The 10 Best Romance Anime to Watch Right Now

The best romance anime make you care about two people so much that a held hand feels like a season finale. This list ranks ten series where the love story is the main event, not a side plot squeezed between battles. Action shows with a cute couple, like Gurren Lagann or DAN DA DAN, are great, but they belong on a different list.

How did we pick? We started with the shows critics and fans keep naming in their own rankings, then checked them against AniList audience scores and our own catalog. Every pick below is streaming on MyAnimeVerse right now, with episode counts and studios pulled straight from our database. Expect rom-coms, slow-burn dramas, a supernatural mystery, a band story, and a fantasy epic.

What makes the best romance anime stand out

A great romantic anime does three things well. First, chemistry: the leads have to spark on screen, whether they bicker, flirt, or barely speak. Second, stakes: something real keeps them apart, like pride, family secrets, or a career. Third, payoff: the show has to deliver progress you can feel, not just teasing that resets every episode.

If you mostly watch comedies or dramas, browse our romance anime collection, or cross over into comedy and drama for more couples to root for.

1. Kaguya-sama: Love is War

Two student council geniuses are clearly in love, and both refuse to confess first, because confessing means losing. That one idea powers Kaguya-sama: Love is War, a 2019 A-1 Pictures series whose first season runs 12 episodes. Every episode turns a tiny moment, like sharing an umbrella or a lunch, into a full-blown battle of strategy, complete with a narrator calling the plays.

It ranks first because it does what few rom-coms manage: it is laugh-out-loud funny and still builds a real, earned relationship. The side cast, led by Chika Fujiwara, is just as sharp. Its 83 score is among the best on this list, and it shows up at or near number one on almost every romance list we studied.

Start here if you want a romance that moves fast and makes you grin. The English dub is excellent, too. Watch Kaguya-sama: Love is War on MyAnimeVerse and see who blinks first.

2. Fruits Basket (2019)

Tohru Honda has lost her mother and is living in a tent when the mysterious Soma family takes her in. Then she learns their secret: certain members turn into animals of the zodiac when hugged by the opposite sex. TMS Entertainment's 2019 remake adapts the classic manga faithfully across 25 episodes in its first season, then continues the story to the end.

Fruits Basket is a love story in the widest sense. There is a romance at its center, but it is also about healing, family trauma, and people learning they deserve kindness. That emotional depth is why so many fans call it one of the best romance anime of all time. It scores 82 with our audience, and it has aged better than almost anything from its genre.

It suits viewers who like slower, heartfelt stories with a supernatural twist, and the dub is a strong option. Start Fruits Basket episode 1 here and keep tissues nearby.

3. NANA

Two 20-year-olds named Nana meet on a train to Tokyo. One is a lovesick romantic chasing her boyfriend, the other is a punk singer chasing a record deal. MADHOUSE's 2006 adaptation runs 47 episodes and follows them into a shared apartment and two very different kinds of love.

NANA is the most grown-up show on this list. Relationships here are messy, passionate, and sometimes painful, and the series never pretends otherwise. It earns the highest score of any pick at 85, and its music, friendship, and fashion still feel fresh twenty years later. Critics regularly place it among the best romantic anime ever made.

Watch NANA if you are tired of high school crushes and want adult characters making real choices. Fair warning: the anime ends before the manga's story does. It is still worth every minute, and the dub is available.

4. Horimiya

At school, Hori is the popular, polished girl and Miyamura is the gloomy kid in the back. Outside school, she is a frazzled homebody raising her little brother, and he has piercings and tattoos. When they catch each other off guard, an easy friendship starts, and it does not stay a friendship for long.

CloverWorks made this 13-episode series in 2021, and its big strength is pace. Horimiya skips the endless will-they-won't-they and lets its couple actually get together, then shows what dating looks like. It is warm, funny, and honest, which is why it sits among the top romance anime of the decade with an 81 score.

It is the perfect pick for anyone who wants romance without the frustration. The dub is solid, and the short length makes it an easy weekend watch.

5. The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity

Chidori High is a rough boys' school. Next door, Kikyo Girls' High educates the daughters of wealthy families, and the two schools can't stand each other. Then Rintaro, a tall Chidori student everyone fears, meets Kaoruko from Kikyo at his family's cake shop, and she is not scared of him at all.

This 2025 CloverWorks series runs 13 episodes and became one of the year's breakout romances, with an 84 score that tops most of the classics here. Instead of manufactured drama, it builds tension from a simple question: can two kids from rival worlds be seen together?

It is a must for fans of sweet, low-cynicism romance, and it is a great entry point for newer viewers. The English dub is available. Start The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity and find out why everyone was talking about it.

6. Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai

Sakuta Azusagawa spots an actress from his school wandering a library in a bunny suit, and no one else can see her. She is suffering from "puberty syndrome," a strange condition tied to teenage anxiety, and Sakuta decides to help. Ignore the title: this 2018 CloverWorks series is far smarter than it sounds.

Across 13 episodes, it mixes mystery, light sci-fi, and a grounded relationship between Sakuta and Mai that is easily one of the most mature in anime. They talk to each other, tease each other, and actually communicate, which is rare. Each arc focuses on a different girl's problem, but the central couple stays rock solid. It scores 81.

