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Isekai has been rising through the ranks of otaku culture recently. By otaku culture, we mean it has conquered all forms of media: anime, manga, and light novel. There are a bunch of new isekai titles out there. We’re not complaining, though. That just means more materials for us to consume. Last year may have been rough, but that doesn’t stop isekai from pushing through.
Here are the best isekai light novels from last year.
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5. Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear
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[en][information_general item1 = "Authors" content1="Kumanano" item2="Publisher" content2="Seven Seas Entertainment" item3 = "Genre" content3="Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Isekai" item4="Published" content4="July 2020" post_id="" ][/en]
[es][information_general item1 = "Episodios" content1="___content1___" item2="Emisión" content2="___content2___" post_id=""][/es]
The story follows a recluse who has earned a fortune from the stock market. She now only spends most of her time playing VRMMO. But after an update, she gets stuck in the game without any means of logging out. On the other hand, she acquires an overpowered bear suit. Yuna then proceeds to do whatever she wants. Oftentimes, that means helping people she likes or taking on tasks given to her.
Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear mixes extreme love of bears, humor, and adventure together, and it comes out really nicely. The plot is lighthearted, but nice to read. It’s just like reading a girl play around during her free time. Well, she’s in the game world after all.
4. The Sorcerer King of Destruction and the Golem of the Barbarian Queen
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[en][information_general item1 = "Authors" content1="Northcarolina, Shiba" item2="Publisher" content2="Seven Seas Entertainment" item3 = "Genre" content3="Comedy, Fantasy, Light Novels, Isekai" item4="Published" content4="November 2020" post_id="" ][/en]
[es][information_general item1 = "Episodios" content1="___content1___" item2="Emisión" content2="___content2___" post_id=""][/es]
Just like most isekai stories, this one follows the story of a man getting summoned into a world of fantasy and magic. He’s not the original target, though. After all, who really wants a man in his pajamas? Anyway, the summoning still has done its job, and he starts hearing commands in his head. However, he actually breaks through the mind control by jamming his toe on a cave’s opening. Now, he gets to explore his power and even make a very strong golem.
Given that the protagonist has zero idea about the world he’s sent in and no one that can guide him, we get to explore the world together with him. Each of his new discoveries is also a new discovery for us, the readers.
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3. Isekai Rebuilding Project
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[en][information_general item1 = "Authors" content1="Yukika Minamino, Kotokan" item2="Publisher" content2="J-Novel Club" item3 = "Genre" content3="Adventure, Fantasy, Isekai" item4="Published" content4="February 2020" post_id="" ][/en]
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Eiji, the series’ protagonist, gets a summoning call to a fantasy world. However, he isn’t needed to kill the demon lord or fight hordes of demons. That’s already been done by a previous summoned hero from Japan. What he’s needed for is to restore the world to its former state. The hero’s technological, ideal, and societal influences have drastically changed the fantasy world.
Isekai Rebuilding Project takes a unique angle to an already tried and tested genre. It’s a breath of fresh air in a swarm of isekai stories following the same storyline. What’s a little unnerving, however, is the fact that the protagonist casually leaves a perfectly good life to start a random summoning from another world.
2. Buck Naked in Another World
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[en][information_general item1 = "Authors" content1="Madoka Kotani, Mochiusa" item2="Publisher" content2="Seven Seas Entertainment" item3 = "Genre" content3="Comedy, Fantasy, Light Novels, Isekai" item4="Published" content4="July 2020" post_id="" ][/en]
[es][information_general item1 = "Episodios" content1="___content1___" item2="Emisión" content2="___content2___" post_id=""][/es]
Just like the title suggests, Shuta will be buck naked most of the series. He’s been sent to another world, but this one isn’t as welcoming as the others. He’s been kidnapped and tied, and the only way he’s going to get by is by doing menial tasks. For him, that means wood chopping. Because he only needs to chop wood, his captors don’t believe he actually needs anything more than a loincloth and an axe.
Buck Naked in Another World’s first charm is banking on nakedness, though it may have overdone it a bit. Another charm is that it’s very casually written. Even though most of the dialogue are Shuta’s ramblings, it’s not that hard or annoying to read.
1. By the Grace of the Gods
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[en][information_general item1 = "Authors" content1="Roy" item2="Publisher" content2="J-Novel Club" item3 = "Genre" content3="Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Isekai" item4="Published" content4="February 2020" post_id="" ][/en]
[es][information_general item1 = "Episodios" content1="___content1___" item2="Emisión" content2="___content2___" post_id=""][/es]
Like most isekai series, Ryoma, an up and coming businessman, suddenly dies. Then, he meets a few very kind gods, who give him some gifts. Ryoma then decides to start a new life. However, he then realizes his love for slimes. He tames a lot of slimes and learns almost everything he can about them. No, he doesn’t get tired of it.
By the Grace of Gods’ biggest hook is Ryoma’s love for slimes. The series gives a very detailed explanation about slimes that it just makes us wanna try raising one ourselves. If only that’s possible. *sigh*
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Final Thoughts
Isekai is undeniably flourishing and will probably continue to do so. That said, it’s unsurprising to see more titles hitting the stands soon. But even with a lot of new titles, it doesn’t necessarily mean everything will be good. Some will be great, but there will also be a lot of so-so series. We hope that this article at least gives you a few titles that you might find great.
[author author_id="115" author="" translator_id=""]
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