Who doesn’t love a good romance anime? Things get even better when love isn’t simple—when three or more characters are caught in a web of feelings. We know someone’s going to win and someone’s going to lose, but the journey keeps us hooked. And sometimes, it feels a little too familiar, like we’ve been in their shoes ourselves.
That’s why I’ve put together this list of the top 5 anime where love gets complicated but never boring.
In the world of high school romance, Nisekoi stands out with its mix of comedy, drama, and secrets. The story follows Raku Ichijou, the son of a yakuza boss, who just wants to live a normal life. Years ago, he made a promise to a girl he loved, giving her a key to a locket he still wears around his neck. He believes that one day, the girl with the matching key will return.
Things take a wild turn when Raku is forced into a fake relationship with Chitoge Kirisaki, the daughter of a rival gang leader. The two can’t stand each other, but to keep peace between their families, they have to act like the perfect couple. As time goes on, real feelings start to develop, and another girl enters the picture — creating a love triangle that complicates everything even more.
Packed with romance, comedy, jealousy, and plenty of misunderstandings, Nisekoi offers a story full of twists that keeps viewers guessing who truly holds the key to Raku’s heart.
In Japan, rental girlfriend services are quite popular, and this anime takes inspiration from that unique concept. The story follows Kazuya Kinoshita, a 20-year-old college student who is left heartbroken after being dumped by his girlfriend, Mami Nanami. To ease his pain, he decides to hire a rental girlfriend through an online app. That’s how he meets Chizuru Mizuhara — the perfect picture of beauty and charm. Her looks and endearing mannerisms quickly capture Kazuya’s attention.
During one of their early dates, Kazuya receives a call informing him that his grandmother has been hospitalized due to her poor health. He immediately rushes to see her, and since their date wasn’t over yet, Mizuhara follows him. At the hospital, she meets Kazuya’s family, and he introduces her as his girlfriend. From here, the drama begins. Later, another rental girlfriend actually develops real feelings for Kazuya, creating a love triangle.
Packed with comedy, romance, jealousy, and heartfelt moments, Rent-a-Girlfriend delivers a story that keeps viewers hooked from the very first episode.
High school life is full of dreams, crushes, and challenges — and Blue Box captures it all. The story follows Taiki Inomata, a dedicated badminton player who secretly admires Chinatsu Kano, the ace of the basketball team. To him, she feels completely out of reach.
But everything changes when circumstances suddenly bring Chinatsu into Taiki’s home. From then on, his daily life is filled with awkward moments, quiet happiness, and the struggle of chasing a love that might seem impossible. As things progress, Taiki’s classmate Hina begins to develop feelings for him, creating a love triangle that complicates his already delicate situation.
Blending the intensity of sports with the sweetness of first love, Blue Box delivers a heartwarming yet dramatic story that keeps you rooting for its characters both on the court and in romance.
Futaro Uesugi is a brilliant high school student who lives a tough life, burdened by debt and family struggles. When he gets the chance to work as a private tutor for the wealthy Nakano family, it seems like the perfect job. But there’s a catch—his students are five identical sisters, all of whom have no interest in studying.
Each of the quintuplets has a unique personality, and getting them to open up to him is harder than solving any textbook problem. Along the way, all the sisters start to fall for Futaro one by one, and what began as simple tutoring soon turns into a complicated web of emotions, rivalries, and love.
Hachiman Hikigaya is a cynical high school student who believes that youth is nothing but a lie, filled with fake smiles and shallow relationships. His blunt essay on this topic lands him in trouble, and as punishment, he’s forced to join the school’s Service Club.
There, he meets Yukino Yukinoshita, a sharp-tongued and intelligent girl who is just as distant as he is, and Yui Yuigahama, a cheerful classmate who struggles to fit in. As the three of them start helping other students with their problems, their own lives become more entangled. What begins as reluctant teamwork slowly turns into a complicated web of feelings, where friendship, ideals, and love collide.
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU is a thoughtful and emotional story about youth, self-discovery, and the tangled love triangle between Hachiman, Yukino, and Yui.
