35+ Best Harem Anime to Watch Right Now (2026 Updated List)

If you’re looking for the best harem anime to watch right now, you’re in the right place. This updated 2026 list covers classic fan-favorites, newer hits, and underrated gems — from romantic school harems to fantasy and action-packed series. Whether you’re here for comedy, fanservice, or strong storytelling, there’s definitely something worth watching below.

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What Is a Harem Anime? (And Which Type to Watch)

A harem anime is a show where one protagonist (usually male) is surrounded by three or more love interests. The genre splits into a few distinct flavors — knowing which one you want saves time:

• Romance harem — the leads actually develop feelings and someone usually “wins” (Quintessential Quintuplets, Nisekoi).
• Comedy harem — the chaos IS the point, shipping is optional (Haganai, Tenchi Muyo).
• Action/fantasy harem — battles + multiple heroines (Date A Live, Infinite Stratos, The Asterisk War).
• Isekai harem — transported to another world + a growing party of love interests (Mushoku Tensei, How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom).

The full ranked list below covers all four types. If you only have time for one, start with Kaguya-sama: Love is War (comedy) or Quintessential Quintuplets (romance) — they’re the two most-recommended entry points in the genre.

New Harem Anime 2024–2026

I’m the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire! (2025)

Genres: Sci-Fi, Comedy, Harem, Fantasy

This one mixes the classic harem setup with a space empire twist. The main character basically gets reincarnated into a powerful intergalactic family and decides he wants to live selfishly this time — but somehow everything he does ends up helping people instead.

It has that overpowered MC energy plus comedy and multiple female characters around him, so if you like sci-fi harems with humor, it’s definitely a fun recent addition.

Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister (2024–2025)

Genres: Romance, Comedy, Harem, Slice of Life

Probably one of the most traditional romantic harem anime in recent years. The whole setup — living with shrine maiden sisters and being pushed toward marriage — screams classic rom-com harem vibes.

It’s light, wholesome, sometimes chaotic, but very easy to watch if you enjoy romance-focused harems rather than action ones.

The Brilliant Healer’s New Life in the Shadows (2025)

Genres: Fantasy, Harem, Adventure

This one leans more toward fantasy adventure with harem elements. A healer who gets kicked out of his party starts building his own underground reputation, and of course, female characters start gravitating toward him.

If you like “kicked from party → glow up → harem builds naturally” stories, this fits perfectly.

The Daily Life of a Middle-Aged Online Shopper in Another World (2025)

Genres: Isekai, Comedy, Fantasy, Harem

Honestly, a chill isekai harem concept. Instead of constant fighting, the main character uses an online shopping cheat ability to live comfortably in another world.

More relaxed than most harems, with slice-of-life vibes mixed into fantasy.

The World’s Strongest Rearguard (2026)

Genres: Fantasy, Isekai, Adventure, Harem

A fantasy dungeon setting where the protagonist supports the team from the back lines instead of being the usual front-line hero. That different perspective plus party dynamics naturally create harem vibes.

Could become a sleeper hit if the adaptation is handled well.

Main List (Top 35)

35. Aharen-san Is Indecipherable

Aharen-san looks emotionless, stands way too close to people, and speaks so quietly you need a translator — and Raido, the boy who sits next to her, decides understanding her is his life mission. What follows is the most harmless, wholesome comedy on this list. Nobody is scheming, nobody is suffering, it is just two awkward kids becoming friends in the sweetest possible way. If you want a harem-adjacent show that is pure comfort food with zero toxicity, Aharen-san is it.

34. Masamune-kun’s Revenge

A chubby kid gets dumped by a rich girl, transforms himself into a handsome transfer student years later, and enrolls in her school with one plan: make her fall in love, then reject her cold. Then the plan starts falling apart the moment he actually has to talk to her. Masamune-kun’s Revenge is a harem comedy about how revenge crushes usually deserve better than the person they’re crushing on. The twist at the end genuinely pays off.

33. The Asterisk War – School Anime With Harem 

• Episodes: 24, Two Seasons
• Studios: A-1 Pictures

The Asterisk War makes for a great school harem anime show to watch. It’s among the best in its genre, and you definitely won’t regret giving it a go.

The story takes place at Rikka, in a City by the Sea and also known as Asterisk, which is the largest stage for integrated battle entertainment “Star Wars Festival.”

From six different academies come some participants of the “Star Pulse Generation”; these boys and girls have been granted Shining Weapons and are vying for supremacy, and Amagiri Ayato is one of them.

32. Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie

Shikimori seems like the perfect sweet girlfriend — until someone messes with her boyfriend, and suddenly she’s the coolest person in the room. The whole show is a fluff festival built around that one flip: cute mode, cool mode, cute mode again. There is no harem drama here, just two people being ridiculously good to each other while their friends watch. It is the anime equivalent of warm bread. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

31. Nyan Koi!

• Episodes: 12
• Studios: AIC

Nyan Koi is a comedy harem series that follows the life of an ordinary high school boy named Kousaka Junpei, who lives with his mother and sister. Nevertheless, he has a cat in his house although he is allergic to cats.

One day, he accidentally knocks the head off a statue belonging to the local cat deity, and from then on, he’s able to understand everything any kitty is saying. His cat informs him that he has been cursed by the cat god and that if he doesn’t help 100 cats, his curse will never be broken.

Overall, this is a good harem tv show with the same old storyline, with a boy showered by the love of many beautiful girls and goes through unusual adventures that reshape the way he lives.

30. Oreshura

• Episodes: 13
• Studios: A-1 Pictures

Oreshura is nothing crazy, but if you’re looking for a good high school harem anime, then this might be the one for you. The plot is actually pretty solid, and it’s not too difficult to get into because it does what a good harem anime is supposed to do fairly well.

The story follows a girlfriend trying to make our protagonist break ties with his evil girlfriend and establish a relationship with her since she was his childhood friend, while more girls join the fray, things get hotter than ever. The interesting thing about this harem show is the super lighthearted tone that was used during the entire series. The protagonist chooses someone at the end of the series, and this is what sets the show apart from other similar harem anime series.

29. Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku

Office workers who are secret nerds fall in love, and nobody has to hide who they are. Wotakoi gives you adult relationships — Narumi and Hirotani arguing about games, a cosplayer couple, a stoic senior who communicates through shonen references. It is funny, it is mature, and it actually understands what it’s like to be a grown fan. If high school harem setups feel too young for you, this is the exact show you’re looking for.

28. A Couple of Cuckoos

• Episodes: 24
• Studios: SynergySP, Shin-Ei Animation

A Couple of Cuckoos is another new anime with harem and rom-com elements that chronicles a unique story of Nagi Umino and Erika Amano, who couldn’t have been more different – until they found out they had been swapped at birth.

When the sudden news is revealed to both of their families, their parents quickly devised a plan without either Nagi’s or Erika’s knowledge: in order to restore each of them to their rightful family and ensure everyone’s happiness, the two should marry each other.

When informed of this, Nagi and Erika reject the absurd plan to let their parents choose who they get married. Both parties refuse to give in to the other, so only time can tell where their relationship will go.

Hungry for more? Get A Couple of Cuckoos on Amazon.

27. ORESUKI: Are you the only one who loves me?

• Episodes: 12
• Studios: Connect

Oresuki is a harem tv show that tackles difficult issues related to love and drama in a way that delves really deep into the genre. At times, it can be hard because there can be some compromising situations, but it also makes the show full of suspense.

The story follows a high-school student who is disappointed when the two popular girls who asked him out end up like his friend. This is a series where you’ll meet a bunch of other interesting characters who will join the story. They will all be trying to mislead and lie to each other, which would get them into some sticky situations. They’ll have to find a strategy to come out on top.

26. Amagami SS

• Episodes: 38, Two Seasons
• Studios: AIC

Amagami SS is one of my favorite romance school harem anime of all time. The storyline, the characters, and their interactions all hit every note perfectly. I don’t think I can say anything more about it!

The story follows Junichi, an introverted, modest high schooler with a calm and kind personality. He is also sometimes a bit of a freak with his friend Masayoshi Umehara. After two years following a splintered heartbreak, he finally meets many girls with whom he will open his heart again.

25. How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom

• Episodes: 26, Two Seasons
• Studios: J.C.Staff

How A Realist Hero Rebuilt The Kingdom is among the top isekai harem anime of 2021 that you should not miss. The story follows 19-year-old Kazuya Souma, who, after his grandfather’s death, was left all alone and had no one to call family.

He suddenly finds himself transferred to a small, ailing country in an isekai world. Now, as a genius hero, everyone needs him to “save” their country from the demon army. Kazuya is not happy that he’s been put to work as a tribute, so he joins the kingdom in order to improve its economy, which has been declining. He does this by implementing administrative reforms.

Kazuya, as a ruler, sets out to assemble a group of talented citizens and quickly learns that he must successfully overcome bureaucratic challenges in order to rebuild his country.

Hungry for more? Get How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom on Amazon.

