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The Great Isekai Review List
What is isekai?
According to Mangarock's definition of the genre:
"Isekai translates to "another world." This genre typically has a narrative where a protagonist somehow gets transported to a different world. The new world is more often than not in a fantasy setting, occasionally with traits pulled from JRPG games."
TV Tropes also goes further indepth into the idea, putting it under the trope name of "Trapped In Another World", which is basically just what "Isekai" means. Some people genre savvy to the idea might immediately think of a high school boy arriving in a JRPG fantasy world where they're super overpowered when it comes to combat, whereupon they get the attention of a stunning beautiful woman (or five). It's the definition of a power fantasy, especially for cis straight guys. However, even western works such as "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe", "Alice in Wonderland", and "The Wizard of Oz" could all theoretically count as "isekai".
For this post, however, I'll be focusing mainly on isekai series that have gotten a manga adaption of some sort, often from Japan or occasionally China and Korea, which have also started to lean into the trend. That means they'll be falling into a lot of Japanese tropes and cliches, although these aren't necessarily bad things.
All of the isekai I've read through and even vaguely enjoyed are included down below in the comments section, and all of them will be utilizing this same form:
Some of these categories are self explanatory even to people unfamiliar with the genre (Title, Main Character), but a few deserve some particular notice or explanation.
Cheat: A "cheat ability" is basically a power uniquely granted to the Main Character (MC) that allows them to have the upperhand in the world they've been transported to. That sort of thing isn't entirely unusual for many stories, as it is a handy way of making a MC notable, but it is a quality that is inherent to the power fantasy aspect that isekai series often at least nod to. However, the nature of that cheat can take on quite a variety of forms depending on the series. Some do a very basic sort of ability such as access to a never before seen magic, or simply a lot of magic. Others take a more subtle approach, such as a character using their knowledge of a modern world to improve a more medieval one. Seeing the different types of "cheats", how characters use them, and how it affects the setting is one of the things that I find charming about the isekai genre.
Transport: In other words- how did the MC arrive in another world/life? Sometimes, it's because a character was summoned, either by a god or a powerful magician. Other times, it's left as a mystery. Lots of isekai even have the MC die, and their soul is reincarnated in another world with memories of their past life. Depending on how the MC got there, and the whims of the author, it can have quite an impact on the MC's goals or emotions.
Pros and Cons: While they're named as that, these categories could more accurately be called "what I did and didn't like about this series", which means they're completely subjective and from my point of view. The summary will cover what the series is about, sure, but this goes more into my personal opinions.
General Warnings: This will be a simple list of general things to watch out for, such as gore, murder, rape, or sexual assault, along with anything else I think people might appreciate a heads up on.
Fanservice: This one is fairly self explanatory, with fanservice often being women scantily clad or men getting to be in sexy positions with them. Considering how much of a range fanservice can be, I'll be listing this rather in a scale of 1 to 5.
1 - No fanservice whatsoever
3 - Some fanservice, but no so much as to be describing
5 - Hope you like tits and ass, because there's going to be a lot of that
I'll give my reasons and some examples for this category, so that people have a slightly more substantial idea of what will happen.
Harem: Power fantasies don't only include having super amazing powers, but they also dabble in areas of romance, where the (often male) MC will have a bunch of women falling for him and sometimes even having multiple wives.
According to Mangarock's definition of the genre:
"Isekai translates to "another world." This genre typically has a narrative where a protagonist somehow gets transported to a different world. The new world is more often than not in a fantasy setting, occasionally with traits pulled from JRPG games."
TV Tropes also goes further indepth into the idea, putting it under the trope name of "Trapped In Another World", which is basically just what "Isekai" means. Some people genre savvy to the idea might immediately think of a high school boy arriving in a JRPG fantasy world where they're super overpowered when it comes to combat, whereupon they get the attention of a stunning beautiful woman (or five). It's the definition of a power fantasy, especially for cis straight guys. However, even western works such as "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe", "Alice in Wonderland", and "The Wizard of Oz" could all theoretically count as "isekai".
For this post, however, I'll be focusing mainly on isekai series that have gotten a manga adaption of some sort, often from Japan or occasionally China and Korea, which have also started to lean into the trend. That means they'll be falling into a lot of Japanese tropes and cliches, although these aren't necessarily bad things.
All of the isekai I've read through and even vaguely enjoyed are included down below in the comments section, and all of them will be utilizing this same form:
Some of these categories are self explanatory even to people unfamiliar with the genre (Title, Main Character), but a few deserve some particular notice or explanation.
Cheat: A "cheat ability" is basically a power uniquely granted to the Main Character (MC) that allows them to have the upperhand in the world they've been transported to. That sort of thing isn't entirely unusual for many stories, as it is a handy way of making a MC notable, but it is a quality that is inherent to the power fantasy aspect that isekai series often at least nod to. However, the nature of that cheat can take on quite a variety of forms depending on the series. Some do a very basic sort of ability such as access to a never before seen magic, or simply a lot of magic. Others take a more subtle approach, such as a character using their knowledge of a modern world to improve a more medieval one. Seeing the different types of "cheats", how characters use them, and how it affects the setting is one of the things that I find charming about the isekai genre.
