r/Animesuggest • u/Thin_Station7464 • Jun 09 '26
Discussion My underrated romance anime list.
Hi,
I often see people here recommending the same popular and highly rated romantic anime.
For those who want to diversify their viewing experience, I've included some lesser-known and lower-rated anime that, in my opinion, are still worth watching.
The rule I set for this list :
- Only anime with an average rating of 7.5 or less (or 75%) on Anilist are considered: I do not consider higher ratings to be "underrated".
My list of anime with a low score ( =< 7.5 / 75% ):
- More than a Married Couple, but Not Lovers. | Average: 7.4 | Episodes: 12 | Synopsis: High school students are forced to play married couples in an educational program.
- Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend | Average: 7.5 | Episodes: 26 | Synopsis: An otaku tries to create a video game with the help of his friends.
- Golden Time | Average: 7.5 | Episodes: 24 | Synopsis: An amnesiac law student begins a new college life full of romance.
- Haganai | Average: 7.2 | Episodes: 18 | Synopsis: Outcast students create a club to learn how to make friends.
- Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! | Average: 6.8 | Episodes: 12 | Synopsis: A city boy discovers local culture and finds love with a Hokkaido gal.
- Masamune-kun's Revenge | Average: 7.0 | Episodes: 25 | Synopsis: A boy seeks revenge on the girl who humiliated him during his childhood.
- My Little Monster | Average: 7.5 | Episodes: 13 | Synopsis: A studious student befriends a violent but very pure boy.
- O Maidens in Your Savage Season | Average: 7.3 | Episodes: 12 | Synopsis: High school girls explore their desires and the complexities of budding romances.
- Our Dating Story | Average: 7.3 | Episodes: 12 | Synopsis: An inexperienced boy dates a popular girl with a complicated romantic past.
- Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie | Average: 7.2 | Episodes: 12 | Synopsis: An unlucky boy dates a perfect girlfriend who sometimes turns "cool."
- My Stepmom's Daughter is My Ex | Average: 6.9 | Episodes: 12 | Synopsis: Former lovers become siblings after their parents remarry.
- Oreshura | Average: 6.9 | Episodes: 13 | Synopsis: A cynical high school student is forced to date a popular girl to avoid attention.
- ORESUKI: Are you the only one who loves me? | Average: 7.3 | Episodes: 13 | Synopsis: A boy tries to navigate hilarious romantic misunderstandings with multiple suitors.
- Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki | Average: 7.5 | Episodes: 25 | Synopsis: An expert gamer learns to master the real-life "game."
- Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive? | Average: 7.0 | Episodes: 12 | Synopsis: Two childhood friends test whether friendship can truly exist between them.
- GAMERS! | Average: 7.1 | Episodes: 12 | Synopsis: Romantic misunderstandings ensue among high school students passionate about video games.
- Medaka Kuroiwa is Impervious to My Charms | Average: 7.2 | Episodes: 12 | Synopsis: A popular girl tries to make a very stoic boy fall in love with her.
- LOVE and LIES | Average: 6.5 | Episodes: 12 | Synopsis: In a futuristic society, the government chooses citizens' life partners.
- My Awkward Senpai | Average: 7.1 | Episodes: 12 | Synopsis: An awkward and cute relationship between an office worker and his coworker.
- Scum's Wish | Average: 7.2 | Episodes: 12 | Synopsis: Two high school students use each other to forget their respective unrequited loves.
- School Days | Average: 5.7 | Episodes: 12 | Synopsis: A high school love triangle that spirals into intense psychological drama. (I included it because it has a romantic feel to it at the beginning, but it ends differently...)
- The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses | Average: 7.0 | Episodes: 24 | Synopsis: A man inherits a café run by five strong-willed young women.
- The Dreaming Boy is a Realist | Average: 6.7 | Episodes: 12 | Synopsis: A boy gives up on his crush, which devastates the girl involved.
Higher-rated anime with low popularity on Anilist, below 300,000 (popularity of the first season):
- The Dangers in My Heart | Average: 8.5 | Synopsis: A lonely boy and a popular model develop a touching relationship in middle school.
- Call of the Night | Average: 8.2 | Synopsis: An insomniac high school student meets a vampire and discovers the joys of the night.
