Isekai is like that crazy friend who just keeps appearing—sometimes in mecha armor, sometimes reborn as a vending machine. Whatever the bonkers premise, they manage to improve the party. And in 2025, isekai isn’t letting up. To the contrary, it’s flourishing—with new concepts, out-there worldbuilding, and more turns than a time-loop novel. Whether in epic power-ups, absurd reincarnations, or in strategy-based fantasy, this year’s lineup has something for everyone. Let’s break down the 10 best isekai anime to watch right now—starting with the newest entries and ending with the icons.
10. Turkey! Time To Strike
It begins as a nice sports anime—girls bonding through bowling—and then suddenly, bam, time travel. One glowing bowling ball and our heroines are transported to feudal Japan. Yep, really. In CBR’s words, the bait-and-switch in the first episode is shockingly good. It’s one of those things where the less you’re told, the better. Quirky, surprising, and utterly unhinged—in a good way.
9. Uglymug, Epicfighter
Sick of pretty-boy heroes with all the cheat codes? Meet Shigeru Yoshioka, who voluntarily gives himself the worst appearance stat in return for pure, unadulterated power. The twist? He gets hurt every time he physically touches a girl. What could’ve been set up for a joke-fest provides heartfelt character moments and savvy storytelling. CBR points it out as a refreshingly wholesome spin on the overpowered hero trope.
8. The Water Magician
If you’re in the mood for a slower-paced, almost meditative fantasy, The Water Magician might be your vibe. Ryo, a youthful wanderer with the power to control water, just wants a quiet life—but of course, trouble finds him anyway. Anime writer Anna Lindwasser describes it as a cozy blend of calm storytelling and magical exploration. Think of it as the Studio Ghibli version of isekai: soothing, scenic, and sneakily deep.
7. Onmyo Kaiten Re: Birth Verse
This one pitches a hard-talking delinquent into a surreal alternate reality, where he’s condemned to repeat fatal events in a loop. Onmyo Kaiten Re: Birth Verse combines time loops, life-altering decisions, and firefights in a blender and somehow gets away with it. If you enjoy your isekai fast, action-packed, and full of intrigue, this should be on your watchlist. CBR complements its rapid pace and complex story structure.
6. Lord of Mysteries
This one’s all about steampunk, tarot-based magic systems, and a setting that screams straight out of Victorian London. Zhou Mingrui gets stuck in the body of Klein Moretti, struggling to survive in a world that is as much Sherlock Holmes as dark fantasy. As Mark Sammut suggests, it takes some time getting used to the world, but once you get there, the interconnected lore and idiosyncratic visuals completely pay off. It’s isekai with literary panache.
5. Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon (Season 2)
Yeah, it’s still crazy. Boxxo—the unrequested vending machine reincarnation everyone now weirdly becomes a fan of—is returning for a second season. He can’t say anything beyond the scripted lines. He gives out snacks. But courtesy of Lammis and a lot of imagination, this bizarre arrangement turns into a genuine dungeon-crawling romp. Mark Sammut relishes its surprise appeal and inventive world-building. It’s the quirky isekai that somehow just does.
4. Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra: The World Conquest Begins with the Civilization of Ruin
Forget swords and slimes—this one’s all about strategy and civilization building. Takuto, once bedridden, now rules as a dark god in a fantasy RTS world, managing resources, building alliances, and leading his cursed faction toward dominance. It’s like watching Civilization or Age of Empires play out in anime form. CBR calls it a refreshing pivot from the usual isekai tropes, especially if you’re more into planning than power-scaling.
3. From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated!
You’ve seen the “villainess inanotome game” trope—but what if the reincarnated villainess is a middle-aged dad? That’s what makes this show such a gem. Kenzaburou’s fatherly instincts clash hilariously with the drama and romance of high school life, creating comedy gold. Anna Lindwasser calls it one of the funniest and most inventive twists on the genre. It’s heartfelt, goofy, and refreshingly original.
2. I’ll be a Villainess Who Shall Go Down in History
Far from attempting to eschew doom, Alicia owns it—desiring to be the legendary villainess. But her manner, wit, and maturity inadvertently charm everyone. With swords, magic, palace politics, and a heroine with a steel spine, this series has the best of the “reincarnated villainess” genre, coupled with witty scriptwriting and characterization. Anna Lindwasser places it among the year’s strongest isekai anime for very good reasons.
1. The Rise of the Shield Hero (Season 4)
Naofumi returns—and the stakes have never been higher. Season 4 broadens the already intricate Shield Hero world, going deeper into demi-human politics, new lands, and the frightening Spirit Phoenix. With each arc, the series keeps challenging its characters—particularly Naofumi—through morally ambiguous decisions and emotionally charged situations. CBR cites its robust political themes and complex storytelling as reasons why it remains at the helm of isekai in 2025.
From time-traveling bowlers to vending machines with feelings, this year’s batch of isekai anime shows the genre still has a lot of tricks up its sleeve. Whether you’re here for comedy, strategy, strangeness, or depth of emotion, 2025 has a portal to pretty much every type of story on the books. So go ahead—choose a world, any world—and step in.