Transport: In other words- how did the MC arrive in another world/life? Sometimes, it's because a character was summoned, either by a god or a powerful magician. Other times, it's left as a mystery. Lots of isekai even have the MC die, and their soul is reincarnated in another world with memories of their past life. Depending on how the MC got there, and the whims of the author, it can have quite an impact on the MC's goals or emotions.
Pros and Cons: While they're named as that, these categories could more accurately be called "what I did and didn't like about this series", which means they're completely subjective and from my point of view. The summary will cover what the series is about, sure, but this goes more into my personal opinions.
General Warnings: This will be a simple list of general things to watch out for, such as gore, murder, rape, or sexual assault, along with anything else I think people might appreciate a heads up on.
Fanservice: This one is fairly self explanatory, with fanservice often being women scantily clad or men getting to be in sexy positions with them. Considering how much of a range fanservice can be, I'll be listing this rather in a scale of 1 to 5.
1 - No fanservice whatsoever
3 - Some fanservice, but no so much as to be describing
5 - Hope you like tits and ass, because there's going to be a lot of that
I'll give my reasons and some examples for this category, so that people have a slightly more substantial idea of what will happen.
Harem: Power fantasies don't only include having super amazing powers, but they also dabble in areas of romance, where the (often male) MC will have a bunch of women falling for him and sometimes even having multiple wives.
The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic
Title: The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic
Other Titles:
Author: Reki Kugayama, Kei Kurokata
Main Character: Usato Ken
Gender: Male
Cheat: Healing Magic Aptitude
Transport: Summoned
Summary: One rainy day, average student Usato Ken ends up having a run in with the popular council president Inukami Suzune and vice president Ryuusen Kazuki, both of them attractive and skilled. This ends up changing his life... as the summons of another world pull the two to fulfill the request of being heroes. However, Usato never heard the bell. He's only a bystander... at least until he checks his magical aptitude on a lark and realizes he's a healer. That gets the sharp attention of the woman in charge of "Kingdom Rescue Squad", infamous for turning the idea of weak delicate healers on its head.
Pros: Isekai Reflection, Creative Use of Healing Magic, Fun Deutoagonists, Badass Healing Teacher
It's basic video game logic, whether in a fantasy RPG or a multiplayer like Overwatch, that you want to take out the healer first before anyone else. In exchange for their healing abilities, they're commonly made weaker when it comes to things like offense and defense. They're certainly valuable, but not powerful. However...
What if your healer character could just... self buff constantly? What if they could use their powers to keep on training, keep their endurance higher, self-heal from any injury almost instantaneously? What if they could just... dodge any attack headed their way, all while stealing away the heavily injured so that they can be sent back into the fray at tip-top shape?
That is the idea behind this series. And frankly? It's really fun.
I really adore series that think of creative ways in which to use established magical abilities or powers, and this one is a prime example of that. It even acknowledges, in-universe, how healers are seen as weak and not suitable for battle. Yet it only takes turning powers inwards instead of out to change the scene completely. Not only does this change how a healer can be themself, but also even how they can deal with combat... Not that they should, of course. Despite the way healing magic is taught, it's also reminded of a healer's first and most important job: to heal others. A healer can turn the tides, can save lives, but that can't happen if they die themselves.
Of course, the kind of person who would think up this kind of healing outlook has to be one hell of a person. For those who are fans of Fullmetal Alchemist and the heartwarming but tough Izumi Curtis, they might find themselves quite liking the woman who ends up taking the MC under her wing. She's that same kind of hilariously badass, now in Combat Medic form, with unbelievably ruthless training and an infamous reputation. She carelessly shows off incredibly badass abilities while also bringing in some great humor because of how absurd her training demands can be. Yet at her heart, you can also tell that she's truly a person who wants to see other people survive, and there's a depth to her that makes her more than a simple humorously vicious mentor. It really adds something to the MC's training, and the reader's view of what healing magic is both capable of and truly meant for.
With the MC and his teacher alone, this story could probably carry itself pretty well. However, remember: the MC isn't even supposed to be a part of this isekai tale. He just got dragged along for the ride because he was too close to the actual summoned heroes. While they don't get nearly as much attention paid to them at the beginning, since the MC is separate from them in his medic training, they both still show plenty of personality and solid moments which I imagine can only improve as the story progresses. They're both quite different people, with one bringing in a lightheartedness to the series and the other being an almost grounding influence.
This is displayed excellently right in the first chapter, when they're all told of the reason they were summoned to another world in the first place. One of the two immediately snaps out at the king and his whole court, calling "Bullshit!" and pointing out that they all had lives and families that they were just pulled away from without any say in the matter. He manages to back down a little after some more conversation and a humble display, but it's a good grounding hint of how this series can occasionally touch in deeper. For some, this kind of scenario might be a good thing with that it can give them a better place to belong or give them a goal they didn't otherwise have... but for others, this is just tearing them away from all they know. Moments like that really help one care for all three teenagers who've been dragged into this, even if they're going along with everything for right now.
Cons: None
This series is really fun for me, and I'm always left hungering for the next chapter with minimal to no complaints.
General Warnings: fantasy racism, bullying
Slavery: Yes, referenced
Fanservice: 2 - There's an occasional glimpse of a not really practice shirt over in the demon army side of things, but, otherwise, everything is fairly decent, even if not always practical.
Harem: No