Best Anime To Watch If You Liked Kaguya-sama: Love Is War

Highlights

• Kaguya-sama: Love is War is a popular romantic comedy anime featuring hilarious squabbles and lovable characters.
• Oshi No Ko, also by Aka Akasaka, offers a darker and more sobering story in the entertainment industry.
• School Rumble, Masamune-kun’s Revenge, and Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku are other romance-based anime with comedic elements and realistic characters.

Romantic comedy is a popular anime genre that never gets old. The typical tropes, relatable characters, and sweet, sweet love confessions make these tales some of the best around. One of the biggest romance animes at the moment is Kaguya-sama: Love is War, featuring two stubborn high schoolers who don’t want to be the first ones to admit their feelings to each other.

By using their incredible wits and intellect, the two try everything they can to trick the other into confessing first. Viewers can expect tons of hilarious squabbles, cute moments, and lovable characters. Those looking for anime like Kaguya-sama: Love is War should check out these other romance-based anime next.

Updated February 12, 2024 by Mark Sammut: Kaguya-sama: Love is War is well-established as one of the most popular anime comedies or romances, and that is unlikely to chance when season 4 comes out. In the meantime, fans can check out a few anime similar to Kaguya-sama.

17 Oshi No Ko

Aka Akasaka’s Other Big Hit

As Oshi no Ko and Kaguya-sama are both based on manga by Aka Akasaka, fans of one show should, at the minimum, check out the other series. Unsurprisingly, they overlap in terms of writing style, particularly when it comes to humor; that said, they are still ultimately very different anime. Romance does not play a significant role in Oshi no Ko, at least not to the extent of being the main driving force like in Kaguya-sama. More importantly, Oshi no Ko tells a considerably darker and more sobering story that dives into the entertainment industry, and its main plot is a murder mystery.

Kaguya-sama can get heavy at times, particularly in yet-to-be-adapted manga chapters. However, the main difference is that these moments are far more common in Oshi no Ko than they are in Kaguya-sama. Even though it can get uncomfortable in places, this anime is still filled with humor, hopefulness, and lovable characters.

16 School Rumble

A Classic Comedy All About Romance

A comedy classic, School Rumble is all about teen love, and its penchant for inspiring misunderstandings and idiotic stunts. Everyone in this high school seems to have a crush on one of their mates, but precious few of them know how to effectively demonstrate their interest. This leads to a lot of silliness, including a school-wide war that plays out like the anime equivalent of Community‘s paintball episodes.

School Rumble‘s comedic antics are a touch more repetitive than Kaguya-sama, and the show is not that concerned with fully exploring the romances blossoming among its students, but its characters are quite lovable and charming.

15 Masamune-kun’s Revenge

Revenge Turns Into Romance

Masamune is angry. Carrying scars from a mean childhood rejection, the guy spent years perfecting his physique, with the intention of charming and dumping the girl he once loved. With revenge in the air, Masamune joins his target’s high school and begins his plan, only to find that Aki is not the easiest nut to crack.

Masamune-kun’s Revenge is a touch more mean-spirited than Kaguya-sama: Love is War, especially during its first few episodes. Masamune and Aki’s interactions predominantly consist of pointed jabs and mind games, and they are not the only characters to go down this route. However, as the series progresses, the leads gradually grow more earnest and likable. While nowhere near as hilarious as Kaguya-sama, Masamune-Kun’s Revenge is pretty funny at times.

14 Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku

Mature Love With Plenty Of Laughs

Wotakoi is the ideal companion piece to Kaguya-sama for two reasons. Firstly, A-1 Pictures developed both shows. Secondly and more importantly, they share similar genres and tones while exploring distinctly different character dynamics. Wotakoi primarily follows a group of office workers who are already dating or start the anime by getting into a relationship.

The story touches upon themes dealing with complacency, communication, and anxiety, all the while delivering one hilarious scene after another. While it does not have Kaguya-sama‘s rivalry component, Wotakoi is a great show for anyone looking for a rom-com with realistic characters.