24. More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers

A school grades students by making fake married couples live together, and Jirou gets paired with the girl he can’t stand while his actual crush gets someone else. Watching him and Akari go from strangers to “wait, do I actually like you?” is the whole engine of the show. It respects its own premise, the side couples carry real storylines, and the finale actually commits. One of the better modern harem-adjacent romcoms, no shortcuts.

23. Teasing Master Takagi-san

Every single day, middle schooler Nishikata tries to get one over on the girl who sits next to him. Every single day, Takagi sees it coming from a mile away and dismantles him with a smile. It sounds repetitive and then you realize you’ve watched 30 episodes of a boy losing gracefully to his future wife. The movie where they’re adults with a kid recontextualizes the entire series. Wholesome doesn’t begin to cover it.

22. Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles

• Episodes: 12
• Studios: TMS Entertainment

Now we have Seriei Gensouki, a very rare and unique story in this fantasy harem anime of 2021. Haruto Amakawa, a college student from Tokyo, dies in an accident and wakes up in a new world as a young boy named Rio. Haruto’s thoughts & memories are being merged with those of Rio, and he now also has magical abilities.

Rio is a boy living in the slums who wants revenge for his mother, who was murdered in front of him when he was five years old. Earth and another world. Now, two people with completely different backgrounds and values. will soon after, rescue a kidnapped princess.

As a Reward, the King grants Rio an opportunity to study at a prestigious academy. He is excited and believes this will be a new chapter in his life. However, it does not go as planned, and he struggles in life at the prestigious academy surrounded by nobles and those of the upper class.

21. Insomniacs After School

Two kids who can’t sleep find an abandoned observatory and turn it into their own secret world. Ganta and Isaki bond over 2am conversations, film cameras, and the kind of tired honesty you only get at that hour. This is the most beautifully animated “doing nothing together” romance ever made, and the stargazing scenes are genuinely stunning. Not a harem in the classic sense, but if you’re here for the feeling, this show has more of it than most of this list.

20. Outbreak Company

• Episodes: 12
• Studios: feel

Another top harem anime series to watch is “Outbreak Company”, a story that follows Shinichi Kanou, who is a shut-in otaku with a vast knowledge of anime, manga, and video games.

One day, he applied for a job in hopes of escaping his secluded lifestyle, but because of this, he was kidnapped and transported to the Eldant Empire. It’s a fantasy world filled with elves, dragons, dwarves, etc.

Shinichi was sent on a mission to spread otaku culture across the realm by becoming an “Otaku Missionary.” With the government and Myucel by his side, there can be no doubt that Shinichi will accomplish his mission. Together, this group of misfits will engage in the complex world of politics, class, and more to promote the ways of otaku-ism.

19. Horimiya

The popular girl with a home life, and the quiet boy hiding piercings and tattoos under his uniform, discover each other’s real selves — and then the show does the unthinkable: it lets them become a couple halfway through. No 12-episode will-they-won’t-they hostage situation. Horimiya spends its runtime on what happens after the confession, and that’s exactly why it hurts so good. Check our Horimiya recommendations next.

18. Infinite Stratos

• Episodes: 24 / Two Seasons
• Studios: 8bit

Infinite Stratos is a recommended action harem anime with an op Mc show features the development of the first powered exoskeletons, which then caused all other weapons to seem useless. The Infinite Stratos became the main weapon on Earth after it was first unveiled.

While it has indeed created peace, only women are authorized to operate the IS, hence not only piloting it but paving the way for their domination.

When 15-year-old Ichika Orimura is found to be the only male able to control the IS, his life quickly changes. As ordered by the Japanese government, he finds himself enrolled in the all-female Infinite Stratos Academy. Well, you know what happens when a boy goes to an all-girl school!

17. Mayo Chiki!

• Episodes: 13
• Studios: feel.

Mayo Chiki is a classic crossdressing romcom with a premise that has no business working this well. Mayo Chiki focuses on Kinjiro Sakamachi, a 17-year-old high-school boy, who suffers from gynophobia, an abnormal fear of women.

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows being surrounded by pretty girls. Just ask Kinjiro Sakamachi! As a home fighter with a family who does pro wrestling, he’s had his fair share of bad days.

Kinjirou is about to escape from a girl chasing him down when all of a sudden, he discovers that Subaru Konoe, the most popular student in their school, the butler of the headmaster’s daughter, is actually female! Surprised and then knocked down unconscious. When he wakes up, he meets Kanade. She promises to help cure his phobia in exchange for his silence.

16. My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999

A college girl gets dumped by her guild leader, rage-logs into an MMO, and starts falling for a pro gamer high schooler who is emotionally a brick wall. Akane’s online-to-real-life pipeline is handled with more care than most romcoms manage — no cheap drama, just two people slowly realizing the person on the other side of the screen is real. The lighting in this show alone earns it a spot. Modern, clean, and completely addictive.

