Step into the portal, and you’ll find yourself in one of the most beloved and ever-evolving genres in anime and manga: isekai. From classic fantasy adventures to reincarnated villains in romance games, isekai stories have captured the hearts of fans across the globe, and for good reason!
But not all isekai are created equal. While the core idea revolves around characters being transported or reborn into another world, this concept has given rise to an entire ecosystem of unique subgenres, each with its own themes, tones, and tropes.
In this post, we’ll take a look at the main types of isekai, with a brief explanation of what makes each one special. Think of it as your beginner’s map to the multiverse, complete with portals to deeper explorations!
What Is Isekai?
“Isekai” (異世界) literally means “another world” in Japanese. It refers to stories where a character leaves their original world and enters a new one, often filled with magic, monsters, or unfamiliar technology.
The subgenre has gained popularity since the 2010s, particularly in anime, manga, light novels, and webtoons. Whether it’s for action-packed escapism, emotional transformation, or just good comedy, there’s an isekai story for every kind of fan.
For more on the term and the rise and fall of isekai, see the anime dictionary post.
The 13 Types of Isekai
4 Narrative Directions & 13 Subtypes, these various types of isekai offer slightly different flavours of fantasy. Here’s a quick rundown of the major ones you’ll encounter (and yes, I’ll be diving into each of these in future posts too, so stay tuned!)
I. Entry Point: How Did They Get There?
These subtypes are defined by how the protagonist enters the other world—this is the structural core of most isekai.
- Transported Isekai
- Reincarnation Isekai
- Possession Isekai
- In-Game / Virtual Reality Isekai
- Time-Slip Isekai
- Reverse Isekai
II. Genre Lens: How Does It Use the Tropes?
These subtypes explore how the story plays with isekai conventions and expectations.
III. Emotional Focus and World Type: What Kind of Experience Is It?
These are driven by tone and intention—comfort, drama, or healing and the flavour of the world itself, especially when it strays from traditional fantasy.
- Villainess / Otome Game Isekai
- Slow-Life / Healing Isekai
- Spiritual / Hidden Realm Isekai
- Sci-Fi / Technological Isekai
1. Transported Isekai
- What it is: The protagonist is physically moved to another world, usually by summoning, falling through a portal, or some magical phenomenon.
- What to expect: Adventure quests, learning new rules, fish-out-of-water comedy or drama.
Example: The Rising of the Shield Hero
Naofumi Iwatani is summoned to a parallel world along with three other heroes to fight waves of monsters as the “Shield Hero.” This is a textbook summoned-hero story, with a dark twist. It’s a great representation of the “reluctant saviour” trope in transported isekai.
2. Reincarnation Isekai
- What it is: The main character dies and is reborn in a fantasy world, often with their previous life’s memories intact.
- What to expect: OP characters, second chances, and major glow-ups from their past lives.
From Death to Destiny: Reincarnation Isekai Unpacked
Example: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Satoru Mikami dies and is reincarnated in a fantasy world as a slime, gaining immense powers and building his own nation. It’s one of the most iconic and accessible examples of modern reincarnation isekai, power fantasy, political building, and lots of heart.
3. Possession Isekai
- What it is: The protagonist’s soul enters the body of an existing person in another world (often the villainess, a noble, or a forgotten side character). They may retain partial memories of the host.
- What to expect: Identity struggles, slow-burn power shifts, “this isn’t my life!” dilemmas, and hidden plot rewrites.
Stolen Lives, Rewritten Fates: Possession Isekai Dissected
Example: I Thought It’s a Common Possession
A modern girl finds herself inside the body of the cold and hated noble villainess in her favourite romance game—and realises she must rewrite her role from the inside before the story dooms her.
4. In-Game / Virtual Reality Isekai
- What it is: The character is inside a game world, either trapped, logged in with full awareness, or transformed into their avatar.
- What to expect: Game mechanics in the story, strategy battles, guilds, and sometimes eerie existential undertones.
Game Over IRL: Exploring In-Game Isekai
Example: Overlord
Momonga stays logged in as the servers for his favourite VRMMO shut down, only to realise the game world is now real. This one blurs the line between game and reality beautifully, with a dark, strategic MC who leans into his role as the overlord of death.
5. Time-Slip Isekai
- What it is: The character travels to another time (usually the past), creating a sense of dislocation similar to being in another world.
- What to expect: Historical settings, cultural tension, and complex morality.
Coming soon: Timelines and Tribulations: Time-Slip Isekai Explored
Example: Inuyasha
Kagome falls into a well and is transported back to Japan’s Sengoku era, where she meets the half-demon Inuyasha. Technically a time-travel story, but the world she enters functions like an alternate realm with its own magic, rules, and mythos.
