Whether they wanted it to happen or not, anime fans have been inundated with isekai throughout 2022. The ubiquitous genre has grown more than ever, reincarnating in numerous shows that take the familiar concept in new directions. However, as fresh and original as some of these shows were, only one 2022 isekai could come out on top, in this or any other world.
From being reborn as weaponry to actually exiting the isekai world, the newest isekai anime have also had to contend with the rise of female-led and otome isekai. Nevertheless, there’s one guy who’s the best reincarnated hero of them all, with a Sega-obsessed relative headlining the best 2022 isekai anime. Here’s why this mother’s brother from another world and his show outrank the stiff competition.
2022 Was Filled With New Takes on Isekai
Given how common the genre is in anime, manga and light novels, it’s definitely hard to make isekai shine and stand out on the crowded playing field. Nevertheless, 2022 finally added a bit more narrative diversity and offered isekai that weren’t too generic. As mentioned, otome isekai with female protagonists have become more common, with these anime poking fun at tropes of dating sims and romance anime alike. One great example of this is I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss. Adding organic romance with comedy is one way to take the focus off the usual battle elements of some fantasy isekai, and these otome entries are also the furthest thing from the “male power fantasies” that isekai are usually criticized for being.
Of course, exciting isekai are all about the randomness of the reincarnations, with the genre recently focusing more and more on protagonists who take on humorously inhuman new lives. The best new example of this in 2022 is Reincarnated as a Sword, which is a lot more original than it sounds. Though it might seem to be a ripoff of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, the series is a rather heartwarming story in which the titular sword forms a father/daughter relationship with a catgirl. Said catgirl is a strong character in her own right, despite her many setbacks in life. The fact that the series feels like a true fantasy and not something merely riffing on video game tropes also goes a long way.
There’s certainly still been a litany of generic and subpart isekai in 2022, plus shows that adapted their original light novels too late to make much of a splash. In some anime cases, bad timing and production woes ruined their shot at stardom. Such is the case with a well-received yet still somewhat underrated series that’s perhaps the best isekai anime of the year.
Uncle from Another World Is 2022’s Best Isekai Anime
Easily the best isekai to come out of 2022 is Uncle from Another World by studio AtelierPontdarc. Adapting the manga by Hotondoshindeiru, the series revolves around a man who awakens from a 17-year coma. During this period, he had been transported to another world reminiscent of the RPGs he enjoyed playing on Sega gaming consoles. Coming back to his own reality long after the Dreamcast had been taken off the shelves, he finds that his magical abilities have come with him. He now spends his time with his nephew as he adjusts to the modern world and recounts his extraordinary other life.
Uncle from Another World is great on one hand for showing the protagonist come back to his own world, not to mention the fact that his powers are still along for the ride. Likewise, it’s in many ways a love letter to classic Sega games, with the story itself loving those old-school titles as much as the protagonist does. This nostalgic take on otaku culture is quite unique among isekai and anime in general. Those concepts extend to the humor in the show, helping to make it more than just another generic isekai with the same tired, predictable jokes. “Uncle” himself is quite relatable as an otaku, and this is strengthened by his being somewhat unconventional in appearance.
Sadly, the show is flying a bit under the radar, which was made worse by its later episodes being delayed. Nevertheless, the series so far is the best of several great isekai anime in 2022, which will likely increase the popularity of the manga source material. Uncle from Another World showcases the potential of isekai, making it clear that even the “worst” genres can be reincarnated into something special.