13 My Dress-Up Darling

A Cute (Maybe) Couple

Airing during Winter 2022, My Dress-Up Darling‘s premise is fresh and sweet. Wakana Gojo, a first-year high school student, dreams of becoming a hina doll craftsman. His very popular and beautiful classmate Marin Kitagawa finds out about his talents and asks him to create costumes for her as she is entranced by the dress-up world. Their shared interests spark the beginning of their new friendship, which could ultimately lead to something more.

The dynamic between a shy boy and an extroverted girl is nearly always an adorable trope, as they bring out the best in one another while diving into each other’s vastly different worlds. The animation is bright, colorful, and stunning, and the story will hook someone by the first episode. Compared to Kaguya-sama, My Dress-Up Darling‘s leads do not have a confrontational relationship by any stretch of the imagination, but they are still relatively hesitant to express or even acknowledge their interest in each other. More importantly, they have great chemistry.

12 Maid Sama!

Aggressive Flirting

A shojo classic, Maid Sama! blends comedy, drama, and romance to a satisfying degree. Misaki rules Seika High School with an iron fist as its student council president, and she is especially strict with the boys. One day while working at a maid cafe, a reality she wants to keep private, Misaki is seen by Usui, a cool-as-a-cucumber boy who knows how to push her buttons. This chance encounter births an odd relationship that jumps back and forth between love and annoyance.

Misaki and Usui are both assertive and strong-willed characters, to the point of being basically forces of nature. Their banter serves as Maid Sama!‘s beating heart, and they regularly produce huge laughs. Similar to Kaguya-sama, the anime progressively begins to focus more on romance, which it handles well for the most part.

11 Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun

A Misunderstood Declaration Of Love

If there is one romance series that desperately needs a sequel, it is Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun. Doga Kobo’s anime is an absolute joy, the type of show that knows how to permanently paint a smile on the audience’s faces. Finally finding the courage to ask her crush out, Chiyo comes clean to Nozaki; unfortunately, the dense guy mistakenly assumes the girl’s declaration of love is related to his (secret) job as a mangaka. Long story short, Chiyo winds up as Nozaki’s assistant.

While lacking Kaguya-sama‘s mind games, Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun‘s comedy is still cut from the same cloth since it revolves quite a bit around misunderstandings. Chiyo is constantly trying to confess her feelings to her senpai, only for her attempts to end in hilarious silliness.

10 Horimiya

Romance, Humor, & Slice Of Life

Horimiya is one of the most realistic and down-to-earth romantic anime series of all time. The two main protagonists, Hori and Miyamura, unexpectedly become close after they find out the truth behind each other’s secret after-school identities. Their love is so sweet, each and every episode will get the audience’s heart beating fast.

This show features a love confession rather quickly, a satisfactory change from Kaguya-sama‘s tense “will they, won’t they” plot. Horimiya is the perfect show for teens who want a real look at what healthy high school relationships are like, and for adults who want to reminisce on the innocent love they felt back in their younger days.

9 Ouran High School Host Club

A Hilarious Reverse Harem

This fantastic one-season series heavily leans on the comedy aspect of the rom-com genre. After being accepted into a rich private high school on a scholarship, female student Haruhi Fujioka is trapped working in the school’s host club, consisting of a group of wealthy boys who throw events and perform to entertain girls.

The dynamic between a working-class girl like Haruhi and the rich boys of the host club is gut-bustlingly hilarious. Before long, they become the closest of friends and help each other grow and mature through many comical situations, with a romance blooming along the way.

8 Teasing Master Takagi-san

Playful Teasing

It’s a lot tougher for younger kids to confess feelings, so kids typically turn to teasing their crushes instead. That is definitely the case in this humorous 3-season slice-of-life series about a middle schooler, Takagi, who loves embarrassing Nishikata, the classmate that she likes.

Takagi teases him relentlessly, provoking him to retaliate, but he just can’t seem to keep up with her. The two are innocently in love and share an adorable, comical relationship.

