Leaving one’s mundane existence behind for a new life of adventure is the tried-and-tested premise 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.

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Isekaivillainess anime are an emerging subgenre within the isekai landscape as viewers are enticed by the interesting dynamics between the newly transmigrated villainess in 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 April 12, 2024, by Ahmed Rehan Nasir:The isekai villainess trope has taken the form of a burgeoning subgenre, with new titles being released each season that add a novel touch of their own to the villainess narrative. While isekaivillainess anime has traditionally been confined to otome settings, a few series have challenged this status quo by removing the dating sim elements altogether. With such a diverse array of creative narratives, fans of the genre are surely in for a treat.

8 Game World Reincarnation

MyAnimeList Rating: 5.91/10

Following the usual narrative in this genre, Game World Reincarnation follows the story of an office lady reincarnated in an otome game as the villainess Diana. Aware of the destruction that is about to ensue in the game world, Diana tries to seduce the game’s hero in a bid to alter the timeline.

Diana initially believes that the prince would dislike her due to her impurity, yet her seduction works, and the prince falls in love with her, leaving behind the game’s own heroine. While Diana is successful in saving the world, her own feelings become entangled with the prince as she proceeds with a raunchy affair.

7 The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior

MyAnimeList Rating: 7.11/10

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 benevolent leader in the world of The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen.

6 Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss, but I'm Not the Demon Lord

MyAnimeList Rating: 7.13/10

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.

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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 at the Royal Academy’s entrance. 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 99 has been at the forefront of Winter 2024’s lineup, garnering a sizable fanbase with its intriguing premise.

5 Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady With The Lamp

MyAnimeList Rating: 7.21/10

Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp presents 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. With a case of reverse isekai and double reincarnation, Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady With The Lamp doubles down on its isekai elements.

4 I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss

MyAnimeList Rating: 7.22/10

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 and the 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 Boss is a classic Isekai Otome series with a premise that is bound to keep viewers enticed.

3 Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte

MyAnimeList Rating: 7.23/10

Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte features a truly unique narrative in the Isekai genre. Instead of the main characters being transported to another world, Aoto Endo and Shihono Kobayashi unknowingly have their voices transmitted to characters inside an otome game. The game features Fiene as the protagonist who fights off the villainess named Lieselotte. Knowing the game's content, Aoto disagrees with the game's premise and believes that Lieselotte is simply a misunderstood character.

Little do they know that their voices are being heard by the game's characters, who believe them to be the voices of the gods. Lieselotte's fiancé, Prince Siegwald Fitzenhagen, hears these voices and realizes that she might be misunderstood and takes action to save her from her impending demise. Despite not being an Isekai villainess anime in its traditional sense, the anime still keeps the isekai concept intact with a unique twist.

2 I'm in Love with the Villainess

MyAnimeList Rating: 7.35/10

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.

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On the surface, I'm in Love with the Villainess is 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 only LGBTQ+ isekai villainess series out there, which is a step towards bringing same-sex narratives to mainstream anime.

1 My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!

MyAnimeList Rating: 7.46/10

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 for anyone looking for a light watch as the new dynamics between the game’s characters turn into a chaotic adventure.

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