Summary
Leaving one’s mundane existence behind for a new life of adventure is the tried-and-testedpremise of isekai anime, yet some deviate from this narrative and offer an entirely new concept. Not all isekai protagonists are lucky enough to be reincarnated as heroes in their next lives as some get the short end of the stick as they find themselves as villains in the new world.
Isekaivillainess animeare an emerging subgenre within the isekai landscape as viewers are enticed by the interesting dynamics betweenthe newly transmigrated villainessin an entirely new world. These anime series tend to take place in otome game settings, which leaves these characters with no other choice but to take on the role enforced on them. These isekai anime have a charm of their own as they follow the main character’s journey of avoiding the grim, predestined fate of an otome villainess.
Updated July 16, 2025, by Mark Sammut:Thebest isekai villainess animeblend fun characters, a well-presented world, comedy, and stakes well, and this subgenre has been pretty consistent. While 2025 has not produced too many new examples of this theme, things should pick up towards the end of the year.
While not completely absent,villainess isekai animehave been somewhat hard to come by in 2025. Spring and Summer 2025 do not have any shows that combine those two elements, going against the grain of nearly every season featuring a protagonist who is reincarnated as an otome game’s big bad. However, Fall 2025 looks set to make up for lost time by including two anime that fit the descriptor. More importantly, they both look great and seem to offer something a touch different from the typical villainess story.
In an otome game, Pride is a heinous ruler with several crimes against her very own people. After she is slain, however, a Japanese high school girl is reincarnated to take her place, forcing her to become the new villainess in this world. Knowing how the game plays out, the new Pride now tries to right her wrongs by altering the game’s timeline, though her efforts are mostly in vain as the game corrects itself every single time. Each time she corrects her actions, the game forces other characters to carry out the goal, forcefully correcting the original timeline.
However, Pride is dedicated to mending things in her new kingdom,becoming a benevolentleader in the world ofThe Most Heretical Last Boss Queen. Unlike its isekai counterparts, the series spends a considerable time fleshing out its characters and focusing on worldbuilding. Romance and harem antics also take the backseat in this villainess narrative, presenting a storyline that does the theme justice without relying on the usual clichés of the isekai genre.
Isekai villainess anime have deviated considerably from the original premise of a transmigrated villainess desperate to fight off her unfortunate fate.I’ll Become A Villainess That Will Go Down In Historyis no different, as it presents a transmigrated villainess who has vowed to become the greatest villainess of all time.
After realizing that she is in the body of her favorite otome game character, Alicia sets off on an intriguing endeavor to become the greatest villainess known to mankind. The series takes a different path from its otome counterparts in several ways, whether it’s the heavy focus on kingdom-building and politics, or the lack of romantic interest early on in the series. Moreover, Alicia is a determined character whose sole focus lies on being the perfect villainess, though this aspect of her persona also leads to a number of amusing moments.
Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamppresents a premise that is certainly a first within the isekai genre. Dr. Aoi Takamoto is a famed surgeon devoted to helping others, yet her previous existence as villainess Elise de Clorance was quite the contrary. Her selfish antics led to her family’s demise, including herself, though she realized the error in her ways after being reincarnated as Dr. Aoi.
However, her second go at life is cut short after a tragic plane crash, but she miraculously opens her eyes once more in her original body as Elise. With the memories of two past lives intact, Elise vows to right her wrongs and relinquish her previous villainess existence. Being a case of reverse isekai and double reincarnation,Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady With The Lampdoubles down on its isekai elements. The series is one of the fewmanhwa-adapted animeout there, and its success showcases the potential for manhwa within the anime industry.
Reincarnated in an otome game as the villainess, Aileen Lauren d’Autriche regains her past-life memories and realizes her grim fate thanks to her knowledge of the game. Knowing that Claude, a former heir to the throne andthe lord of demons, is eventually going to slay her, Aileen begins to take appropriate countermeasures to mitigate this. Instead of staying away from her eventual killer, Aileen tries to get closer to Claude to tame him through her charms.
With time running out and the imminent destruction getting closer, Aileen must convince Claude that she means no harm.I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Bossis a classic Isekai Otome series with a premise that is bound to keep viewers enticed. The most promising aspect of the series is Aileen herself, as she subverts the frail, doomed villainess trope by taking on a fierce, headstrong persona.
Yumiella Dolkness is the villainess of an otome RPG, with a doom-ridden fate awaiting her as she must eventually face off against the game’s protagonist. However, at the age of 5, Yumiella regains her memories, realizing she has been transmigrated to an otome RPG. Yumiella initially resigns herself to a quiet life in the countryside, but her attempts at lying low fail stupendously after her Level 99 is discovered atthe Royal Academy’sentrance.
With everyone suspecting her to be the Demon Lord, Yumiella is forced to navigate through the game’s storyline and prove her worth.Villainess Level 99has been at the forefront of Winter 2024’s lineup, garnering a sizable fanbase with its intriguing premise. While the series starts similarly to any other isekai otome anime, the storyline takes a turn and subverts expectations in all the right ways. Yumiella also differs from the archetype usually enforced upon the transmigrated character through her stoic personality, allowing her persona to stand out among the many otome villainesses out there.
After passing away due to severe exhaustion, Rei Oohashi finds herself transmigrated to her favorite otome game, ‘Revolution’ as Ray Tylor. Instead of indulging in the game’s preset love interest routes, Ray has her eyes set on the game’s misunderstood villainess, Claire Francois.
On the surface,I’m in Love with the Villainessis a whimsical isekai villainess anime that focuses on Ray’s attempts to win Claire’s heart despite her incessant bullying. However, the anime has several profound subtexts embedded in the narrative that question sexuality and attraction. The anime also stands out as the onlyLGBTQ+ isekai villainess seriesout there, which is a step towards bringing same-sex narratives to mainstream anime.
Although somewhat common in light novels, villainess isekai anime with male MCs were avoided until the arrival ofFrom Bureaucrat to Villainess, one of the most entertaining entries in this subgenre. If you are specifically craving a comedy, this is arguably the best series for you. The 52-year-old Kenzaburou Tondabayashi meets truck-kun and ends up inhabiting the body of an otome game’s villainess, and he is not that familiar with the story. Consequently, he relies on his decades of otaku knowledge to dad joke his way through the campaign, hoping to eventually break free and return to his family.
Firstly, Kenzaburou is absolutely delightful as the lead, as he gives Grace a middle-aged charm that sets her apart from the crowd. She, or he, quickly befriends the heroine, giving Anna advice that eventually leads to her developing a crush on the MC. In fact, Kenzaburou’s antics accidentally start a reverse harem with Grace unwillingly stuck in the middle.
Kenzaburou’s wife and daughter also contribute by playing the game in the real world, which is a really cool idea.
My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!is the quintessential isekai villainess anime as it embodies all that this subgenre has to offer. The series follows the story of a young noble named Catarina Claes, who accidentally bumps her head one day and regains her memories of a past life. Turns out, she is stuck in an otome game as the villainess, and all routes lead to her either being killed or exiled. Knowing her predefined fate, Catarina is now in a race against time to escape the grim outcome.
However, she must remain cautious as setting off any of the game’s death flags will speed up the imminent destruction. The series doesn’t take itself too seriously, making it perfect foranyone looking for a light watchas the new dynamics between the game’s characters turn into a chaotic adventure. Catarina might be an airhead character, yet her endearing disposition has led to fans dubbing her “Bakarina,” a term that reflects her naive yet lovable personality.
