Sometimes the overpowered isekai protagonist isn’t overpowered because they’re too good at playing video games, but because they’re so ignorant of normal video game logic that they accidentally find crazy broken loopholes the designers didn’t account for. Such is the case for Maple, who started playing New World Online to spend more time with her gamer friend Sally, but somehow became one of the most powerful players ever by doing things like putting all of her skill points into defense and giving her pet turtle flying and gigantification skills. Bofuri is a testament to the power of online friendships and game-breaking creativity, so if your favorite part of By the Grace of the Gods is Ryoma’s adorably earnest personality, check this anime out.

Oddly enough, there’s a very similar anime to By the Grace of the Gods airing this same season – it’s called Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear, and it’s all about a girl named Yuna who gets reincarnated into the world of her favorite video game... but with a catch. Instead of the flashy armor she’s used to, she has to wear a bear costume and use entirely bear-themed powers to make her way in the world. She’s generally good-natured and wants to help people just like Ryoma, so she quickly makes friends with a young monster butcher named Fina and finds ways to make the world they both live in a better place for everyone. We love how she uses her newfound bear powers to build houses, heal illnesses, create interdimensional gates, and whatever else she can think of!

How could we possibly leave out the original slime isekai, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime? A down on his luck young man reincarnates into a fantasy world as a lowly slime, but slowly acquires new skills (with the help of a tsundere dragon and some other friends) until he can transform into a human and truly start his new life. He’s much more industrious than Ryoma, naming monsters and founding towns along his way until he manages to become the ruler of his own country, but both protagonists still keep their humble roots close to their hearts and never become too conceited. This anime has multiple seasons and comes from a long-running light novel series, so there’s a lot of worldbuilding and character development to sink your teeth into here.

By the Grace of the Gods has been referred to by some as a male version of Ascendence of a Bookworm, and not without reason. The plot follows the same basic beats – a woman who longs to become a librarian dies just short of realizing that dream, so she wishes that in her next life she could read more books. Unfortunately, the fantasy world she reincarnates into is stuck in medieval times and doesn’t even have a printing press, but that won’t stop her from making books on her own! Myne and Ryoma would probably be good friends, since they both work hard to achieve their goals and don’t take anything for granted. If you love literature and iyashikei anime, put this one on your watchlist.

Spice and Wolf is a bit older than most of the other anime on this list, but it’s here because it’s such a clear point of inspiration for modern relaxing isekai anime. A traveling merchant named Lawrence accidentally awakens the ancient harvest spirit Holo, who joins him on his journey across the land as he barters his goods and slowly but surely falls in love with her. The relationship between the two leads is complex and very well written, so fans of Ryoma and Eliaria’s growing friendship will love Holo and Lawrence. This is a much beloved classic anime that expertly blends economics and romance, so be sure to give it a chance.

This wrestling isekai from Fall 2019 was one of our favorites of last year – not because it’s especially well written or animated, but because its protagonist is just so consistently entertaining! Gendo, also known as Animal Mask, is an animal-loving pro wrestler who is transported to a fantasy world to rid it of monsters. Of course, when the princess who summoned him explains this, he flies into a rage at the idea of hurting animals and suplexes her on the spot! Then he spends the rest of the series collecting monsters for his eventual pet shop and spreading the glory of professional wrestling to the denizens of fantasy land. Kemono Michi is certainly sillier than By the Grace of the Gods, but its main characters are similarly relatable and they both take a largely non-violent approach to improving the worlds they live in. Gendo is just much more... theatrical about it.