Best Isekai Manga You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

Summary

Isekai manga offer unique and engaging stories beyond traditional anime adaptations.

Underrated gems like Isekai Kenkokuki and Time Stop Hero provide fresh takes on isekai genres.

Isekai Executioner stands out with dark storytelling, complex characters, and a serial killer protagonist.

Isekai has sort of taken over anime with a flurry of isekai titles being released every season. Ever since it exploded in popularity with Sword Art Online, the idea of a character being transported to another world with their earthly sensibilities has captured the imagination of fans everywhere.

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As the years rolled by, isekai became saturated, and nowadays, there is an isekai for everything from vending machines to becoming a sword. In this vast world of isekai manga, it is only natural that there will be several great titles that fly under the radar.
10

Isekai Kenkokuki

A Story That Feels Like An Optimistic Lord Of The Flies

Start Date

September 2017

Source

Light Novel

Status

Ongoing

The classic novel by William Golding tells of the shifty nature of humanity and the tendency for life to descend into chaos. However, in Isekai Kenkokuki, there is a lot more optimism as the reader meets a protagonist who is reincarnated as an abandoned orphan who then meets a Griffin and starts to care for other orphans. The group of orphans grow into a village, and then there is a lot of political intrigue and action. This is a great read for people who like expansive worlds that unfold slowly for the readers. It’s fun, with a good cast of characters, and it’s well worth a read.
9

The World Is Full Of Monsters Now

A Game-like World With Terrifying Monsters

Start Date

October 2018

Source

Light Novel

Status

Ongoing

The protagonist runs over an animal and goes home to forget about it — but not before he hears a voice in his head telling him he has gained experience points. By the time he wakes up, monsters have overrun his town. The world completely changes around him, and he must use his video game skills to find a way to work around the imminent disaster. While the premise is very common, the protagonist does come off as somewhat likable due to his attention to dealing with situations through smarts rather than sheer brawn.
8

Time Stop Hero

If It Ever Becomes An Anime, It Might Need Some Rework

Start Date

September 2019

Source

Light Novel

Status

Ongoing

Everyone at one point or the other has probably imagined what it would be like if they could stop time. Well, the protagonist of this manga can do that and take all the time he needs to deal with any scenario. The only catch is that he must clear the game in three days.

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The story has a lot of standard tropes, but it is put together to make the plot engaging. There are copious amounts of fanservice, so for those who hate things of that nature, this might be a hard one to get through. But, if one can look past that, then the reader is in for a fun time.
7

Became The Demon Lord So I Created A Dungeon And Spend Heartwarming Time There With Non-Human Girls

It’s Just Waifu Pokemon

Start Date

May 2018

Source

Light Novel

Status

Ongoing

This is one of those manga that know exactly what they are and don’t try to come off as something more. It’s a time killer manga about a guy who wakes up in another world and almost immediately starts collecting waifus and building a harem. On the bright side, the protagonist does treat his harem more like a family than anything else, and there are enough slice-of-life elements to make it enjoyable for the reader. It feels generic at times, but it’s not any worse than many of the shows that are actually getting animated. Also, it doesn’t do much in the area of fanservice, which might be a plus for many.
6

When I Woke Up, I Got The Strongest Equipment And A Spaceship

Just A Guy Living His Best Life

Start Date

November 2019

Source

Light Novel

Status

Ongoing

When an average Joe office worker wakes up in his favorite space shooter game, one can imagine what ensues. Sato, the protagonist, wakes up in the strongest spaceship from his shooter game and proceeds to just…well, act the part of a degenerate.

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This manga doesn’t do anything terrible, but it is a male fantasy story, and it has no qualms playing into that. The story is an easy one to read without any of the thought-provoking literature one might expect from an epic. But for those who just want an easy read, this does the job pretty well.
5

It’s Sudden, But I Came To Another World! But I Hope To Live Safely

The Protagonist Will Keep The Reader Hooked

Start Date

February 2019

Source

Light Novel

Status

Ongoing

In this manga, the protagonist wakes up in a new world full of magic without being able to do any magic of his own. He’s physically weak and must rely on his immense intelligence to carve a niche for himself in this new world where terrifying monsters — and even more terrifying people — thrive. Everyone loves a brilliant protagonist who is able to use his wits to overcome challenges, and that is exactly what this manga presents. The skillful use of information by the protagonist makes him very interesting. The art is also great, and the world is quite fascinating too.
4

Yakuza Reincarnation

Badassery Oozes Off Every Page

Start Date

November 2019

Source

Original

Status

Ongoing

Ryu is a yakuza who gets betrayed by one of his friends and ends up dying. He wakes up in a new world in the body of a young girl who is also a princess. Now, he must get by in this new world with his skills from his past life.

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This manga feels like a shoo-in for an anime adaptation. The art is stunning, and Ryu is an engaging protagonist who is strong and is able to show off his incredible skills. The manga is still ongoing and is deserving of much, much more attention.
3

The Girl, The Shovel, And The Evil Eye

A Way Too Nice Guy Starts To Lose That Niceness

Start Date

April 2020

Source

Light Novel

Status

Finished

Tsuguto is way too nice and is keen to avoid trouble at all costs. Unfortunately, this is also the reason he dies. He wakes up in a new world and is placed in a mining camp at the foot of a very tall tower. He strikes a friendship with a girl that loves shovels, and the two begin their adventures. There’s a lot to like about this one, as readers are introduced to a main character who has to work for his strength and doesn’t simply get it upon coming into the new world. The setting is captivating, and the characters are great. If there is any criticism, it’s that it ended way too quickly, as there are only 25 chapters.
2

Queen Of Hearts In Wonderland

It’s Katarina All Over Again

Start Date

June 2020

Source

Light Novel

Status

Finished

Eleanor is about to become the queen of her kingdom, and as she starts to make her speech, it suddenly dawns on her that she used to be a regular girl that is now somehow in the world of her favorite otome game. For some, this manga feels a lot like My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom, and that would not be an unfair comparison, but it does have some splendid art, and it borrows a couple of things from Alice In Wonderland. It’s also pretty short, so it’s a quick read.
1

Isekai Executioner: The Serial Killer In Another World

A Killer Going Up Against Other Killers

Start Date

May 2022

Source

Original

Status

Ongoing

The premise for this manga is a lot of fun; a serial killer, who has a crisis of conscience, dies and is reincarnated into another world by a goddess. The only problem is that the goddess has already reincarnated several other ‘heroes’ who have defeated the demon lord but have become evil rulers themselves. So, the protagonist is tasked with killing them. There is a lot going for this manga, from the fun storytelling to the unhinged action. The protagonist is also pretty likable, as he isn’t given any crazy powers but instead has to use his knowledge from his former occupation to bring down some of the strongest heroes the new world has ever seen. This is the very definition of an underrated gem.

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