I'll give examples from ones I'm reading right now!
Ninkyou Tensei
This one's about a 70/80-something year old Yakuza boss at the end of his life who gets betrayed by his crew, and he's reincarnated as a young girl. Unlike some gender-bender manga, he doesn't react the way that some teenaged MCs do. He's jaded, but he also uses what he's learned during his time as a Yakuza to help solve issues—usually through fights—but it's refreshing too.
Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs
I love concepts like this that break the usual mold. MC died and ended up reincarnating in a game he was playing for his sister. He's crass, rude, and an overall pain-in-the-butt. On top of that, the world he's reincarnated in is one where men are treated as less than human unless they're upper nobles. It makes for one heck of a dynamic, especially when he meets the "real main characters."
So I'm A Spider, So What?
Non-Spoiler: I just wanted to see what would happen with a spider as the MC.
Massive Series Spoilers
I absolutely love what the author does to try and trick you mentally with her. Here, you have Kumoko. She's a spider living in a dungeon that's frequented by adventurers, and she's the weakest. Over time, she gets stronger and stronger to the point of becoming a monster of legends. And yet, every ounce of her strength feels earned. She doesn't get handed anything, and the one or two times she does, you feel sick inside WITH her because of the circumstances surrounding Administrator D.
Then, oh my god, there's her SANITY. When she reaches the point where she starts to devour humans, seeing them as nothing more than food—"Handsome guys always taste better to me!"—you're left with wondering how things can get any worse, or better, for her. It's a massive trip and it's AMAZING.
That Time I Reincarnated As A Slime
In the same vein as the above novel, I just wanted to see what happened when he reincarnated as a slime at first. But—and this is coming from a light novel reader since the anime doesn't go too deep with certain parts—I love how logical his plans for his country and its economy are! Some people like action, but hear me out—
I feel like immersion is always a huge part of novels and comics that take place in worlds that aren't ours. Personally, I always feel "meh" whenever I see another cookie-cutter isekai world, but the Slime novels make their world feel so...so alive! Because the novels delve so deep into the political and economic sides of the world—especially with how Rimuru our MC is bringing goods and traditions from OUR world into theirs—it makes me feel like I myself am a part of the story whenever I see a familiar good pop up.
For the weebs out there, it's like when you're reading/watching Dr. Stone and Senku advances civilization another step. It's that feeling!
I'll stop before I mention any more!
