Isekai Dominates Manga Popularity in 2025: Top Genre for All Genders
Isekai Claims the Throne as the Most Popular Manga Genre of 2025
If you thought the “Isekai” or “reincarnation in another world” trend was fading, the latest data from 2025 suggests otherwise. Isekai has officially re-energized its dominance, sweeping the popularity charts across both male and female demographics throughout the year. No matter when you open a reading app, the chance of being transported to another world remains exceptionally high.
Isekai: The Unified Genre for All Readers in 2025
This insight comes from NTT Solmare, the operator of Japan’s comprehensive e-book store Comic C’moA. Their annual rankings reveal a fascinating trend: while the preferred genres for men and women often differ drastically, Isekai stands alone as the supreme common ground.
According to the data, the top interests are split as follows:
- Female Readers: Isekai, Fantasy, and Parenting/Family themes.
- Male Readers: Isekai, Action/Thriller, and Drama.
As reported by Otaku Soken, Isekai is the only genre to consistently appear at the top for both groups, showcasing its massive cross-demographic appeal in the digital market.
Top Titles Shaping the 2025 Landscape
The popularity is reflected in specific hits across various categories:
- Girls’ Manga: Titles like Perfectly Fine on My Own, So My Fiancé Can Twist in the Wind! and The Ogre’s Bride have led the charge.
- Boys’ Manga: Heavy hitters such as Solo Leveling and That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime continue to dominate the digital space.
- Light Novels: The Apothecary Diaries remains a juggernaut, proving that the fascination with historical and “other-world-adjacent” settings extends beyond just standard manga formats.
While traditional Shonen giants like One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen still lead physical volume sales on Oricon charts, the digital engagement and reading frequency on platforms like Comic C’moA are undeniably owned by the Isekai genre.
Isekai is essentially the “comfort food” of the modern manga era. In a year like 2025, where digital consumption is at an all-time high, the escapism offered by these stories—whether it is a villainess trying to avoid her doom or a salaryman becoming a slime—provides a perfect mental break. The genre has evolved from simple power fantasies into complex sub-genres involving family dynamics and professional mastery, making it impossible to ignore. It is not just a trend anymore; it is the new backbone of the industry.
Origin: automaton
