Highlights
- Not all isekai protagonists are humble and likable; some are insufferably arrogant, paving the way for character growth arcs.
- Leon and Kelvin use their gaming knowledge and powers to seek revenge and dominance in their respective isekai worlds.
- Sora from No Game, No Life is a cocky winner who views others as lower beings, showcasing his gift for strategic gameplay.
Isekai protagonists are usually innocent and full of naïveté. They’re trapped in an unfamiliar world, so they’re naturally frightened and uncertain. These traits make them easy to empathize with. However, some of them are at the other end of the spectrum.
Certain isekai protagonists seem utterly full of themselves. They confront the new world and its inhabitants with unfounded arrogance. This attitude often makes the heroes utterly insufferable. On the upside, it paves the way for compelling character arcs as they learn the value of humility. The problem is that not all of them go through that arc. In any case, fans love to hate these isekai leads.
1 Trapped In A Dating Sim
A Downbeat Office Worker Takes Out His Frustration On This Virtual World
As the title suggests, Trapped in a Dating Sim wraps its protagonist into an otome game. Said protagonist is Leon, an office worker who was reincarnated in the virtual space where women reign. He’s not even a major player; he’s a background character. However, he doesn’t take this insult lying down.
Leon sets out to turn this world on its head. He uses a cheat item and his past gaming experience to improve his lot. One might think this is an admirable goal, but it stems from spite. Leon has been on the receiving end of several misfortunes, with many peers looking down on him. Because of that, he can’t abide such attitudes in the game. He must prove that he’s mentally and physically superior so that he can flaunt that win to naysayers. He’s basically getting a little payback for his poor treatment, both in life and in the game. In short, he has the ultimate chip on his shoulder.
2 Sword Art Online
Kirito Is The Best Player In This Game, And He’s Not Afraid To Say So
Another isekai involving a game, Sword Art Online is perhaps the most popular example. How fitting that it has one of the most overpowered heroes in Kirigaya Kazuto, also known as Kirito. He’s a beta tester for the eponymous MMO, so he has extensive knowledge of its mechanics. What’s more, is that he has no problem using that knowledge to get ahead.
Kirito exploits workarounds and shortcuts to become extremely powerful in a short time. He doesn’t even feel the need to play with a party, preferring solo progression. He feels that others are too weak to keep up, often saying as much to their (virtual) faces. These exchanges aren’t malicious; he just has no manners. He believes his superiority is an accepted fact, so he’s stating it as such.
3 No Game, No Life
A Sore Winner Makes For Poor Sport In This Virtual Competition
Gaming isekai seems to have a habit of cocky protagonists, and few are more so than Sora. In No Game No Life, he and his sister find themselves transported into Disboard, a virtual realm where they must compete in various games. This scenario is ideal for Sora.
As a closeted individual, he spends most of his time playing games. These exploits have granted him a tremendous level of skill. Unfortunately, he’s not a graceful winner. Whenever he achieves a victory, he rubs it in his opponent’s face. Of course, such a result could only come from his gift for reading people, specifically their weaknesses. He pays no mind to their strengths, as they’re merely lower specimens of the human race. This mindset is ironic considering he can’t bear to be apart from his sister. In fact, Sora’s protective attitude toward her is the only instance when his arrogance fades away.
4 Black Summoner
A Lust For Battle Causes Trouble For Both The Summoner And The Goddess Who Recruited Him
Audiences might wonder how someone with amnesia could be arrogant. Well, Kelvin answers that question in Black Summoner. He indeed trades his memories for powerful abilities, but the remaining thoughts are devoid of humility. A goddess named Melfina brings him over to a fantasy setting and makes him a Summoner, but he doesn’t bother to thank her. In fact, he doesn’t show her any of the respect that one expects for a deity; he just treats her as hired help or a woman to woo. True, she takes the form of a Follower to aid him, but that shouldn’t stop the guy from exercising basic human decency. Of course, he’s even less considerate of his own health.
Kelvin is a “battle junkie.” He rushes into fight after fight. He loves the thrill of conflict. The thought that he could lose or get hurt never seems to register. Viewers almost want to see him fail. At least a near-death experience might knock him down a peg.
5 Youjo Senki: Saga Of Tanya The Evil
Military Might Is All That Matters To This Evil Child
A white-collar worker and imperial enforcer call for the same mentality, at least in Youjo Senki. A salaryman reincarnated as a child in an alternate version of Europe, Tanya von Degurechaff soon makes a name for herself as a lieutenant in the tyrannical Empire. She accomplishes that feat by accentuating her strengths, often to the point of exaggeration. She passes herself off as a valuable commodity to any superior officers who will listen. That value comes from calculation. Tanya is an expert on resource management. The fact that those resources are human makes no difference.
People are disposable to Tanya. She has no moral or ethical qualms about throwing them away. Damaging some is worth the cost if it improves others’ performance. She happily sacrifices them all to get the job done. After all, she’s the only resource worth preserving. These traits are those of a narcissistic psychopath. Sadly, such a monster thrives in this world.
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