Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnationis one of the best isekai series of all time. It features one of the biggest and richest worlds in isekai, great, well-rounded characters, and anincredibly divisive main character in Rudeus Greyrat. The story ofMushoku Tenseispans Rudy’s entire life, starting with his reincarnation into the new world as a baby and leaving no stone unturned. Rudeus begins the story as a baby, eventually goes to magic college, and even begins a family of his own. While not many other animes are like it, there are a few that could be considered worthy comparisons.
To be a goodMushoku Tenseicomparison, a show doesn’t need to be an isekai, but it doesn’t hurt. The biggest qualities a series in common withMushoku Tenseiwould have would be itsthorough worldbuilding, a great cast of side characters, and a deep, meaningful storythat doesn’t leave room for too many lighthearted moments.
Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy
Cast
Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy follows Makoto Misumi, an ordinary high school student who is transported to another world as a hero but is quickly abandoned by the goddess of the new world due to his appearance. Resigned to living on the fringes, he starts to explore his new environment, meeting various non-human races and gaining extraordinary powers. The series chronicles his adventures and challenges in a fantastical realm.
Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasyis a great isekai comparison toMushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation.Both series have incredibly powerful main characters who develop a band of followers thanks to their newfound abilities. They also feature a genuinely good character trying to do his best in a world that seemingly works to stop him. As isekai shows, both series also share the fact that their main characters were brought to their new worlds by gods and goddesses that might not necessarily have the best intentions in mind.
WhereTsukimichiandMushoku Tenseidiffer is in their tones.Tsukimichiis a much lighter show thanMushoku,rarely killing off the protagonists or the main character’s allies and instead offering a more jovial watching experience. The best part of both series is the world the main characters are building around them.Both Makoto and Rudeus are lucky to be surrounded by some of the strongest side characters in anime.
KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!
KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!, commonly referred to as KonoSuba, is a Japanese anime series based on the novels of the same name from writer Natsume Akatsuki and illustrator Kurone Mishima. The series revolves around a man named Kazuma, who is offered a second chance at life on a magical world after he dies.
KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World!is another fun, lighthearted isekai experience. Main character Kazuma Satou doesn’t want to do much outside of hanging out. He’s a hilarious character who is actually one of thesmartest isekai characters in animethanks to his ability to constantly get out of danger (and responsibilities).Like Rudeus, Kazuma also has a great group of friends around him that help him understand his new world.
He’s also like Rudy in that he’d rather surround himself with a harem of women than a single man. LikeTsukimichi, KonoSubacould never be accused of taking itself too seriously. It’sone of the funniest anime seriesof all time, which is a pretty stark contrast to how darkMushokucan get. Overall,KonoSubais a good comparison toMushoku Tenseithanks to itsintelligent main character, supportive cast of side characters, and fun villains who keep the story fresh.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is an action-adventure isekai anime based on the original novels written by Fuse. Living a standard life with no actual forward trajectory, Satoru Mikami’s humdrum life is thrown into chaos when he is stabbed to death during a daily walk. However, Satoru’s life is spared when he is reborn into the body of an all-powerful slime in a fantasy world where he gets a second chance at living a more fulfilling - albeit bizarre - life.
Rudeus was already a prodigy when he was first born into his new world. As a baby, he was capable of casting spells stronger than most mages who have studied their entire lives. Rimuru inThat Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slimeknows what that’s like. When he was reincarnated into his new world, he was a slime that could absorb nearly anything. Thanks to Veldora’s magicules, Rimuru was able to becomeone of the strongest characters inSlimequickly.
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Mushoku TenseiandSlimeare similar in their diverse isekai worlds, but they aren’t that similar thematically. LikeTsukimichiandKonoSuba, Slimefocuses on the funnier side of anime and doesn’t take too many trips into serious space.It’s a great series to lay back and enjoyif shows likeMushoku Tenseiget too stressful.
The Eminence in Shadow
The Eminence in Shadow follows the story of Cid Kagenou, a recluse who reincarnates into a fantasy world and seeks to live a life of obscurity, but unwittingly becomes a legendary figure known as the Eminence in Shadow, feared by evil organizations and admired by the masses.
The Eminence in Shadowis another great isekai series that can be compared toMushoku Tensei.Both main characters get isekai’d into their new world and are gifted incredible powers. They both also have a band of powerful allies who want nothing more than the best for their protagonist.The Eminence in Shadowmixes its serious moments with its lighthearted moments, creating a diverse watching experience.It’s a little lighter thematically thanMushoku Tensei,but that doesn’t mean thatThe Eminence in Shadowdoesn’t have its moments.
Shadow’s enemies are always scheming against him. They underestimated the leader of Shadow Garden and pay the price for it every time. Some of the best moments in the series come when Shadow gets to go all out against his opponents,usinghis Atomic powers to destroy them and everything around them.
Ascendance of a Bookworm
Ascendance of a Bookworm is an anime comedy series based on the manga of the same name. Motosu Urano, a book-loving college student, is reincarnated in a medieval world as a frail girl with a voracious appetite for reading named Myrne. In a world where books are scarce and only available to the elite, Myne decides to create her own publishing group and create books to once again bring reading to the masses.
