Harem anime shows aren’t my favourite. I’ll say it straight. The genre is one of the worst as far as cliches and lack of creativity.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t GOOD, solid harem anime to get into.
As a genre smaller than most, it comes down to where you look. And it’s not as hard to find based on the genre’s size (less than 400 shows).
Here are some recommended anime I’ve watched and know about.
The Best Harem Anime:
1. Heaven’s Lost Property
Heavens Lost Property is about a girl who literally falls out the sky. And ends up in the main character’s bedroom.
The anime uses “light” to hide the naughty bits. I’m not sure if all versions are censored like that.
The main character wants to learn about this strange event, the aliens, and the girls. And goes out of his way to do that.
Typical harem set-up, but it’s one of the best “harem” shows out there.
2. When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace
An anime with a long title and is surprisingly made by Studio Trigger. The same studio behind Kill La Kill and Little Witch Academia.
The main character is a Chuunibyou and believes he has superpowers. The usual stuff.
He believes it so much that whenever one of the girls walks into their “chill out” room in school, he puts an act on and dramatizes things.
It turns out though, that he ends up gaining powers after all, along with “girl” friends. And that’s where the harem element walks in.
3. We Never Learn!
We Never Learn is self-explanatory. Three girls in school all excel in a specific subject. But all the other subjects they fail at.
They fail miserably. Similar to the girls in Quintessential Quintuplets.
The main character becomes their teacher and helps them get their grades up. And the harem follows from the bond they build.
Not the most creative anime as far as plot, but the comedy and where it goes is another story.
Help mermaid princess Andriella fulfill her task by getting it on with the hottest chicks of Naughty Beach!
4. Yamada Kun And The Seven Witches
Yamada Kun And The Seven Witches is about Yamada. The main star of the show.
A girl called Shiraishi, the cliché “perfect student”, catches Yamada’s eye. But her attitude pisses him off.
In the name of being petty, he walks past her on the stairway to get a word in and slips and they both fall and are knocked unconscious.
How does the harem start in this anime? It turns out that when Yamada “kisses” someone, they’re able to switch bodies. Which they do to solve each other’s problems in school.
5. Hayate The Combat Butler
Hayate The Combat Butler is an anime I watched this year, even though it was released years ago.
Hayate is poor, in debt, and has nowhere to go. No one will take him in or help the guy.
By chance, he meets a rich girl called Nagi, who takes him in. She happens to be a Tsundere.
After becoming a butler in the girl’s mansion, the harem naturally follows as the anime progresses.
Hayate also knows how to fight well and is nothing like your average harem protagonist.
6. Ai Yori Aoshi
Ai Yori Aoshi is about Kaoru, a guy who lives on his own. And comes from an abusive home life.
He even has scars across his back as proof of the physical abuse.
Aoi Sakuraba, the other MC, grew up with Kaoru but doesn’t see him until years later, which ends up being the plot.
Their relationship is wholesome, but you get some harem slipped into the anime’s plot.
7. How To Raise A Boring Girlfriend
How To Raise A Boring Girlfriend, or “Saekano”, is easily one of my favourite Ecchi/harem shows out there.
The studio behind it is Aniplex, or I should say A-1 Pictures.
Tomoya Aki, the MC, is an otaku. And wants to build a dating sim game. So he finds people to help him.
Of course, they’re all girls, but they also happen to be otaku, authors, and specialists of sorts. Except one girl called Megumi (the boring girlfriend).
8. Outbreak Company
Outbreak Company is another harem anime with an Otaku protagonist. His job is an ironic one.
In this Isekai, he’s transported to another world, and in that world, they love otaku culture.
The main character, Shinichi, is “hired” to bring otaku culture to the new world he finds himself in.
It’s made by the same studio as Oregairu, Hinamatsuri, and Dagashi Kashi.
9. High School DxD
High School DxD is the king of Ecchi and harem. It’s an anime that does both and is rated better than the average anime in these genres.
Rias Gremory is one of the famous red-headed characters of this series. Ranked a top-class devil in the series.
Issei is the guy who ends up with a harem of these devils, and the anime features fights, the supernatural, and the ridiculous.
Not just nudity here but violence as well.
10. Masamune Kun No Revenge
Masamune Kun No Revenge is about Masamune Makabe, a typical handsome MC with a past.
Asa kid, Masamune was fat and chubby. And low self-esteem came with that reality. Aki Adagaki, a female MC rejected him back when he was overweight.
Masamune trains and becomes physically fit and attractive, with one goal in mind: revenge.
