Was database = isekai ?

Was database = isekai ?

I don't see why not

Isekai slightly before the isekai boom.

it was after sword art online

Sword art online is not Isekai though

So?

I think trapped in an MMO counts

'Trapped in a game' is a subset of isekai.

SAO is the reason isekai is currently popular.
SAO is the reason most isekai stories have a video-game world even if the story doesn't physically take place in a game.
Heck, even non-isekai stories like Danmachi have video-game worlds these days.

>non-isekai stories like Danmachi have video-game worlds these days.

umm you mean fantasy bra Tolkien started it all.

You're literally just making things up. SAO is not considered isekai even if it did spark the video-game world trend.