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The Isekai genre is one of the most saturated in the anime market for good reason. Who wouldn’t like to get transported to a new world full of fantasy, cute people, and no taxes? At least, I would. With so many Isekai out there, some will be better than others, standing tall amongst the best examples of their genre. We’ve compiled a list of 10 shows we consider the absolute best, showing off OP characters that remain interesting despite being stronger than some Z Fighters. From reincarnation stories to the typical “wake-up-in-a-world-full-of-dragons” plot, here are the 10 best Isekai anime with an OP MC.
10. The World’s Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat
(Updated on September 6, 2024 – updated intro, links, and format)
This is a mouthful, and we forgive anyone who forgets half of the show’s name. However, it is a good one if you don’t mind a “perfect” protagonist. The reason why this show is at the bottom of the list is not because it is bad; it is because the protagonist is truly perfect and almost invincible. While the list talks about that, we like seeing Isekai anime where the OP MC struggles or shows us that even if you’re overpowered, that doesn’t mean your life is easy.
In essence, this anime tells the story of the world’s finest assassin, who, you guessed it, dies and reincarnates in a fantasy world as an aristocrat. With the mission to defeat this fantasy world’s hero, he gets a bunch of overpowered skills to help him become the ultimate Isekai assassin. Add to that a cast of lovable waifus and some excellent animation, and you can finish this show in one sitting due to how engaging it is. However, the side characters shine more than the MC sometimes.
9. I’m In Love With the Villainess
This is one of the newest on the block, and oh boy, how fantastic it’s turned out to be. We’ve all had days when we are tired from work and just want to sit in front of our screen and play our favorite video game to escape reality. What would happen if you could do that? And the best thing is that you escape to your favorite game’s world with all the knowledge of this place and as the protagonist.
I’m in Love with the Villainess follows the story of Rae Taylor as she enters her favorite otome game as the protagonist, and her only goal is to ignore the game’s plot and make the villainess fall for her. This anime is fun, inclusive, and has some amazing situations where the main character breaks away from genre clichés. While she has a few powers that make her OP, the real advantage here is her knowledge of the game and all romantic routes, which she uses to manipulate everyone.
8. The Devil is a Part-Timer
In Isekai Anime, with or without overpowered main characters, the gist is that you go from the real world to another. The Devil is a Part-Timer does the opposite. What would happen if a powerful demon lord suddenly appeared in present-day Japan? Well, this show is what happens.
This Isekai anime follows the protagonist’s journey as he adapts to the real world working in a fast-food restaurant after being defeated by the hero of his fantasy world. The catch is that the hero also followed him, leaving them stuck in a reverse Isekai. The great thing about this show is how the hero and the demon lord start falling for each other and leaving some of the magical mayhem from their original world for some wholesome and romantic comedy that makes this a fantastic anime.
7. In Another World With My Smartphone
Do you know how you go out with someone nowadays, and they are watching their phone all the time during the date, and you get so annoyed you want to smack it out of their hands? Well, that might not be a good idea in a fantasy world. This anime shows us that the power of having a cellphone is great and how millennials might be the only hope of other realities.
After the protagonist dies in an accident caused by God, yes, you read that right. He reincarnates in a fantasy world and decides to bring his smartphone. With most of the device’s functions intact, such as the internet from Earth, he uses them to help other countries, assemble a harem, and even go dungeon-delving. Truly the one show you can make your parents watch to prevent them from taking away your smartphone.
6. The Eminence in Shadow
We’ve reached one of the edgiest and best Isekai anime, where the MC is OP. The Eminence in Shadow is a great show where the main character wants to be a mastermind and control things from the shadows. Picture a friendlier version of Sauron. However, while training to be that, he dies and reincarnates in a new world. Being the geek he is, he invents a whole story about how a group of villains is trying to take over the world and starts hiring waifus to help him fight for him while he controls everything.
