When it comes to breathtaking worlds, FromSoftware is arguably one of the best in the business, bringing a level of wonder and awe that is often imitated but never duplicated, as seen in the wildly successful Elden Ring. Their influence continues to be seen in upcoming titles like Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty and Lies Of P to bring challenging yet engaging gameplay in astonishing new settings where players and viewers alike are transported to immersive fantasy worlds.
Isekai has become one of the most popular anime genres due to its fresh perspective on world-building, while also serving as a form of escapism in similar fantastical settings. With the added element of not knowing what the world has in store, introducing thrills from the unraveling of its mysteries, it's also a big proponent of what makes open-world games so popular, allowing a player to freely explore untethered as a narrative presents itself, and some anime capture this feeling tenfold.
The Rising Of The Shield Hero (2019 - )
Stream On Funimation
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The Isekai genre loves to take protagonists that are gamers and summon them either into other video games or worlds that they find themselves lost in. Because of their video game knowledge, however, they're typically able to adapt well with a basic understanding of how potions and the like work when they find themselves in a fantasy setting.
In the case of The Rising of the Shield Hero, the lead protagonist, Naofumi, finds himself in a parallel world to become a legendary hero to fight monsters but is eventually stripped of all of his accouterments and must start anew. Starting from scratch and working up the ladder should be familiar to all FromSoftware fans, making for an entertaining watch in how Noafumi trains back to superiority.
Sword Art Online (2012 - )
Stream On Funimation
It's difficult to mention Isekai without mentioning arguably the most popular and notable one of them all: Sword Art Online. Kirito and his friends find themselves continuously in a new MMO world, and while it was a literal battle between life and death their first time around, the stories still hold value as they are as dramatic as they are adventurous.
Sword Art Online's video game premise is an immediate draw, and the idea of becoming stronger to be able to overtake that next boss or level is relatable in a lot of ways to fans of Elden Ring.
The Devil Is A Part-Timer! (2013 - )
Stream On Hulu
While certainly on the more comedic side for an anime with an absurd premise, The Devil Is A Part Timer! is still a great Isekai and worth a watch for fans of Elden Ring that want a bit of a breather from all the darkness and death that encompasses it.
Even though Satan himself has been transported into the human world and has a bounty on his head, his obsession for running a successful fast-food restaurant and overcoming a new hierarchy all while trying to stay alive in a world where he's mostly lost his powers in undoubtedly brings laughs that Elden Ring fans can enjoy.
Overlord (2015 - )
Stream On Crunchyroll
Stuck in an MMO called YGGDRASIL after the game's servers have closed, a guild leader realizes that while the game has shut down, the world he plays in continues to carry on. Somehow, this world has come to life on its own, and despite the guild leader, Momonga, accepting his fate, he sets out to see if there are others that may have been trapped as well.
Elden Ring is no stranger to the Yggdrasil concept with its Erdtree serving as a world tree and core plot point, and as the Tarnished has to find their place and repair the Elden Ring, overcoming various struggles to do so, there are a surprising amount of similarities to Overlord, making it a worthwhile watch.
Black Summoner (2022 - )
Available To Buy On Amazon
It's hard to deny the sheer excellence that Elden Ring has not only in its world-building but its art direction. The enemy and armor designs stand out in just about every FromSoftware release, and Black Summoner takes viewers on a trip through a new world that sees plenty of over-the-top designs with a great aesthetic and animation, to boot.
Despite being a newer anime that came out in 2022, Black Summoner has already garnered a following and is notable for its animation and setting. It's a consistently exciting experience that sees the main character, Kelvin, having exchanged his memories for power to overcome bigger and more ferocious foes. Elden Ring is known for its tough encounters, and Black Summoner has a lot of overlapping similarities that undoubtedly hearken back to some of Elden Ring's most intense moments.
Re: Creators (2017 - )
Stream On Amazon Prime
When transported to another world ill-equipped, it can be difficult to discern who or what is worth trusting when attempting to find a way back home. Re: Creators puts a fun spin on things, where despite being transported to another world briefly, Sota Mizushino - an aspiring light novel writer - finds his way home but brings characters from various worlds back with him.
Re: Creators' unique concept of an Isekai turned on its head gives a neat perspective on what it's like for others to come into an everyday familiar world, and with Elden Ring holding so many secrets and layers to its world players are still uncovering months later, Re: Creators is immediately appealing when it comes to seeing these worlds collide.
Grimgar, Ashes And Illusions (2016)
Stream On Hulu
Originally known as Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash, a group of first-time adventurers wake up with no memory in a vastly different world and with no choice but to quickly learn how to defend themselves. Though the concept may seem shallow at first, the studio behind Sword Art Online ends up delivering on a fairly grim tale of moral values and loss.
It's a slow-burn story that sees individuals go from nothing to something, fighting for what they believe in, and in the interim grow through fighting tough foes and making tougher choices, complementing Elden Ring as it creates a captivating story and environment for fans of the game.
The Twelve Kingdoms (2002 - )
Stream On The Roku Channel
There's a special feeling and look that comes from classic anime, and for fans that want a more vintage approach to Isekai, The Twelve Kingdoms is one of the best ongoing manga and anime today. With stories told throughout multiple kingdoms and worlds that crossover, it gives a sense of depth and wonder typically found in FromSoftware's titles.
No stranger to medieval and fantasy architecture and design, FromSoftware utilizes this approach to create some of the most jaw-dropping settings, and The Twelve Kingdoms visits numerous worlds and areas that are just as breathtaking as the stories weave into each other.
GATE (2015 - 2016)
Stream On Hulu
When a mysterious portal makes an appearance that crosses over the likes of medieval soldiers, elves, dragons, and other monsters set in modern-day Tokyo, soldiers in the present do their best to hold back waves of incoming enemies. However, once the rest of the world gets wind about the exclusive gate that leads into other worlds, it becomes a war of the worlds.
Though GATE can seem artistically conflicting due to the range of designs that crossover, the political nature of it as well as the main protagonist being an older individual instead of yet another young teenager allows the scope of GATE to be deeper in maturity and emotionally, and this darker aspect of war, the unknown, and the monsters therein makes for an engrossing story that takes a different yet familiar perspective to the Isekai genre.
Log Horizon (2013 - )
Stream On Funimation
Sword Art Online's continued success has inspired many to create novels, manga, and anime with their own take on the literal MMO-immersion story that sees players suddenly warped into a game's setting. Log Horizon builds upon this with its own MMO in the fictional game Elder Tale, where thousands of players are suddenly trapped as their in-game avatars.
From mages to knights and beyond, a multitude of classes make up Elder Tale's user base, and these fall in line with the multiple play styles and classes Elden Ring allows players to shift through to play in a way that's tuned to them. Having to adapt to a new world with newfound skills, friends, and foes alike make Log Horizon a familiar and comfortable adventure through the mysteries of a fantasy world.