Best Reverse Harem Anime

If harem stories are rare, then reverse harem anime are endangered. Despite being common enough in the manga and light novel industry, these types of romance stories tend not to receive adaptations. Most years might produce two or three shows that fit the reverse harem descriptor, and even that minuscule supply is not guaranteed. In fact, 2024 ignored this subgenre almost entirely, and this dry spell looks set to continue until Anyway, I’m Falling in Love with You debuts in 2025.

Even if the options are not abundant, there are still enough reverse harems to keep fans busy for a while. They might not all be great or complete, but there are plenty of gems out there. Consequently, let’s take a look at the best reverse harem anime ever.

Updated March 2, 2025, by Mark Sammut: Winter 2025 is slowly but surely nearing its end, and the lineup’s reverse harem series are all-over the place in terms of quality. The main one is the most divisive, but there is a borderline option that is quite fun.

Best Winter 2025 Reverse Harem Anime

Winter 2025 has been good so far. Most genres have representation, although the split is far from even. Fantasy, action, and romance fans should be spoiled for choice, with Solo Leveling, My Happy Marriage, Sakamoto Days, Ubel Blatt, and Unnamed Memory just a few series that fit those genres. The Apothecary Diaries, Dr. Stone, and Toilet-Bound Hanako-ku are also big deals.

Honestly, Winter 2025 has a pretty good selection of harem anime. There are even a few other series that might incorporate harem elements, although it is best to wait and see if they go down that route. While rarer than its male-centric counterparts, the reverse harem genre is also receiving some love.

Anyway, I’m Falling in Love with You

Anyway, I’m Falling in Love with You is Winter 2025’s “big” reverse harem anime, at least in the sense that it is arguably the season’s only conventional representative. As such, the show has to be recommended for the simple reason that it is the only real option for those craving a straightforward take on the concept. Unfortunately, the anime has been pretty polarizing, to the point that newcomers should consider reading the manga.

The animation is, sadly, not that great, and the same can be said for the art style. Still, uneven production value is not the end of the world, and a good story can be enough to warrant an enthusiastic recommendation. Anyway, I’m Falling in Love with You has a few interesting ideas that set it apart from the crowd. For one, Mizuho, the female protagonist, is an adult reminiscing about her adolescence, which is a nice change of pace from the norm. Secondly, the story references a pandemic, obviously inspired by COVID (the manga debuted at the end of 2020). This aspect almost adds a historical element to the setting.

All that is cool, but Anyway, I’m Falling in Love with You‘s characters are quite divisive. Mizuho is a fairly typical oblivious female lead, and she mostly just reacts to her male partners and seems hell-bent on ignoring their obvious interests to try and keep their friendships as they are. While all the guys gradually start to notice Mizuho’s attractiveness, Kizuki is generally portrayed as the “main” love interest, and he is probably the most frustrating character in the show.

From Bureaucrat to Villainess: Dad’s Been Reincarnated!

OK, this one is kind of a stealth reverse harem. Continuing the trend of each season including a villainess isekai anime, From Bureaucrat to Villainess shakes things up by casting a reincarnated dad as the eponymous baddie. Knowing very little about otome games in general, Kenzaburou has no choice but to rely on his experience as a father (who loves otaku culture) to try and embody Grace, a noble girl who is meant to make the heroine’s life a living hell. Despite occasionally attempting to play the part of a villainess, Kenzaburou is too much of a good person to fulfill that role, and he ends up becoming the heroine’s best friend.

More importantly, Grace and the heroine, Anna, join their school’s student council, which consists solely of male love interests. While none of the guys are romantically interested in the girls at first, Kenzaburou cannot help but inadvertently (or, at times, intentionally) trigger flags, both for Grace and Anna. So, technically, From Bureaucrat to Villainess could have multiple reverse harems, along with a potential yuri romance as Anna is also falling for Grace.

Due to being a parody of villainess isekai stories, From Bureaucrat to Villainess seems unlikely to go down the romance route, unless it is for comedic purposes.

