I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World Manga Volumes — What You Need to Know
I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in The Real World, Too (often shortened to “Cheat Skill in Another World”) is a dual-world isekai manga — meaning it belongs to a popular genre of Japanese stories where a character is transported from the everyday world into a fantasy world. The manga is based on the light novel series (a light novel is a short, illustrated Japanese novel, typically published in serial format — think of it as a step between a traditional novel and a manga). The English manga is published by Yen Press and the series is currently ongoing.
The original story was written by Miku (author), and the manga adaptation features art by Kazuomi Minatogawa, with original character concept design by Rein Kuwashima. If you’re searching for the series on a retailer page, those are the names you’ll see listed.
The premise hooks you fast: the protagonist, Yuuya Tenjou, is a bullied and overweight middle school student who discovers a mysterious door in his late grandfather’s house. That door leads to another world — a fantasy realm filled with monsters, dungeons (dangerous underground labyrinths filled with monsters and treasure, a staple of fantasy stories), and incredible power. As Yuuya levels up — meaning he gains strength and new abilities by defeating enemies, borrowing from video game logic where characters grow stronger through experience — those gains carry over to his real-world body too. He transforms physically, becoming unrecognizable to the people who once looked down on him.
What makes this series stand out from a lot of isekai is the dual-world structure. The story doesn’t just abandon the real world once the fantasy kicks in. Instead, the story arcs (self-contained phases of the larger plot, each with their own beginning, middle, and end) alternate between Yuuya’s adventures in the other world — fighting monsters, collecting treasure, growing stronger — and the ripple effects in his everyday life. His transformation changes how people treat him at school, draws attention from powerful people, and opens up a whole new social world. Both sides of the story feed into each other, which keeps things interesting.
The manga follows the light novel fairly closely, adapting the story arc by arc with artwork that brings both worlds to life.
Every I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World Manga Volume and What It Covers
Here’s a look at all 6 manga volumes and the ground they cover. The series is ongoing, so this list reflects what’s been published in English so far. Each entry gives you a sense of the story phase without spoiling key moments.
Early Volumes — The Door Between Worlds (Volumes 1–3)
The opening stretch of the series handles all the setup — the discovery of the interdimensional door, Yuuya’s first steps into the other world, and the dramatic transformation that changes everything.
Volume 1 kicks things off with Yuuya’s miserable everyday life. He’s bullied at school, treated poorly by his own family (aside from his late grandfather), and has no confidence. When he finds the door to another world in his grandfather’s house, everything shifts. He enters the fantasy world, starts fighting low-level creatures, and quickly discovers that the game-like system governing this world is absurdly generous to him. By the end of this volume, you see the first signs of his physical transformation — and the reactions from the people around him.
Volume 2 continues Yuuya’s rapid growth. He pushes deeper into the other world, encounters stronger enemies, and starts to understand the scope of his abilities. Back in the real world, his changed appearance causes confusion and fascination at school. New characters enter the picture — allies in the fantasy world and new social connections in the real world. The dual-world rhythm of the series really clicks into place here.
Volume 3 expands both worlds further. In the other world, Yuuya faces threats that test his growing power and begins to understand that the fantasy realm has its own complex politics and dangers. Key allies are introduced who will stick around for the long haul. On the real-world side, his new appearance and abilities draw attention that goes beyond school — the story starts hinting at bigger forces taking notice.
These early volumes establish the core appeal of the series: watching an underdog gain incredible power is fun and satisfying, but it’s the real-world payoff that gives it a unique flavor. Seeing someone who was completely overlooked suddenly command attention — and figuring out how to handle that — adds a layer you don’t always get in this genre.
Mid-Series Volumes — Dual-World Escalation (Volumes 4–6)
As the series moves past the initial setup, both worlds get more complicated.
Volume 4 raises the stakes in the other world significantly. Yuuya encounters enemies that aren’t just powerful monsters — there are villains with intelligence, goals, and forces behind them. His allies become more important as the battles get bigger, and new locations and backstory deepen the fantasy setting.
Volume 5 continues the escalation on both fronts. On the real-world side, Yuuya’s social circle expands. His transformation draws romantic interest, but it also puts him on the radar of people and organizations with their own agendas. The series does a good job of not letting the real world become an afterthought — events there carry real tension and consequences.
Volume 6 is where the two worlds start to connect more deeply. What happens on one side increasingly affects the other, which raises the stakes for both. Without getting into spoiler territory, the door between worlds becomes more significant than just a convenient travel method.
The manga adaptation handles these escalating arcs well, with action sequences that benefit from the visual medium — you can see the fights play out across individual panels (the boxed images on each page that sequence the story in manga) rather than imagining them from text descriptions. If you’ve been reading the light novel, the manga gives those big moments a different kind of impact.
