One of the many reasons the fantasy genre is so popular is because people can escape to new, magical worlds and live in the author’s creativity. It’s new, exhilarating, and sparks a sense of adventure in people. This is why the isekai trope is particularly popular. It allows readers to see what it would be like to be reincarnated into another world filled with magic, elves, monsters, or even magical beasts.
Reincarnating into one of these alternate worlds as a commoner or monster would take away the joy of experiencing this new world. This is why there are many isekai manga series about protagonists reincarnating into nobility, being afforded more options without worrying about money, education, or opportunities.
Updated on May 31, 2023, by Chelsea Steele: Over the years, the isekai genre has grown exponentially, with more titles to offer than ever before. Likewise, reincarnation stories have become especially popular, with many featuring a protagonist who becomes reborn as a royal or a nobleperson. Given the number of titles following this trope, it’s hard to deny the appeal of these stories. This list has been updated with even more isekai protagonists who fit this bill.
15 Princess Elise (Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady With The Lamp)
Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp is a unique reincarnation isekai. Unlike most series in the genre, the protagonist’s royal life is actually their past life. The story stars Dr. Song, a brilliant young professor teaching at the leading medical university in Korea.
In Dr. Song’s past life, she was known as Princess Elise, a spoiled and bratty royal who got everything she wanted. After meeting her untimely demise in her new life, Dr. Song reawakens as Princess Elise, much to her shock. However, this time, she’s armed with the knowledge she obtained in her next life, and she plans to use it to right the wrongs she committed as a spoiled princess.
14 Princess Anisphia (The Magical Revolution Of The Reincarnated Princess And The Genius Young Lady)
Princess Anisphia, or “Anis” for short, was once a regular girl living on Earth until one day, she reincarnated into a princess in a magical realm. But sadly, despite living among magic, Anis has no magic of her own to speak of.
Despite Anis’ lack of abilities, she’s determined to develop powers of her own and creates a new form of magic she names “magicology.” using the knowledge and skills she picked up in her previous life. After a chance encounter with a genius magician named Euphyllia, Anis decides to team up with the brilliant girl. Together, they work on perfecting magicology, bringing Anis’ dreams one step closer to reality.
13 Raeliana McMillan (Why Raeliana Ended Up At The Duke’s Mansion)
After meeting a sudden end in her previous life, the heroine of Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion is reborn as Raeliana McMillan, the beautiful eldest daughter of a baron in a fairytale novel. Though she lives a charmed new life, Raeliana’s only role in the story is to die.
In order to prevent this fate, Raeliana plans to marry someone with great power, hoping his influence will protect her. Using the knowledge of her previous life and the book she read, Raeliana works to change the story’s events in her favor.
12 Athanasia De Alger Obelia (Who Made Me A Princess)
Who Made Me a Princess begins after a modern-day woman wakes up to find herself in the infant body of Athanasia de Alger Obelia, a secondary character from the story “The Lovely Princess.” In this book, Athanasia is subjected to horrific cruelty at the hands of her father, Emperor Claude, which ultimately leads to her death.
Knowing what terrible fate now awaits her, Athanasia attempts to change the story, doing everything she can to gain the tyrannical ruler’s favor. However, her plan isn’t easy, as a young girl claiming to be her sister steps forward, leading to more shocking developments far out of Athanasia’s control.
11 Katarina Claes (My Next Life As A Villainess)
My Next Life as a Villainess is one of the most popular examples of a reincarnation isekai where the protagonist is reborn into nobility. The story follows the adventures of Katarina Claes, a spoiled noble who plays the part of the villainess in a fantasy-based otome game called Fortune Lover. In just about every route within the game, Katarina is punished with a doom-filled end, from being exiled to execution at the hands of her own fiancé.
After an accident as a child brings back memories of her previous life, Katarina soon becomes aware of her hopeless situation. Determined to survive this time around, she does everything she can to change her fate, avoiding “doom flags” at every turn.
10 Lean Olgott (The Child Loved By God)
Lean Olgott was reincarnated into a magical world as the grandson of a King due to all of the good deeds that he accumulated in his past life and was given the title “The Child Loved By God.”
From a young age, Leon was an overpowered protagonist, but due to his sweet and kind nature, he would rather use his powers to save rather than fight. Along with the three Sacred Beasts and his new friends, Leon continues to learn and grow at his school while overcoming obstacles that come with being the King’s grandson and The Child Loved By God.
9 Alicia Williams (Rekishi Ni Nokoru Akujo Ni Naru Zo)
Alicia Williams is the eldest daughter of the noble Williams family and was reincarnated after being killed in her previous life. Upon waking, she realizes that she is the villainess of an otome game that she loves.
