Widely considered the “slop” ofthe fantasy manga world, Isekai might be looked down on as being somehow less than other genres, but they are no less prevalent in the minds of the masses for this attitude of the critics. Within manga, anime, and manhwa, Isekai are undoubtedly the most consumed setting, and for good reason.
2024 brings a fresh set of minds tothe colorful world of reincarnations in other worlds, and these new minds bring new ideas that innovate upon the greats that have come before. Sometimes a new idea is all a manga reader wants, and other times a little bit of the familiar sauce is just what’s needed to satiate the viewer’s desire.
7My Heart Is an Old Man
The Duality of Humankind
My Heart Is an Old Manfollows adisillusioned salaryman who is tired of the corporate worldbut doesn’t have the resources to break out of the vicious cycle that he’s trapped in. When he gets transported to a fantasy world, he risks falling back into that same mindset. However, he is saved from the mind-numbing grind with the timely help of some colorful characters and his childhood dreams of magic and all things fantasy.
The main character of this story is extremely powerful, and the manga is more focused on his internal mental struggle than it is on any real physical struggle. There are plenty of jaw-dropping moments, and the dichotomy of the main character’s inner thoughts and outer appearance creates an interesting setting for viewers to enjoy.
6My Classmates Became Heroes in Another World, But I was Left Behind in Modern Japan
Solo Leveling Inspired Manga With Promise
My Classmates Became Heroes in Another World, But I was Left Behind in Modern Japanis a twist on the popular isekai genrewhich has the main character stay behindwhile all his classmates get transported to a fantasy land because of a clerical error.
Though he doesn’t get to go on a fantasy adventure, the main character does get a leveling system that lets him gain fantasy powers in the real world. The manga hits the same story beats as Solo Leveling, being clearly inspired by the famous manhwa. It features a slow and methodical increase in power, making it very satisfying for lovers of the progressive fantasy genre.
5I’ve Been Reborn as a Hated Villain, but for Some Reason People Around Me Won’t Leave Me Alone
Change For The Better, And Change The World Too
In the newest iteration of reborn as the villain,I’ve Been Reborn as a Hated Villain, but for Some Reason People Around Me Won’t Leave Me Aloneputs the main character into the body ofthe main villain of a game he used to playat which point he decides to become a better person and change his entire personality in a matter of months.
At its core, this is a competence fantasy, where the viewer gains satisfaction from the incredible degree of competence that the main character shows. His hard work makes everything feel earned, while his personality makes it feel deserved.
4The Villainess Who Came to Marry Into the Frontier Noble’s Household is an Exceptionally Capable Wife, Isn’t She?
A Fight Against Fate
The Villainess Who Came to Marry Into the Frontier Noble’s Household is an Exceptionally Capable Wife, Isn’t She, is a story about breaking through the preconceptions of genre and the limitations of one’s destined path and spitting in the face of all the hurdles that one faces.
The main character getstransported into an otome gamethat he used to play as a minor noble with little interference in the main plot. He gets engaged to a disgraced villainous who is supposed to fall further into villainy, but is saved by the timely intervention of the main character.
3Reincarnated as the Lazy and Villainous Noble, I Broke the Scenario and Became the Most Formidable with Extraordinary Magic
Seize the Future Now
A simple premise with good execution can be just as enjoyable, if not more, than a complex premise with a mediocre execution, and that’s exactly whatReincarnated as the Lazy and Villainous Noble, I Broke the Scenario and Became the Most Formidable with Extraordinary Magicdoes. The story follows a person who getsreborn into the body of a trash villainwho is destined to be trampled by the main cast of characters.
However, he decides to turn his fate around so that he can live a happy and successful life. The manga has some immaculately drawn panels that hit the reader out of nowhere, and a good spread of characters that feel real and alive. The comic does a good job of portraying the hard work and struggle that the main character goes through, which makes his powers feel earned. The early part of the manga has some beautiful art and art direction, and showcases training montages of various kinds.
2The Abandoned Elf is the Strongest and Cutest in the World!
An Upbeat Character in a Grimdark Fantasy World
A grimdark world with an upbeat protagonist,The Abandoned Elf is the Strongest and Cutest in the World!starts off with the main character getting thrown off a cliff for not fitting into her elvish clan by virtue of being a dark elf at birth.
After surviving her fall, she quickly has to adapt to the wilderness and levels up to reach her teenage years before setting off on the fantasy adventure of her dreams. The art direction of this manga is particularly noteworthy, with the panels synergizing with one another feel real and alive.
1Hitoner
“Realistic” Isekai
In a world full of beast kin, a single space-faring human lands on a spaceship and creates the biggest uproar in their existence. Although it is only a one-shot manga,Hitonerachieves most of what it sets out to do quite well, making it a satisfying read.
It is an isekai in the most literal sense, where a human gets transported to another world. Instead of a magical phenomenon or the whim of a deity, this transportation takes place through the vast expanse of space. The short size of the manga and the surprisingly poignant message it conveys makes it worth a read, though it can be quite different from most isekai manga.
