10 Darkest Isekai Anime Series Every Fan Needs To Watch

While some isekai protagonists are transported to new worlds of fun, the grass is not always greener. Some isekai worlds are Dark, brutal and unforgiving, Making the main character wish they could go back home. Dark Isekai is a newer addition to the broad Isekai genre, and it doesn’t have too many entrants. Most isekai series focus on the brighter side of life and give their characters fun powers in their vibrant new worlds. Dark isekai do the opposite, usually leaving the main character in a harsher environment than they can initially handle.

Some characters, like Ains of supreme, Are perfectly capable of handling the environment they are in and instead choose to be the world’s villain. It is not entirely a dark world for Einz, but it certainly is for everyone who is not his friend. Dark isekai have a unique opportunity of Pitting the main character Against They are swallowed up in the worldNot the opposite.

10

Dr. Stein

Animated by TMS Entertainment, based on manga by Riichiro Inagaki & Boichi

Dr. Stein It’s getting dark. Senku Ishigami is a super-intelligent high school student who, along with the rest of the world, Becomes petrified in a hue of green light. More than 3,000 years later he wakes up to a completely new world without all the people he once knew. He meets a few people along the way to keep him company, but they are few and far between. He spends the series looking for a way to revive everyone, and even though this is a noble goal, there are already people he can’t bring back.

Some people who were petrified have been broken during the thousands of years since they were awake. Some were broken by accident, and others were broken on purpose. It is a dark reality that Senku needs to live With the stone world as he seeks to navigate new relationships and the environment around him.

9

No game no life

Animated by Madhouse, based on the light novel by Yuu Kamiya

No game no life is a pretty irreverent show, but it can also be pretty dark. Before Sora and Shiro, two of the smartest Isekai protagonists around, came to the world of Disboard, Humanity was in a terrible position. They were ranked last of all the races and really had no chance to improve their position. They have no country and have no prospect of beating the races that put them in the position they are in. Fortunately, Sora and Shiro were able to win some important games to win back some of the pride and land that the race had lost.

Sora and Shiro were lucky when they found the world of Disbord. In their past lives, they were the best gamers in the world by some margin. They were so good, they got bored. Coming to their new world has given them their spark again. They are happy to play games, and even more happy that they can use all of humanity as a betting piece.

8

The rise of a bookworm

Animated by Ajia-do Animation Works & Wit Studio, based on the light novel series by Miya Kazuki

Main is one of the most humble characters in Isekai. while Rimuru of That time I was reincarnated as a slime Wants to change the world, and one of Overlord want to rule it, Mein just wants to read. She has the worst luck of the trio, as she is reincarnated in a world where books are very hard to come by. Not only was she born into a world without her favorite thing, but she also has a terrible disease.

The devouring is slowly killing me. Without expensive magic items, it will kill you soon. It’s a dark premise that doesn’t lighten up much throughout the show. Mine, however, almost never has a bad attitude about her situation. There were several times when She had some low moments, But for the most part, she is an optimistic character who will make her own books if she has to.

7

I was reincarnated as the 7th Prince

Animated by Tsumugi Akita Animation Lab, based on the light novel by Kenkyo na Circle

I was reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I can take my time perfecting my magical ability is a much darker isekai series past the surface. At first glance, it is a lighthearted show about a man who is able to perfect his magical craft once he is reincarnated into the royal family. It’s not all fun and games for the men in 7th PrinceLike some of the villains in the series Put other characters through absolute misery. Jade was the enigmatic leader of the Assassin’s Guild before he was possessed.

His possessions drove him away, leading him to kill himself several times before his spirit was finally broken. Guisarme, the demon who took over Jade’s body, even tells his friends of Jade’s death. He manipulates and tortures Jade, detailing the events to his former allies. It’s a pretty dark turn of events for what could otherwise be a funny and jovial show. I was reincarnated as the 7th Prince May share some DNA with Dragon BallBut that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its own bits of darkness.

6

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

Animated by Studio Bind, based on the light novel series by Rifujin na Magonote

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation is one of the most controversial and most compelling anime of the last decade. It stars Rudeus Greyrat as he navigates his second life with incredible powers, great friends, and plenty of love interests. Although the series has many remarkable highs, He is no stranger to devastating lows. Mushoku Tensei Is better than most anime at making the viewer feel confident about a situation only to pull the rug out from under them.

