Isekai is a staple of the anime industry by this point. Love it or hate it, the concept is popular enough to warrantmultiple representatives in each season. While not every story goes down this route,isekai anime with OP main charactersare pretty much inescapable, to the point that they are largely synonymous with each other.
While getting a lot of hate due to being overexposed, these shows can be wildly entertaining when they are executed well. They offer exciting action, fun relationships, and laugh-out-loud humor. Not every series hits the mark, but thebest isekai anime with OP MCsare worth watching.
Although an anime’s overall quality is important, the focus is on its implementation of the overpowered protagonist concept. Also, series likeMushoku Tenseihave been excluded since Rudy is powerful but not OP.
Updated on June 03, 2025 by Mark Sammut:TheSummer 2025 seasonis underway, and the lineup loves some good old-fashionedoverpowered isekai anime protagonists. Except for Onmyo Kaiten, all the shows feature pretty powerful MCs, albeit in different ways. Ughlymug, Epic Fighter’s Shigeru is specifically classified as an “Allmighty God,” while Reborn as a Vending Machine’s Boxxo is surprisingly flexible for, well, a vending machine. Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra’s Takuto has an unbeatable strategic mind, while The Water Magician’s Ryou is extremely capable.
The above should all be fun, but I’ve also added two olderisekaianime with OP MCs, just in case you want something to watch while waiting for Summer 2025’s episodes to drop.
OK, I am torn on this anime. On the one hand,How NOT to Summon a Demon Lordfalls short in quite a few areas, including a straight-up frustrating second season that can be a slog to push through. However, the positives are just about present enough to warrant a half-hearted mention, even if I can only recommend this show to people who loveOP MC isekai animeAND harems.
For all its faults, the premise is oddly inspired, despite being relatively normal for the theme. A beastgirl and anarcher elfsummon the Demon Lord, Diablo, in the hope of tying him to a contract. However, he accidentally turns the tables on them, causing them to become contracted to him. More importantly, Diablo is, in fact, just a gamer who plays that character in an RPG, and he is utterly ill-prepared to assume this role.
Diablo’s attempts to pass as an intimidating Demon Lord are consistently hilarious, particularly during the first season. He is powerful from the start, but his lack of confidence and experience ensure he is at least somewhat vulnerable. The main girls, Shera and Rem, start as typical harem fodder members, but they both get decent backstories and some development.
The presence of an overpowered protagonist does not mean an anime has to focus on action. There are quite a few isekai OP MC stories that opt for a slice of life rhythm with almost no room for fights or tension.Farming Life in Another Worldserves as one of the better examples of this subcategory, and it is a personal favorite of mine. Worked to death in his previous life, Hiraku is granted the opportunity to shape his next existence, and he decides tobecome a farmer. Along with being given a tool that makes farming extremely easy, he is also immune to diseases.
Now, Hiraku is not powerful in the same way as traditionalOP isekai anime MCs, but his abilities are tailor-made to quicken and guarantee success in his chosen field. While he would get demolished by every other protagonist discussed in this article, Hiraku has all the tools to thrive within his new world, to the point of creating a prosperous village filled with outcasts who adore him.
Arifuretais not the easiest isekai anime to recommend, just because the adaptation gets off to a notoriously underwhelming start. Even though the sequel seasons are better, they do not come close to replicatingthe quality of the light novel or manga, making the anime the worst way to experience Hajime’s story. That said, if somebody is specifically craving anOP MC isekai anime,Arifuretais among the most mainstream and well-known representatives.
After being left to die by his schoolmates in a fantasy world’s dungeon, Hajime powers through, all the while striking a (close) friendship with a vampire named Yue. Utilizing magic along with weapons like guns, Hajime quickly builds up a versatile arsenal of abilities that allow him to overwhelm most enemies without breaking a sweat, and he is constantly getting stronger. He also surrounds himself with characters (mainly girls) who can hold their own in battle.
My Instant Death Abilitywas seemingly designed for people who hateoverpowered isekai protagonists. A class gets summoned to another world by a manipulative sage, and most of them are given powers. The students who are not bestowed gifts are left for dead; however, one of them, Yogiri, arrived pre-installed with the ability to kill anything with a single thought. Alongside a girl, he goes on a relaxed adventure that primarily involves killing off isekai tropes before they have an opportunity to do anything.
