The Best Isekai Anime To Watch If You Like The Eminence In Shadow

Key Takeaways

• The genre of isekai anime offers a variety of main characters beyond traditional hero roles, like those with darker ambitions.
• Series like “The Eminence in Shadow” feature protagonists with selfish desires, high intellect, and exceptional abilities, making them stand out.
• Fans of isekai anime will enjoy the fresh take on the genre with different main characters and engaging storylines in each series.

Isekai is a genre of anime that has gathered a large following for its exciting possibilities when a protagonist is transported to another world and must now try to survive by new rules. Fans flock to explore a medieval world where swords and sorcery are dominant fixtures in society or when the main character is sucked into their favorite video game with extraordinary abilities. Isekai is a genre that offers a large amount of variety that keeps each series in the genre feeling new and fresh.

While most characters that are dropped into another world set off on a journey to be the hero, there are several isekai anime that have characters walking different paths. A recent addition that falls under this example would be TheEminence in Shadow. The main character, Cid Kagenou, has grander ambitions than being celebrated as a hero and seeks to gain a powerful position in the new world he now lives in. Here are some more anime to watch if fans like The Eminence in Shadow.

Updated on October 28, 2024, by C.M. Edwards: Isekai anime continues to climb the charts as one of the most successful and popular genres currently released. With dozens of new series released every anime season, the train for isekai anime doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. However, there are still a number of already released series still going strong, some awaiting their next season release like The Eminence In Shadow. The Eminence in Shadow was a diamond in the rough, with an interesting main character and stylish animation that conjured a dedicated fanbase that fell in love with the series. After dying, Cid is reborn in another world where magic exists. Having retained all of his memories, the darker parts of Cid’s personality immediately begin to plot against the land. Cid is unlike many isekai protagonists as he has a more selfish desire than most, and doesn’t care about the lives of those who get in his way. With his high intellect and exceptional physical and magical abilities, Cid seeks to dominate this new world and become the master of all from the shadows. He has gathered a band of powerful warriors he calls Black Garden and, with extreme precision, plays with the lives of millions in the palm of his hand. While The Eminence in Shadow has finished its current season, there are many anime series with similar stories that fans can enjoy in the meantime. Here are some of the best anime series to watch for those who loved Eminence in Shadow.

22 Villainess Level 99

Main Character With Dark Power

Yumiella was born into a noble family with a proud history. Unfortunately, because of her features and unique magical talent, she found herself ostracized by her peers. It’s a long-standing tradition that Yumiella’s long dark hair and dark magical powers have a strong relationship with the demon lord. Because of this, the people of her town and even kids her own age run away at the sight of her.

It isn’t until she recovers her memories as a normal girl living in modern-day Japan that she comes up with a plan to correct her path and fix her reputation. This becomes more difficult when her magical power is revealed to be the strongest in the kingdom, which puts her on the frontlines of battle. Villainess Level 99 is a great watch for fans who enjoy the overpowered character trope, it measures up to The Eminence in Shadow’s school setting nicely.

21 Failure Frame

Main Character Turns Down A Darker Path

When Touka and his entire class are summoned to another world by a powerful goddess, he believes this is a second chance for him to correct his path in his own life. Known as a loner and bullied because of it, he is hopeful for the first time in his teen life. However, to Touka’s shock, the goddess turns on him from the beginning due to his skill being considered weak and useless.

Instead of being sent home, Touka is instead banished to a dangerous part of the world to die alone. Fortunately for Touka, his ability proves to be more valuable than originally thought. With this new realization, he decides that instead of getting religion, he’s going to get even and sets out on a revenge mission against the goddess and his classmates. Touka’s bloodthirsty persona resembles Cid’s wild state, which fans may enjoy.

20 No Longer Allowed In Another World

Unconventional Main Characters With Different Points of View

As a down-on-his-luck writer, Sensei set out a goal to end his life alongside the one he loves the most. Things take a left turn when, during an average day out, Sensei is struck and killed by a speeding truck. Thinking this is the end, Sensei is shocked once again when he awakens in a fantasy world as its chosen hero.

Praised and begged to slay the demon king, Sensei’s lack of interest in this new world forces him to turn his back on his summoners and try to find his beloved. Along the way and against his wishes, Sensei gains new friends as he experiences this new world. As he learns more about his surroundings, he realizes that maybe he was brought to the new world for a reason, just not the one he initially thought.

19 Re: Monster

Highly Intelligent Main Characters

In many isekai-type anime, many main characters have a variety of luck when starting over in a brave new world. In Re: Monster, Kanata finds himself in a magical fantasy world reincarnated as an average goblin.

Initially disgruntled at his predicament, Kanata, now known as Rou decides to make the best of his situation and sets out to be the best goblin he can be. Rou’s intellect and memories of a past life help him navigate the ways of this new world and avoid conflict when unnecessary and completely overwhelm his opponent if need be.

18 Ishura

Ruthless Main Character

The world of Lithia hangs in a dreadful limbo with the slaying of the former demon king, which has left a large vacancy for power and control. Dozens of egomaniacs begin to emerge from the shadows in hopes of filling the void and taking the mantle of the new demon king, including the main character, Soujirou Yagyuu.