The Ascendance of a Bookwormstars one of the cutest characters in anime with Main. She’s an adorable 5-year-old who wants nothing more than to sit back and enjoy a good book. In her previous life, she was a 22-year-old college student who wanted the same thing. In her new world, Main is working hard to create books she can enjoy and distribute them to anyone who wants to read.WhileBookwormisn’t short of fun, lighthearted moments, the central theme of the show is relatively serious.
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It’s a lot likeMushoku Tenseiin that the show is mostly serious with fun moments spread throughout.Main is focused on her goal and she won’t let the church or her disease slow her down. Rudeus could learn a thing or two from Main’s maturity, as she chooses to act her former, more mature age rather than her new self.
Overlord
Overlord follows a salaryman who, after being trapped in a virtual reality game, assumes the role of an all-powerful skeletal overlord. As he navigates this new world filled with magic and mythical creatures, he seeks to understand the game’s mysteries and conquer its challenges. The series blends elements of fantasy and adventure, exploring themes of power and identity.
Overlordmight be the darkest isekai anime there is.It features an absolute tyrant in Ainz Ooal Gown, a character solely focused on dominating his new world so that he might find another real person inside of it. While Rudeus is a powerful character isekai intoMushoku Tensei,Ainz is closer to a god. He’s so powerful, he’s single-handedly responsible for one of themost shocking moments in anime. Like Rudeus, Ainz is surrounded by people who help him understand his new world.
Ainz Ooal Gown’s supporting side characters are some of the best reasons to watchOverlord.They bring a lot of humor to the brutal world. But brutality is what Ainz knows best. He’s an expert at draining hope out of his opponents and a master at securing victory through any means necessary.
Saga of Tanya the Evil
Saga of Tanya the Evil is a fantasy anime series set in a parallel universe during World War I. The story follows Tanya Degurechaff, a young girl who is reincarnated as a soldier in a fantasy world, and rises through the ranks of the Empire’s military to become a powerful mage.
Tanya von Degurechaff is one of the most intimidating characters in anime, and she’s a 12-year-old girl. She’s vicious, stopping at nothing to defeat her enemies on the battlefield. Tanya is brutal, fierce, and a one-man army in every fight she’s in. She’s the deciding factor when she steps on the battlefield and a key reason why her nation is still in the fight in the first place. While she and Rudeus don’t share too much in common, their worlds and themes do.
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BothThe Saga of Tanya the EvilandMushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnationfeature unforgiving worlds that ask a lot of their protagonist.Being X reincarnated Tanya so that he might teach her a lesson, and Hitogami the Man God tries to use Rudeus as his tool, threatening him and his family if he doesn’t help him.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End follows the elven mage Frieren after the defeat of the Demon King. As generations pass, she confronts humanity’s mortality, taking on a new apprentice and striving to fulfill her late friends' final wishes, embarking on a journey to reconcile with life and death.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s Endis a masterpiece of anime.It takes the medium to new heights through its beautiful animation, incredibly mature story, and one of the greatest main characters of all time. It’s hard not to root for Frieren. She’s patient, wise beyond her thousands of years, and a great mother figure to young Fern. She’s strong enough to face the most powerful demons in her world and doesn’t care to brag about it later. She’s much older and wiser than Rudeus, but they’re both two characters who want the best for the people around them.
Frieren is new to caring about people, but she’s not very bad at it. She works hard to get Fern a birthday present and believes in Stark when he doesn’t believe in himself. LikeMushoku Tensei,Frierenis a slower-paced series that takes a look at the parts of life that other shows gloss over, highlighting their importance throughamazing art direction and a rich world.
Vinland Saga
Vinland Saga is an adaptation of the historical-action manga series by Makoto Yukimura. Centering around young Thorfinn, the story sees the young man on a quest for revenge following the murder of his father by the mercenary Askeladd. To accomplish this feat, Thorfinn joins Askeladd’s company to bide his time and prepare to face him in the future. The story starts around 1002 AD and revolves around fictional accounts of the Danish invasion of London.
Vinland Sagais a beautiful series that’s so much deeper than it would initially lead on.The first season is an action-packed thrill fest, filled with immense violence, brutal beatdowns, and a main character overflowing with an indomitable rage. The second season couldn’t have been a bigger departure from the first, with protagonist Thorfinn undergoing one of the greatest character arcs in anime.Vinland SagasharesMushoku Tensei’sdesire to tell a serious tale well, and they both accomplish their goals masterfully.
Both Thorfinn and Rudeus have a lot on their plate.While Thorfinn doesn’t have a Man God controlling his moves, he is trying to end violence and war as a whole. He doesn’t care for Canute’s plans to dominate the world and instead sets out to search for a land free from it all.
Re: Zero - Starting Life in Another Worldis the best anime likeMushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation.It’s just as dark and features some of the bleakest moments in animation.Both Rudeus and Natsuki Subaru are trying to fix all the problems they can on their own, taking on most of their friends' burdens as well. They’re kind-hearted characters with way too much on their plates. While they want the best for the people around them, their worlds don’t always allow it.
They’re both reincarnated into worlds rife with cruelty and deception, and they’re going to have to work hard if they hope to survive it.
LikeMushoku Tensei, Re: Zeroisn’t afraid to break up its serious moments with a little bit of humor.The side characters, and Natsuki himself, are responsible for the funniest moments in the series, creating much-needed levity in between all of Subaru’s brutal deaths.
