Summary
Even people who turn their noses up at the isekai genre have nothing but praise forKonoSuba. One of the best parodies of the isekai genre, the anime has won over many in the community with just how self-aware it is,mocking and turning many of isekai’s tropes and clichés over its head.
Thus, it’s no surprise thatKonoSubawould inspire a whole legion of isekai parodies, although comedic works in this particular genre are not a new phenomenon. Be it retro or modern, these are some of the best anime likely to resonate with those looking for another rib-tickling isekai to add to their watchlist.
While playing an MMORPG, a regular high-schooler named Kon Hokaze receives a request from a female character for help and does what any normal teenage boy would do - immediately accept the request. That one choice transports Kon into the world of his MMORPG, where he finds out the girl is a princess, and he now has to play the part of an honor guard.
Ixion Saga DT’s humor is a lot cruder thanKonoSuba’s, meaning its comedy might not land with everyone. However, both series are aware of their own ridiculousness and don’t take themselves too seriously, so fans who are at least a little bit in touch with their immature side are likely to have a blast.
Imagine there was a job out there that allowed otaku to spread the word about anime, manga, and video games to residents of another world. A shut-in named Shinichi Katou gets transported into another world as an “Otaku Missionary” by the Japanese government to promote otaku culture to the Eldant Empire, a fantasy realm.
Outbreak Company’sShinichi is a shut-in just like Kazuma fromKonoSuba, and both series are satirical, poking fun at their respective genres and otaku culture in general, meaning fans of one series are also most likely to enjoy the other.
3Combatants Will Be Dispatched!
MyAnimeList Score: 7.15
Combatants Will Be Dispatched!is bound to appeal toKonoSubafans, mostly because both series share the same creator. It follows the Kisaragi Corporation, an evil company that dispatches Combat Agent 6 and acombat android named Aliceto an alternate world to help the corporation conquer the universe.
Since bothKonoSubaandCombatants Will Be Dispatched!were created by Natsume Akatsuki, they share the same style of comedy, with tons of slapstick, dysfunctional characters, and witty banter between them. Fans of the former should check out Akatsuki’s more underrated offering.
Problem Children Are Coming From Another World, Aren’t They?follows three teenagers, the titular problem children, who are bored with their lives despite having psychic powers. One day, they get summoned to a fantasy world named Little Garden to participate in several high-stakes games, finally satisfying the trio’s craving for adventure.
LikeKonoSuba,Problem Childrenis a fantasy isekai animethat maintains a humorous tone throughout, with the three main characters' distinct personalities leading to several hilarious interactions and situations.
5Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi
MyAnimeList Score: 7.22
Surreal anime isGainax’s bread-and-butter, andMagical Shopping Arcade Abenobashiis an early parody of isekai. Childish friends Sasshi and Arumi’s lives in the Abenobashi district change when, out of nowhere, they’re whisked away to various parallel universes, each parodying sci-fi, fantasy, and various other genres of fiction.
This series andKonoSubahave parody and satire deeply embedded into their respective stories. They both play with audience expectations and poke fun at themselves and the tropes and conventions omnipresent in anime and beyond.
Many parodies of isekai like to poke fun at the"overpowered hero" trope. Seiya Ryuuguuin ofCautious Hero: The Hero is Overpowered but Overly Cautiouswas summoned to Gaeabrande to save it from destruction, but as the goddess who summoned him would soon find out, he’s overly cautious to a fault and refuses to take on any task unless he’s fully prepared.
BothKonoSuba’sKazuma and Seiya are unconventional protagonists for the isekai genre, with the former being a shut-in NEET who’s not overpowered at all, being maxed out on the “luck” skill, and the latter not being an otaku and being paranoid and cautious to the point of absurdity.
My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!may bea female-oriented isekai, but it still deserves mention for its spin on the typical isekai narrative. The story follows a high school girl who gets reincarnated into the world of an otome game, except she’s not the main heroine; she’s the antagonist.
On the surface,KonoSubaandMy Next Life as a Villainessmay not seem to have much in common, but both series have satirical elements, poking light-hearted fun at the isekai and otome genres respectively, meaning fans of comedy and parody will get a lot from both Kazuma and Catarina Claes' misadventures.
The Devil is a Part-Timer!follows Satan as he is forced to retreat to Earth after being defeated in battle and losing his powers. Going by the name of Sadao Maou, he takes on a part-time job at a fast food restaurant named MgRonald’s.
WhileKonoSubaandThe Devil is a Part-Timer!are both comedies, there’s one crucial difference. While the protagonist of the former was an ordinary teenager who gets transported to a fantasy world with powers, Maou is a powerful being who gets transported to the regular world with no powers. Both series' humor derives from the “fish-out-of-water” narrative, with both Kazuma and Maou navigating their new lives in unfamiliar environments.
One of the most popular entries in the “isekai protagonist gets reincarnated into something weird” sub-genre,That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slimefollows a salaryman named Satoru Mikami, who, after getting stabbed, gets reincarnated into (as one might guess) a slime.
NeitherKonoSubanorThat Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slimetake themselves too seriously, being more light-hearted takes on the isekai genre. Both are more about the humor and colorful characters than offering fans yet another generic power fantasy. These two anime invite viewers to just enjoy the ride and not think too hard about minute story details.