As a master swordsman who possesses incredible ability and strength, Soujirou takes on all comers head-on in hopes of taking the throne of the demon king and will destroy anyone getting in his way. Ishura is a fresh take on the overpowered main character trope and the isekai trope at the same time, that fans of series like Eminence in Shadow and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime will enjoy.

17 My Instant Death Ability is So Overpowered

Main Character Who Becomes The Main Threat

Yogiri Takatou, along with his entire class, is teleported to an alternate fantasy world by a magical spell where they are greeted by the caster. While most of the students are given special abilities by the sage for an undescribed purpose, a small few are left out and left behind by their classmates without a second thought.

Yogiri comes to terms fast with his situation when a dragon attacks, and he finds that he possesses the power to instantly kill any target with his awakened special ability. Now he and the rest of the students who were left behind decide to go out on their own and find a way home.

16 Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasy

MyAnimeLists Score: 7.7

Promised at birth to a goddess, Makoto is cast aside like unwanted trash when the goddess he is made to serve revokes his heroic title for being physically unappealing. Instead of rising to glory, Makoto is banished to the middle of a wasteland away from human society, where only Demihumans and other mythical creatures reside. Similar to Eminence in Shadow, Tsukimichi’s main character possesses unparalleled power but keeps it hidden in his everyday life.

Makoto makes the best of a bad situation and finds a new home and a new family with the many races he encounters. However, his new world comes under threat very quickly, and the kind-hearted Makoto must reveal the devastating magical power he has developed from his harsh life up until now.

15 Black Summoner

MyAnimeLists Score: 7.0

Kelvin has the opportunity to be reincarnated into a magical fantasy world. Even more so, he is able to sacrifice the memories of his past life in exchange for more powerful abilities, stats, and even a title to start off in his new life.

Kelvin shares a similar trait to Cid from Eminence in Shadow and disregards his old life and seeks to charge forward with his goddess by his side in this new world. However, to summon his goddess into the world, he must become strong and face some of the most sinister threats of this dangerous new world. Kevlin goes through many trials and tribulations, meeting numerous allies and enemies along the way.

14 Working For God In A Godless World

MyAnimeLists Score: 6.7

Being the son of a cult leader sends Yukito to his death when, during a ritual, the god his cult worships does not show up to save his life which results in him drowning and dying. In his final moments, he wishes to be reborn into a world without god, and his wish is granted by the god, who left him to die.

Yukito awakes in a brazenly different world than his own, surrounded by a slew of oddballs that quickly become his second family. However, there is more to this world than just simple days, and the God Mitama has big plans for him in this world untouched by deities or religion. Fans of Eminence will appreciate the similar humor in the series.

13 I Got A Cheat Skill In Another World And Became Unrivaled In The Real World Too

MyAnimeLists Score: 6.3

Yuuya went through his early life dealing with hardship after hardship. While receiving disdain and resentment from everyone who crossed his path, Yuuya still faced each day being the best person he could be. When the most important person in Yuuya’s life passes away he nears the end of his rope.

However, Yuuya discovers a mystical door in his bathroom that transports him into a fantasy world, and instantly he is granted powerful abilities and amazing skills. Now, Yuuya’s once gloomy days are filled with adventure and excitement. Fans of main protagonists with extremely high power levels will find this series entertaining.

12 Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Incarnation

MyAnimeLists Score: 8.3

Rudeus Greyrat dies in a past life as a NEET with a very disappointing life. Now reincarnated in a new world, he has a second chance to make more of himself. By gaining skill with magic, Rudeus finds himself enthralled in a centuries-long conflict between god and man. The similarities between Jobless Incarnation and The Eminence in Shadow are the way they subvert the hero trope in many isekai anime, providing a fresh take on the genre.

Rudeus goes on epic journeys all over the world and makes friends and enemies as he deals with his own emotional trauma and tries to better himself along the way. Jobless Incarnation tells a very different type of Isekai story with real stakes and serious emotional moments that many fans will enjoy.

11 Overlord

MyAnimeLists Score: 7.9

Overlord follows an anime NEET who wakes up in another world with the appearance and the abilities of his character in his favorite MMO. Along with that, the clan that he built with his friends and the NPCs they created together have also joined him in their base in the middle of this new world. While Overlord starts very tamed, both series feature the main character lusting for more power.

Taking the form of a monstrous undead, the main character is seemingly unfazed and decides to take on the persona of his character as the sorcerer king of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Ainz Ooal Gown. As such, he sets out on an expedition to become ruler of this new world and begins to assert his dominance over its inhabitants.

10 Rising Of The Shield Hero

MyAnimeLists Score: 7.9

Naofumi is excited to begin a new life when he and three other heroes are equipped with legendary weapons and summoned to a new world. Naofumi is gifted the shield, much to his dismay. Naofumi and the others are transported to another world to aid with an impending threat. Unfortunately, things become tragic as Naofumi is set up for a crime he did not commit, and the entire kingdom turns on him, including the heroes he was summoned with.

