10 Best Villainess Isekai Anime, Ranked (2024)

Anime is often built upon tropes and expectations to take viewers for a surprise ride they're bound to enjoy. Viewers enter thinking they know just what they're getting into, as they've seen this type of heroine before or something in the plot feels familiar. However, what's key is how the author and adapatation twist expectations to bring life to a common trope.

One such trope that's been common as of late is the villainess isekai. More of a genre of anime, these anime have a character become reborn in the shoes of someone bound to fall from their hubris. Sometimes, the'yre the same person given another chance. Othertimes, it's a true isekai, taking someone from one world and putting them into another as the villainess. Regardless, the trope has delighted fans, becoming a genre in its own right. Of that genre, these are the ten best anime starring villainess isekai.

10 Pride Becomes a Benevolent Queen in The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen

This Villainess Transforms Into a Savior

The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior is an isekai anime based on the light novel series by Tenichi. The story begins with eight-year-old Pride Royal Ivy regaining the memories of her past life, causing her to discover she's been reincarnated into the otome game, Our Ray of Light. In this game, Pride goes up to be a tyrant who's killed by the little sister she wronged.

Hoping to avoid that fate, this new version of Pride decides to change and become a better person than the Pride from the game. Instead of becoming the tyrannical queen she remembers, she becomes a kind and benevolent ruler beloved by her people. This queen is more than willing to fight for a better future, but she may not be able to run from her past forever.

The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess to Savior

TV-14

Comedy

Fantasy

A girl is reborn as the villainess of a fantasy game she once played, and now seeks to avoid her doom by carrying out heroic deeds.

Release Date

July 7, 2023

Cast

Fairouz Ai , Maaya Uchida , Junya Enoki

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1 Season

Creator

Deko Akao

Production Company

OLM

Number of Episodes

12 Episodes

9 Aileen Earns the Trust of the Half-Demon Claude in I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss

The Demon King Isn't What Aileen Expected At All

I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss is an isekai anime based on the light novel series written by Sarasa Nagase and illustrated by Mai Murasaki. In this anime, the daughter of Duke d'Autriche, Aileen Lauren d'Autriche, has long been overshadowed by her three brothers. However, one day, everything changes when she realizes she's actually been reincarnated from a terminally ill Japanese girl. In her past life, she loved playing the game Regalia of Saints, Demons and Maidens, which Aileen now finds herself reincarnated into. With this new knowledge, she's forced to confront the fact that she's destined to die if she carries on her current path.

In order to avoid meeting her deadly fate, Aileen decides to do something her game self never would: propose to the game's final boss and demon king, Claude Jeane Ellmeyer. At first, Aileen hopes to use her knowledge of the game to avoid meeting her fate at the hands of her fiancé, but something deeper begins to drive her. As she learns more about Claude, Aileen slowly falls in love with him and grows to care for the demon people her fiancé cherishes.

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

TV-14

Romance

See Also

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Comedy

Fantasy

A doomed villainess in a dating game realizes her fate and role, and seeks to prevent her doom by romantically connecting with the game's other villain.

Release Date

September 24, 2022

Cast

Rie Takahashi , Kana Hanazawa , Jun Fukuyama , Tomokazu Sugita , Yuki Ono

Main Genre

Romance

Seasons

1

Franchise

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

Creator

Sarasa Nagase, Mai Murasaki

Distributor

Crunchyroll

Main Characters

Aileen Lauren D'Autriche, Lilia Rainworth, Keith Eigrid, Almond, Belzebuth

Production Company

Maho Film

Story By

Sarasa Nagase

8 Mia Will Do Anything to Avoid the Guillotine in Tearmoon Empire

This Selfish Princess Learns to Be Selfless

Tearmoon Empire is a fantasy anime based on the light novel series written by Nozomu Mochitsuki. This series begins with the ending of twenty-year-old Princess Mia Luna Tearmoon's life. After the fall of the Tearmoon Empire, this selfish princess is executed by the guillotine. However, fate has seen fit to give her another chance, and the princess wakes up as her twelve-year-old self.

At first, she believes what she experienced was a deeply detailed dream, until she finds a journal covered in her blood detailing what she went through. Desperate not to feel the sting of the guillotine at her neck a second thing, Mia decides to become a better person this time around, avoiding execution at all costs as she rebuilds her empire. Her new self, guided by the memories of her past life, manages to charm the people around her, turning would-be enemies into dear allies. Mia's more than happy to go along with this, so long as she gets to live.

7 Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte Isn't Your Average Villainess Isekai

Endo and Kobayashi Provide Advice From the Heavens

Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte is a fantastical romantic comedy that's not your average villainess isekai. The anime is based on a light novel series written by Suzu Enoshima and illustrated by Eihi. The series follows broadcasting club members Aoto Endo and Shihono Kobayashi as they decide to play the otome game, A Magical Romance.