Knowing that she is supposed to be the villain, Alicia vows to become the greatest villain of all time. To everyone else, however, she is kind and caring and has strong opinions about the state of their world, and works hard in both her magical studies and swordsmanship lessons. She has no desire to romance the love interests like she’s supposed to because her dreams are much larger than that.
8 Cain Von Silford (Chronicles Of An Aristocrat Reborn In Another World)
Kazuya Shiina died while trying to protect his friends from a knife-wielding assailant. After waking up in a strange bed, he soon discovers that he was reincarnated as Cain von Silford, the third son of a noble family. He learns from Silvia, the maid, that the world he was reincarnated into is filled with magic, sword fighting, and monsters.
Blessed by the gods of his new world, Cain now has incredible powers beyond his wild imagination. And as any isekai hero would, he uses these over-the-top powers to go off on adventures, discovering more about this new world while doing the bidding of the Gods.
7 Ars Louvent (Reincarnated As An Aristocrat With An Appraisal Skill)
Ars Louvent was reincarnated into a magical world after working himself to death, a very common way for unreluctant heroes to be isekai’d. As his physical strength and intelligence were deemed mediocre, he was supposed to live as a weak aristocrat.
With his appraisal skills, however, Ars can see a person’s potential. So, Ars begins to make friends and surrounds himself with powerful people who can help him transform his territory into one of the strongest. But the road is a long one, filled with many obstacles that Ars must overcome in order to survive.
6 Iris (Accomplishments Of The Duke’s Daughter)
Iris was a hardworking office lady who was obsessed with otome games. One night after leaving work, she is killed after being struck by a truck. However, instead of dying, she is reincarnated as the daughter of a duke in the otome game that she was playing only hours earlier.
The problem, however, is that Iris was reincarnated as the villainess at the very moment that she is ridiculed and banished from her school in front of her peers. To avoid embarrassment, her father makes her the acting Fief lord due to her shrewd assessment skills. With a faithful team by her side, she vows to live her life the way she chooses to.
5 Isabella Ali Rottenstein (The Villainess Wants To Marry A Commoner!!)
Isabella Ali Rottenstein is the youngest daughter of a duke and was once a normal office lady who worked at a call center. However, after falling down a flight of stairs, she died and was reincarnated into the otome game that she was obsessed with as the villainess.
Now in her new life, Isabella decides that, instead of playing her predestined role of the villainess, she will live her life as she chooses. Despite being surrounded by many beautiful and tempting love interests, Isabella has her sights set on one character only — Ursch Schneiver, a lesser-known NPC commoner.
4 Serafiona Granzeus (The Reincarnated Young Lady Aims To Be An Adventurer)
Serafiona Granzeus was once a normal woman who ended up passing away and reincarnating into a fantasy novel. As a young child, she discovered a small animal who’d been hurt and rescued it. It’s then that she learns it’s a Holy Beast, and they form a bond together.
To change her destiny, Sera, her family, and Roux work together to trick the authorities into believing she has no magic, and they train her to become a deadly warrior and adventurer instead. All she has to do is avoid the flags and live a long and happy life — something that’s much more complicated than it sounds.
3 Williams Beryl (Accidentally Summoned (Oops, Sorry.))
Shou accidentally dies due to a mistake that God made and is reincarnated as the oldest son of a noble family. Now, as Williams Beryl, he begins his new life, and, thanks to the God that accidentally killed him, he has a cheat code that allows him to use magic from all of the elements.
Will begins to learn to control his magic abilities with the help of a tutor. He eventually begins his life at the academy, where he makes new friends, learns about magic, and makes enemies on his first day.
2 Lugh Tuatha Dé (The World’s Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated In Another World As An Aristocrat)
A legendary assassin dies after his brotherhood of assassins betrays him. Upon opening his eyes, he meets a Goddess and is given the option to be reincarnated. However, he is tasked by the Goddess to assassinate the hero of the world that he’s to be reincarnated into.
Agreeing to the Goddess’ terms, he is reincarnated as the heir to the assassin aristocratic family as Lugh Tuatha Dé. Lugh spends his years gaining knowledge, growing stronger, and preparing himself for the greatest assassination he’s ever had to perform.
1 Camille Rhodolite (An Otome Game’s Burikko Villainess Turned Into A Magic Otaku)
Aizawa Minami was an ordinary high school girl until she fell down a flight of emergency stairs at her school. As she awakens, she discovers that she has been reincarnated as Camille Rhodolite, the eldest daughter of Marquis Rhodolite. At first, she thinks that she’s dreaming and that everyone is cosplaying, but as time moves forward, she comes to accept her reincarnation.
What Aizawa doesn’t accept, however, is that she is the villainess. Thus, she begins her quest to become the best magic user because she loves everything to do with fantasy, and she wants to protect her friends.