15. Haganai

• Episodes: 24 / Two Seasons
• Studios: AIC Build

The next best romance harem anime tv show is Haganai, a series that depicts the story of Kodaka Hasegawa, a friendless schooler, who transfers to a new school, where he wants to make a positive impression, and maybe even some friends. Yet, Kodaka has a lot of trouble when he is seen as an intimidating delinquent due to his blond hair and tough look.

He sees Yozora Mikazuki talking to her imaginary friend in an empty classroom,m and this changes his life. After talking about how they dealt with loneliness in high school, Kodaka and Yozora decide to create the Neighbors Club to help others like them make friends. The Club activities focus on learning social skills in order to help them feel more confident and make new friends. There are some eccentrics and outcastwhoat will join the club. Ando Odaka may finally find people to call friends.

14. Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai

A famous actress becomes invisible to the entire world, and the only boy who can still see her is a sarcastic loner with a sister complex and a heart of gold. Bunny Girl Senpai wraps supernatural “puberty syndrome” cases around some of the sharpest romance writing of the decade. Mai Sakurajima alone justifies the placement. Every arc lands an emotional hit, and the movie will wreck you. Harem-adjacent, dialogue-driven, and elite.

13. The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten

The school’s angel learns the neighbor boy lives alone on convenience store food, and simply starts cooking dinner for him. That’s it. That’s the show. And it works because the warmth is earned slowly — Mahiru never becomes a fantasy, she’s a lonely kid learning to be cared for too. This is the definition of comfort anime, and it somehow became one of the most beloved romances of the decade without a single cheap trick.

12. The Dangers in My Heart

It starts as an edgy boy with a hammer fantasy and quietly becomes the single sweetest romance airing. Ichikawa is a mess of dark thoughts he doesn’t actually mean, Yamada is the class idol who eats like a gremlin, and watching them orbit each other is pure serotonin. The confession arc pays off everything the show built. Give it three episodes and try to stop. We couldn’t. Start with our anime finder if you want more like it.

11. Yamada-Kun and the Seven Witches

• Episodes: 12
• Studios: LIDENFILMS

Yamada Kun is a romantic harem anime with a good plot. Putting the past behind him, Ryuu Yamada attends Suzaku High, where he seeks to turn over a new leaf and start afresh. However, no one there knows his violent delinquent reputation. Ever since he got bored with his surroundings, Yamada’s grades have plummeted, and he often gets into fights again.

One day, he falls and accidentally kisses Urara Shiraishi, waking up to find they have switched bodies. Toranosuke Miyamura, the student council president, discovers their abilities and asks them to join the Supernatural Studies Club.

Legend has it that seven female students were granted immense power by a kiss. They became the Seven Witches of Suzaku High School. The Club embarks on its first quest–to find out who all of the witches are.

Hungry for more? Get Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches on Amazon.

10. Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian

A half-Russian girl mutters her true feelings in Russian, not knowing the boy she likes understands every single word. That one joke carries an entire season because the timing is perfect — Alya’s teases, Masachika’s deadpan inner monologue, the slowest-burning mutual crush in anime. It took the internet by storm and the seat-swap confession energy never drops. One of the freshest harem setups in years.

9. Too Many Losing Heroines

The girls who lose the love triangle finally get their own story. Nukumizu is the loner who watches from the sidelines, Yanami is the childhood friend who never had a chance, and together they make losing feel like winning. The dialogue is brutally funny, the melancholy under it is real, and it was the freshest romcom of 2024 by a mile. If you’re tired of watching the same girl win every season, this one’s for you.

8. The Quintessential Quintuplets

• Episodes: 12
• Studios: Tezuka Productions

The Quintessential Quintuplets is a Japanese harem anime and manga series that follows Fuutarou Uesugi, a student who leads an otherwise tough life. His standoffish personality and reclusive nature have left him friendless, and his father is debt-ridden, forcing his family to scrape by.

One day, Uesugi will argue with a female transfer student who has claimed “his seat,” leading both of them to dislike each other. Later, he will be asked to offer a private tutoring gig for a wealthy family’s daughter. He accepts the proposal, but is horrified to discover that the client, Itsuki Nakano, is the girl he confronted earlier!

After unsuccessfully trying to get back on Itsuki’s good side, Uesugi finds out that his problems don’t end there: Itsuki is actually a quintuplet, so in addition to her, he must also tutor her sisters—Miku, Yotsuba, Nino, and Ichika.