He wants to make Aki fall for him, and when she does, he plans to break her heart the same way his heart was broken.
Of course, it doesn’t turn out as planned. The anime has its funny moments.
11. KissxSis
This anime isn’t for kids; I’ll say it straight. It leans on the side of incest like many anime types.
The main character has two sisters, one of which is into him. But he doesn’t seem to mind.
This is where the harem aspect plays into it, but there’s more down the line as you get further.
More of a fetish-type anime if that’s what you’re into.
12. Quintessential Quintuplets
Quintessential Quintuplets is an anime that’s been mentioned more than once on this website.
Five twin sisters need a teacher to improve their grades, so their father hires one. Who ends up being Uesugi.
Like the anime “we never learn”, the twins warm up to Uesugi as he helps them with their studies.
A set few of the characters, like Miku Nakano, become interested in Uesugi.
13. Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends
Haganai is an anime show I don’t see recommended too often. It’s much better than most harems can claim to be.
Unlike the average harem, there’s a message in this series. And that message is loneliness.
To escape their loneliness, 2 characters create “the neighbours club” hoping to meet and gain more friends.
What ends up happening is a bunch of girls become part of the club, And Kodaka Hasegawa unintentionally creates a subtle harem.
He’s a relatable protagonist and doesn’t fit any of the typical cliches you tend to see in these shows.
14. The Fruit of Grisaia
The Fruit of Grisaia focuses on dark themes, so it’s more than just fan service, harem, or Ecchi elements. Or eye candy in general.
Yuuji transfers to a new academy with the idea of living an ordinary school life. Only to end up in a school with five girls in particular.
Each girl has their own messed up past and traumatic experiences, and Yuuji, despite being the introvert he is, socializes with them. And forms somewhat of a relationship.
Psychological elements are common here, so you’ll enjoy this if you love the psychological genre.
15. To Love Ru
To Love Ru is a rom-com series and one of the most literal. The main character ends up with a harem that seemingly doesn’t stop growing.
Rito, the main character, is liked by Haruna. But she doesn’t have the confidence to say it out loud.
After Lala (an alien) comes into the picture, things change. And the anime is pretty lewd with so many seasons and versions to get through.
16. Nisekoi
Nisekoi is easily one of the best harem shows, not just as far as ratings but quality, even if that’s subjective.
It’s about Chitoge Kirisaki and Raku Ichijou. Both have a family background of gangsters and criminals, and both their families are rivals.
To come to a truce, Ichijou and Chitoge are forced to be in a relationship with each other. It’s a fake relationship. Nisekoi translates to “fake love”.
A third character in the picture is Kosaki Onodera, who’s liked Ichijou for years but is too shy and introverted to say it.
This anime desperately needs a 3rd season; I enjoyed it more than I expected to.
17. The World God Only Knows
The World God Only Knows has an otaku protagonist who plays dating sim games too much. And is adamant in his beliefs that “2D” girls are better.
After being annoyed by Elsie, a 300+ year old cute demon girl, he saves girls’ souls after finding out their hearts are tainted.
The solution? Capturing their hearts and “kissing” them.
It doesn’t get any more cliché than this, but surprisingly the way the anime executes its ideas feels different. And the main character is unique.
18. How Not To Summon A Demon Lord
How Not To Summon A Demon Lord is an anime you can’t ignore in this list. It’s pretty extreme when it comes to its themes.
Ecchi, harem, saucy episodes, Loli’s, and enough fan service to get drunk on. This anime isn’t for the light-hearted. Or anyone who wants a clean show.
The main character is transported to another world — a world of his favourite game where he gets to be the demon lord Diablo.
Right from the first few minutes of this anime, it’s clear where it’s going. Some of the fight scenes and action are better than they should be.
19. The Asterisk War
Asterisk War and Chivalry Of A Failed Knight are often compared. Both are harem, but I like Asterisk War better.
The main characters are Ayato Amagiri and Julis Alexia. Julis is a queen (legitimately) with a work ethic and morals like no other.
In this world, there’s a tournament called “Festa”. Both characters enter it with their own goals and ambitions in mind since the winner gets to make their wish come true.
Season 1 isn’t the best, but season 2 is where things improve a lot.
Honourable Mentions:
- Kiss Him Not Me.
- Ouran High School Host Club.
- In Another World With My Smartphone.
- Date A Live.
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What other harem would you recommend?
Recommended:
How World’s End Harem Exposes Society’s Double Standards (Like Redo Of Healer)
