The 10 Best Historical Isekai Anime, Ranked (2025)

Historical isekai can be an excellent way of learning about the past, even if that past is not presented entirely accurately. Some historical isekai anime feature creatures such as vampires, while others tell a more straightforward tale of days past. Through these shows, viewers are invited into immersive worlds that evoke ancient history, creating moments that are, in turn, educational and entertaining.

From Sengoku Night Blood to Drifters, viewers will find a variety of stories told in these historical isekai anime. Many of these shows have essential and powerful lessons to teach as viewers look back to yesteryear. All of them will serve to entertain viewers and encourage them to contemplate history through a new lens.

10 Fushigi Yuugi Satisfies Modern Isekai Fans Despite Its Age

Early Historical Isekai Still Manages to Entertain

Fushigi Yuugi is a true classic of the isekai genre, appearing 17 years before such popular shows as Sword Art Online. Although dated, Fushigi Yuugi is a great deal of fun and offers some surprises. For example, the idea that present-day Yui can follow Miaka's adventures in the past by reading about them in the book that trapped them in the first place. The offshoot is that Miaka seems to be writing the story by living it.

Even though viewers have likely seen many of these concepts in other isekai, it's essential to remember that those notions came from anime like Aura Battler Dunbine and Fushigi Yuugi. If they can get past the old-fashioned aesthetic choices, like the music, art styles, and some ugly clichés, they will find that Fushigi Yuugi's story has much to offer. With that in mind, Fushigi Yuugi is a natural fit at number ten on the countdown of best historical isekai.

9 Sengoku Night Blood Showcases Fantastical Creatures in a Historical Setting

Reverse Harem Historical Isekai is Unexpected Fun

Sengoku Night Blood has a lot going on. Based on a visual novel, the program tells the story of a woman named Yuzuki who is transported to Japan's Sengoku Period, also known as the Warring States Period, due to the near-constant social upheavals and wars. There are several anime shows set during this period, but not many isekai. What sets this show apart from other historical isekai is the presence of creatures such as vampires.

This show has a fair amount of fighting, which is exciting. It also contains numerous reverse-harem elements in the form of alluring male characters who attempt to gain Yuzuki's affection. The soundtrack is a mix of what Westerners might hear as traditional Japanese music mixed with a variety of more modern rock. Sengoku Night Blood is a series with flaws, such as less-than-stellar art, but it diverts nonetheless.

8 Amatsuki is a Historical Anime for Those who Dislike History

It's More Than Just a Straightforward History Lesson

Viewers who turn their noses up at history might identify with Tokidoki, the main character of Amatsuki, as he dislikes history and seemingly finds it tedious. If viewers have a similar mindset, Amatsuki might be the perfect historical anime. When Tokidoki finds himself trapped in an approximation of the Edo Period, he must do his best to defeat the demons he is surprised to discover in ancient Japan. This anime has some beautiful art and well-developed characters, but at times, it feels a little bit predictable.

Despite the program's limitations, Amatsuki is a pleasant way to while away the hours. The fights should get viewers' blood pumping, and several relationships feel authentic and compelling. Furthermore, the mystery behind the simulation that has trapped Tokidoki in the past is an interesting one. All of the above are reasons to get absorbed in the show, even if one does not enjoy historical fiction.

7 Hui Ming: Fenghuo San Yue Shows the Benefits of a Modern Education

Historical Isekai CGI Never Looked so Good

Hui Ming: Fenghuo San Yue, or Back to the Great Ming, is a fairly typical iseaki in which the main character finds himself taken from the modern world into the past. However, two things set this show apart. The first is how Zheng Shaopeng uses his modern education to improve his situation once he finds himself in the past. He is not an overpowered hero; he simply uses the benefits of his present-day origin to his advantage.

The second thing that makes this program worth watching is the fantastic computer-generated imagery (CGI). Viewers of other CGI shows sometimes find much to dislike in the art of those anime or donghua. Fortunately, this is not the case in Hui Ming. Back to the Great Ming is a great-looking donghua program with gorgeous characters and detailed backgrounds. As modern technology backs this historical tale, the show is a beautiful marriage between today and yesterday.

6 Wangzhe Da Shixiong Demonstrates That the Path to Immortality is a Long one

Comedy and Action Combine to Wonderful Effect

Starting with a lovely opening theme, Wangzhe Da Shixiong is a winner through and through. There is much to recommend the artwork in this program, as viewers are treated to attractive characters and gorgeous naturalistic backgrounds. The action also improves as the show runs its course. Additionally, the comedy gives the show a unique flavor throughout, as the main character, Jiang Beiran, searches for a way to leave a lasting mark on the new world he has been transported to.

Unlike Zheng in Back to the Great Ming, Jiang is overpowered in the sense that he seems to be good at everything he attempts. From martial arts to board games, nothing seems to trip Jiang up for long. This trait might be off-putting to some viewers, but the show truly gets better and better as it proceeds thanks to action and humor, which hit the mark more than they miss. Even if Jiang is irritating as a main character, the show itself is highly entertaining.

5 Saga of Tanya the Evil Takes Viewers For an Unexpected Ride

Fantastic Blend of History and Military Action Makes for an Entertaining Anime

Saga of Tanya the Evil, is based on Carlos Zen's light novel and is about a salaryman who is reincarnated into an approximation of World War I-era Europe as a 12-year-old girl named Tanya. This show has a lot of well-executed military action that might fool casual viewers into thinking that this is purely an action program. However, much like Scumbag System, there is a deeper meaning at the heart of Youjo Senki. This anime is all about one's relationship with God if one chooses to have one.

