So, I was kind of always a ‘budget nerd’, so to speak. Back in my day, in the place I grew up, you really didn’t have a lot of access to things like the internet. So, a lot of my imagination and tastes were shaped by books I could find and consume. And a lot of the times, those books were fantasy adventure in nature. Think Lord Of The Rings, Inkheart and The Magician’s Guild. Eventually, that translated into my love for things like Guilds, Dungeons And Dragons and, of course, anime.

So, of course there are so many anime that I love and adore, filled with adventures galore. In fact, one of the first few anime I watched was Fairy Tail, which is iconic for its fantastical lore and guild style characterization. With a story that was rich in exposition and magic, thrills everywhere you went and so much world building, it’s no wonder the fantasy adventure genre in manga became so much more popular on a whole. And now, we have so many to choose from!

Fantasy Adventure will always hold a soft spot in my heart. It just has so much potential to build on top of itself and create a world so immersive, that you can consume new content about it near daily and never get tired of it. The adventures always feel like they are larger than life and the plot is written with consideration. The characters are bound to be diverse and fun, and it feels like there is something out there for everyone to like and enjoy in Fantasy Adventure anime.

And thanks to the boom in Isekai anime, adventures and guilds have become pretty common place traits in Fantasy anime in general. And if that’s something you enjoy like I do, or just want to try something new, here are my top picks for some of the best anime that have guilds for you to lose yourself into! Warning: Some of these are highly addictive and you will find yourself immersed. So, let’s dive in!

When it came out, Isekai was still in its budding phase and people were starting discover the joys of RPGs (Role-Playing Games) outside of the niche. And so, it lent itself to the fantasy genre very easily. The world-building, when focused upon, is extensive and there is just a lot of content to sink your teeth into. However, I do wish the characters were better written!

And hey, who doesn’t love some good old-fashioned wish fulfillment? Our main protagonist is a sardonic salaryman who gets Isekai’d into this mystical world where he is the potential hero that will save everyone. Of course, he must learn how to be that hero in the first place. From there on, Mushoku Tensei becomes an adventurous coming-of-age story with plenty of action, romance, and plot twists galore!

Instead of traditional Guilds like in the rest of these suggestions, Grimgar Of Fantasy And Ash devides its magical world into classes very akin to those in Dungeons And Dragons. Think Paladins and Priests, Dread Knights and Hunters. It was extremely unique for the era it came out in, and fairly well done. Basically a survival-style plotline, where our protagonist is transported into a world with others and has to learn to navigate a completely foreign landscape.

It utilizes all the best fantastical themes you can imagine, including a combat system that’s really cool!

The story follows the titular character, Goblin Slayer, a lone adventurer who only takes on quests involving goblins, one of the weakest but most numerous monsters in the world. The series follows Goblin Slayer as he embarks on a journey to rid the world of goblins, while also exploring his past and his relationships with the other adventurers he encounters.

While it’s not for the faint of heart, Goblin Slayer has gained a cult following for its dark and mature take on the fantasy genre, making it a standout in its category.

At its core, Solo Leveling is a classic Isekai story with a twist. The protagonist, Jinwoo, is a weak and unremarkable hunter who suddenly gains the ability to level up his abilities through his own actions. As he rises through the ranks, he becomes known as the “Solo Leveler,” setting out on a journey to become the strongest hunter in the world.

What sets Solo Leveling apart is its well-crafted world-building, intricate plot, and its emphasis on character development. The series expertly balances action-packed battles with moments of introspection and character growth, making for a truly captivating viewing experience.

Additionally, the animation is top-notch and perfectly captures the intensity of the battles and the emotions of the characters. The voice acting is also fantastic, bringing the characters to life and adding depth to their personalities.

Surprisingly, Hestia isn’t the best part of this show. However, she does come close. The harem aspect aside, Dan-Machi is a story that really knows how to expand itself and not remain boring or contained. It constantly tries adding new elements thanks to the various Gods that become Guild leaders in it, and a system that feels more game like than you’d expect.

Couple that up with some really hilarious character interactions and an underdog story with an ambitious novice following a very jealous Goddess? You have an entertaining watch on your hand!

For a show that came out in the late 2000s, it somehow still holds up as a fantastic first attempt into modern Isekai. Unlike Sword Art Online, Log Horizon has a protagonist that isn’t shoehorned as being cool and super smart. He genuinely is. And he still remains fairly likable. It’s the strategizing and everything that really makes this anime an intriguing watch, treating its RPG elements like an actual game would.

Log Horizon is passionate about its setting and then delivers on what I believe is a hidden gem in the anime world. Definitely check this one out if you have some nostalgia for the good old guilds!

KonoSuba takes your usual story of ‘random boy being transported to a magical world where he is now the greatest’ and turns it over its head. No, the main character isn’t super smart or blessed with secret powers. And no, none of the girls in his guild immediately fall in love with him. And yes, everyone is sharing a singular braincell. You have a set universe with rules and laws that the main group cannot breeze past, because that’s not how it works in real life.

And it’s that reality check in the surrealness of everything going on, that really elevates KonoSuba from the rest of the Isekai going on. If you’re in the mood for a genuinely good comedy, you will not be disappointed!

Overlord is similar to the previous entry in the sense that it too is a Isekai that refuses to take itself too seriously. Our main protagonist is quite literally a villain, an Undead Lich King and all he wants to do is survive. He didn’t come in expecting much, but now that he’s here in his favorite MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game), he’s going to make the best of it. Even if it means he kind of loses a bit of his humanity.

But hey, life isn’t perfect. And sometimes, you just have to embody the Demon Lord that you have been reincarnated into. Overlord is equal parts hilarious and commentary on the Isekai genre on a whole, and I’ve enjoyed it greatly.  

Fairy Tail was one of the first fantasy anime to embody tropes from adventures such as RPGs and really break out into the mainstream Shonen genre. With creatures such as Dragon hybrids and Wizardry rampant, it really made the fantasy aspect the forefront of its story. And I appreciate that because it later became the blueprint for other shows that came after.

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And hey, the best part about Fairy Tail? It’s completely finished! So, you can binge this fantasy epic to your heart’s content!