Yogiri is unquestionably the most powerful isekai anime MC of all time, and it is not particularly close. Consequently,My Instant Death Abilitywarrants a mention, despite the anime being relatively underwhelming and repetitive. Still, if somebody is craving a somewhat mean-spirited parody of the genre, this show should deliver.
Sora and Shiro are, in-universe, overpowered. They are specifically brought to Disboard, a world where everything is decided through games, because they are recognized as god gamers who can never be beaten. As a god who looks down on humans, Tet challenges Sora and Shiro to prove that their capabilities go beyond just online gaming, and they are 100% up to the challenge.
Now,No Game, No Lifeis not a conventional OP MC story since the protagonists are constantly pushed to their limits and, more importantly, they do not have incredible abilities. Sora and Shiro rely on their intelligence and experience, allowing them to outsmart their opponents.
Usually,isekai protagonistsreceive gifts when they arrive in their new worlds. In the case ofKuma Kuma Kuma Bear’s Yuna, the OP gift is the reason she ends up stuck in an MMO. After accepting a unique bear-themed armor, Yuna finds herself trapped in World Fantasy Online; to make matters worse, she cannot remove her embarrassing outfit. However, the armor has such high stats that Yuna is basically rendered undefeatable, and she does not hesitate to show off her glorious strength.
Although not devoid of action,Kuma Kuma Kuma Bearis primarily a slice of life comedy. The characters are likable, the visuals are decent enough, and the story maintains a lighthearted and fluffy tone.
In theory,isekai anime with OP MCssound like they should prioritize action to take advantage of the protagonist’s cool abilities. However, this concept lends itself surprisingly well to slow-life stories, as the appeal comes from the character having the necessary tools to lead a completely carefree life.
I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Levelis among the best examples of this particular subcategory. After grinding slimes for 300 years, Azusa has effectively become a goddess who is by far the most powerful being in this universe. While she occasionally gets involved in fights, Azusa mostly spends her days in paradise, living alongside other girls who admire or rely on her.
Most isekai anime are escapist fantasies that try to feature a protagonist who is easy for audiences to insert themselves into.Uncle From Another Worldtakes a bit of a different approach. Set after Yousuke returns from an isekai trip that lasted for more than a decade, the anime follows his attempts to settle back onto Earth, all the while incorporating flashbacks to his past adventures.
Despite being very much OP, Yousuke hated his time in the other world as he was constantly discriminated against. He led a lonely and exhausting existence, one made worse by his inability to recognize a tsundere elf’s interest in him.Uncle From Another Worldis a hilarious comedy that parodiesisekai anime with overpowered protagonists, while also trying out quite a few loving references to pop culture of yesteryear.
Over the last few years,villainess isekai animehave become very common, with most seasons including one show that fits the theme. While always competent, the protagonists of these series are not typically extremely overpowered, and they are usually just strong enough to hold their own.
Villainess Level 99is an exception. Reincarnated as an otome game’s secret hidden boss, Yumiella puts to shame everyone else in this universe, and she spent her childhood grinding to ensure she would be as powerful as possible. She summons a black hole at one point, and she makes it seem effortless.
Not fully grasping how off-putting her displays of power can be, Yumiella has an endearing and charming awkwardness. While nothing too amazing,Villainess Level 99is consistently funny and cute.
A rare original isekai anime,Zenshualmost comes across like a love letter to classic fantasy, particularly shows from the ’80s and ’90s. A talented animator suffering from burnout,Natsuko Hirosechokes on some food and ends up in the world of her favorite anime movie. Hoping to avoid the story’s notoriously depressing ending, Natsuko uses her newfound god-like power to bring to life anything that she draws, and she has a pretty wild imagination.
Starting strong and only getting better from there,Zenshublends genres, tropes, and even visual styles to tell an epic tale that manages to remain fresh despite taking inspiration from the past. While OP in theory, Natsuko’s powers have well-defined limitations, both in terms of mechanics and user error.
