Overlord is a popular isekai light novel series by Kugane Maruyama, and it indeed features a compelling main character. The story centers around Ainz Ooal Gown, a mighty skeletal character who leads one of the strongest guilds in the virtual reality game Yggdrasil. When the game servers are about to be shut down, Ainz cannot log out and is stuck in the game world, which has become real.

Ainz is exceptionally overpowered, with extensive knowledge of magic and numerous spells. He aims to unravel the mysteries of this new world and determine if there are other players stuck there, too. As he explores, he often uses his immense power and intelligence to achieve his goals, earning respect and fear from the inhabitants of this new reality.

Overlord is known for its intricate world-building, well-developed characters, and strategic battles. Ainz's extraordinary abilities and how he deals with the challenges in the new world make the series a captivating and unique addition to the isekai genre.

The Overlord series has been adapted into a TV show, comic books, and audio stories. The TV show covers various parts of the story, but the main narrative originates from the original books, with more still in production.

Detailed information:

• Author: Kugane Maruyama
• Illustrator: so-bin
• Published: from 2012
• Genre: Naro, Isekai

No Game No Life is an isekai light novel with overpowered protagonists written and drawn by Yuu Kamiya. It tells a story about the main characters who are good at playing games. The main characters are two siblings, Sora and Shiro, who have never lost a game in the real world.

One day, they get an invitation to go to another world called Disboard. In this world, instead of fighting, people solve their problems by playing games. Sora and Shiro quickly become the best at playing games in Disboard. They use their gaming skills to outsmart opponents and win various challenges and contests. They aim to challenge the mysterious god Tet and become the world's rulers.

Sora and Shiro, the brothers and sisters in the story, have unique abilities. Sora is good at making plans and talking to people, while Shiro is good at numbers and logic. Throughout the series, you meet many characters, from Disboard and others who challenge Sora and Shiro to high-stakes games.

Even though Sora and Shiro don't have traditional superhuman powers, their incredible intelligence and gaming skills make them very powerful in the story. This makes No Game No Life a one-of-a-kind and exciting story in the Isekai genre.

Detailed information:

• Author: Yu Kamiya
• Illustrator: Yu Kamiya
• Published: from 2012
• Genre: Fantasy, Isekai

Konosuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! is a Japanese book series created by Natsume Akatsuki and illustrated by Kurone Mishima. It first gained popularity on the website Shosetsuka ni Naro before its official release in 2013. The series concluded its story in May 2020. It's a lighthearted and whimsical tale set in an alternate world, commonly called an isekai, and primarily follows the adventures of a young man named Kazuma Satou.

He's not your typical hero, and he's a bit of a shut-in. But after a strange turn of events, he ends up in a fantasy world. There, he meets a goddess named Aqua, and instead of choosing a powerful item, he decides to bring Aqua with him, much to her annoyance. Together with their unusual friends, Megumin and Darkness, they go on comical and sometimes absurd quests.

The story is primarily a comedy and often pokes fun at the usual fantasy and isekai stories. It explores themes of friendship, absurdity, and the consequences of the characters' actions. The characters, like Kazuma, Aqua, Megumin, and Darkness, are all a bit unusual, and their interactions are often hilarious.

Konosuba has been turned into different things, like two seasons of a TV show, a comic book version, and even a full-length animated movie. The TV series is especially famous for its humor and how it turns the typical isekai story on its head.

Detailed information:

• Author: Natsume Akatsuki
• Illustrator: Kurone Mishima
• Published: 2012-2020
• Genre: Isekai, Comedy

The Rising of the Shield Hero is the famous ongoing Isekai Naro light novel with an overpowered protagonist, Naofumi. The story has been available as both digital and physical books since 2012. It falls under the fantasy genre, and it has been widely recognized and appreciated since it was first released.

