Summary
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slimeis unquestionably one of the most successful isekai anime of all time. Based on a popular light novel by Fuse, the adaptation is currently in its third season, which has been confirmed for 24 episodes, bringing the show’s total to 72. That does not take into accountThe Slime Diaries, a 2021 slice-of-life spin-off that is canon albeit inconsequential. Tempest’s journey to establish a country for monsters that can co-exist with humans has captured the cultural zeitgeist, with the anime earning praise for its strong animation, lovable characters, and generally positive tone.
Isekai anime are a dime-a-dozen, andThat Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slimeshares quite a few things in common with many of the genre’s “generic” releases. Despite that, very few series manage to scratch the same itch as 8bit’s adaptation, and most cannot be promoted beyond a basic “well, they are bothisekai with somewhat overpowered MCs.” Fortunately, exceptions exist. Here are a couple ofanime likeTensei shitara Slime Datta Ken.
While not devoid of action or drama,That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slimeis relatively carefree, delivering a comforting escape from reality about a Slime monarch who wants to provide a home for mistreated species.
Minus the “transforming into a monster” element,2023’sFarming Life in Another Worldhas generally the same core appeal asReincarnated as a Slime. After working himself to an early grave, Hiraku is granted the opportunity to pick his next life, and he decides to become a farmer. Reincarnating in a dangerous forest in a magical world, Hiraku builds a homestead that quickly attracts the attention of monsters in the area.
Before long, the protagonist is living alongside a vampire, an angel, an oni, etc. in a town he founded. Leaning into slow-life territory and incorporating a fairly large harem,Farming Life in Another Worldfocuses on the town’s expansion and its attempts to create connections with nearby cities.
Tsukimichi: Moonlit Fantasyis a consistently entertaining b-tier isekai anime. While perhaps not on the same level as the genre’s most beloved properties, it will likely hit the mark with people who enjoy those shows. Makoto is summoned by a goddess to serve as a hero in her world; however, after she takes a look at her candidate, she decides he is too ugly and punishes him. Fortunately, Makoto gets a helpful boost from another god, allowing him to not only survive but thrive in his new home.
Blending humor, adventure, and some harem elements,Tsukimichihas a strong roster of characters, most of whom are allowed to flourish and build relationships with other characters besides Makoto. The protagonist eventually sets up a special realm and starts to populate it with Demi-Humans, creating a regime that is generally welcoming.
Probably the most obviousanime likeThat Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime,Overlordis essentially the “evil” alternative, in that the protagonist gradually leans into his villainous persona. Deciding to stay online as his favorite MMORPG ends, the protagonist suddenly finds himself stuck as his character, Ainz Ooal Gown, and unable to log out.
Assisted by his guild’s AI subordinates, Ainz has to make the best of a strange situation, which involves setting up The Great Tomb of Nazarick and slowly spreading its reach over a world that is not prepared to deal with a cosmic-level threat. Unlike Rimuru,Ainz does not have much desire to play nice with humans, even if he prefers to take on a reactionary rather aggressive role.
Reincarnating as a slime or goblin might seem like terrible luck, but you know what is worse? Waking up in the body of a little spider. Compared to her classmates who were isekai’d into the same world, Kumoko drew the shortest straw, finding herself cast as a baby of a species not known to last long. Forced to adapt quickly to survive, Kumoko must come to grips with this universe’s gaming-style mechanics if she wants to grow stronger; in the meantime, she develops friendships with other spiders and monsters.
Out of all the recommended shows,So I’m a Spider, So What?comes the closest to matchingThat Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime’s tone. Both shows blend action and humor well, and they dedicate plenty of time to chronicling their protagonists' power growth. While nowhere near as powerful as Rimuru, Kumoko is still very capable in a fight, all the while being incredibly charming.