One of the darkest moments in Mushoku Tensei was during the second season when they aired Rudy’s dad Paul’s death on Father’s Day. It was a sad death Which came out on an ironic day. Rudeus constantly faces tough odds on a divine level. He works as hard as he can to get them, and with the people supporting him, he should be able to.

5

Drifters

Animated by Hoods Drifters Studio, based on manga by Kouta Hirano

Drifters is a unique isekai that sees history merge together with fantasy in a new, dark setting. Toyohisa Shimazu was protecting the rear guard during a battle in Japan in the 1600s when he was nearly killed. Before he dies, he is pulled into a new world by a mysterious figure. He enters the world of drifters, who need his help fighting against the ends, a completely new type of enemy. It’s an intriguing story that makes for a great, quick watch.

Toyohisu leaves one battlefield to enter another. It’s a dark turn of events for him that never gets much better. But he is not alone in his struggles, because he is able to find strong allies who are pulled into this world similarly. His fellow Drifters Oda Nobunaga and Nasu Yoichi are there alongside him in his grueling fight against the ends.

4

Grimgar Ashes and Illusions

Animated by A-1 Pictures, based on the light novel series by Ao Jūmonji & Eiri Shira

Not many series start out as bleak as this Grimgar Ashes and Illusions. Haruhiro, Manato, and more suddenly woke up in a new place with no prior knowledge of where they were. They were asked if they wanted to join a volunteer force and really had no reason or way to say no. The series only gets darker from there with the deaths of several key members early in the series. Grimgar Gaining a lot of attention early on for his eye-catching watercolor art style and willingness to dive into such bleak territory.

Haruhiro has too much thrust onto his plate. He wants to be the best leader he can for the rest of his troops, but it’s incredibly demanding. His friends die in front of him too often for him to keep his cool, but somehow he does. It is a dark isekai series from the moment Haruhiro wakes up, And it doesn’t get much better going forward.

3

The Saga of Tanya the Evil

Animated by Nut, based on the light novel by Carlo Zen & Shinobu Shinotsuki

The saga of Tanya the Evil sees a normal Japanese salaryman reincarnated in a new world as a little girl named Tanya. When the salaryman died, he met Being X and told him that he did not believe in metaphysical entities like gods and demons. His X was intrigued by the wrath of the salary, so he sent him to learn about life in a new world. Tanya’s new world is brutal. It’s a world at war, and she’s at the forefront of it all.

While Tanya is a walking one-man army on every battlefield she’s on, it doesn’t make her job any easier. She had to kill battalions of enemies to protect her country, and even then the fight was not looking good. She could take some time to withdraw from the front line, but her war was not won yet.

2

Overlord

Animated by Madhouse, based on the light novel by Kugane Maruyama & So-Am

Overlord is an isekai series that sees Ainz Ooal Gown trapped in a video game. While most other characters may try to learn more about the world around them, Ainz looks to dominate it. He wants to become the supreme ruler of the whole world in an attempt to find another real player like himself. Unfortunately for the denizens of Yggdrasil, Ainz is willing to commit tragic events of mass destruction to make it happen.

Overlord is a pretty dark isekai series for a couple of reasons. Ainz is indeed alone in his position as the only real person left in Yggdrasil, at least until he meets someone else. It is still dark for anyone not involved with the Great Tomb of Nazarick as Ainz looks like an absolute overlord. He crushes anyone who stands in his way and is capable of wiping out entire armies with one spell.

1

Re: Zero – starting life in another world

Animated by White Fox, based on the light novel series by Tapei Nagatsuki

Re: Zero – starting life in another world Can feel almost too bleak at times. The show stars Natsuki Subaru as he is Iskai to a new world and given one of the most bittersweet powers in anime in Return by Death. His new ability gives him the power to return to a predetermined time after he has died. Although it is useful for him to achieve his goals, Subaru had to suffer a series of increasingly brutal deaths because of him. He’s already died more than a dozen times in the anime, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get any better anytime soon.

Re: Zero is the darkest iskai anime because of how hopeless it can feel. Subaru can find a way to live in one instance, only to die in another, restarting at point zero. While there is a cheerful cast of characters supporting him, the theme of Re: Zero Couldn’t be much darker.