22

La Storia Della Arcana Famiglia

Interesting Premise, Flawed Execution

La storia della Arcana Famiglia should have been better. Derivative as it is, the story has potential since it revolves around a mafia-run tournament to determine the female main character’s partner; understandably, Felicita also enters the competition to claim her hand and destiny. The rest of the contenders are all attractive male gangsters with fun designs, cool outfits, and either stylish or strange hair (Exhibit A: Dante). J.C.Staff was a good pick for this visual novel adaptation, and the studio’s resume is packed with fantastic anime (Bakuman and The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.).

Everything sounds wonderful on paper, but La storia della Arcana Famiglia does not come together satisfyingly. For one, a 13-episode cour is way too short for this type of narrative, especially when one of them is an OVA that mostly adds nothing. More importantly, the series wastes a shocking amount of time messing about with silly antics and banter, none of which is all that funny or entertaining. To be fair, reverse harem anime should prioritize relationships over action, but the former relies on three-dimensional characterization to work, something that is mostly absent in La storia della Arcana Famiglia. Honestly, a harem anime revolving around the mafia should be a blast, and this series just seems like it’s playing dress-up.

21

Yona Of The Dawn

Fantastic Anime, But The Reverse Harem Is A Very Minor Part

The beauty in Yona of the Dawn, apart from the main character and her male warrior entourage, is that it subverts some prevalent reverse harem tropes. Yona stars off as a naive and vulnerable person who needs to be regularly protected; however, she refuses to remain that way for long, and she works hard to try and change. She’s a budding warrior and an inheritor of the throne, one that has been usurped by an uprising driven by someone Yona believed to be a friend.

The anime also doubles as a coming-of-age adventure where Yona embarks on an epic journey to reclaim her kingdom after her father, the king, gets murdered. Her sheltered nature makes sense considering her upbringing, and her development naturally stems from the grave situation she finds herself in. Unfortunately, the anime only scratches the surface of the source material’s content, making it little more than a footnote in the overall franchise.

Yona of the Dawn does not prioritize its reverse harem aspect.

20

Kakuriyo: Bed And Breakfast For Spirits

Primarily A Great Slice Of Life Anime, But A Decent Option For Romance Fans

Aoi Tsubaki from Kakuriyo has always had a special vision where she can see and communicate with man-eating spirits. For fear that these spirits might consume her, she regularly feeds them and has honed her cooking skills well enough to keep the dangerous souls fed.

Her life takes a twist when a violent king of the spirits suddenly wants to marry her as some kind of debt settlement. What does Aoi do? She vehemently refuses the proposition and instead tells the spirit king that she will open up a restaurant instead to pay off her debt. Her customers? Man-eating souls. Oh, and some of them are hot bachelors who are into the furry scene.

Kakuriyo has elements of romance as expected for the genre, but the show’s selling point is arguably its slice of life tone. The anime moves at a slow pace, allowing the audience to soak in the atmosphere as they gradually watch Aoi develop friendships with her patrons.

19

Cheeky Angel

A Gender Bender Reverse Harem Anime

While not a hard rule, most reverse harem anime are based on shojo properties; however, a few exceptions exist. Cheeky Angel is a minor cult classic that was quite envelope-pushing for its era, especially when it comes to gender norms. A boy named Megumi transforms into a girl thanks to a trickster genie, and they remain that way for years. As they enter high school, the protagonist quickly finds themselves attracting the attention of nearly every guy around, be it delinquents or straight-laced students. Eventually, a proper relationship develops, but Cheeky Angel has the foundation of a reverse harem anime during its earliest chapters.

Aged as it might be in places, Cheeky Angel is still a fun watch all these years later. While primarily a comedy, the anime leaves a good account for itself when shifting focus to romance; more importantly, the story does not rush this element, allowing any relationships to strengthen naturally.

18

Code: Realize – Guardian Of Rebirth

Unapologetic Over-the-Top Premise And Steampunk Setting

Code: Realize – Guardian of Rebirth has one of the most outlandish and ridiculous plots ever in a reverse harem anime. Its heroine, Cardia Beckford was born with what can only be described as an atomic bomb in her heart. Now, a terror organization, as well as the army, wants to keep her because she’s a weapon. Moreover, her heart makes it so that everything organic gets melted in contact with her skin. Still, that didn’t prevent a dashing thief from stealing her, who also promised that he would steal Cardia’s heart, both literally and figuratively. Now, thousands of men are chasing her, but mostly because she’s a walking time bomb.

