Top 10 Best Written Isekai Heroes Whose Character Arcs Keep Fans Coming Back

Isekai anime heroes have the unique opportunity to getting a second chance at their new lives. They usually arrive in their new world as babies, retaining all memories of their past lives, or in their current, weakened form. No matter how they arrive at their new homes, they usually bring their problems with them. As they learn to live in their new world, they can experience great character development, learning to overcome past problems with the help of new friends.

Fulfilling character arcs are some of the most cathartic reasons to watch a series, and isekai is full of them. There are many excellent isekai series that place a character in a new setting with the same old problems, giving them the chance to overcome their problems. The best-written isekai heroes don’t necessarily need to have undergone a dramatic character change, but the new world they find themselves in should still provide them with a path to explore parts of themselves that their previous life didn’t offer.

10

Subaru

Re: Zero -Starting life in another world-

Natsuki Subaru has brutal power in Return by Death. Each time he dies, he is able to return to life at an earlier, seemingly random time. He feels each death and remembers them the same. Even though he’s been dealt a tough hand, he doesn’t let it get to him. He is a stubborn hero who always puts his friends above himself, showing his courage and honesty time and time again.

When Subaru is transported to his new world, he is a weak, cowardly, and confused young man who wants to be abandoned by his parents. After meeting Emilia and Returning by Death a few times, however, he becomes a brave and forward-thinking character, willing to go to incredible ends for the people around him. It’s a great character arc that feels like it’s only going to get better as Subaru supports Emilia through the Royal Selection.

9

Kazuya- Realistic hero

How a Realistic Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom

Kazuya Souma is a rare case of a character being transported to a new world and not bringing much trouble with him. While other isekai stories are about the new world helping the main character, How a realistic hero would rebuild the kingdom tells the other side of the same story: What if a main character came to help the world? Kazuya does a great job rebuilding the Kingdom from the inside. He’s a new character in a genre filled with powerful fighters and one-dimensional wizards.

Kazuya’s ability to find a way out of every situation makes him Realistic hero a fun watch. He was initially confused by his transportation to a new world, but quickly became accustomed to the situation around him. If characters like Madara Uchiha are some of the best fighters in anime, Kazuya must be one of the best planners.

8

Rimuru

The Time I Was Reincarnated as a Slime

Rimuru was transported to his new world as a lowly slime, a blind, sleepless entity without much power. After wishing for a companion for 90 days, the Great Sage skill emerged, giving him one of the best skills he could have asked for. He then wandered around the cave he was transported to before encountering the Storm Dragon Veldora, who appointed him and gave him even more power.

Rimuru does his best to lead as peaceful a life as possible, but it’s not always that easy. He is constantly interrupted by scheming Demon Lords or jealous merchants who want a piece of his pie. No matter the problem, Rimuru does his best to keep a cool head, trying to find the best ending for each situation he finds himself in. His character arc is consistent, believable, and a great reason to watch Back then I was reincarnated as a Slime.

7

Makoto

Tsukimichi: Moonlight Fantasy

Misumi Makoto is a typical isekai heroine with a lot of power, beautiful followers and a solid vision for the future. Most events Tsukimichi: Moonlight Fantasy happened to Makoto, so he doesn’t have much time to develop the character. He is usually fighting on the back foot, as the Goddess will leave him in the middle of a fierce battle out of nowhere.

When Makoto was transported to his new world, the Goddess treated him horribly. She made sure he didn’t speak Common, the main language used by Hyumans, and left him in the middle of a wasteland. Since then, Makoto has made many powerful friends, established a new home in the Demiplane, and even become strong enough to contest the Goddess herself. Her character arc has been refreshing in the face of the Goddess’ rudeness, and it will be even more satisfying to see him usurp it one day.

6

Tania

The saga of Tanya, evil

Tanya von Degurechaff arrived in her new world under specific circumstances. When she was in her previous life, she was a normal salaryman working in the Human Resources Department. When he died, he met Being X, an entity who claims to be God. The salaryman said that he did not believe in metaphysical entities such as God or the Devil, and said that if Being X really were the manager of humanity, He’s doing a terrible job.