Watch it if you like your romance with a twist of the supernatural and sharp, quick dialogue. The dub is available, and there are follow-up films if you want more.

7. given

Ritsuka is a gifted guitarist who has lost his passion for music. Then he meets Mafuyu, a quiet classmate with a guitar he can't play, and agrees to help him learn. Soon Mafuyu is pulled into Ritsuka's band. Lerche's 2019 adaptation runs just 11 episodes, but it packs a lot of feeling into that short run.

Given is a boys' love story about grief, music, and finding your voice again. The romance builds slowly, and the payoff comes through a performance that fans still call one of the best scenes in modern anime. With an 83 score, it is also one of the highest-rated BL anime ever made, and a frequent pick on other critics' romance lists.

It is ideal for viewers who love music stories, quiet character work, and earned emotion. If you enjoy it, our music anime page has more bands to follow. The dub is available.

8. You and I Are Polar Opposites

Suzuki is bubbly, social, and always trying to fit in. Tani is quiet, blunt, and doesn't care what anyone thinks. She has a huge crush on him anyway. Lapin Track's 2026 adaptation runs 12 episodes and is one of the year's best new rom-coms.

The show works because it takes both leads seriously. Suzuki's people-pleasing is played for laughs, but it is also something she grows out of, and Tani turns out to be much kinder than he looks. The comedy is light and the cringe is minimal. An 83 score this early puts it alongside long-time favorites.

Pick it up if you liked Horimiya and want a newer romance anime to watch. The English dub is available. Start You and I Are Polar Opposites here, and check this fall's season lineup for more fresh releases.

9. Heaven Official's Blessing

Xie Lian was once a celebrated crown prince who ascended to heaven, then fell from grace twice. On his third ascension he becomes the laughingstock of the gods and is sent back to the mortal world to work off his debts. There he keeps running into a mysterious young man named San Lang.

This 2020 Chinese ONA from Haoliners Animation runs 11 episodes and brings Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's hugely popular novel to the screen. It is a slow-burn romance wrapped in a fantasy mystery, with gorgeous art and a love interest who radiates devotion. It scores 83, and it has become a gateway for many fans into donghua.

It is best for fantasy fans who don't mind a gradual build and lots of mythology. Want more worlds like this? See our best fantasy anime list. The dub is available.

10. Kamisama Kiss

Nanami's father skips town to dodge gambling debts, leaving her homeless. A stranger she saves offers her his house, which turns out to be a shrine, and she becomes its new land god. The catch: the shrine comes with Tomoe, a grumpy fox spirit who would rather not serve a human girl.

TMS Entertainment's 2012 series runs 13 episodes and is one of the defining shoujo romances of its decade. The comedy is goofy, the supernatural world is charming, and the slow thaw between Nanami and Tomoe gives the show its heart. It scores 81, and its mix of folklore, comedy, and slow-burn romance still holds up.

It is a great fit for younger viewers and anyone who wants something light and magical. The dub is available.

Honorable mentions: more romance anime to watch

The Ramparts of Ice (2026) follows a socially guarded girl and a boy who keeps trying to get close. It is a thoughtful, quiet romance with an 83 score and an English dub.

Love Unseen Beneath the Clear Night Sky (2026) pairs a withdrawn college freshman with a blind girl who dreams of seeing fireworks. It is a tender, 12-episode drama.

Sasaki and Miyano (2022) is a soft, funny BL rom-com about a BL manga fan who finds himself in a story of his own. It is pure comfort viewing.

Revolutionary Girl Utena (1997) is a surreal fairy tale about a girl who wants to become a prince. It is less a straight romance than a deep look at what romance means, and it is essential viewing for curious fans.

A few famous titles from other lists aren't in our catalog yet, including Toradora!, Your Lie in April, Clannad, Kimi ni Todoke, and the film Your Name. For movies, see our best anime movies guide.

Top romance anime compared

Best romance anime FAQ

What is the number one romance anime?

Kaguya-sama: Love is War is the most common pick for the top spot, and it is ours too. Fruits Basket and NANA are close behind if you prefer drama over comedy.

What is a good romance anime for beginners?

Horimiya and The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity are both short, sweet, and easy to love. For more starter picks across every genre, read our best anime for beginners guide.

Are there romance anime where the couple actually gets together?

Yes. Horimiya and Bunny Girl Senpai both let their couples commit and then explore the relationship. That is a big part of why they rank so well.

Which romance anime have an English dub?

All ten picks on this list have an English dub on MyAnimeVerse. Our best dubbed anime list has even more options.

Is there a sad romance anime worth watching?

NANA is the classic choice for bittersweet romance. Fruits Basket also has plenty of moments that will make you cry.

Where to start with the best romance anime

The best romance anime all share one thing: they make you believe in the couple. Start with Kaguya-sama for laughs, Fruits Basket for heart, or NANA for something grown-up and raw. Then work through the rest of this list at your own pace.

Want more? Browse our top rated anime, see what is airing now, or check the airing schedule so you never miss a new episode. Fans of quieter stories should try our slice of life anime, and if you are in the mood for something different, the best sports anime list has plenty of romance on the side, too.