Within the anime community, isekai (other world) has firmly established itself as one of the most popular genres. Recently, new data from a Japanese streaming service revealed which isekai titles are considered the best by Japanese audiences.
The isekai genre centers on protagonists transported to another universe, often due to sudden accidents, illness, or death in the real world. There, heroes (or sometimes villains) usually take on new physical forms and pursue an ideal life.
According to PR Times, ABEMA, a streaming service hosting hundreds of anime, recently celebrated November 12 as “Good Other World Day.” To mark the occasion, ABEMA unveiled the “Ultimate Isekai Anime Ranking,” listing the nine titles with the highest total viewership among ABEMA users.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Tops Streaming Charts as Most Popular Isekai Anime
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is a consistently beloved series, not only in Japan but worldwide.
Adapted from the light novel of the same name, the story begins with 37-year-old office worker Satoru Mikami being brutally stabbed to death. In his final moments, he imagines being reborn as a creature capable of “devouring” anything in his path. As a result, he reincarnates as a blue slime monster with countless new abilities. After consuming the body of a dying adventurer, Satoru gains a human form. Taking the name Rimuru Tempest, he sets out to build a nation where humans and monsters can coexist peacefully. Produced by Studio 8bit, the anime currently has three seasons and a movie. A fourth season and a new anime film are in production.
Top 9 Most Loved Isekai Anime in Japan According to ABEMA
1. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
2. Overlord
3. The Eminence in Shadow
4. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
5. Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In a Dungeon?
6. Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World
7. KonoSuba: God’s Blessing On This Wonderful World
8. The Rising of the Shield Hero
9. Sword Art Online
Ranked second, Overlord is produced by Studio Madhouse and stands out as a darker pioneer among many isekai titles. The series follows Momonga, a player in the popular VRMMORPG Yggdrasil. When the game suddenly shuts down, Momonga remains logged in, transforming into his avatar: an undead skeletal warrior named Ainz Ooal Gown. Armed with ancient magic and commanding a large group of NPCs, Momonga pursues his dream of ruling the game’s virtual world.
The Eminence in Shadow, ranked third, premiered in October 2022 and quickly gained popularity thanks to its striking dark fantasy setting and compelling protagonist. The story follows Minoru Kageno, a young man obsessed with becoming a master of social manipulation from behind the scenes. After dying in a truck accident, Minoru is reincarnated in a fantasy world as Cid Kagenou. He fabricates a story about a secret evil organization called the Cult of Diablos controlling the world. Unbeknownst to him, the cult is real and vows to destroy him.
All three top series have ongoing projects in development, highlighting the strong investment from Japanese studios in high-quality isekai anime.