25 best romance anime in 2023: top love stories (updated)
Romance films are one of the most loved genres in entertainment. Regardless of a film's plot, a romantic twist is highly likely. The anime world is one of the most popular film genres with various storylines. What is the best romance anime to make your heart skip a beat in 2023?
Anime romance is relatable and exciting. As watchers get invested in the anime love story on-screen, the mixed emotions that come with the stories undoubtedly tug at the heart.
Best romance anime to watch
Movie lovers know and probably agree that every story is spiced up if it possesses at least a small degree of romance. Love brings a particularly unique element that makes the audience feel warm and fuzzy. The scenes also allow people to appreciate the small things and bitter-sweet moments in life and love.
What is the best romance in anime? Here is a list of the best anime love stories that you ought to watch in 2023.
1. Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion
- IMDb score: 8.7/10
Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion tells the story of a woman named Raeliana, a successful businesswoman in the modern world. She is transported into a romance novel where she becomes the villainess destined to meet a bad end.
2. Fruits Basket
- IMDb score: 8.6/10
The show tells the story of Tohru Honda, an orphan girl the Soma family takes in. She later learns that twelve family members transform into Chinese zodiac animals. She helps them handle the emotional pain created by the transformations.
Fruit Basket premiered on Fumination and AnimeLab on March 20, 2021. The Japanese broadcast began two weeks later, on April 6, 2021.
3. Kaguya-sama: Love is War
- IMDb score: 8.5/10
Love is a war for student council president Miyuki and her vice president, Kaguya. Although everyone regards the pair as the perfect couple, they are not together. Both characters use their wit and various tricks and antics to get the other to confess their feelings. In this game of pride, whoever confesses first is the loser.
4. Heaven Official's Blessing
- IMDb score: 8.3/10
Heaven Official's Blessing is a good romance anime of 2023 and a must-watch too. The series is based on a novel of the same name composed by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu and was first released on Bilibili and Fumination on October 31, 2020. The anime series also streams on Netflix, including the special episodes
5. Horimiya
- IMDb score: 8.1/10
Horimiya is one of the best romance anime movies that you can watch. It tells the classic love story of a boy who meets a girl and starts having an interesting romantic relationship. Two individuals, one academically successful and another a quiet loser, meet and start developing a profound friendship.
The only thing that they have in common is a secret life. After the meeting, they reveal the other side they have never shown.
6. Chihayafuru
- IMDb score: 8.1/10
Chihayafuru centres around the Japanese card game, Karuta, in which the three main characters, Chihaya, Taichi, and Arata, are connected. A love triangle forms among the trio amidst Chihaya's passion for the game and dream of being the best. Will she prioritize her dream or her heart?
7. Tokyo Revengers
- IMDb score: 8.0/10
This love anime is about a middle-aged man that travels in time to his school years. The trickiest part is that he must get involved and lead a dreaded school gang to save the love of his life. Will he balance the negativity and positivity to win the love of his life?
8. Sacrificial Princess & the King of Beasts
- IMDb score: 8.0/10
This is one of the best action romance anime; the plot revolves around the King of the Beasts and Demons, who frequently receives female human sacrifices to eat to show his people's dominance over the human race. For the 99th sacrifice, the Beast King is intrigued by the human girl brought to the capital, Sariphi. This is the account of Sariphi's rise to the position of queen of demons and monsters.
9. My Dress-Up Darling
- IMDb score: 8.0/10
My Dress-Up Darling is a romance comedy anime that chronicles the narrative of Wakana Gojo, a high school boy who is an expert at sewing and making detailed cosplay outfits. He keeps his hobby hidden from his friends and strives to establish a sense of belonging.
Wakana meets Marin Kitagawa, a popular and vivacious girl who discovers his gift for sewing and urges him to make costumes for her. Despite their differences, Wakana and Marin build a close friendship while creating intricate cosplay ensembles.
10. Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru Kan Season 3 (My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU)
- IMDb score: 7.9/10
This is another fantastic romantic comedy anime to watch whenever you want a touch of both. As the final arc of the popular series, fans will see more of the cynical Hachiman Hikigaya and his ironic story of being in the school's volunteer service club.
Together with club members Yui and Yukino, Hachiman slowly opens up his socially awkward self to help others while experiencing some romance.
11. The Quintessential Quintuplets
- IMDb score: 7.7/10
The Quintessential Quintuplets' first season was released on January 9, 2019, followed by a second season that debuted on January 8, 2021. The series was composed by Keiichiro Ochi and has become one of the best romance animes ever.
The story is about the Nakano quintuplets that hired a tutor, a poor straight-A student. The anime is a flashback from the future that shows that the tutor marries one of the quintuplets. Of course, you can expect some of the most breathtaking romantic moments in this anime series.
It has great suspense. You will often try to figure out if the intense feelings and connections between the tutor and student will overcome that solid teacher-student relationship.
12. Beastars
- IMDb score: 7.7/10
If you are looking for a romance anime on Netflix, then Beastars can be an ideal movie. Beastars is a name given to beasts that prove their excellence by fighting inequality to create peace between carnivores and herbivores. The third and final season is set to premiere in 2024.
13. Romantic Killer
- IMDb score: 7.6/10
Romantic Killer is a love anime film that chronicles the narrative of Xia Ye, a notorious assassin recognized for her ability to assassinate targets. Xia Ye is aloof and uninterested in anything other than her next job.
Xia Ye's life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Liu Feng, a young man who happens to be a police officer. Despite their contrasting occupations, they are drawn to each other and embark on an illicit romance.
14. Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka Season 3 (Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?)
- IMDb score: 7.4/10
Do you believe in fateful encounters? In the city of Orario, adventurer Bell Cranel follows his dreams of becoming one of the greatest in the city. With the blessing of the Goddess Hestia and his strong feelings for high-tier adventurer Ais, he works hard to become someone worthy of standing beside her.
15. Higehiro: After Being Rejected, I Shaved and Took in a High School Runaway
- IMDb score: 7.4/10
This love anime story is about an office worker who takes in a runaway schoolgirl. Although they have a significant age gap and different personalities, they create a strong bond.
16. The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten
- IMDb score: 7.4/10
Zhang Xi lives alone next to an apartment owned by Yu Yin, a beautiful and kind-hearted girl who, secretly, is an angel and takes it upon herself to watch over and care for Zhang Xi. She cooks, cleans, and even protects him from harm, all while concealing her divine identity.
As the two become closer, Zhang Xi develops affection for Yu Yin but is troubled by the idea that she is not human. Meanwhile, Yu Yin must balance her angelic duty with her longing to be with Zhang Xi.
17. Kanojo, Okarishimasu (Rent-a-Girlfriend)
- IMDb score: 7.1/10
In one of the best romance anime series, fans learn how heartbreak can lead someone to do crazy things. In his state of devastation, broken-hearted Kazuya calls up a rental girlfriend to ease the pain of having his heart crushed.
He matches with the seemingly perfect Chizuru. In a sudden turn of events, Kazuya is forced to convince his grandmother that his girlfriend-for-a-day is his actual significant other.
18. Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki
- IMDb score: 7.0/10
Professional and exceptionally talented gamer Tomozaki Fumiya doesn't fit in but wants to. He tries everything, but the real world seems impossible to hack. Fortunately, he gets the help of another seasoned player, Aoi Hinami, who gives him the desired experience. This is a great romantic comedy anime you can binge-watch in a weekend.
19. Nami yo Kiitekure (Wave, Listen to Me!)
- IMDb score: 7.0/10
After going on a drunken rant about her pain and heartbreak, Minare finds her dialogue being broadcasted on the radio the next day. She is invited to work at the station, and her story begins. The anime love story paints emotions the only way radio can.
20. Yesterday wo Utatte (Sing "Yesterday" for Me)
- IMDb score: 6.9/10
After graduating from university and having no luck with regular jobs, a frustrated Rikuo Uozume becomes a convenience store employee. During this time, he meets two significant women in his life. These are his former crush and university classmate, Shinako, and a girl with a crow for a pet, Haru. As the love triangle forms, just how much will Rikuo's simple life change?
21. Rikei ga Koi ni Ochita no de Shoumei Shitemita (Science Fell in Love, So I Tried to Prove It)
- IMDb score: 6.9/10
Can science answer something as complicated as the emotion of love? Scientists Shinya and Ayame share romantic feelings and are putting their relationship under an experiment to see the results. As love and scientific theories merge, the couple will see their emotions and perhaps find the answers they are looking for.
22. Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare (Love Me, Love Me Not)
- IMDb score: 6.8/10
The story follows four high school classmates, Yuna, Akari, Kazuomi, and Rio, with different views regarding love and romance. As feelings develop, they understand their hearts a little better. This story is a relatable tale of young love with all emotions accompanying the experience of admiring someone.
23. Kyokou Suiri (In/Spectre)
- IMDb score: 6.5/10
Does a mediator between the spirit and the human world deserve love? When she was just 11, Kotoko became the Yokai world's God of Wisdom, whom the Yokai consulted with their problems. One day, she meets Kuro, a university student.
Seeing as this was her chance for love, she asked him for help as a mediator, hoping to get to know him better and marry him one day.
24. Hatena Illusion
- IMDb score: 6.1/10
Aspiring illusionist Makoto Shiranui wishes to learn the ways of Hatena's magician parents. To do this, he travels to Tokyo to live with them. This enjoyable and quirky series takes viewers on a magical ride with the protagonists. Amidst the magic and brewing secrets, will Makoto and Hatena find something enchanting between them?
25. Nekopara
- IMDb score: 6.1/10
Cute anime like Nekopara is a staple in the community. Kashou Minaduki's plan to start a patisserie named La Soleil quickly becomes a comical and fun adventure with his catgirl companions, Chocola and Vanilla. The romcom anime gets even more interesting as more catgirls enter the picture and certain characters develop romantic feelings.
What are the big three romance anime?
Some of the best romance anime films that have received high praise include Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion, Fruits Basket and Kaguya-sama: Love is War.
What anime should you recommend to your girlfriend?
If your girlfriend is open to watching any anime, you may recommend the following, Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, Kaguya-sama: Love is War, Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai and Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale.
What anime on Netflix is romantic?
The most popular types of anime shows on Netflix are romantic ones, and some of the shows available include Heaven Official's Blessing, Beastars, Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun, and Komi Can't Communicate.
Love is a complicated emotion with many interpretations. Among the best romance anime movies and television series, which sub-genre appeals to you the most? Do you prefer one with comic relief or one about romance and the gradual connection between two people?
Are you searching for the best fantasy anime movies to watch? Kami.com.ph featured an exciting collection of the most amazing ones that would most likely interest you.
Watching fantasy anime is an excellent way of escaping from reality. That is why the sub-genre has gradually become a fan favourite, as it is enthralling and fascinating to watch.
Source: KAMI.com.gh