Based on a visual novel, Guardian of Rebirth has a cool steampunk aesthetic that sets it apart from the crowd, along with an over-the-top premise that produces quite a few exciting moments. That said, the anime is inconsistent, and plenty of episodes drag.

17

Angelique Franchise

An Oldie That Has Its Moments, Even If The Anime Adaptation Is Not The Best

Ah, Angelique, a franchise that seems to have been forgotten over the last decade, at least when it comes to the anime. Starting as visual novels, the games eventually received an OVA adaptation, producing multiple fairly weak seasons that are difficult to recommend to anyone but reverse harem completionist. That said, these episodes have a certain charm to them and do a decent job of establishing Angelique‘s central concept, which is generally fascinating. Basically, this is a multiverse story where each universe is governed by a queen, who is aided by nine male guardians. The OVA follows two girls who have been picked to become queens, chronicling the relationships they develop with their handsome support figures.

Now, to Angelique‘s credit, the anime adaptations generally improve with each new season. Apart from tracking down the far-better visual novels, Loving Angel Angelique is the best entry point for newcomers, and the TV series shifts focus to a new female protagonist, serving as something of a fresh start (the guys carry over from the OVAs, though). The animation is decent for the era, and Ange (the new MC) develops quite a bit throughout the two seasons.

Neo Angelique Abyss largely does its own thing and shares very little in common with its predecessors, including a shift towards action and a story revolving around Purifiers charged with eliminating monsters. While watchable, this spin-off is a bit more generic than Loving Angel Angelique.

16

Tricks Of The Gods

Elevated By A Good Female Lead And A Fun Greek Mythology Premise

In Tricks of the Gods, the female protagonist isn’t a destitute homeless girl with no choice. Yui Kusanagi is a cushy high school student who pulls a sword in her family’s storehouse unironically expecting nothing to happen despite the pop culture implications. Lo and behold, she gets transported into another realm.

It’s not just any realm, but rather a god academy that Zeus (Greek mythology) himself created to teach five handsome, lean young men how to get in touch with humanity. And what better way to reconnect them to their human side than introducing a high school girl to them? It’s up to Yui to teach the five divine wayward gods some human manners. Yui is a likable main character in general as she constantly tries to solve her own issues rather than settling into the damsel-in-distress role.

15

La Corda D’oro: Primo Passo

A Touch Of Musical Harem Magic

Here’s another romance anime that takes place in a music school, specifically Seiso Academy. The main girl, Hino Kahoko, wasn’t meant to be meant for great things in the music academy, but she joined a school-wide music competition. Luckily, a fairy gave her a magic violin so she could compete against the male heavyweights of Seiso.

As ridiculous as it sounds, that’s really what happened. But anyone who likes a dash of classical music to go along with the usual reverse harem shenanigans will find La corda d’oro a satisfying serving and a bit of an odd cocktail.

14

Magic-Kyun! Renaissance

A Prototypical Reverse Harem Anime Executed Well Enough To Be Enjoyable

If someone were to reduce the reverse harem genre to its base ingredients, they would end up with Magic-Kyun! Renaissance. Sunrise’s anime is a quintessential representative of these sorts of stories, to the point of containing most of its basic tropes and character archetypes. As such, it is an easy recommendation for people who are just searching for another reverse harem anime to digest; however, the series will likely not impress anyone who is not already enamored with the genre.

Hoshigei High centers around magic that takes the form of sparkles, and they seem to be tied to the arts. Kohana joins this school to follow in her mother’s footsteps, and she quickly starts a project working with a few of the academy’s most popular bachelors. Naturally, they have some disagreements at first, but the boys quickly fall in love with their female schoolmate.

