Enjoyable and classical fantasy isekai with a decent world
Anime
Not all isekai anime is made equal. If you are a cultured isekai connoisseur, you know to value a good story, worldbuilding and character dynamics, as well as how enjoyable the show is regardless of whether it is "objectively" good or not. I present you a list of such anime that I enjoyed, and can vouch for. This is a non-cynical list from someone who can enjoy shows for what they are, with minimal comments on what the shows are about or what you can expect from them.
TV, 2021,
11 eps
Me:-
Author:10
The holy grail of fantasy isekai. Mushoku tensei has an excellent story and a huge and wonderful world. This is the kind of story that you WILL miss after you finish it, and you will think about it and want more. I wholeheartedly recommend reading the webnovel.
TV, 2019,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:9
It's a "summoned hero must defeat the demon king" story with a hilarious twist. The humor is genuinely funny, the pacing is good and the story is excellent and has a strong emotional impact. Don't underestimate how good the music is either. This is a must watch, don't skip out on it.
TV, 2015,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:9
An evil protagonist cautiously conquers the world one step at a time. It's fun, it's interesting, and it's very enjoyable. It's a good show and I recommend reading the novels too.
TV, 2014,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:9
This is not like any other isekai anime on this list, but it's very good and fun and you should watch it.
TV, 2016,
10 eps
Me:-
Author:8
An absolute classic that you must watch. The show is hilarious, the characters are great and you will fully be immersed in their wonderful world.
TV, 2019,
23 eps
Me:-
Author:10
This is one of my favorite anime. It's a wonderful coming of age story about a young boy growing into a demon lord. The characters are given much love, and the author just knows how to write well. It's a weak to strong story, so if you're a sucker for those, you're in for a treat. This is the best shonen anime to come out in a really long time.
TV, 2016,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:-
An evil witch curses the protagonist to return to the past every time he dies. She herself controls the checkpoint to which he returns. This series has the best and most interesting world out of everything on this list. The story is also exceptional. It's such an interesting and intricate mystery that after decades the readers still can't fully decipher everything. It has the best love stories - as well as excellent character development and internal journeys. But it's infuriating, because despite everything this anime is not good.
If you give it a chance you'll quickly understand why. They overdid Subaru's insanity and the way his voice actor screeches truly makes it an uncomfortable watching experience. The things that are well explained and reasonable in the webnovel are left to seem strange and unexplained in the anime, which makes the characters seem poorly written. They also neglected to present the world and the story in its full glory, which is tragic since it's magnificent. Please, please read the webnovel instead. You will enjoy an incredibly vivid story that is much better than what the anime offers. Still, watch this anime and see if you develop any interest. If so, immediately jump to the novels.
If you give it a chance you'll quickly understand why. They overdid Subaru's insanity and the way his voice actor screeches truly makes it an uncomfortable watching experience. The things that are well explained and reasonable in the webnovel are left to seem strange and unexplained in the anime, which makes the characters seem poorly written. They also neglected to present the world and the story in its full glory, which is tragic since it's magnificent. Please, please read the webnovel instead. You will enjoy an incredibly vivid story that is much better than what the anime offers. Still, watch this anime and see if you develop any interest. If so, immediately jump to the novels.
TV, 2018,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:7
It's a "protagonist is trapped in the world of a game he used to play" story. If you like characters that refer to themselves as "ore-sama", then you'll love Diablo. The story and the world aren't special but they are done well enough to be enjoyable. It's nothing memorable, but good enough to watch with a smile on your face and enjoy. The sequel isn't as good.
TV, 2015,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:7
It's a native isekai :^). Depending on your mood you might really enjoy it if you like weak to strong stories, and are looking for something with a lot of episodes to watch.
TV, 2019,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Not too good but it's perfectly watchable despite the low score. It's generic, but it's done decently enough to be enjoyable if you know what you are getting into, and want it.
TV, 2021,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:7
This show isn't particularly good but it deserves a mention because the manga is ABSOLUTELY amazing. You NEED to read this. Like please just read the first ten chapters and you'll see what I mean. It's a unique and well thought out story with really good writing. You won't regret it.
TV, 2022,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:8
It's very unique and honestly a really fun watch. I'm usually not a big fan of the mechas & magic combo, but this is well done.
TV, 2020,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:8
A hilarious show where Anos the GIGACHAD destroys his enemies in an epic fashion. Very enjoyable show.
TV, 2013,
25 eps
Me:-
Author:8
I am conflicted. The first season of Log Horizon is nice. The story is slow but it progresses, the world is huge and interesting. But in later seasons the show has absolutely no direction, so get into this with caution.
TV, 2018,
24 eps
Me:-
Author:7
A slow but comfy kingdom building story. Has a decent amount of slice of life elements to it.
TV, 2022,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:8
It's a fun watch. I didn't really expect to like it, but it quickly drew me in. It's a weak to strong story, and I'm always a sucker for those.
TV, 2022,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Definitely well done for what it is. Don't expect much, but you will likely find it enjoyable.
TV, 2021,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:9
This is an unexpected gem. The world is well thought out, the characters are interesting and the pacing of the story is great. This show will leave you wanting more, and it is a must watch.
TV, 2019,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:7
An enjoyable story about an overpowered protagonist and his school life.
TV, 2021,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Our protagonist is a bit of a wimp but it's quite fun regardless. At the end of this show, you'll be left wanting more.
TV, 2023,
12 eps
Me:-
Author:9
Have you ever wanted to see an adventurer just take his time to properly explore the world and enjoy the experience? It's a breath of fresh air. This is a slow story but it is incredibly comfy to watch. Bonus points for delicious looking food that WILL make you hungry and great music.
TV, 2023,
13 eps
Me:-
Author:8
It's a power fantasy that happens to be done really well. I'm a sucker for stories that start out with MC as a kid, so bonus points for that.