Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World is a bleak isekai anime starring Natsuki Subaru. Subaru is transported to a new world, and like most isekai protagonists, he gets a new power. Unlike most other isekai protagonists, Subaru's power is brutal. Called Return by Death, Subaru's power works exactly as the name implies, as he's allowed to return to a predetermined point in time once he dies. It allows him to solve a lot of the mysteries within the series, but not without dying each time.

To be a good show like Re:Zero, a series doesn't even need to be an isekai. The biggest theme in Re:Zero is how bleak life can be, and thanks to Subaru's relentless determination, how to overcome that bleakness. The best shows that can be compared to Re:Zero have to involve a little bit of darkness, melancholy, and some existential dread at the same time.

10 The Saga of Tanya the Evil

Animated By NUT, Based on the Light Novel Written By Carlo Zen and Illustrated by Shinobu Shinotsuki

The Saga of Tanya the Evil is a great, dark isekai series featuring Tanya von Degurechaff. In her former life, she was a salaryman in Japan who hated the idea of a deity ruling above. When the salaryman died, Being X wanted to test his indignation by reincarnating him into another world as a small child. Tanya is a walking one-man-army in her series, leading her troops on the battlefield to great success.

The Saga of Tanya the Evil and Re:Zero are both set in relatively hopeless worlds with the odds stacked against the protagonist. Both Subaru and Tanya have near divine forces working against them, and it's their job to overcome the nearly insurmountable odds to live the lives they want to live. At least Tanya was reincarnated into a world where she can actually fight her enemies. Without one of his more powerful friends around, Subaru is about as strong as a piece of paper.

9 KonoSuba

Animated By Studio Deen, Based on the Light Novel By Natsume Akatsuki

KonoSuba is the one exception to the bleakness rule used to compare shows to Re:Zero. While Re:Zero is as dark as anime gets most of the time, there are a few humorous moments in between it all. KonoSuba is entirely humorous. It's the funniest isekai anime series ever made, and fans of Re:Zero's expert writing and biting characters can expect the same from KonoSuba. Both protagonists have a decent amount in common as well.

Neither Natsuki Subaru nor Kazuma Satou asked to be transported to their new world from Japan. When they get to their new worlds, they're confused and have too much on their plates right away. Thankfully, with the help of some strong friends, they're both able to find a place in the world. Luckily for Kazuma, his power don't require him to die over-and-over again, but somehow, he still manages to die all the time, just like Subaru from Re:Zero.

8 Mushoku Tensei

Animated By Studio Bind, Based on the Light Novel By Rifujin na Magonote

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation is the most controversial isekai series. It's not as dark as Re:Zero, but Mushoku Tensei certainly has its moments. One of the darkest moments in Mushoku Tensei came when the show aired Paul Greyrat's death on Father's Day. Outside the bleak moments, Mushoku Tensei can be a mature series that follows Rudeus around as he learns how to live in a new world with a new body and a host of new abilities.

Mushoku Tensei and Re:Zero both feature protagonists that have divine beings working against them. The witches seem to be working against Subaru in Re:Zero, and Rudeus already has problems with the Dragon God Orsted too. Like KonoSuba, the pair of main characters are lucky enough to be surrounded by smart, hard-working friends who truly want the best for their companion.

7 The Ascendance of a Bookworm

Animated By Ajia-do Animation Works, Based on the Light Novel Written By Miya Kazuki and Illustrated By You Shiina

The Ascendance of a Bookworm is a unique isekai series that's set entirely around books. Main is a small child in her new world. She's isekai to a seemingly medieval world that has little to no books available to her. She spends her life fighting the fate that put her in this new world, trying her hardest to learn how to read, write, and eventually, make her very own books. While her goal is much more defined than Subaru's in Re:Zero, both characters are fighting against the world itself to create the reality they want to live in.

Main's story is a serious one with few moments of reprieve, just like Subaru's. She's also a kind, honest character who doesn't want to hurt people just to get what she wants, similar to Subaru as well. Unlike Subaru, Main's new power doesn't require her to die over-and-over again, but it has brought her close to death several times.

6 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Animated By Bones, Based on the Manga By Hiromu Arakawa

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is a staple of modern anime. It features Alphonse and Edward Elric as they look to bring their mom back from the dead using human transmutation. Instead of bringing their mom back, Edward lost part of his body and Alphonse lost all of his, forcing the younger of the two to spend his days in a suit of armor. Like Subaru, the Elric brothers look to fight fate itself wherever they can. They even go after the Philosopher's Stone so that they can reverse the damage caused by their failed experiments.