Naofumi decides to turn his back on the kingdom and the task he was summoned for and live for his own needs. Over time Naofumi gathers a small group of trusted friends that aid him on his adventures and try to heal him from the deep wounds inflicted on him mentally by the abuse and disdain that follows the shield hero. Rising of the Shield Hero presents similar main characters, with the key difference being Naofumi being pushed to act more selfish and egocentric, while Cid is that way from the start.

9 Saga Of Tanya The Evil

MyAnimeLists Score: 7.9

Challenging an omnipotent self-proclaimed god to a fight causes the soul of a man to be reincarnated as a twelve-year-old girl. The man adopts the identity of Tonya Degurechaff and quickly becomes a powerful threat in the new world she now resides.

In a war between nations, utilizing magic as a weapon, Tanya’s reputation grows for her exceptional ruthlessness and tactical prowess. She is a monster on the battlefield that can destroy entire battalions effortlessly. The Saga of Tanya the Evil is a unique spin on the isekai genre, and like The Eminence in Shadow, both main characters are maniacal individuals with no regard for the damage they cause.

8 No Game No Life

MyAnimeLists Score: 8.0

Brother and sister, Sora and Shiro, arrive in a higher plane of existence and engage in a battle of games to reshape the hierarchy that is the foundation of Disboard. Tet is the one true god that rules over Disboard, and the adversary that Sora and Shiro must overcome. Fans of the power scaling in The Eminence in Shadow and intense battles will enjoy No Game No Life.

Sora and Shiro begin to aid a young girl in gaining independence for her kingdom. In contrast, usually very lazy and indifferent to the problems of others, the siblings are inspired by the girl’s dedication. Now with everything on the line, Sora and Shiro must take their excellent gaming skills into battle and fight for their new friend, Dola.

7 Uncle From Another World

MyAnimeLists Score: 7.8

Ojisan was teleported to a fantasy world while his original body was hospitalized, expecting to finally live the adventurous life he had always dreamed of while playing his favorite RPGs. Ojisan was instead met with grave reactions from the people he encountered because of his appearance. Time after time, Ojisan was attacked, nearly sacrificed, and even shunned for his appearance.

However, granted a unique and powerful ability, he was able to become one of the most powerful beings in the new world. Finally, Ojisan wakes up in his original body back in the everyday world but is still able to use his magical powers. Adjusting back to a normal life may prove more difficult than surviving in another world. Looking back on Ojisan’s history during the series, it paints him as more as an all-powerful force of nature rather than a hero, very similar to Cid from The Eminence in Shadow.

6 How Not To Summon A Demon Lord

MyAnimeLists Score: 6.8

When two rag-tag adventurers attempt to summon a powerful ally to aid them in their quest, they never expect to reach all the way across to another plane and grab a Takuma, a young video game addict.

Takuma is snatched from his everyday life and is dropped into a fantasy world in the form of his all-powerful demon lord character in his favorite video game with all his abilities. Takuma takes full advantage of his new position and begins asserting his incredible power for his own selfish gain. How Not to Summon a Demon Lord is a comedic and exciting series that all types of fans can enjoy. How not to Summon a Demon Lord‘s harem aspects and magical abilities will appeal to fans of The Eminence in Shadow.

5 Arifureta: From Commonplace To World’s Strongest

MyAnimeLists Score: 6.7

Hajime was a simple otaku living a normal life until he and his classmates were all teleported to a dangerous new world and gifted with powerful abilities. Unfortunately, Hajime drew the short stick and received a somewhat ordinary power which earned harassment from some of his classmates.

Out of fear that he will hold them back, several of Hajime’s classmates trick him, and he falls into a pit filled with bloodthirsty beasts. Hajime fears for his life, but through extreme effort, he fights his way out of the hole and becomes incredibly powerful. Now Hajime sets out to find a way to return home with his new companion, Yue, at his side. Areifureta is a fun introduction anime for fans looking for something easy to watch. Fans of Cid’s character traits will enjoy Hajime as a main character.

4 The World’s Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated In Another World As An Aristocrat

MyAnimeLists Score: 7.3

Lugh was the greatest assassin in the world until the organization he gave his entire life to betrayed him. Lugh was given another chance by a goddess who took a liking to him and was reincarnated in a fantasy world to a prominent family. Now Lugh lives a life of leisure and quickly gains notoriety with the use of the skills from his former life.

This aids him greatly as the goddess gives Lugh a critical mission to save the new world he’s been born into by killing its most famous hero. The World’s Greatest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat is filled with exciting adventures and tells an interesting story among most isekai anime. What makes it a good watch for fans of The Eminence in Shadow are the intellectual similarities of the main characters and their tactics.

3 That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime

MyAnimeLists Score: 8.1

When an average office worker is killed during a mugging, life should end, and he should be allowed to move on to the next plane of existence. Instead, the would-be hero finds himself reincarnated in another world with a body lacking the usual extremities.

Stuck in the body of a slime with all his memories, in his new life, he befriends a legendary dragon of destruction that blesses him with great power and a new name: Rimuru Tempest. Rimuru sets out on the journey of his new life and finds himself as one of the most powerful beings in the world and the leader of an entire nation. That time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime shares common goals with that of The Eminence In Shadow, although both main characters use different methods.