The story starts with Naofumi Iwatani, who, along with three other young men, is summoned to a different world to become heroes. Each hero is given a special weapon: sword, spear, bow, or shield. However, Naofumi is chosen as the Shield Hero, a seemingly unconventional and less powerful choice among the heroes. Despite his initial disadvantage and unfair treatment from the kingdom and its people, Naofumi must become a hero and protect the world from serious threats.

Besides the main series, there are other related novels and comic adaptations that explore different aspects of the world and characters, such as "The Reprise of the Spear Hero," "The Rising of the Shield Hero: Filo's Day Off," and "The Rising of the Shield Hero: The Manga Companion."

Throughout the series, Naofumi undergoes significant personal growth and learns to effectively use the unique abilities of his shield, making him a powerful and adaptable hero. The Rising of the Shield Hero has garnered a devoted following and has received praise for its fresh take on the fantasy genre, complex characters, and detailed world-building.

Detailed information:

• Author: Aneko Yusagi
• Illustrator: Minami Seira
• Published: from 2012
• Genre: Naro, Isekai, Adventure

Re: Zero - Starting Life in Another World is a well-liked isekai light novel by Tappei Nagatsuki. It first appeared online in 2012 on a platform called Shosetsuka ni Naro, and since 2014, more than 30 volumes of light novels have been published.

The main character, Subaru, has a unique ability - he can return to life after dying. This power, called Return by Death, is a significant advantage because it lets him learn from his mistakes and make different choices to save the people he cares about and deal with the challenges in the other world where he's stuck.

Subaru's life in this new world gets tough as he gets involved in complex and sometimes terrifying situations. Along the way, he becomes friends with different characters, like Emilia, a mysterious half-elf, and Rem and Ram, twin maids from a mansion he often visits. Subaru's journey is full of tests, sad events, and the emotional toll of his extraordinary power as he tries to protect the people he loves.

Subaru's strong ability is balanced by the emotional and mental toll it takes on him because he has to go through pain and trauma every time he comes back to life. This makes Re: Zero - Starting Life in Another World stand out in the isekai genre because it explores what happens when you have a fantastic power and how it affects the main character's mind and emotions.

Detailed information:

• Author: Tappei Nagatsuki
• Illustrator: Shinichiro Otsuka
• Published: from 2012
• Genre: Dark fantasy, Isekai, Naro

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime is a famous Japanese book written by Fuse and drawn by Mitz Vah. People like it because it has a unique story. The story is about Satoru Mikami, a regular guy born again in a magical world as a slime. He quickly gets some fantastic powers.

Now, he's called Rimuru Tempest, and he can turn into any creature he eats, do powerful magic, and talk to and control monsters. He uses his unique skills to create a solid and diverse community in this new world.

The story has many different characters; some are human, and some are not. The main character, Rimuru Tempest, is known for being innovative and kind. Other important characters like the mighty demon lord Milim Nava and the skilled warrior Shion also have significant roles in Rimuru's adventures and his goal to make a new nation.

As Rimuru makes friends, learns new things, and faces tough challenges, he becomes one of the most important and influential people in this magical world. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime has also been turned into a TV show that started in 2018.

Detailed information:

• Author: Fuse
• Illustrator: Mitz Vah
• Published: from 2014
• Genre: Naro, Isekai

Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest is a popular isekai light novel series written by Ryo Shirakome and illustrated by Takayaki. The story takes place in a fantasy world and follows the adventures of the main character, Hajime Nagumo. Hajime starts as a regular high school student but changes significantly due to extraordinary events.

The story begins when Hajime Nagumo and his classmates are summoned to another world as heroes. However, Hajime initially doesn't have the impressive powers that his classmates do, which makes him seem weak and unimpressive. After a significant encounter with a dangerous dungeon, he faces many challenges and difficulties. To survive and escape, Hajime goes through a substantial change, gaining new abilities, making powerful weapons, and becoming a powerful and resourceful hero.

A vital part of the series is how Hajime Nagumo grows as a character. He starts as a shy and not very powerful person but turns into a confident and strong hero. The "Arifureta" franchise also includes different books, comics, and side stories that explore various characters and aspects of the world.

Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest has a devoted fanbase and is known for its exciting storytelling, unique world-building, and the fascinating journey of the main character from an underdog to a powerful force. The series offers an immersive and lively isekai experience that captures the interest of fans of action and fantasy stories.

Detailed information:

• Author: Ryo Shirakome
• Illustrator: Takayaki
• Published: from 2013
• Genre: Naro, Isekai

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? is a popular light novel series written by Fujino Omori and illustrated by Suzuhito Yasuda. The series is known for its unique blend of fantasy, adventure, and romantic comedy elements.

The story is set in the fictional city of Orario, also known as the Dungeon. In this world, gods and goddesses descend to the mortal realm, forming Familias with adventurers who serve them. Each Familia consists of an adventurer and their deity, and they explore the intricate and challenging labyrinthine Dungeon beneath the city.

The main character, Bell Cranel, is an inexperienced adventurer who serves the goddess Hestia. He aspires to become a great hero and pick up girls in the Dungeon. As he encounters monsters and other adventurers, he embarks on an exciting and challenging journey of self-discovery and growth.

The series has a strong fanbase and has received positive reviews for its world-building, character development, and the unique premise of deities and adventurers in a fantasy setting. The combination of adventure, humor, and romance has made Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? a beloved and standout series in the light novel and isekai genres.

Detailed information:

• Author: Fujino Omori
• Illustrator: Suzuhito Yasuda
• Published: from 2013
• Genre: Fantasy, Isekai

The Irregular at Magic High School initially appeared on the Shosetsuka ni Naro website in 2008 and has been available in physical light novel form since 2011. This ongoing science fiction story is set in a make-believe Japan and centers on the theme of magic.

The tale primarily follows two students at First High School: an older brother named Tatsuya and his younger sister, Miyuki. In this world, magic is widely accepted and considered a highly developed technology. Magic high schools are established to teach students about magic, and they are divided into two classes: Course 1 for exceptional students with strong magical abilities and Course 2 for those with more average skills.

Tatsuya and Miyuki Shiba, siblings with varying magical abilities, enroll in First High School. Despite Tatsuya being seen as less skilled magically, he possesses unique and powerful abilities that make him quite strong. The series explores various types of magic, how spells work, and the tools called Casting Assistant Devices (CADs) that help with magic.

Character development is a significant part of the series, especially the personal growth of Tatsuya and Miyuki as they face challenges and uncover hidden secrets within the magical high school. Combining science and magic has established The Irregular at Magic High School as a standout work in the magic school and supernatural genres.

Detailed information:

• Author: Tsutomu Sato
• Illustrator: Kana Ishida
• Published: from 2008
• Genre: Naro, Action, Science Fiction, Isekai

Kino's Journey: The Beautiful World is a long-running series of light novels, with 22 volumes published since 2000. This series is well-known for its philosophical and self-contained storytelling and has been adapted into various forms of media, including anime and manga.

The story follows the adventures of Kino, a young traveler, and their talking motorcycle, Hermes. Kino's journeys take them to different countries and cities, each with unique culture, customs, and moral dilemmas. Kino is an observer who learns from these places and usually stays for only three days to avoid getting too attached.

While the series mainly focuses on the places Kino visits, there is subtle character development, mainly through Kino's interactions with the people they meet during their travels. "Kino's Journey" is structured as a series of self-contained episodes, each exploring a different location and its specific challenges.

Kino's Journey: The Beautiful World has been adapted into anime, a movie, and various manga versions. The anime adaptation, in particular, is praised for staying faithful to the source material and effectively capturing the thought-provoking nature of the series.

Kino's Journey: The Beautiful World is well-regarded for its intelligent and thought-provoking storytelling, making it a remarkable work in the light novel and isekai genres. It appeals to those who enjoy stories that encourage deep philosophical thinking.

Detailed information:

• Author: Keiichi Sigsawa
• Illustrator: Kohaku Kuroboshi
• Published: from 2000
• Genre: Adventure, Fantasy