The worlds of both Re:Zero and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood are expansive and mysterious. Protagonists from both series spend most of their days with more questions than answers, adding to the mystique of both shows. Both Subaru and the Elric brothers have to go through a lot of pain if they want to live in peace.

5 Overlord

Animated By Madhouse, Based on the Light Novel Written By Kugane Maruyama and illustrated by so-bin

Ainz Ooal Gown is the opposite of Natsuki Subaru. While Subaru was isekai'd to his new world with the powers of an ordinary person, bar his Return by Death ability, Ainz is basically a God. He can do just about anything, and commands an army of side characters that are all stronger than any of Ainz's enemies. While the protagonists of both series are fairly dissimilar in their abilites, the worlds they live in are equally bleak, except Ainz is a little more responsible than most for the bleakness.

Ainz and Subaru are both trying to better understand the new worlds they find themselves in. With the help of their friends, they're able to navigate their new lives as well, learning about the world they're in, and their place in it. While their places in their worlds are different, their honest pursuit of their goals unites the two.

4 Erased

Animated By A-1 Pictures, Based on the Manga By Kei Sanbe

One of Re:Zero's most defining aspects is its Return by Death ability. It's a useful, albeit brutal, power that Subaru can use to rewrite the events that happen around him. Erased is a similar series in concept. Satoru Fujinuma is a struggling mangaka trying to make ends meet in Japan when he gets a new ability called Revival. It allows Satoru to send his consciousness back in time to a moment right before a life-threatening incident, giving him the power to rewrite reality.

The show's concepts are where they're most similar. Erased is a much more grounded series than Re:Zero, as Re:Zero takes place in an alternate world with magic, beast people, and some of the cutest demons in anime. Erased is a much more realistic show that takes place in the late 1990s and early 2000s of Japan.

3 Grimgar, Ashes and Illusions

Animated By A-1 Pictures, Based on the Light Novel By Ao Jūmonji and illustrated by Eiri Shirai

Grimgar, Ashes and Illusions is one of the most realistic isekai series around. It takes a group of seemingly normal people and transports them to a new world without their knowledge, taking away their memories in the process. While other isekai series like The Eminence in Shadow don't have any real stakes thanks to the protagonist's overwhelming strength, Grimgar couldn't be more serious. The characters aren't trained, they're scared, and they never asked to be subject to violence.

Like Re:Zero, Grimgar's characters are based in reality. Neither Subaru nor Haruhiro in Grimgar have exceptional powers that will turn the tide of battle. Eventually, Haruhiro gets some nice powers, but his first few weeks in Grimgar are about as unforgiving as a new life can be. With the help of their friends, both sets of protagonists are able to overcome the challenges placed in front of them and work hard to live the life they want.

2 Berserk

Animated By Oriental Light and Magic, Studio 4°C, Gemba, and Milliepensee, Based on the Manga By Kentaro Miura

Berserk and Re:Zero are two of the darkest anime series in general. While their main characters handle their struggles much differently, they have much more in common than anyone would think. Both Subaru and Guts are fighting against near-Godlike entities. They're both fighting to free their love interest from the powers that be, trying to create a free life on their own. While the Black Swordsman would rather fight his enemies head on, Subaru is no stranger to strategy.

Guts hasn't died numerous times like Subaru, but he's been at death's door more than once. Both Berserk and Re:Zero are no strangers to gruesome moments and use them to convey the dark themes of their shows effectively. Like most dark shows, Subaru and Guts rely on their friends to get through the toughest of times, and they'll both do anything to protect them.

1 Steins; Gate

Animated By White Fox, Based on the Visual Novel Game By 5pb and Nitroplus

Steins; Gate is another time-traveling show with very dark themes that can pop up out of nowhere. Most of Steins; Gate, like Re:Zero, feels more like a Slice of Life series than the intimidating show it really is. Rintaro Okabe is a self-proclaimed mad scientist who makes up the people he's supposedly working against, who later turn out to be real. One of the biggest plot points in Steins; Gate is very similar to Re:Zero as well, as it involves Rintaro going back in time over-and-over again to prevent his friend's death.

Watching Mayuri die multiple times takes a toll on Rintaro, a toll Subaru from Re:Zero knows all too well. They're both two kind-hearted, somewhat delusional protagonists who only want the best for their friends. Thanks to their time-travel abilities, they're able to do what's right for their companions, but they'll have to go through hell to make it happen.