Looking Ahead
The English manga has reached Volume 6, and the series is ongoing. Since the light novel source material is still being published as well, more manga volumes will follow. Yen Press releases new volumes on a regular schedule — if you’re caught up to Volume 6, keep an eye out for future releases.
Where the Light Novel and Anime Stand
The light novel is the original source material for this whole franchise. A light novel is a Japanese novel format — shorter than a typical Western novel, with occasional illustrations, and usually published in serial installments. This series started as a web novel (a story published for free online by the author, chapter by chapter — think of it as the rough draft that later became the official published version) before being picked up for official light novel publication. The English light novel is published by Yen Press, same as the manga, and it’s also an ongoing series.
The light novel is significantly ahead of the manga in terms of story progress — that’s typical for manga adaptations, since manga takes longer to produce than prose. If you catch up on the manga and want to know what happens next, the light novel is where to go.
The anime adaptation aired its first season (13 episodes) and covers the early arcs of the story, roughly the first few manga volumes. It’s a solid way to experience the beginning of the series, and honestly, watching the dual-world concept play out with animation and voice acting is pretty great. A TV special premiered in March 2026, and a second season has been announced. The anime covers less ground than the manga’s 6 volumes, so if you want more story, the manga picks up where the anime leaves off and goes further.
Here’s how the formats stack up:
| Format | Source | English Publisher | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Novel | Original draft (Kakuyomu) | No official English release | Ongoing |
| Light Novel | Official revision | Yen Press | Ongoing |
| Manga | Adapted from Light Novel | Yen Press | Ongoing (6 volumes) |
| Anime | Adapted from Light Novel | Crunchyroll (anime streaming service) | Season 1 aired; TV special (March 2026); Season 2 announced |
Do you need to read the light novel before starting the manga? Not at all. The manga tells the same story and works fine on its own. The light novel gives you more of the character’s inner thoughts and detailed descriptions of how the fantasy world works, but the manga is a complete experience by itself.
Which Edition Should You Buy
For English readers, the manga is available through Yen Press in the standard size you’re used to if you buy manga from any major publisher — a slim paperback, roughly 5 by 7.5 inches.
Print volumes are available at major book retailers. The print editions are solid quality with good paper and clear artwork reproduction. Nothing fancy like oversized editions or color pages, but they look good on a shelf and read well.
Digital volumes are also available if you prefer reading on a tablet or phone. You can find them on major digital manga platforms. Digital is a great option if you’re short on shelf space or want to start reading immediately — no waiting for shipping.
A 6-volume collection set is also available if you want to pick up the full series so far in one purchase. Otherwise, individual volumes are available in print or digital, numbered 1 through 6 (and counting).
For new readers: start with Volume 1. This isn’t a series where you can jump in at a random point — the story builds from one volume to the next, and the character development from the very beginning is a big part of what makes it work. Yuuya’s starting point matters because the contrast with where he ends up is the whole emotional engine of the story.
If you’re looking to pick up the manga, here’s Volume 1 to get started.
I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in the Real World, Too, Vol. 1 (
Frequently Asked Questions
How many I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World manga volumes are out in English?
There are 6 manga volumes released in English through Yen Press. The series is ongoing, and new volumes continue to be published on a regular schedule.
Is the manga finished?
No. The manga is an ongoing series with no announced end date. The light novel source material is also still being published, so there’s plenty of story left to adapt.
What’s the difference between the manga and the light novel?
The light novel is text-based with occasional illustrations, written by the original author. It includes more detailed inner thoughts from the characters, explanations of how the fantasy world works, and narrative depth. The manga adapts the same story into a visual format with full artwork, telling the story through sequential images on each page. The core story is the same, but each format has its own strengths — the manga is faster to read and has the visual impact of seeing the action, while the light novel gives you more depth and is further ahead in the story.
Is the anime a good substitute for reading the manga?
The anime’s first season (13 episodes) covers the early portion of the story and does a good job with it. But if you want to experience more of the story than the anime covers, the manga’s 6 volumes take you much further. They complement each other nicely — many fans watch the anime first and then continue with the manga.
Do I need to read the light novel before starting the manga?
Nope. The manga works well as a standalone reading experience. You don’t need any prior knowledge from the light novel or web novel. Volume 1 of the manga gives you everything you need to get started.
What order should I experience the series in?
There’s no required order. The most common paths are:
- Manga only — totally fine, self-contained story across all 6 current volumes
- Anime first, then manga — watch the anime’s 13 episodes, then pick up the manga from the beginning (it’s worth reading the early parts in manga form for the artwork) or from where the anime ends
- Light novel and manga together — for fans who want maximum depth, reading both gives you the most complete picture
Any of those approaches works. Pick whatever format appeals to you most and start there. You can always branch out later if you want more.