Aoto quickly decides that the game's villainess, Lieselotte Riefenstahl, is more than just the evil soul the game made her out to be. Rather, she's a misunderstood tsundere who deserves a happy ending like everyone else. As the two continue to play, they begin to realize that Lieselotte's fiancé, Prince Siegwald Fitzenhagen, can actually hear their commentary and believes they're advice from God. Together, Aoto and Shinono are determined to give Lieselotte the happy ending she deserves, by explaining her tsundere nature to her fiancé.

Endo and Kobayashi Live!

Comedy

Fantasy

Romance

Release Date

January 7, 2023

Cast

Tomori Kusunoki , Yuichi Nakamura , Kaito Ishikawa , Kana Hanazawa , Miyu Tomita , Tomokazu Sugita , Ryōta Ōsaka , Shun Horie

Main Genre

Comedy

Seasons

1

Studio

Tezuka Productions

Franchise

Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte

Characters By

Suzu Enoshima

Creator

Suzu Enoshima

Distributor

Sentai Filmworks

Main Characters

Lieselotte Riefenstahl, Siegwald Fitzenhagen, Aoto Endō, Shihono Kobayashi, Fiene, Baldur Riefenstahl, Artur Richter

Production Company

Tezuka Productions

Writers

Tomoko Konparu

6 This Doctor Won't Repeat Her Mistakes in Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp

The Third Time's the Charm

Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp is a fantastical isekai anime based on the South Korean web novel by Yuin. In this anime, Princess Eise has gone through two former lives. In her first life, she was a spoiled and hot-headed princess who was executed by her own people. She was reincarnated as Aoi Takamoto with her memories intact, choosing to make up for her actions by becoming a doctor. Unfortunately, tragedy struck and Aoi lost her life in a plane crash.

Now, Elise is on her third life, reincarnated as the princess from her first life as a teenager. This time, she's determined to get things right. Using her knowledge from her first life and the medical skills she gained in her second life, Elise decides to be better than she was by setting up medical reforms and improving her relationship with her people. This time, Elise hopes she may just get a happy ending.

Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp

PG-13

Anime

Fantasy

Romance

A mean princess who lost everything to her foolish behaviour and to an epidemic gets thrown back in time to before it happened. Now she wishes to become a better person and a doctor to protect her family and kingdom.

Release Date

January 10, 2024

Cast

Yui Ishikawa , Yoshimasa Hosoya , Yōhei Azakami

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Studio

Maho Film

Creator

Deko Akao

Production Company

AT-X, Maho Film

Number of Episodes

12

5 Rae Only Has Eyes for Claire in I'm in Love with the Villainess

Princes Are the Last Thing on Rae's Mind

I'm in Love with the Villainess is a romantic comedy isekai based on the light novel series written by Inori and illustrated by Hanagata. In this anime, Rei Ohashi is an office worker who loved otome games. Unfortunately, she worked herself to death. Luckily, she's reincarnated as Rae Taylor, the protagonist of her favorite otome game, Revolution. However, Rae has no interest in the three male leads originally offered in the game. No, Rae only has eyes for the villainess, Claire Francois.

With the knowledge of the game's events guiding her, Rae is determined to give Claire the happy ending she so rightfully deserves before the game's namesake revolution strips any chance of happiness from Claire. Unfortunately, Claire isn't as receptive to Rae's advances as the heroine might like. That doesn't change how she feels, however, and it won't stop her from giving Claire the happy ending her game wouldn't give her.

I'm in Love with the Villainess

TV-PG

Animation

Romance

Comedy

Fantasy

Oohashi Rei, an office worker, that's overworked to death and suddenly finds herself reincarnated as Rae Taylor, the heroine of her favorite otome game, Revolution.

Release Date

October 2, 2023

Creator(s)

Inori.

Cast

Yu Serizawa , Karin Nanami , Ciarán Strange , Daisuke Namikawa , Corey Wilder , Lindsay Sheppard

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1

Network

Tokyo MX

Producers

Go Nakanishi , Fumie Takeuchi , Takashi Jinguuji

Character(s)

Rae Taylor (voice) , Misha Jur (voice) , Claire François (voice) , Thane Bauer (voice) , Yu Bauer (voice) , Lene Aurousseau (voice) , Manaria Sousse (voice)

YouTube Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmlzKfp9tn4

4 Catarina Is Determined to Avoid All Routes to Doom in My Next Life as a Villainess

This Villainess Is Determined to Befriend All Her Enemies

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! is a reverse harem isekai based on the light novel series written by Satoru Yamaguchi and illustrated by Nami Hidaka. In this anime, Catarina Claes was the selfish villainess of the otome game, Fortune Lover, doomed to be killed or exiled in every route. However, a bump on her head quickly reveals that Catarina is the reincarnation of an otaku girl who met an unfortunate end.

With her knowledge of the game version of Catarina's many fates at her disposal, this new Catarina is determined to avoid anything that might lead to an unfortunate end in her life. She learns how to farm in order to be self-sufficient and becomes friends with the other love interests and their suitors, quickly forming a dear circle of friends that actually has feelings for Catarina. Unfortunately, Catarina is too focused on trying to survive to even realize she has a growing harem. Naturally, hilarity ensues.