7 Kamisama Kiss

Great Banter

This adorable rom-com anime has a magical twist to it, making it stand out from other typical high school series. Average teenage student Nanami finds herself in charge of a shrine as the new Earth Deity. Now having to navigate dealing with immortal beings, yokai, and other gods, Nanami is also falling in love with her new familiar, a fox spirit named Tomoe.

The story is unique, and the characters have an adorable chemistry that blends banter and genuine affection. It is crucial to watch the OVA following the second season as it wraps up the story so beautifully that it might just leave a tear in fans’ eyes.

6 Boarding School Juliet

Playing The Part Of Rivals

This series is set in a fancy boarding school where the students are separated into two dormitories, one called the “Black Dogs,” and the other named the “White Cats.” Both first-year leaders of their dormitories, Romio Inuzuka and Juliet Persia, start a secret relationship with each other even though both sides have a competitive hatred for each other.

Romio and Juliet must pretend to be arch-nemesis to their classmates while hiding their love for each other. While not the deepest anime, and the story relies heavily on overplayed rom-com tropes, Boarding School Juliet is an easy and entertaining watch. The leads’ dynamic is fairly different from Miyuki and Kaguya’s since they are faking their rivalry, but both couples try to pretend they are not interested in each other in public.

5 Urusei Yatsura (2022)

Keep The Comedy, Hold The Romance

Urusei Yatsura is an all-time classic, with the manga and the 1981 anime adaptation being huge in Japan. Lum is an icon, and she tends to hog most of the limelight; however, the show is packed with hilarious characters who have stood the test of time. While the classic series is worth checking out, newcomers should start with the 2022 version since it is far easier to find (and a good overall adaptation). An alien race invades Earth, and the latter’s survival comes down to a contest between Lum, an extraterrestrial princess, and Ataru, a human idiot. Long story short, Lum falls in love with Ataru, and the aliens agree to put off the invasion as long as the two get engaged. Despite having a partner who showers him with constant affection, the human would rather chase other girls around, leading to plenty of electrifying situations.

Unlike Kaguya-sama‘s blushing leads, Urusei Yatsura‘s characters are far more direct, although only one side of the equation is invested in the union. And, this series is a 100% comedy, with every scenario aiming for laughs rather than heartfelt emotion. While utilizing a more slapstick-heavy style, Urusei Yatsura‘s humor is consistently great.

4 Fruits Basket

The Definitive Romance Anime

Fruits Basket is an essential viewing for any fan of romance anime. Fans of Kaguya-sama will get to enjoy the long, slow burn of two people gradually realizing their feelings for each other in a dramatic way.

In this story, however, the characters are held back not by their stubbornness, but by an ancient curse that haunts the protagonists and their families. This anime features incredibly developed characters with tear-jerking backstories, classic high school troubles on top of dealing with a curse, and an absolutely unbeatable final conclusion.

3 Kakegurui

Over-The-Top Mindgames

This show forgoes the romantic troubles typical teens go through and focuses entirely on the competitive nature of wealthy kids in a boarding school (also a main trope in Kaguya-sama). This show is hilarious, wildly over the top, and full of unrealistic gambling.

Those who loved the competitive outwitting schemes in Kaguya-sama will have a blast watching this outrageous, high-stakes, gambling show. Netflix also released a live-action version of the series that is just as fantastic as the animation.

2 Tsuredure Children

Complicates Romances & Hilarious Comedy

Following the theme of multiple teenagers navigating first loves, this anime beautifully depicts how relationships and love in school really are. It’s messy, it’s scary, and it’s important.

From not being able to confess one’s feelings to not understanding what love should really be like, the many characters in this show portray teenage love and the troubles it takes to find happiness. It’s an easy-to-watch and short series that is sure to leave an impact.

1 Toradora!

Opposites Attract

The messy tangle of relationships in high schools is hilariously explored in Toradora. The series follows Ryuji and Taiga, two students who team up under unlikely circumstances. They realize that both of their crushes are the other’s best friends, so they agree to help each other set them up with their crush.

Of course, high school relationships aren’t as simple as they seem, and feelings begin changing as time goes on. The series is a fun watch and is full of knee-slapping humor, great characters, and wild shenanigans.