6. Reverse Isekai
- What it is: Characters from a fantasy or digital world come to our reality instead.
- What to expect: Culture shock, comedy, and sweet chaos in everyday life.
Coming soon: When Worlds Collide: Reverse Isekai and Their Charm
Example: The Devil is a Part-Timer!
Satan is forced to retreat from his magical world and ends up in modern-day Tokyo, where he takes a job at a fast food chain. Absolute gold for culture clash comedy! It’s clever, fast-paced, and pokes fun at both fantasy and real-world tropes.
7. Meta / Parody / Deconstruction Isekai
- What it is: These stories play with or critique the usual isekai tropes—sometimes making fun of them, sometimes subverting them.
- What to expect: Genre-savvy characters, fourth-wall nudges, and unexpected emotional depth.
Coming soon: Winking at the Tropes: The Meta Isekai Breakdown
Example: Konosuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!
After dying in a hilariously embarrassing way, Kazuma is given the choice to reincarnate in a fantasy world, with a goddess who is more trouble than help. A full-on parody of every isekai trope imaginable. OP skills? Nope. Epic quests? Often failed. It’s comedy gold and a loving critique of the genre.
8. Anti-Isekai / Subversion
- What to expect: Moral ambiguity, genre deconstruction, darker tones.
- What it is: Stories that flip the genre, either by resisting the isekai system or criticising its tropes.
Coming soon: Killing the Portal: Anti-Isekai and Its Rebels
Example: The Executioner and Her Way of Life
Menou is tasked with assassinating people summoned from Japan before their OP powers destroy her world; until she questions the system she serves.
9. Existential / Abstract Isekai
- What it is: Characters are transported to surreal, rule-bending, or experimental worlds.
- What to expect: Mechs, dystopias, or alternate Earths.
Coming soon: Where Even Is Here? Abstract and Existential Isekai
Example: Sonny Boy
A group of students and their school building drift through alternate dimensions where physics and time are meaningless, challenging their sense of self and purpose.
10. Villainess / Otome Game Isekai
- What it is: The protagonist is reborn into a romance game world, usually as the villainess, doomed to a bad ending.
- What to expect: Shoujo drama, clever scheming, and gender-flipped power fantasies.
Coming soon: Doom Flags and Diamonds: Otome Isekai in Focus
Example: Villains Are Destined to Die
A modern girl wakes up inside her favourite otome game, as the villainess, doomed to be killed in every route. This one leans heavily into emotional tension, game mechanics, and social strategy. It’s smart, dramatic, and stunningly illustrated.
11. Slow-Life / Healing Isekai
- What it is: Protagonists reject epic quests in favour of peace, farming, crafting, cooking, etc.
- What to expect: Slice-of-life, calm, worldbuilding, and emotional healing.
Coming soon: Quiet Worlds: The Rise of Slow-Life Isekai
Example: The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent
Sei is summoned as a potential “Saint” but chooses to work as a herbalist—only to discover her magical potential rivals the divine.
12. Spiritual / Hidden Realm Isekai
- What it is: Characters enter mythic or yokai realms that exist parallel to our own.
- What to expect: Japanese folklore, spirits, and emotional journeys.
Coming soon: Crossing Realms: Yokai and Hidden World Isekai
Example: Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits
Aoi is spirited away to repay her grandfather’s debt, but instead of marrying a demon, she opens a restaurant to feed the supernatural guests.
13. Sci-Fi / Technological Isekai
- What it is: Rather than fantasy, the new world is science-fictional or an alternate reality.
- What to expect: High-concept, philosophical tone.
Coming soon: Mechs and Multiverses: Sci-Fi Isekai Explored
Example: The Vision of Escaflowne
Hitomi is pulled into a war-torn world of mechs and destiny, where psychic visions and ancient machines decide the fate of nations.
Why So Many Types of Isekai?
The isekai genre has grown so much because it’s flexible. It’s a perfect playground for creators to explore with a variety of types of isekai:
- Second chances and personal growth
- Power fantasies or parodies of them
- Romantic drama and hero’s journeys
- Satirical commentary on real life
And for us fans? It’s a comforting escape, or a thrilling challenge, depending on the story.
Where Do We Go From Here?
This post is just the beginning of our journey into the many worlds of isekai through the types of isekai post series! Over the coming weeks, I’ll be diving deeper into the different types of isekai in the ‘Isekai Post Series’ where I will feature:
- In-depth posts on how each one works
- Recommended anime lists (with zero overlap between posts!)
- Curated reading recs (manga, manhua, manhwa, webtoons) with official English releases
Whether you’re a total newbie or a veteran of many fantasy realms, there’s always another world to explore. So bookmark this post, and get ready to step through the next portal!
Isekai Post Series:
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