The fun thing is that the story he invented is happening in this fantasy world, and he ends up fighting a battle he initially thought did not exist. With danger in every corner, he hones his mastermind skills and controls everything from the shadows as he always wanted to do back on Earth. The animation is sublime, the plot is engaging, and the waifus are top-tier, making it worth watching for anyone who likes the things above.
5. No Game, No Life
It’s an old one, but great nonetheless. No Game, No Life follows the story of two shut-in siblings who are game masters. Really, they are undefeated on Earth. One day, they are challenged by the God of another world, and both beat him in a chess match, granting them passage to a fantasy world where all disputes are solved through games.
The story might sound weird, but it is actually fantastic. You have two kids in a fantasy world who want to rule all races in this new place by cleverly cheating their way through this world’s games. While it might be full of fanservice in many episodes, it has some great moments full of suspense and nail-biting sequences. Hopefully, we’ll get a continuation for this show, as it has been frozen for years.
4. Re: Zero -Starting Life in Another World-
Brace for one of the most gut-wrenching and heartbreaking Isekai anime, where the MC is OP, but not in a good way. So far, we’ve mentioned shows where the protagonist gets extraordinary power, and everything is wholesome, fun, and full of cute characters. Here, you have some of those things, but the catch is that your power returns you to a specific point in time after you die.
Subaru reincarnates in a fantasy world and dies while trying to protect Emilia, the next in line to become the ruler of the Kingdom. However, when he dies, he returns to a previous point in time as if it were a checkpoint. This show is great due to the fantasy elements, but it’s so sad because it shows Subaru’s efforts to fix many things and die to get the best outcome. What might seem like a fantastic power at first comes with an overwhelming disadvantage that not many would like to have.
3. The Rising of the Shield Hero
In a world where four Legendary Heroes protect the realm, our protagonist reincarnates as the Shield Hero, who, get this, is the most hated hero of the three. Naofumi wakes up one day in a fantasy world with a shield stuck to his arm. With it, he has to protect the realm but doesn’t realize everyone hates the Shield Hero. Betrayed and angry, he decides to travel the realm alone, get overpowered by his own merits, and defend the world without help.
It is a show that paints us a different picture. While you have cute characters and creatures, you can see Naofi suffer from terrible accusations, including thievery, sexual harassment, and other things. Despite that, he manages to become one of the most beloved heroes in the world and the strongest of them all.
2. Sword Art Online
You might’ve heard about Sword Art Online, regardless of where you live. This anime started as a fun show with people attending the most immersive VR MMORPG. However, the game’s creator decided to introduce a system where if the player dies in the game, they also die in real life. Say what you will about filler episodes, but SAO packs in some killer content.
This anime follows Kirito as he tries to escape this virtual world by defeating the game’s final boss. What makes him OP is that he was a beta tester and knows most of the game’s mechanics, at least for the first arc. The others see him obtain some cheat abilities to get out of dicey situations and even cheat death in real life by playing in an MMO. This is a show for anime and game fans alike.
1. Mushoku Tensei
We’ve reached the best Isekai anime with an OP MC. Imagine someone who is almost 40 years old but never did anything in their life due to suffering bullying. After years of being a shut-in, our protagonist leaves the house just to die after saving some teenagers. What follows is this character reincarnating as a baby in a fantasy world with all his memories from his past life.
Initially, it sounds like a run-of-the-mill Isekai, but it isn’t. This anime shows us a character who is finally living in a new world. Despite being in his 40s, he never had a chance to do anything. Here, you see him grow up, fall in love, go through his first heartbreak, and become the most powerful mage in the realm. Yet, it’s an anime that shows the human side of the protagonist and follows his life as he struggles to make things right for once. Undoubtedly, it is the best Isekai out there right now.
Even if the Isekai anime genre is full of shows with OP MCs, these are worth your time. They all have a human side to it, and while some lean more toward the fun part, others really show you the crudeness of being in a different place. Besides, most of these shows have a few seasons, so you can watch them all in a couple of days. If you have the time, we recommend you add all of them to your watchlist.