13

Meiji Tokyo Renka

Injects A Time Travel Twist Into The Reverse Harem Formula

An ordinary high-school girl named Mei Ayazuki gets whisked away to the Meiji era by a handsome self-proclaimed magician. To her surprise (or delight), a group of handsome historical Meiji figureheads were expecting her.

Mei learns that she can see ghosts, and this makes her automatically more attractive to the aforementioned men. A decent reverse harem anime that caters to the Josei demographic, Meiji Tokyo Renka benefits from having a fairly unique setting for the genre, along with a solid roster of male leads.

12

Kiss Him, Not Me!

Very Popular Reverse Harem Anime Based On A Much Better Manga

One of the most popular reverse harem anime, Kiss Him, Not Me! leans heavily into comedy, and the show can be pretty hilarious at times. Obsessed with BL stories, Kae retreats into her shell (and room) when one of her favorite manga characters dies. When she emerges, she looks quite different, a change that attracts the attention of a few guys at school. However, Kae would much prefer to focus on boys’ love than be the center of a harem’s attention.

Kiss Him, Not Me!‘s manga is not only beloved but also generally great, and the anime only scratches the surface of its source material’s content. That said, Brain’s Base still put together a charming and entertaining series that highlights the manga’s positive qualities, even if it is not a complete experience.

11

Fena: Pirate Princess

A More Action-Packed Reverse Harem With A Great Female Protagonist

For those who prefer their reverse harem main girls to be more awesome or special, Fena: Pirate Princess offers more of that in spades. It’s about the titular princess, Fena, who is doomed to an arranged marriage, but lucky for her, her hot male childhood friend and a couple of other warriors rescue her from such a predicament.

What follows afterward is a swashbuckling tale as Fena and her boyband male bodyguard group jump from one adventure to another in search of a place called Eden, her father’s legacy. It’s similar to tales like Fushigi Yuugi, one of the more popular reverse harem staples.

10

Uta No Prince Sama

A Fairly Safe But Enjoyable Reverse Harem Anime

For a music-themed reverse harem anime, one cannot go wrong with Uta no Prince Sama. It’s about the goals and aspirations of protagonist Haruka Nanami. As usual, she’s a country girl with big dreams, and she plans to get her senpai idol to notice her. The only problem is that the guy is an elite rock star and musician. That doesn’t deter Nanami one bit. She enrolls in a music and arts academy with her goal of being a great composer.

To her surprise, however, everyone else in the academy was either an idol, composer, or poet. Of course, the most handsome among them gravitated toward Nanami’s awkward provincial girl mannerisms. Story-wise, Uta no Prince Sama does not offer much in the way of excitement, and it plays things too safe for its own good. However, the show shines in its music and voice acting.

9

Hanasakeru Seishounen

A Reverse Harem That Offers More Than Just Romance

Hanasakeru Seishounen is a lovely and idyllic tale of a rich girl who must choose a husband in a coming-of-age story. Unlike the other reverse harem anime, there’s no pretense or pretext here, as picking a lifelong partner is Kajika Louisa Kugami Burnsworth’s mission from the get-go.

She’s tasked with this seemingly monumental goal after her industrialist father shelters her on a private island, only to be yanked out of her bubble after she turns fourteen. Everything about her and her father’s life now hinges on how well Kajika can choose a husband. While catering to reverse harem tropes quite a bit, Hanasakeru Seishounen weaves a pretty interesting tale beyond just its core romances.

8

My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom!

A Great Entry Point Into The Villainess Isekai Genre (And The Reverse Harem Genre!)

It’s rare to find a reverse harem anime set in an isekai world, but My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! takes on that challenge. It’s similar to something like Re:Zero, where the main girl has died and gets resurrected as a character in her favorite dating sim game.

The catch is that she’s the villain in the game she used to play. To make matters worse, most of her actions accelerate her in-game death. She must tiptoe around her interactions with the characters in the game so that she gets a chance to live longer and also find some prospects among the slick and handsome bachelor selection.

Season 1 is the stronger of the two offerings since it emphasizes Catarina’s life-threatening situation, using it for comedic and dramatic purposes. The characters are allowed to shine beyond their archetypes, and they generally have big personalities. Although not terrible, season 2 is a bit directionless compared to its predecessor.

