Isekai animeare inescapable. Each season seems to include at least half a dozen shows that fit the theme, and that figure is conservative.2025 seems set to produce about 10 isekai anime per season, at least going by the Winter selection. Like most other genres, stories covering this concept generally target teenagers, focusing specifically on boys.
That’s not to say other age groups cannot enjoy these shows, but they might not hit the mark with older viewers who want something a touch different. In the grand scheme of things, there are very few greatisekai anime for adults, but they are not completely impossible to find either. Therefore, let’s highlight a few series that cater to an older audience in some way or another, even if they might still be great for younger viewers.
AWinter 2025 anime,From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnatedfalls within the villainess subgenre, which typically sees an older woman reincarnate as the baddie of an otome game. While arguably yet to produce an all-time great anime, these types of series have been consistently entertaining, and they usually have a slightly more mature tone than the average isekai story.
From Bureaucrat to Villainessshakes things up by throwing a 52-year-old dad into the equation, following Kenzaburou as he finds himself playing the part of Grace, a villainess girl in an otome game. Rather than utilize his knowledge of the game, the protagonist relies on his parental instincts to navigate a magic-based school’s internal social politics, all the while inadvertently triggering harem flags.
Although not particularly complex or deep,From Bureaucrat to Villainess' protagonist makes this anime a great entry point for older viewers looking to explore the villainess subgenre.
Based on a light novel and a seinen manga,The Eminence in Shadowuses adolescent immaturity and wish fulfillment to craft an engaging and hilarious narrative. Yearning to be the mastermind that pulls the strings from the shadows, Cid dies pursuing this goal, only to be rewarded with a second life and enough power to turn his dream into reality. Before he knows it, Cid has a harem of fighters, known as Shadow Garden, who are willing to die for him, all in the hopes of fighting off the Cult of Diablos. The thing is, Cid is pretty obtuse, and he thinks his supporters are just playing make-believe.
Isekaianime with overpowered protagonistsare a dime-a-dozen, and they tend to be forgettable. Despite having one of the most OP MCs,The Eminence in Shadowavoids most of this concept’s pitfalls by simultaneously presenting Cid as both self-aware and oblivious. More importantly, the anime takes its world-building and storytelling seriously, both of which are among the best in the isekai genre. The same can be said for the action.
Sonny Boydemands patience and full commitment, without promising to reward them. For the most part, the isekai genre plays things safe, recycling tropes, archetypes, and plot beats as they guide viewers through predictable journeys. These series are comforting in their familiarity, but they can be so straightforward that they leave no lasting impression. If nothing else,Sonny Boyshould stick in a viewer’s mind long after they have finished watching it.
A bunch of students find themselves trapped in an alternate dimension, and some of them even develop unique abilities. Before they know it, they find themselves visiting other universes and going on surreal trips that touch upon philosophical and social themes.Sonny Boyis far more preoccupied with raising fascinating questions than providing easy answers, and this practice extends to both the characters and the audience. Even though it tends to be quite divisive, this series is arguably the closest the isekai genre has come to creating an art-house piece. If someone is looking for amature isekai animethat takes risks, they should prioritizeSonny Boy.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnationis plainly anisekai anime for adults, to the point of being rated “R.” A NEET who went down a dark path gets to start fresh in a fantasy world, and Rudeus has not abandoned his past life’s vices. Many isekai anime ignore their protagonists' previous existences, restarting them from zero when they arrive in their new homes.Mushoku Tenseidoes not go down this route, allowing Rudeus' horrid behavior to transcend lifetimes, while also not condemning him outright for many of his questionable acts.
Touching upon depression, social anxiety, bullying, sexual harassment, and erectile dysfunction,Mushoku Tenseiis willing to go to uncomfortable places and focus on ambiguous characters who are not naturally good or evil. While one of themost polarizing protagonists in isekai anime, Rudeus is also one of the most memorable since he is not meant to be admirable. He also grows as the story progresses, while still never becoming close to perfect.
Reverse isekai animemight not be as common as the standard variant, but there have been a few great shows over the years. Along withHinamatsuri,Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maidis arguably the most well-known reverse isekai story, along with being one of the better picks for older viewers. A few action sequences aside, this anime is primarily a slice of life comedy revolving around Kobayashi, an employed woman who ends up living with two dragons. She even forms something of a parental dynamic with Tooru, with both of them taking care of the much younger Kanna.
Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid’s brilliance comes down largely to Kobayashi, who is surprisingly realistic. She helps ground the story’s more fantastical elements, all the while serving as a positive influence on the rest of the characters. While generally wholesome, the anime sneaks in quite a lot of adult humor, particularly during season 2.
Sometimes, nothing hits the spot better than watching legendary figures fight to the death.Fatehas ridden this pitch to unquestionable success, and a few of the franchise’s lesser entries could be described as isekai. However, none of them are quite as awesome asDrifters, a show that drops famous (and infamous) warriors from history into a fantasy world and tells them to kill each other (and ruin the lives of everyone else in the process).
Packed with intense and bloody action, this anime is relentlessly violent, all the while incorporating effective black humor and clever world-building. While not exactly complex,Driftersis undeniably entertaining and a prime example of a seinen isekai anime executed to near perfection.
Unfortunately, theDriftersanime is far from complete, and the manga is still ongoing. Watch the former and then read the latter.
While somewhat difficult to track down in this day and age,Now and Then, Here and Thereis worth the effort, especially for people looking to experience one of thebestmature isekai anime. Despite its age, this series almost plays out like a deconstruction of tropes that would eventually dominate the isekai theme. In particular, a male protagonist whose drive to protect a girl ends up mattering little in a war that uses children as expendable soldiers, which stands in stark contrast to the many isekai stories featuring protagonists who can topple kingdoms without breaking a sweat.
Now and Then, Here and Thereis just as much of awar storyas it is an isekai, and the latter is used to set up the former. The anime touches upon powerlessness, sacrifice, deaths, and slavery, and it provides no easy solutions to any of these concepts.
Thebest isekai anime for adultsis, also, arguably the theme’s greatest-ever show, although that opinion is (obviously) subjective.Re:ZEROis harrowing. Subaru is summoned to another world to live out his isekai dream, only to realize that he is in a dark fantasy with no active powers besides an ability to reset time when he dies. The latter might sound OP, but its appeal is undermined by the sheerhorrendous ways Subaru dies, with some deaths venturing into the realm of horror.
Re:ZEROmakes Subaru work for every single positive thing he gains, and his displays of arrogance or entitlement are regularly and viciously punished. While certainly containing bright spots, the world itself is defined by unrest, power struggles, and threats that are almost Lovecraftian in nature. Putting aside a handful of things that come across as juvenile,Re:ZEROis an ambitious, challenging, and rewarding experience.
