Isekai is surely one of the best anime genres as of now. With engaging storylines coupled with video game mechanics, this type of show does cater to a whole lot of fans. Today, we’d like to highlight the best among the best – here are the strongest main characters to ever be featured on this type of show:
Subaru Natsuki (Re: Zero – Starting Life In Another World)
First up is no other than a character that may quite fit the bill when it comes to the conventional isekai protagonist. Subaru Natsuki, a hikikomori, finds him suddenly in another world. The sudden appearance in this new world confuses him, especially so since he has an insecure personality.
What does stand out with him in this new world is his excellent ability, Return by Death. Essentially following the mechanics of a save point in popular video games, Subara can get through challenges by resurrecting in a certain point in his life.
Additionally, his other ability, Future Recollection, lets him recall other timelines where he died. This tandem of abilities allows him to not only bypass certain fights and limitations – it also helps him strengthen relationships, important since he’s a stranger in an even stranger world!
Sora and Shiro (No Game No Life)
These two powerful gamer step-siblings (yet both hikikomoris) suddenly find themselves transported to another world after winning an online chess match (apparently, their opponent was a god). Being in a new world, the brother and sister tandem decided to make use of their excellent video game tactics to topple all challenges stacked against them.
Both excel in logic and tactics, although Sora is mainly more sociable than his brother. A mix of action and strategy is present in this exciting show, with the step-siblings’ teamwork and tactics making them really strong in the isekai landscape!
Rimuru Tempest (That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime)
Don’t judge a book, or in this case, a slime, by its looks! As it is in conventional RPGs, the slime is considered a starter foe, easily dispatched to gain experience. But for Satoru Mikami, a Japanese salaryman who unfortunately died saving a coworker from being stabbed, found himself reincarnated as this mob character!
Luckily enough, his main ability to absorb another being (Predation) also allows him to capture others’ abilities. Doing so, Rimuru (Satoru’s new name in the reincarnated world) continued to evolve in such a way to be a force to be reckoned with!
From matter manipulation, physical prowess, and even mastering several high-level spells, Rimuru may very well be a demon lord type of beast on any isekai world! But what does make him a really powerful character is his personality – his laid-back persona and peaceful demeanor actually makes him a respectful individual, winning relationships no matter one’s status or race!
Kumoko (So I’m A Spider, So What?)
Here’s another great example of an unlikely (but surprisingly) protagonist that grows into a deadly beast. Reincarnated as a really weak spider (similar to Rimuru’s slime form, a minor mob character meant to be farmed for experience in RPGs!) Kumoko had to strive to survive against not only foes, but environmental factors as well.
To make matters worse, Kumoko was reincarnated not in a safe zone, but in her transported world’s deadliest dungeon instead! From actually crawling and evolving in order to survive, Kumoko soon gained new abilities and forms to match all sorts of challenges. Originally stressed and frustrated with her situation, this little spider copes with her challenges by constantly talking to herself.
In what may be a really nice development in survival isekai, Kumoko soon develops a nice ability (on top of her several arachnid ones) that allowed her brain to create several spider sub-personalities. Not only do these spiders help in keeping her sane through socialization, but these helpers also assist her in battles. Think of these nice buddies as AI support in games! Kumoko is truly a unique and powerful character to behold (besides, can you imagine a spider actually beating a dragon?!?!)!
Here’s another unique but definitely powerful isekai protagonist. Another Japanese salaryman reincarnated to a new world, this character actually was reborn as a punishment! The salaryman actually offended the god (Being X), stating that the heavenly figure holds a rather weak influence in his original world. Reincarnated as a girl in a European type of world meshed with magic and modern warfare tactics, Tanya (as he is now called) now has to use her wits to survive.
Given the somewhat dark personality of the character (she tends to think logically and follows numbers), Tanya has a rather psychopathic streak that actually helps her in fighting long-drawn battles. Although rather frail in appearance, Tanya excels in aerial combat and magic. Coupled with her tactical mind and manipulative traits, Tanya can very well be considered as one of the most powerful beings in the scene (both for actual fights and in creating scenarios to break apart a foe’s will!).
This iconic Ghibli film is actually considered an isekai (it’s not really reincarnation – although there are some unofficial and dark theories out there that the characters are actually dead!), mainly since the term means “other world”.
And in breaking and transforming the mold of what exactly is powerful, this excellent release proves that the protagonist doesn’t exactly need to be physically or magically strong! Chihiro Ogino, who on a trip with her parents suddenly finds herself stuck in a weird situation, has to find ways to get back to reality (a real struggle, for not only is she in a world full of demons, but her parents transformed into pigs as well!).
From picking up clues and engaging with a colorful cast of characters, the young and brave girl not only finds ways to finally get back to reality – she manages to help others as well and restore order in a topsy-turvy world. Do yourself a favor – do not spoil yourself reading on what goes in this film. You just need to watch and experience just how great Ghibli is!
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