This season’s popular anime My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! is the story of a teenage girl who dies an untimely death only to find herself reincarnated in the body of the villainess of the girl’s dating sim she was recently playing. While this is the first mainstream anime of this type, it is actually a thriving sub-genre in light novels, web novels, and manga–and one I am completely obsessed with.
Here are five “reincarnated as a villainess” stories I absolutely love–along with a special extra pick I think you’ll enjoy.
Image source: Seven Seas on Twitter
Accomplishments of the Duke’s Daughter
Author: Reia
The Set-Up: At the exact moment where she is publicly shamed for bullying the heroine and the prince breaks off their engagement, a young tax accountant finds herself in the body of Iris, the Prime Minister’s daughter–and villainess of the story. Knowing that she will soon be sent to a nunnery, the new Iris gathers her wits and confronts her father–showing such insight that he decides to give her a chance at running their territory far from the watchful eyes of the prince who shunned her. But while prosperous, both her territory and the country at large are in decline. Even with her otherworldly knowledge, can Iris revitalize a nation when everyone near the top either actively hates her or is too busy playing politics to care?
How to Read It: Manga (EN), Web Novel (JP), Light Novel (JP)
Image source: 角川ビーンズ文庫 公式 on Twitter
Lady Rose Wants to be a Commoner
Author: Koori Ame
The Set-Up: Felicia Swallows, once known as the perfect “Lady Rose,” has lost everything. Publicly condemned, her engagement with the prince annulled, kicked out of school, and stripped of her title, she has no choice but to live out the rest of her life as an anonymous commoner. But little does anyone suspect, this is all according to plan. With memories from her past life, she knew exactly what the future had in store for her and decided to play the villainess to gain her freedom. But can fate so easily be changed?
How to Read It: Manga (JP), Web Novel (JP), Light Novel (JP)
Image source: ゼロサム編集部 on Twitter
My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom — Verge of Destruction Arc
Author: Satoru Yamaguchi
The Set-Up: In the original story, after remembering her past-life memories during her youth, Katarina is able to avoid most of her death flags by building longtime personal connections with the men and women in her life. However, in this “what if” story, Katarina only gets her memories back after she has already entered magical high school–and after she’s already started bullying the heroine! With her villainous rep established and her bad end only a few scant months away, can Katarina manage to avoid her destruction?
How to Read It: Manga (JP)
Image source: アワーズGH編集部(毎月16日発売) on Twitter
The Old Man Reincarnated as a Villainess
Author: Michiro Ueyama
The Set-Up: Returning home from work, 52-year-old office worker Kenzaburo pushes a young boy out of the way of an oncoming truck and awakens in the body of the villainess in the girl’s dating sim he recently saw his daughter playing. Unable to make himself bully the heroine–who reminds him of his daughter–he uses Baby Boomer wisdom and work ethic to help her integrate into noble society. Comedy ensues.
How to Read It: Web Manga (JP), Manga (JP)
Image source: 月刊少年シリウス編集部 on Twitter
The Villainess Will Crush Her Destruction End Through Modern Firepower
Author: Dai Roku Ichi Roku Tokubetsu Douhou Daitai
The Set-Up: A military otaku awakens to find herself reincarnated as the villainess of a girl’s dating sim she recently played–though around a decade before the start of the game. In this world of magic, knights, and nobles, she must use the coming years to prepare for the future looming on the horizon. Using the knowledge of her past life, she decides there is only one way to assure she doesn’t meet a bad end: guns. Lots of guns.
How to Read It: Manga (JP), Web Novel (JP), Light Novel (JP)
Bonus Pick: Reincarnated as the Villain
Image source: 泉@俺フラ漫画化します on Twitter
My Death Flags Show No Sign of Ending
Author: Izumi
The Set-Up: Rich, spoiled, and with a notoriously bad attitude, Harold is destined to become the reoccurring rival of the heroes party–and be killed by them just before they face off against the last boss. However, all this is put into flux when, at the moment of his first childhood atrocity, his body is taken over by a person from our world. Armed with the knowledge of the future, this new “Harold” sets out to save not only himself but the world–which would be so much easier if his mouth didn’t rephrase everything he wants to say in the most asshole-ish way possible all on its own. But even this problem is nothing compared to the eternal dilemma he battles against: He has the chance to save so many people but every change he makes moves the timeline further from the one he knows and puts the happy ending ever more at risk.
How to Read It: Web Novel (JP/EN [with author’s permission]), Light Novel (JP), Manga (JP) [coming 6/2020]
Top image source: 「乙女ゲームの破滅フラグしかない悪役令嬢に転生してしまった…」TVアニメ公式 on Twitter
Accomplishment’s is an excellent piece of work, I’ll be sure to check out the others here:
Another great one, “Observation Record of my Fiancée – A Self-Proclaimed Villaines”
It carries the distinction that the main character is not the person who got reincarnated…And as for the person that did get reincarnated…If you thought Katarina Claes was dumb…