Isekai manga often revolve around taking the main character of the series to a new fantasy world. While such a premise can be used for lighter, more adventurous works, there are still works that choose horror themes to explore.
From hellish worlds to dark and sinister villains, the presence of horror-centric storytelling in the isekai setting has led to some of the more disturbing, terrifying moments in manga. These comics delve into the story of unfortunate protagonists trying to navigate new, dangerous, and mysterious realms.
Among these types of manga, some series have stood out for their near-perfect balance between escapism and suspense.
6. The Live
The Live begins when the main character Yun-Jae loses his wife and daughter in a terrible accident, and he feels extremely depressed. His life changed when he was transported to another world where dangerous games were played for a mysterious prize.
For Yun-Jae, that prize means having the ability to bring back his deceased family, creating a story filled with heavy emotions for readers. The series impressively combines all genres into its engaging content.
For isekai fans, the obvious appeal comes from introducing a dangerous new world for Yun-Jae to explore. For horror lovers, the brutal games depicted here, along with the series' overall eerie atmosphere and intensity, make the series a fascinating read.
5. Dungeon Seeker
The title of this revenge thriller may make some readers think of a light-hearted, dungeon-crawling game. However, the fantasy dungeon on offer here is instead used as a plot device to showcase an abused high school student's journey to recovery.
Junpei Takada is a shy student who often endures harsh bullying from Kido Shouta and his group of friends. Both Takada and the bullies are inexplicably transported to a dark fantasy world, where the bullies seek to trick Takada into becoming trapped in the Labyrinth. Takada is equipped with a superpower, allowing him to gain abilities from any enemy he takes down and his journey of revenge begins.
4. High-Rise Invasion
Blending isekai with action and survival horror, High-Rise Invasion is a fast-paced thrill-ride. The story will be a nightmare for anyone with a fear of heights. The film follows high school girl Yuri Honjō as she suddenly finds herself in a dangerous world of extremely tall skyscrapers, connected by bridges.
Honjō must stay on the move as a group of dangerous masked individuals are on her tail. Not only does the series offer both standard isekai and suspenseful horror, but it also boasts an intriguing mystery for readers to gradually uncover.
3. Re:Zero
In one of the grimmest manga settings ever, protagonist Subaru Natsuki finds himself trapped in a terrible cycle, constantly reliving his worst moments.
Despite having to endure life and death many times, Subaru in return has the power to reverse time. For readers who can understand the death-obsessed nature of much of the series, Re:Zero is one of the most influential and imaginative blends of the horror and isekai genres .
2. Corpse Party: Blood Covered
Adapted from the popular video game series, Blood Covered quickly impressed readers with its intense storytelling when it first appeared in 2008. The series focuses on a meaningful spell mistake leaves the high school students involved trapped in their school.
The manga succeeds admirably in keeping people enthralled, combining effective supernatural storytelling with macabre revelations to maintain reader interest. With a well-developed cast of high school students and an engaging plot that matches the game, Blood Covered is a must-read manga for lovers of horror and isekai alike.
1. Alice in Borderland
This series takes readers to a strange, desolate city covered in vegetation known as the Borderland. Protagonist Ryōhei Arisu finds himself inexplicably transported there along with several of his friends, locked into various potentially deadly games.
Trapped in a mysterious and dangerous world, the lives of Arisu and his teammates depend on their ability to successfully play the location's diverse combination of games. From the beginning, the reader is heavily influenced by the dangerous situation of the main characters as they play a question and answer game that involves shooting flaming arrows at anyone who answers incorrectly.
This manga was adapted into a live-action film in 2020 on Netflix.