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

TV-14

Anime

Comedy

Drama

A young girl dies and is reincarnated into a video game. But when she finds out that her role is the villainess destined for doom, she takes measures to change the game and avoid that fate.

Release Date

April 4, 2020

Cast

Maaya Uchida , Tetsuya Kakihara , Shouta Aoi , Miho Okasaki

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

2

Studio

Silver Link

Creator

Satoru Yamaguchi

Number of Episodes

24 +OVA

3 Anis and Euphy Study Magic Together in The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady

Anisphia Offers Euphyllia Another Path in Life

The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady is an isekai anime based on the light novel written by Piero Karasu and illustrated by Yuri Kisaragi. In this anime, Princess Anisphia Wynn Palettia regains her memories of her past life in a modern world. Despite loving magic, she's unable to use it herself. She decides to instead turn to science and invent magical gadgets instead. She gives her throne up to her younger brother, Algard, to pursue this life and give her people the leader they deserve instead.

Anis's life takes a sudden turn when she watches her brother end his engagement with his fiancé, Lady Euphyllia Magenta. With Euphy losing her chance at becoming queen, Anis decides to offer the noblewoman another path in life: living with her and researching magic as her assistant. Now, the two study magic together as the seeds of romance are planted and begin to blossom, giving Euphy and Anis a chance at happiness together.

The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady

Say

Adventure

Comedy

Despite her supposed ineptitude with regular magic, Princess Anisphia defies the aristocracy's expectations by developing "magicology," a unique magical theory based on memories from her past life. One day, she witnesses the brilliant noblewoman Euphyllia unjustly stripped of her title as the kingdom's next monarch. That's when Anisphia concocts a plan to help Euphyllia regain her good name. Little do these two ladies know, however, that their chance encounter will alter not only their own futures, but those of the kingdom...and the entire world.

Release Date

January 4, 2023

Cast

Sayaka Senbongi , Manaka Iwami , Ai Kakuma

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Studio

Diomedéa

Number of Episodes

12

2 Rishe Experiences Life Differently the Seventh Time Around in 7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy!

This Time, Rishe Sees Arnold in a New Light

7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy! is a romantic fantasy anime based on the light novel series written by Touko Amekawa. In this anime, noblewoman Rishe Weitzner is on her seventh time loop, watching helplessly as her engagement with the crown prince is once again nullified. Six times before, she's tried to escape the time loop, only to end up dead by twenty, five years after her engagement was annulled.

This time, something strange happens. Rishe manages to capture the attention of Prince Arnold Hein. Arnold was the source of world war, murder, and suffering in many of her past lives, so Rishe is uncertain about this new turn of events. Still, she accepts his proposal on the condition that she keeps a safe distance from him and gets to laze about. However, as time passes, Rishe discovers that Arnold isn't the cold, calculated man she thought he was. Thus, Rishe begins to help Arnold and the people of the Galkhein Kingdom. All the while, Rishe wonders what turned Arnold into the monstrous man from her previous lives.

7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy!

Romance

Fantasy

Rishe is already on her seventh time around being reborn and has had all kinds of excitement in her previous lives. But to savor the high life, she first has to marry the handsome prince, the same one who happens to be her murderer.

Release Date

January 7, 2024

Cast

Ikumi Hasegawa , Nobunaga Shimazaki , Shunichi Toki

Seasons

1

Creator

Touko Amekawa

Number of Episodes

12

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll

1 Raeliana Hopes to Avoid a Second Death in Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion

Raeliana Pretends to Be the Duke's Fiance to Save Her Life

Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion is a romantic fantasy isekai anime based on the South Korean web novel by Milcha. In this anime, Rinko Hanasaki meets her unfortunate end in the real world, only to be reincarnated as Raeliana McMillan, an extra character in a novel Rinko had read. Raeliana was destined to die in the original tale, but this new Raeliana wants to do whatever she can to avoid that fate.

To avoid this second death, she makes a deal with the male lead, Duke Noah Volstaire Wynknight, to pretend to be his fiancé in exchange for keeping silent about the location of the Royal Seal, something she knows from reading the original novel she was reincarnated into. Now, Raeliana slowly finds herself falling for the duke who became her pseudo-fiance out of convenience. Only time will tell if she managed to avoid her untimely fate or if Raeliana was destined for death.

Why Raeliana Ended up at the Duke's Mansion

TV-14

Fantasy

Action

Drama

Living in a fairy tale may seem like a dream, but for this young heroine it is more like a nightmare.

Release Date

April 10, 2023

Cast

Jun'ichi Suwabe , Yūichirō Umehara , Saori Hayami , Ami Koshimizu

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1 Season

Studio

Typhoon Graphics

Creator

Milcha

Production Company

AT-X, Typhoon Graphics

Number of Episodes

12

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll

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