7. Saikano

• Episodes: 13
• Studios: Gonzo

Saikano drama harem anime revolves around Shuuji and Chise, who are third-year students at a high school in Hokkaido. The shy Chise is finally confessing to Shuuji, and finally, the two of them are starting to exchange diaries awkwardly.

One day, Shuuji tries to escape from a sudden enemy air raid on Sapporo. While desperately escaping from the air raid, Shuuji sees a scene that he could not forget for his life.

He sees Chise, with a huge weapon looking as if it were part of her hand, shooting the enemy fighters down one by one. Apparently, Chise is the ultimate weapon with destructive power,r which is important for the war.

6. The World Only God Knows

• Episodes: 36 / Three Seasons
• Studios: Manglobe

The harem and romance themes in The World God Only Knows go well with the storyline. It tells the story of Keima Katsuragi, known as the “Lord of Conquest” in dating simulation games, who would rather play games than interact with people. Although there are times when his luck is put to the test in real life.

When Keima arrogantly accepts an anonymous offer to prove his supremacy at dating sim games, he is misled into aiding a naïve and impish demon from hell named Elucia with her mission.

Shackled to Elsie and with his title of “God of Conquest” on the line, Keima must now venture into the hearts of different pretty girls in real life.

5. Date A Live

• Episodes: 34  / Three Seasons 
• Studios: AIC Plus+

If you’re in the mood for a romantic harem comedy, there is no better show than Dating A Live. It has plenty of sentimental moments and can be quite serious at times, and we promise you won’t feel bored till the end.

There’s something special about the main character, Student Shidou Itsuka, who lives alone with his sister while their parents are away. One day, a sudden spacequake occurred, and due to his sister being in danger, he rushed to save her. He then meets a spirit girl who has been rejected by a devastated world.

However, Tohka, the girl Shido named, happens to have wiped out a lot of humanity 30 years ago, and now she is back. Hence, the only way to stop her is by dating her. This harem action anime series follows Shidou as he struggles to save the world by dating those who threaten to destroy it!

3. The Familiar of Zero

• Episodes: 49  / Four Seasons
• Studios: J.C.Staff

Coming in at number 3, Zero no Tsukaima is an action romance harem anime that tells the story of Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière, who is a mage in a world of wands, cloaks, and royalty.

Although Louise attends a prestigious academy for magicians, she has a major challenge – she is unable to cast magic properly. As such, she is often referred to as Zero Louise by her classmates.

When students start doing a summoning ritual, Louise’s result ends in an explosion. When the smoke cleared, Saito Hiraga appeared out of nowhere. As you can imagine, everyone thought that Louise had done it wrong yet again. They were all surprised when they saw she was capable.

Louise now mistreats her familiar, Saito, and forces him to clean her clothes and eat off the ground. But when Saito’s hand starts etching from the summoning ritual, rumors have it to be the mark of a powerful familiar named Gandalf.

2. Nisekoi

• Episodes: 32 / Two Seasons
• Studio: Shaft 

Here is Nisekoi, an exciting tsundere romance harem anime story, that follows Raku Ichijou The heir to a Yakuza Family. All he wants is to put his yakuza background behind him and live out a normal school life by the side of his Crush Kosaki Onodera.

However, an American gang invades his family’s turf. This results in him being in a relationship with the daughter of the head of a gang family to avoid confrontation. Nisekoi is a well-known anime series popular for being well-written and faithfully following the daily lives of a mismatched couple and various characters in a fun yet touching manner.

With many more girls entering his life, his search for the girl who holds his heart is still ongoing, which leads him in more unusual directions than he expects.

1. Kaguya-sama: Love is War

Two student council geniuses are in love. Both are too proud to confess first, because confessing means losing. So every episode is a psychological duel — mind games, traps, betrayals, and the most unhinged narrator in anime history announcing it like a war documentary. The fireworks episode in season 3 is one of the best-directed romcom episodes ever made, and the Ice Kaguya arc turns the comedy into genuine ache. The definitive modern answer to the harem genre: everyone wins except the two people who matter.

Harem Anime FAQ

What is a harem anime?

A harem anime features one main character surrounded by multiple romantic interests, often mixing romance, comedy, and fan service elements.

What are the best modern harem anime?

Recent popular titles include The World’s Strongest Rearguard, The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses, Girlfriend Girlfriend, The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You, and many more newer heartwarming harems.

Are harem anime only romance?

Not always. Many include action, fantasy, supernatural themes, and comedy.

Where can I watch harem anime?

Crunchyroll, Netflix, and HIDIVE have large collections.

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