Viewers should be warned that this anime contains a lot of blood and carnage. After all, it is set in a world at war, and while the main character is overpowered, the show is strangely realistic in other ways. Fans of military action will find much to enjoy here, as will viewers looking for something a little deeper. This anime was awarded a second season, but the release date of season two is still unknown. Still, Saga of Tanya the Evil makes a strong showing as the fifth-best historical isekai.

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Saga of Tanya the Evil

TV-MA

Animation

Drama

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

War & Politics

A girl with blond hair, blue eyes, and porcelain skin fights on the front lines of a brutal war and climbs the ranks of the imperial army.

Release Date

January 6, 2017

IMDb ID

tt6455986

Creator(s)

Carlo Zen

TMDB User Rating

8.4

Cast

Aoi Yuki, Saori Hayami, Daiki Hamano, Hochu Otsuka, Nobuo Tobita

Seasons

1

4 Cheng He Titong Rewards Viewers With a Sweet Romance

Disparate Elements Combine to Provide a Thrilling Experience

Romance in anime is a dime-a-dozen, but romances that entertain while leaving viewers with a sense of fulfillment are less plentiful. Cheng He Titong does an excellent job of developing romance between characters from other worlds. The show also exceeds viewers' expectations with action and plot twists. The cliffhangers at the end of some episodes keep many viewers returning for more.

The only drawback to this show is that the character movements look somewhat stiff and unrealistic due to the CGI. This stylistic choice might be a mistake for some viewers, but others may find that they approve of this art style. The show has been well-received enough to earn a second season, coming up in 2025. With those characteristics in mind, Cheng He Titong should appeal to many fans of donghua or historical isekai.

3 Oda Nobuna no Yabou Gives Viewers an Interesting Take on Historical Isekai

Video Gaming in the Modern World Comes in Useful in the Past

At first glance, Oda Nobuna no Yabou might appear similar to a show like Back to the Great Ming, where the main character uses his knowledge from the present day to improve his life. The difference, though, is that in the case of Oda Nobuna no Yabou, Yoshiharu knows what is "going to happen" based on what he remembers from Nobunaga's Ambition, a historical video game based on the real life of feudal warlord Oda Nobunaga, to whom the show's titular Oda Nobuna is the female counterpart. His main difficulty lies in avoiding revealing too much, thereby breaking the timeline.

The big twist in this show is that many of the characters who would have been males in the real world are replaced here with female characters. Yoshiharu finds himself surrounded by women who are, in many cases, tough and independent. The harem aspects of the show might unsettle many viewers, especially with the amount of fan service that one finds in Oda Nobuna no Yabou. It must be said, however, that if one can get past that distasteful part of the show, there is a lot of fun to be had watching this anime.

2 Chuan Shu Zijiu Zhinan Plays With Viewers' Expectations

An Original Setup and Acceptable Execution Make for an Overall Winner

The main idea behind Chuan Shu Zijiu Zhinan, or Scumbag System, is that the main character, Shen Yuan, knows precisely what is going on when he is transported into his new environment. He is familiar with the isekai genre, knows what's coming and what pitfalls he wants to avoid, and still finds himself powerless to keep from becoming the antagonist. Scumbag System is quite humorous in the way it parodies the isekai genre, and helps spread the word that donghua is on the rise.

That said, if one removes the parody elements from Scumbag System, then they are left with a show that is about fighting fate and changing the possibilities of one's life, which is a premise that viewers will find to be highly compelling. In Scumbag System, Shen Yuan must find a way to change his destiny without completely overthrowing the plot of the story he finds himself in. Scumbag System is a fun show that, underneath all the good times, has a deeper meaning for those who choose to look for it.

1 Drifters is an Anime with a lot Going on

The Darkness of Drifters MIrrors Today's World

Drifters is adapted from a manga by Kouta Hirano. It is action-packed, bloody, and dark. Drifters is not so much entertaining as it is engrossing. The story sees real-life historical figures taken from their natural places and dropped into a fantasy world where they have to fight for their lives and the lives of others. Like Saga of Tanya the Evil, this program is not for the faint-hearted. Samurai are fighting against revolutionary-era soldiers and many others, and none of the fighters pull punches.

What makes this show is that these characters are not just fighting for domination or victory, although there is an element of that as well. The Drifters are also fighting for the well-being of the fantastic creatures that populate this new world they find themselves in, and viewers will find themselves sucked into the struggles of these heroes and cheering them on. This show has a complex plot that will certainly capture the hearts and minds of viewers, with many warring factions made up of heroes and villains from throughout history. Drifters is deserving of the number-one spot in historical isekai.

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Drifters

TV-MA

Anime

Action

Adventure

Shimazu Toyohisa is a real-life samurai who fought in the pivotal Battle of Sekigahara. In his dying moments, Shimazu is transported to a world of magic with other famous warriors throughout history. These warriors are forced to fight each other in an endless battle.

Release Date

October 7, 2016

Creator(s)

Kohta Hirano

Cast

Mitsuki Saiga, Naoya Uchida, Yuichi Nakamura, Takahiro Sakurai, Daisuke Ono, Tomokazu Sugita, Akira Ishida, Tatsuhisa Suzuki

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1