The 25 Best Harem Anime Of All Time, Ranked

This article is part of a directory: Best Anime of All Time || GameRant’s Official Best Anime Ranking

Updated on October 21, 2026, by Mark Sammut: As this article has grown just a bit unruly, I decided to streamline the selection down to the top 25 harem anime, along with removing some of the fluff and improving the formatting. Therefore, if you see any old comments that mention series not shown in the article, they have just been removed.

As one of the most popular AND divisive genres, harem anime tend to get strong reactions from folks, be it love or hate. Even the best harem anime of all time are far from universally adored, and only a few shows can really be described as masterpieces in a vacuum. However, if you enjoy the thrill of watching a guy bumble his way through relationships with women who are inexplicably drawn to him, then you are spoiled for choice. Personally, I enjoy a good harem, and there are plenty of those.

When it comes to picking the top harem anime, we need to prioritize both the quality of the protagonist, the quality of the girls, and the believability of the harem. Some series shine in one of those departments, while a couple of rare gems manage to hit all three. While I'm listing my favorites, I mostly want to use this article as a beginner's guide for anyone who isn't sure where to start with harem anime.

Reverse harem anime have their own discussion.

Also, the rankings of the best harem anime are updated monthly, so things can and do change. Consequently, we also add classic shows that might have missed the cut initially. We have tried to be as thorough as possible, but there are a lot of harem anime.

25 Chitose Is In The Ramune Bottle

An Anime That Tries Too Hard, But That's Better Than The Million Shows That Don't Try At All

The thing about harem anime is that, for the most part, they avoid risks. As you almost always know what you are going to get, fans of the genre will most likely enjoy new releases, even if they might not be all that great in the grand scheme of things. Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle is an exception, and I cannot fully recommend it to even the most committed of harem fans. However, as a drama, the show has enough positives to warrant a mention, if not a strict recommendation.

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Harem loves its loser protagonist who, eventually, reveals himself to be the coolest, smartest, and most handsome man to ever exist. In this case, Chitose starts at that level; more importantly, he is fully aware of his brilliance. Popular and kind of arrogant, he steps in to help those suffering from depression or other issues, often manipulating them in the process. Honestly, Chitose is simultaneously fascinating and detestable, and his "plans" frequently cross the line of good taste.

Season 2 is airing as part of Fall 2026, and it is pretty good so far.

24 In Another World With My Smartphone

A Slow-Life Isekai Harem Anime That Leans Heavily On Tropes (But It Can Be Relaxing)

In Another World With My Smartphone does not excel at many things. As far as isekai premises are concerned, Touya's reincarnation is so generic that it almost ventures into the realm of parody, although it is not presented comedically. The anime does not have much in the way of action, which is perfectly OK; however, it does not really have much in the way of anything. The humor is inoffensive and safe, and that can honestly be said for nearly all the characters.

So, what does In Another World With My Smartphone have going for it? Well, it kind of works as a carefree slow-life adventure that is mostly designed to be an escape from reality. Touya faces almost no hardships, and he accumulates a harem effortlessly and quickly. For their part, most of the girls love him unconditionally, and a harem ending always seems to be on the cards. As long as you go in with the right expectations, In Another World With My Smartphone can be enjoyable.

23 Monster Musume: Everyday Life with Monster Girls

A Harem All About Monster Girls

Look, there is no escaping that harem anime occasionally cross into the ecchi genre. Heck, some of the most popular releases rely VERY heavily on fanservice, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that when it is done in good taste. Monster Musume: Everyday Life with Monster Girls is one of the more famous examples of this marriage, although it is not quite as perverse as some other shows that demand to be watched in the dark and with headphones.

As its title implies, Monster Musume is about a guy who starts living with a bunch of monster girls in an attempt to help the latter integrate into human society. Rather than cycling through archetypes or hair colors, the anime puts together a roster of fantasy races, including classics like lamia, harpy, and centaur, along with more unusual ones like arachne. While their personalities are not really that atypical for harems, Monster Musume's girls might have the most diverse and unique designs in the entire genre.

22 Trinity Seven

One Of The Most Popular Battle Harems... It's Pretty OK

Although not as common as rom-coms, the harem genre occasionally crosses over with action, delivering shows that try to blend fanservice with battle-shonen goodness. While High School DxD and Date a Live represent this marriage's ideal, they are exceptions to the rule, with most battle harems falling flat. Trinity Seven serves as a better example of this type of show, one that can be enjoyed for both its harem and fights.

Now, just to be clear, the action is nowhere near the level of some of that genre's greatest offerings. However, when reviewed within the context of battle harems, Trinity Seven fares better than most of its competitors. The power system is relatively interesting, if a touch convoluted, and the idea of basing the girls on the seven deadly sins is an intriguing one. Arata is a pretty great harem lead who is not afraid to be direct, and the girls are the same to an extent.

21 There's No Freaking Way I'll be Your Lover! Unless...

Well, How About A Harem Anime With A Girl Love Twist?

I'm not actually sure whether to include There's No Freaking Way I'll be Your Lover! Unless... in this article or not, as it walks the line between harem and reverse harem. On the one hand, the subject of everyone's affection is Renako Amaori, a girl; conversely, the "everyone" part also consists solely of girls. Yeah, we have a yuri harem, and let me tell you, those don't come easily.