Being X, enraged, decides to experiment on the salaryman, reincarnating him as Tanya. In his new life as Tanya, the former salaryman is a genius on the battlefield, eliminating numerous enemies single-handedly. Even with Being X’s constant intervention, Tanya’s character arc hasn’t changed one bit. She is still the determined and tenacious fighter who doesn’t believe in anything outside of his companions.

5

Kazuma

KonoSuba

Satou Kazuma acted quickly when he was transported to his new world. When the Goddess Aqua offered to give him whatever he wanted to take into his new life, he had an idea. She had just mocked Kazuma earlier, so he saw an opportunity to get revenge and took it. It’s a clear and early example of how petty Kazuma is, a fundamental part of his character that doesn’t change at all. Kazuma’s pettiness and Aqua’s ignorance are two pillars of KonoSuba, and they make every episode funnier.

Kazuma’s character arc hasn’t changed much since he arrived in his new world, and that’s for the best. KonoSuba is a hilarious series because of Kazuma’s reluctance to change. He is very strong and one of the most intelligent characters in the series, but he is too lazy to do anything about it.

4

Senku

Dr. Stone

Senku Ishigami is very busy Dr. Stone. He recently awoke from thousands of years of petrificationwith the world around you coming to a standstill. He wants to revive as many people as he can, but early in the series he realizes how difficult that can be. Senku’s story is quite simple until he meets Tsukasa, a character who doesn’t agree with Senku’s wishes.

Tsukasa is a great piece of Senku’s character development because, up until this point in the series, Senku has not suffered any adversity from his peers. He was living a simple life trying to revive as many people as possible before Tsukasa made him operate differently, forcing him to develop his character quickly. Senku quickly transforms into a much more mature young man, realizing the scope of his desires and how hard he will have to work to get them.

3

Cida

The Eminence in the Shadow

Cid Kagenou is the leader of Shadow Garden and a completely indifferent character. He is too strong to care about the events around him and instead spends time trying to find the best ways to have fun. When he is isekai in his new world, all he wants to do is create a conspiracy of shadows that controls the scenes without anyone knowing. It’s a rather funny and manic goal that he easily achieves. While other character arcs can be fun to watch because of their ability to overcome conflict, Cid’s is great because there is no conflict to overcome.

There is not an enemy in The Eminence in the Shadow this would make Cid’s heart rate increase. He is too strong for the world around him, creating a unique character who seeks adversity instead of running away from it.

2

Ainz

Supreme Lord

Ainz Ooal Gown has a sad existence in Supreme Lord. He is the only real player left in the world of Yggdrasil and spends his time looking for more real people who might be there too. When he discovers that he cannot leave the game, he is quite content with his situation, relying on the NPCs around him for some company.

Ainz’s character arc is a great watch because he plays the role of tyrant perfectly. He is an evil figure to most of the world and doesn’t care one bit. To find another real person, Ainz comes to the conclusion that he needs to subdue the entire world. It’s a very interesting decision that no other anime character manages to pull off as well as the leader of the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Ainz becomes more dependent on his NPCs as the story progresses, allowing them to help him become the Overlord he wants to be.

1

Rudeus

Mushoku Tensei: jobless reincarnation

Mushoku Tensei: jobless reincarnation Rudeus Greyrat is in a league of his own in terms of character development. Rudeus has more character than other characters – he is simply more than them. While other isekai heroes address their pasts, Rudeus’s past is a big part of his story. He arrives in his new world as a baby and remembers all the 34 years he lived previously. Mushoku Tensei It is itself a story about Rudeus and the man he became.

Rudeus arrives in his new world intelligent, mature (in some ways), and relatively responsible. Although he has 34 years of life experience, he is a child at the same time, making the same mistakes that most people in his position would make. There are many controversial aspects to Rudy’s story, but there’s no arguing how compelling it is. Mushou Tensei shows the end of Rudy’s previous life and his entire current one, leaving no character developing stone unturned along the way.