been adapted into popular anime. There were isekai before, but this is the one that really got writers and audiences alike into the genre. It follows the adventures of Kirito and his friends through virtual worlds as they're trapped inside several popular video game worlds.
KonoSuba Is Simple Fun, Even for Isekai Newcomers (*)
KonoSuba is a good place to start for anyone who hasn't seen many isekai. It has a lot of the genre's tropes and character archetypes, but its real draw is its comedy. Whether it involves bullying a water goddess, satisfying a masochist, making explosions, or stealing panties, the misadventures of Kazuma and his incompetent party are entertaining regardless of how familiar one is with isekai.
Re: Zero provides fans with a hero who's not overpowered (*)
A common trope in isekai is to have the protagonist enter the world with so much power or skill that they rarely face any adversity. However, Re:Zero's protagonist, Natuki Subaru, is instead the victim of constant beatings and fates worse than death. To make matters worse, every time he's killed, he's goes back to where he started. It's dark, but it's also a refreshing change.
Overlord follows the story of the Demon King (*)
Usually, the main character of an isekai is the one who has to fight the Demon Lord. In Overlord, however, the protagonist is the Demon Lord. The story follows Ainz Ooal Gown, an MMORPG player who finds himself trapped in his favorite game with many hours logged in. He uses his dark magic to expand his territory, subjugate his enemies and slowly lose his humanity.
The Saga of Tanya the Evil Tells a More Cynical Story (*)
While there's still magic, the setting is less like medieval Europe and more like Imperial Germany. A salaryman in their past life, Tanya Degurechaff fights as a Mage for the Empire with cold efficiency. They do so with the goal of getting back at the mysterious divine being responsible for their unfortunate reincarnation. They are determined to prove that nobody needs to pray to God.
Cautious Hero makes the hero overpowered, but also overly cautious (*)
This anime follows Ryūgūin Seiya, but it's mainly shown from the perspective of the goddess who summoned him, Ristarte. Seiya will use all of his strongest attacks and items to take out a single slime, then run away from stronger opponents. He's not weak, he's just absurdly cautious. The ridiculous reworkings of the overpowered hero and other isekai tropes make this anime.
The Rising of the Shield Hero gives fans exactly what it promises (*)
One wouldn't expect someone whose main weapon is a shield to be all that powerful. As such, the protagonist of The Rising of The Shield Hero Naofumi is belittled by the people he's supposed to be saving and his fellow heroes. Worse still, he's persecuted for a crime he didn't commit. Regardless, he makes it his duty to defend the kingdom and, eventually gains the glory and recognition that he rightfully deserves.
Isekai Quartet is about as meta as isekai will ever get (*)
This series isn't technically an isekai, but it might as well count as one. It takes characters from popular isekai like KonoSuba, Saga of Tanya the Evil, Re:Zero, and Overlord and puts them all together in a cute school comedy. Shield Hero and Cautious Hero also show up. It's great seeing how all of these popular characters hang out and bounce off one another.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime makes the weakest monster into the strongest (*)
In most JRPGs, ordinary slimes are supposed to be among the first and weakest enemies a player will face. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime flips that idea on its head by starting its protagonist off as a slime (as the title implies) and having him become one of the most powerful creatures alive. It's kind of like Overlord, but a little more lighthearted and humane. It's a fun turning of the tables.
No Game No Life has a creative story and aesthetic
No Game No Life doesn't use the standard isekai plot, but it's still brilliant in many ways. It follows Sora and Shiro's adventures in a world where everything is decided by high-stakes games, something the two of them excel at. This series has beautiful visual flair, awesome battles of wits, and engaging stories and characters. It's entertaining as well as uncharacteristically cerebral for an isekai.