7

Kamisama Kiss

A Mostly Wholesome Fantasy Romance Anime

Anyone looking for a spiritual alternative to Fruits Basket should check out Kamisama Kiss, although it is only a borderline reverse harem contender. The anime incorporates a rather similar premise as Fruits Basket: A girl (named Nanami here) becomes homeless due to financial issues and gets “adopted” by a slender and feminine-looking man.

The man turns out to be a fox god of some sort, and she gets bound to him by accident, which inadvertently turns her into a deity. Now, her life is never the same as she tries to live her newfound life as a god of some sort as she fends off a snake man who wants to marry her, monsters who want to eat her, and also manages her feelings for her fox god familiar.

Featuring lovable leads and an engaging plot that expertly blends comedy and drama, Kamisama Kiss is just an all-around great anime that merely happens to include a reverse harem twist. That said, the story has a very clear main couple, so there is not much tension in the harem element.

6

Romantic Killer

A Hilarious Parody That Is Also An Entertaining Reverse Harem

Romantic Killer is in a weird spot since it is an unapologetic parody of reverse harem, and its shonen-style humor might not hit the mark with everyone. However, the show should still appeal to fans looking for a piece that can scratch their genre itch.

Anzu has no interest in boys, preferring to spend her time on games and junk food; unfortunately, a magical being suddenly appears and flips her life around, casting her as the unwilling lead in a harem universe. Despite initially seeming to mock everything that harems and romance stories stand for, Romantic Killer gradually develops into a surprisingly effective example of both genres. Anzu is a contender for the best female lead in the reverse harem world, and she is accompanied by male characters who have surprising depth. The premise seems uncomfortable at first since the guys appear to be mind-controlled, but this element is eventually subverted.

5

The Story Of Saiunkoku

One Of The Best Reverse Harem MCs

The main girl in The Story of Saiunkoku is the daughter of a noble family who dreams of becoming a government official. However, the show is set during a time when women weren’t even allowed to pick their husbands.

Shuurei Kou, the main girl in question, found an opportunity when the new and lazy emperor asked her into a six-month fake marriage, so she could handle his government responsibilities in his stead. Together with the emperor’s all-male retinue, they transform the monarch into a responsible man, and whatever romance blossoms along the way is counted as bonus pay. The Story of Saiunkoku is notable for its proactive protagonist and historical setting, two elements that not only set it apart from many reverse harem anime but also elevate it above many of its contemporaries.

4

Hakuoki ~Demon of the Fleeting Blossom~

Romance Is Not Always The Focus, But The Relationships Come Across As Authentic And Natural

Tired of the usual hapless schoolgirl getting in debt or servitude to several gorgeous guys? Then Hakuouki is a breath of fresh air as it picks the Edo era of Japan (the 1600s to 1800s as the setting. In it, Chizuru Yukimura is looking for her missing father when she gets entangled with the Shinsengumi, Japan’s special police force.

Turns out they are also looking for her father. Hence, she now has to work with them, which isn’t too bad considering how some of the members were single and ready to mingle. It also helps that they all represent several shades of masculinity with little to no physical imperfections. Who knew looking for one’s father could be a fun dating opportunity?

Hakuoki puts romance on the back burner for most of its run, allowing the main relationships to develop naturally rather than forcing their growth through melodrama. As a historical series with hints of fantasy, the anime is effective and engaging.

Leans Into Parody Territory At Times, But Still An Awesome Reverse Harem Anime

The Wallflower is quite the riot as it compels four physically near-perfect shoujo anime male stereotypes to live with a girl who has a unique look. The girl’s name is Sunako Nakahara, and it’s intentional that her name is quite close to a horror movie staple, Sadako (Samara in the US) from The Ring. Why must they live with her? Her filthy rich aunt wanted to teach Sunako how to be a woman, and apparently, the best way to do that is by introducing her to four men who are clueless about feminity.

While repetition sets in after a while, The Wallflower is comfortably among the funniest reverse harem anime; more importantly, the characters’ relationship change throughout the series, and it is not love at first sight.