The 6 Best Written Anime Romances of the Last 10 Years, Ranked

Anime fans simply adore the best romance anime from the 2000s and earlier, like the surprisingly heavy-hearted Toradora! and 5 centimeters per second. Over the past 10 years, the anime industry has offered fans another generation of wonderful romance titles, some of which include comedy, drama, or even the supernatural. These great romance anime can also throw in workplace horror or that rare gem that is a good harem story.

From the 2016 to the winter 2026 anime season, fans of romance anime have seen some of the best titles in the genre so far, with plenty of honorable mentions ranging from Horimiya to Komi cannot communicate and A sign of affection. At the same time, the very best romance anime of the last decade contains some of the sharpest, most memorable lyrics that emotionally resonate with viewers. Some of these great romance anime also use their robust writing chops to explore related genres and premises as well, from private insecurities to personal growth and even competitive spirit.

The Quintessential Quintuplets are the finest harem of the past 10 years

Studying and true love can change a young life

The Quintessential Quintuplets can be surpassed by even deeper, more thought-provoking romance anime, though it has a lot to offer. This is one of only a few truly worthwhile harem anime, since The Quintessential Quintuplets is less about self-gratification and more about personal growth. Futaro Uesugi may have five beautiful sisters interested in him, but remarkably, the story isn't really centered around him. Instead, Futaro's positive influence is the catalyst for growth, maturity, and even courage and responsibility for the Nakano sisters.

The power of discipline, friendship, sisterhood and love will all inspire quintuplets to stop relaxing and start taking life more seriously. Graduation and the real world are fast approaching, and the sisters can't handle getting bad grades or putting off thinking about their future. Although only one Nakano sister may end up as Futaro's bride, all five will experience tremendous growth as people, making them all winners where it counts most. Along the way, the romance is a little cheesy but still heartwarming and often hilarious.

Wotakoi is both a great office romance and a story of acceptance

Hidden hobbies are fun but also cause strain

Anime fans tired of the flood of high school romance will enjoy all that Wotakoi: Love is hard for Otaku has to offer. The office environment is not the only worthy setting Wotakoibut it's a good start. This helps 20-something or even 30-something anime fans feel seen as they watch adult characters that feel more relatable than any animated teen. It also helps how these older characters have already moved past awkward teenage angst and can focus on more mature, stable romance instead.

The second big turn in Wotakoi is how the characters try to balance their hidden otaku side in their “normie” office space. The four main characters handle it differently, but the point is the same: the sympathy of meeting a character who feels embarrassed to be themselves. Everyone has a side of them they'd rather keep hidden for fear of shame or ridicule, and no one knows that feeling more than lovelorn Narumi Momose. It may even cause friction with her boyfriend Hirotaka Nifuji, who is relatively open about his otaku side.

Your name. Still stands as the best romance anime movie

Makoto Shinkai cannot easily outdo himself

Studio Ghibli has produced some amazing animated films about romance and friendship, such as Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castleand the new generation needs its own version. That's where director Makoto Shinkai comes in, and his name is always mentioned in the same sentence as the likes Your name. Mr. Shinkai has produced other notable films as well, such as Weathering with you and Suzumebut he has not yet topped his masterpiece, Your name.

The romance is only half the fun, with City Boy Taki and Country Girl Mitsuha struggling to connect while swapping bodies. That was all fine and dandy at first, but this movie is much more than that Crazy Friday in Japan. Legions of anime fans know the big twist with Your name., adds breathtaking stakes and a race against time as Taki fights to save Mitsuha from a shocking fate she can't see coming. The film also puts wonderful emphasis on a person's name, as it is the first part of someone's identity upon meeting. Love has to start somewhere, and it usually starts with a name.

Oshi no Ko expertly juggles romance with drama and subversion

Aqua's love life is tied to brutal industrial trends

Anime fans wouldn't say Oshi no Ko is pure romance, and some viewers might not even say it's primarily a romance. As said, Oshi no Ko simply must be discussed in any conversation about the finest romance anime of the last 10 years. Oshi no Ko blew everyone away with its massive first episode, “Mother and Children,” and it's only gotten more incredible since then. It partly depends on Oshi no Ko puts some hard-hitting twists on the ideas of teenage romance and performing arts.

The grim reality of the entertainment industry colors every aspect of Aqua and Ruby Hoshino's lives, including Aqua's love life. Aqua is in the middle of a love triangle with both Kana Arima and Akane Kurokawa, and his reasons for holding onto or pushing either girl away are dark. Aqua is desperate to protect Kana from Ai Hoshino's fate, while Akane stays with Aqua so she can help him get his revenge. Either way, love isn't easy, and it can get even tougher as Aqua gets closer to her elusive target: her father.

Fruits Basket's new anime far surpasses the 2001 original

Tohru Honda began a mission to save the Sohmas from themselves

Few names in either romance or shojo are better known Fruit basketwith Sailor Moon and Card Catcher Sakura are the other two shojo titans. 2001 Fruit basket anime was a charming way to introduce TV viewers to Tohru Honda's world, but that anime is now quite dated and doesn't even tell the whole story. In 2019, TMS Entertainment finally delivered Fruit basket experience all the anime fans needed, and it made up for lost time.

The new one Fruit basket anime is a faithful adaptation of the hit original manga, while making everything and everyone look better than ever. The rich colors, strong voice acting, smooth animation and gorgeous backgrounds all sell the idea of ​​a supernatural romance weighted with shocking drama and angst. It can feel a bit over the top at times, but the end result is worth it, a story about saving people from themselves and unraveling deeply dysfunctional family ties.

Kaguya-Sama: Love is War focuses on competition, self-discovery, and humor

Shuchiin Academy is a romantic battlefield every day

The best romance anime of the last 10 years, and one of the best romance anime of all time, is the mega hit Kaguya-Sama: Love is War. For starters, romance fans love how Kaguya-Sama turned amorous tension into a fun game of wits between the proud Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane. Some anime characters try to play sneaky mind games with romance, but Kaguya sensed Miyuki turned it into a real sport, and both enjoy it. The competition is so fierce and so official that the charming narrator himself acts as judge.

On a more serious note, Kaguya-Sama does an expert job of making romance, friendship, and self-discovery so nuanced and deep in every episode. Over time, the main cast, most of all Kaguya herself, explore their inner selves and often question why they do what they do. In some cases, Kaguya puts herself on trial in her mind, and it says a lot about how she views herself and her romantic struggles.