While qualifying as a harem, There's No Freaking Way I'll be Your Lover! Unless... functions far better as a chaotic romantic comedy, and it might not give everyone exactly what they want from a harem. Despite featuring 4 potential love interests, only two of them are really presented as candidates, while the others are mostly just background gags. The harem doesn't have that much of a competitive edge, instead almost leaning into polyamorous territory. Finally, while pretty hilarious most of the time, the anime has a habit of throwing in melodrama that pushes a fairly toxic interpersonal relationship, with Mai being particularly pushy.

All of the above means I cannot rank There's No Freaking Way I'll be Your Lover! Unless... too highly, but it's also way too entertaining to leave off this list.

20 Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze

Best Girl Is, Obviously, The Guy

A harem's main selling point is the lineup of girls who are fighting for the lead's affection. At least, that sounds right on paper, but in truth, a show's quality is often directly related to its male protagonist. If the MC sucks, the anime sucks. If the MC rules, the anime tends to be pretty good.

Summer 2025's Dealing with Mikadono Sisters Is a Breeze serves as a recent-ish example of this rule, as Yuu Ayase, the guy at the heart of the harem, hard-carries the anime on his (narratively) mediocre shoulders. Don't get me wrong, the sisters – Niko, Miwa, and Kazuki – are perfectly fine love interests who come pre-installed with passions that give them something to chase besides Yuu's attention. However, they are not interesting enough on their own to justify recommending this series, especially since they are mostly going through the same arc.

However, Yuu is a driven guy who stands his ground when faced with the sisters' initial arrogance and resistance, since they look down on him for not being gifted.

19 Rosario + Vampire

A Beloved Classic That Is Entertaining And Also A Bit Underwhelming

Looking for another disorderly twist in a harem anime? Why not monster girls? Rosario + Vampire explores that notion. Protagonist Tsukune Aono enrolls in Youkai Academy thanks to his stingy parents, but he soon discovers that it's actually a school for supernatural monsters such as succubi, werewolves, and vampires.

Thankfully, he falls in the company of Akashiya Moka and other monster girls, who view him as a precious friend since he's the only human in the academy. It's not all ecchi situations and opportune moments for Tsukune, though as he also helps the girls address the school's most glaring issues. Rosario + Vampire is one of the most popular and well-known harem anime out there, and it does feature quite a few of the genre's tired tropes and conventions; however, the supernatural twist gives it an edge over most of its contemporaries and successors.

18 Chained Soldier

A Risqué As Heck Harem Manga Transformed Into A Passable Anime (Season 2 Is Way Better Than Season 1, Too)

One of the more hyped-up harem anime of the 2020s, Chained Soldier is based on a fairly well-known shonen manga that gained a reputation for its risqué fanservice that really pushed the boundaries. An adaptation had the potential to be fantastic, as long as it leaned into the source material's selling points; unfortunately, season 1 toned down a lot of Chained Soldier's provocative scenes. This might have been acceptable if the action sequences were good enough to carry the load, but they rarely rose above "passable."

OK, that is a lot of negativity, so why is Chained Soldier ranked so high up? Well, season 2 improves upon nearly every element of its predecessor. The action, characters, and fanservice are all handled far better, resulting in episodes that are enjoyable enough to justify sitting through the opening season to get to them. The story revolves around a guy who becomes the weapon of a group of girls who fight monsters, and he is rewarded based on his desires. Like so many of the best harem anime, the premise is both basic and absurd, and Chained Soldier actually balances its ecchi and action content pretty well during the sequel season.

17 To LOVE Ru

The Definitive Classic Harem Anime (That Is Still Worth Watching)

To LOVE Ru is a harem classic where a typical boy MC named Yuuki Rito actually has an ideal partner who's also his childhood friend. Things get complicated, however, when an alien girl from another planet lands on Earth and sets her eyes on Yuuki. To make matters worse, the said alien girl's sisters also want a piece of Yuuki and have uprooted themselves and now live in his house. Oh, and there's also a weapon girl who wants to kill Yuuki but also serves as a potential romantic tangent for him. But hey, Yuuki still loves his childhood friend no matter what. Sort of. Maybe.

Except for a few more recent shows, To LOVE Ru might be the most famous harem anime of all time, a reputation stemming from its early release and influence on the rest of the genre. When viewed without nostalgia goggles, To LOVE Ru mostly comes across as a halfway decent supernatural comedy that occasionally pulls off a heartfelt moment. A lot of its ideas have been repeated to death, and complete newcomers might not quite understand this series' relative popularity. It's still fun, though.

16 Farming Life in Another World

Honestly? The Best Isekai Harem Anime

Each season, we get at least one new isekai harem anime, and they tend to all blend into one blob of elves, demons, and catgirls. Out of all the modern shows that combine these two divisive genres, Farming Life in Another World is the best, and it can be recommended to both fans of isekai AND harems. The premise is pretty simple: Hiraku wants to be a farmer for his second life, and he is gifted with never-ending stamina and a unique tool that morphs into anything he needs. One of those powers should be useful in a harem.

Dropped in the middle of a forest, Hiraku establishes a homestead that becomes a haven for wayward folks, most of whom are women. He gets married quickly, and they live a happy life while also becoming their own state that needs to build a relationship with the neighboring cities. Farming Life in Another World aims to be a cozy escape from reality where everything works and tension is fleeting. While not necessarily deep, the characters are likable enough for the genre, with Hiraku being an everyman who has some personality.