The isekai trope is well sought after in various sources of media, like light novels, manga, and anime. With mainstream isekai light novels such as Sword Art Online, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, and Konosuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World, other less-known light novels have received less attention from fans.
As the popular light novel isekai series get all the attention, many intriguing and unique novels remain obscure, undiscovered gems. These underrated light novels bring with them fresh perspectives and enigmatic plots. From Lord of Goblins to Fremd Torturchen: Torture Princess, these underrated light novels portray tales that defy expectations of the genre.
7 I Shall Survive Using Potions
The supervisor in charge of Earth causes an accident that accidentally kills Kaoru Nagase. Unlike most isekai shows, where the protagonist would be properly compensated, Kaoru is told she can only be sent to a less culturally advanced world.
Vexed with her compensation, Kaoru asks for the ability to create potions anyhow and anywhere, the ability to speak any language, and the body she had when she was 15 years old. After being granted her request, Kaoru then proceeds to find her footing in the new world in which she finds herself. With its comedic and slice-of-life genres, the light novel I Shall Survive Using Potions serves as a great read.
6 Lord Of Goblins
The isekai light novel Lord of Goblins portrays the adventures of Lev, an accomplished veteran warrior who is reincarnated as the lowest of goblins. Pained and angry, Lev wondered if his entire life and accomplishments had been for naught. Regardless of how he felt, Lev forged ahead, living his life as a goblin. He is determined to reach the peak of the world, whether he was a human or a goblin.
Most isekai light novels introduce characters who live in and prefer the world they are reincarnated into. The light novel Lord of Goblins portrays a character who considers his reincarnation more of a detriment than an upgrade. Because of this, the series offers a different view on the isekai genre that fans are sure to love.
5 Death March To The Parallel World Rhapsody
The 29-year-old Ichiro Suzuki is a programmer who is tasked with fixing the bugs in different MMORPGs his company is planning to release. Tired from the task, Ichiro falls asleep and wakes up to find himself in another world that is similar to one of the games he was working on.
Before Ichiro can assess the situation, he is faced with a monster army and uses all the skills in his arsenal to repel them. After doing so, Ichiro jumps from level 1 to level 310, maxing out his stats. As he accidentally killed a god in his previous attack, Ichiro is now overpowered in a new world. From then on, Ichiro sets out to explore the fantasy world he now finds himself in while keeping his overpowered status a secret.
4 Obsessions Of An Otome Gamer
Mashiro, a young girl, receives a devestating rejection from her crush. After being rejected, Mashiro finds herself obsessed with an Otome game that she explores from the inside out. One day, Mashiro heads home and is distracted by a billboard advert for her favorite game. Distracted by the billboard, Mashiro falls into a manhole and dies. Fortunately for young Mashiro, she finds herself reincarnated into a world that looks just like her favorite Otome game.
Unfortunately, this time around, Mashiro has no idea how to avoid the bad endings and must explore blindly. The Obsessions of Otome Gamer, a light novel, explores themes of music and romance. While Mashiro spends her days learning the intricacies of music, she also gets tangled up in events with handsome and troublesome characters.
3 Middle-Aged Businessman, Arise In Another World
With an actual goddess as a wife, a beautiful job, and three daughters, Shouzou could not be happier with his life. Unfortunately, disaster strikes as Shouzou, his house, and everyone in it gets transported to a fantasy world. With his entire family in a world of magic and monsters, Shouzou must find a way to survive and provide for his family. And he does so by joining the sales department of a local guild.
In most isekai series, the protagonists are usually transported to fantasy worlds to become heroes who fight monsters with swords and magic. Unlike many other isekai light novel series, Middle-aged Businessman, Arise in Another World takes a different approach by portraying its protagonist as a salesman for a guild. This makes for an interesting read with a unique perspective on things.
2 Fremd Torturchen: Torture Princess
As a dark fantasy isekai, the Torture Princess light novel series is not for the faint of heart. The series portrays the life of Kaito, a young adult who lived a life of abuse at his father's hands. Ultimately, Kaito meets his demise as his father strangles him to death. Elisabeth Le Fanu, the Torture Princess, summons Kaito to a different world in order to permanently escape into the afterlife. He is given two options: to serve as Elisabeth’s butler or die.
Kaito, realizing his death would be excruciatingly painful, chooses to serve as her butler. Now he must aid his mistress in her mission to dispose of 14 demons. After completing her mission, Elisabeth is set to die at the hands of the church. But Kaito decides to go against this fate.
1 So I’m A Spider, So What?
A Japanese high school class is suddenly hit with a space-time spell that misfires from another world. Due to the battle between the hero and demon lord in another world, the students of the class on Earth are reincarnated into a fantasy world. Furthermore, a handful of them become the children of nobles and other important figures.
Unfortunately, one of the students not so lucky and is reborn as a weak spider in a dark and creepy dungeon. Reborn as the weakest spider, the girl faces intense hardship. However, despite the hardships she faces, she pushes forward, striving to evolve and survive, hoping to one day live a better life. As far as isekai goes, getting turned into a spider is certainly a unique twist that hasn't been done before.