Is Isekai Ruining the Fantasy Genre?
So, isekai literally means “another world”. A regular human (usually a Japanese high schooler with zero rizz and maximum plot armor) gets reincarnated, summoned, or transported into a fantasy world. They often keep their memories, sometimes even cheat-like abilities, and surprise—end up reshaping that world, also endings up with a harem of busty waifus.
In contrast, traditional fantasy doesn’t yank some kid from Tokyo and throw them into a dragon nest. The world already is fantastical—built from its own history, myths, politics, and cultures. Think Lord of the Rings or Made in Abyss. No vending machines turning into protagonists, no “truck-kun” hitting people on crosswalks.
So, the difference is simple:
- Isekai fantasy = You start in our world, get yeeted into another one.
- Normal fantasy = You just exist in the magical setting from the get-go.
How Isekai is ruining the Fantasy Vibe
Here’s the catch: isekai itself isn’t bad. Classics like Inuyasha, Digimon, or even Escaflowne used it well. But the modern flood of “reincarnated as…” stories has turned the subgenre into a meme. Instead of intricate world-building, you get copy-paste medieval Europe with a cheat system.
- Reincarnation narrative: Instead of experiencing a world organically, we’re stuck watching protagonists abuse their meta-knowledge and gaming expertise. It cheapens the stakes. Why care about “saving the kingdom” if the hero can already solo it at level 1?
- Self-insert syndrome: Modern isekai often feels like a wish-fulfillment of a moms basement dweller . The MC is overpowered, surrounded by hot waifus, and never actually struggles to achieve anything. Compared to a normal fantasy protagonist who just shrive to survive the next day, it gives of a totally different energy.
- World-building sacrifice: A great fantasy world has many things behind its building, such as- its lore, myths, politics, and cultures . Isekai skips that effort by focusing on the MC’s perspective as an outsider, making the world feel like a video game tutorial instead of a culture with depth.
- Lack of originality: Too many isekai recycle the same gimmicks with minor changes. Reincarnated as a slime, as a spider, as a vending machine, as a sword—it’s all the same blueprint with a different skin. Instead of innovating, creators chase gimmicks, making the genre feel stale.
The result? A whole generation of anime fans are now mix up “fantasy” as the whole “truck accident > skill menu > harem,” cliche. Which slowly dilutes the genres greatness.
Why So Many Isekai Fantasy?
Publishers aren’t dumb—they chase trends. The explosion of isekai comes down to:
- Light novel boom – Cheap to write, easy to market, and audiences eat up the wish-fulfillment.
- Template writing – Isekai stories all follow a similar blueprint, which makes them faster to churn out.
- Global appeal – Even casual fans get the hooked instantly. “Normal guy, suddenly in magical world” is easy to digest.
- Streaming platforms – Seasonal anime needs volume. Isekai fills that demand quickly, even if it’s generic.
So while traditional fantasy requires heavy lifting in lore, politics, and mythology, isekai cuts corners and delivers a quick dopamine hit.
Quick Table: Isekai vs Non-Isekai Fantasy Anime
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Isekai | Re:Zero, No Game No Life, Mushoku Tensei, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Konosuba, Sword Art Online, The Rising of the Shield Hero |
| Non-Isekai | Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Made in Abyss, Dungeon Meshi, Akame ga Kill, Fairy Tail, Claymore, Berserk, Black Clover |
Final Take
Is isekai ruining fantasy? Not entirely—but way to much of everything can be frustrating. The reincarnation formula dominates seasonal lineups, which leaves less space for pure, world-driven fantasy series. But every trend burns out eventually. If anything, this overproduction might push creators back toward richer, non-isekai fantasy to stand out.
Until then, expect more truck-kun casualties.
💭 What’s your thought on the dominance of isekai fantasies? Do you agree that the recent flood of isekai’s are ruining the fantasy genre? Share your thoughts on the comments below.
