Solo leveling is currently one of the most popular new anime series. While Solo leveling is not truly Isekai, it is often compared to shows of that genre. Strictly speaking, Sung Jinwoo is not transferred to another world, so Solo Leveling cannot be Isekai.
Solo leveling is over, but these anime will fulfill your desires
Solo Leveling season 2 is over, but these other anime series will fill the gap for fans.
However, the amount of Isekai tropes cannot be ignored. because of that Solo Leveling is often compared to many other Isekai seriesespecially those that also share similar elements such as video game mechanics. Solo leveling is definitely fun to watch, but lacks depth and lore. Other Isekai series, on the other hand, actually have an abundance.
Lord of mysteries
Lord of mysteries is a new anime series that just debuted in 2025, and it's easy to see why fans are obsessed with what they've seen so far. Based on a Chinese novel, Lord of Mysteries follows the story of Zhou Mingrui. After committing suicide, he wakes up as Klein Moretti in a world reminiscent of the Victorian era. He becomes the Beyonder and sets out to uncover the many mysteries surrounding this world and his past life.
Lord of Mysteries has captivating writingand so far it is better than anything seen in Solo leveling. Fans can't wait for the anime to return with a 2nd season already confirmed.
That time I was reincarnated as slime
If there is any Isekai series that has taken the world by storm, this is it That time I was reincarnated as slime. This series is currently the most popular Japanese Isekai and the story, like Solo Leveling, it features an overpowered main character.
The main character dies in the original world and wakes up as a slime in another. The slime quickly grows stronger and eventually takes on the name Rimuru Tempest. Rimuru Tempest has become one of the most popular OP main characters, even more than Sung Jinwoo.
Re: Zero — The beginning of life in another world
When it comes to the iconic Isekai series, you definitely can't forget it Re: Zero, the basic Isekai anime. Re: Zero follows the story of main character Subaru Natsuki. When he wakes up in another world, he quickly realizes what powers he has. Each time he dies, time goes back, giving him a chance to approach situations differently and survive different trials.
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Re:Zero's plot has definitely captivated many and its lore is so deep that it will have many more anime seasons. Meanwhile, Solo Leveling is short and probably won't exceed a total of 4 anime seasons.
Frontiers of Shangri-La
Frontiers of Shangri-La is an Isekai series that fans have grown to love over the years. Solo Leveling uses a lot of video game elements through its system, but nothing compared to Shangri-La Frontier.
Shangri-La Frontier follows Rakuro Hizutome who likes “old style” games. These games came to be called trash games in his current world. However, he ends up buying Shangri-La Frontier, which is a full dive game. He uses the trash game skills he learned there. Fans looking for a more video game oriented series would definitely prefer this over Solo Leveling.
The Rising Of The Shield Hero
The Rising of the Shield Hero has become one of Isekai's most popular anime series in recent years and definitely reminds many of Solo Leveling.
The Rising of the Shield Hero tells the story of Naofumi Iwatani. After being transported to another world along with three other men, he becomes the hero of the shield. It wasn't something he was too excited about at first. After all, the other three men were given real weapons while he was glued to the shield. However, he eventually discovers just how powerful his powers can be. Along the way, he finds new allies and the goal of protecting this newfound world. Like Solo Leveling, this series has interesting video game-like mechanics that fans will love.
Sword Art Online
Some would not consider Sword Art Online the real Isekai. While the protagonists weren't taken to a completely different world, they were set in a virtual one. by all means Sword Art Online is Isekai and it's the anime that really popularized the genre overseas.
Sword Art Online follows Kirito, who is stuck along with many others in a virtual video game world known as SAO. Anyone who logs in is stuck. At first, the main goal is to at least break free. The early seasons of Sword Art Online are definitely a must watch and some would say they are even better than Solo Leveling.