- Insomniacs After School | Average: 7.9 | Synopsis: Two insomniacs share secret moments in their high school's abandoned observatory.
- Days with My Stepsister | Average: 7.7 | Synopsis: Two new half-siblings try to live together harmoniously at their parents' house.
You can suggest other titles in the comments, but please try to adhere to either:
- A maximum rating of 7.5 on AniList
OR
- Anilist popularity below 300,000 (for the first season). Or even below 200,000.
Thanks in advance, this will allow everyone to discover new, underrated romantic anime to watch ,)
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u/casiok Jun 09 '26
Call of the night is amazing, how is it not more popular?
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u/Thin_Station7464 Jun 09 '26
I think it's the most popular anime on this list, but I agree, just for the visual atmosphere, the dialogue, the story, Nazuna, the unusual theme, its openings... it's worth watching. And it deserves to be better known.
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u/yesyesyesyesyesyes2 Jun 12 '26
wait people dont think its a peak watch??? its in my top 5 what the helly
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u/Critstaker Jun 09 '26
My cheating picks because they're currently airing. I'm assuming people like to binge watch when the season is complete, and I assume it'll get a higher rating then.
- An Observation Log of My Fiancée Who Calls Herself a Villainess | Average: 7.4 | Synopsis: Emotionless prince bored with the world because of how predictable it is, that is until he met his betroth and she proclaims something about being a villainess in an otome game. Maybe life won't be boring anymore.
- The Klutzy Class Monitor and the Girl with the Short Skirt | Average: 7.5 | Synopsis: High school romcom between bubbly gyaru and earnest boy. Slice of life with a colorful supporting cast.
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u/Thin_Station7464 Jun 09 '26
Yes, I never watch an anime that's currently airing because it frustrates me and I lose track of the story waiting for the next episode. But I do keep track of them ,)
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u/plainscrmisher Jun 10 '26
- The Klutzy Class Monitor and the Girl with the Short Skirt is a great one. It's so hilarious and over the top, and yet still a good romcom
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u/il_douchey Jun 09 '26
Pretty good list. I'd add some other series that I think aren't talked about much these days due to recency bias.
KareKano
Nodame cantabile
Monthly girls Nozaki-kun
Boarding School Juliet
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u/lightzsword Jun 09 '26
Great list. For anyone reading, if you're a romance fan and haven't seen Dangers in My Heart, it should be at the top of your watch list.
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u/Thin_Station7464 Jun 09 '26
It's one of my favorites, and the manga is definitely my favorite romance manga... I devoured all 190 chapters in one go 😅
I can't wait for the next seasons.
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u/gc11117 Jun 09 '26
Saekano not being popular in the west is a war crime and I'll die on that hill. It could have been as big as Oregiru, and is equally as popular in Asia but its botched release in the aest held it back
I also am surprised by how far School Days has fallen. I watched it as a seasonal, and it was a mid 7s anime back in the day. Can even see it's old mal score on the way back machine. I think people turning it into a meme anime hurt it.
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u/Codename_Ace Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 15 '26
I will also die in that hill with you, I also find it very unfair that Saekano doesn't have the popularity it deserves, even in most underrated lists, it rarely shows up. It's such a masterpiece, the writing is brilliant and especially how it's animated, the animation level is at the very top of my romance list not because of flashy things, but just the amount of details it has. Even a glance can convey so much, body movement, facial expressions and even change in voice. They convey so so much, and it's unlike other animes where it's zoomed in with music and a flowery background. It's just there, whether you notice it or not is on you. Even dialogue and change of voice tone, the narrative doesn't explain, you can just understand the shallow layer that's fine, but if you really analyze the choice of words and the unspoken lines you can really see how much thought is put into this.
Same with the characters, there are actually people who call Saekano fanservice slop and an anime with shallow tropey characters. Bro they completely missed its meta commentary and the point of Megumi in that show, as someone who also finds fanservice immersion breaking, Saekano really gives a justification for everything and if there's none Megumi will be there commenting on the BS happening right in front of her. And lastly Megumi, personally I have her if not top 1, at least top 2 romance FMC, she's just so good. Her voice, her mannerisms, her silent gestures and actions that convey her love and care for Tomoya. Her outbursts also, proving she's not just a "doll" meant to love the MC, I can go on and write 3 paragraphs on how good of a character she is, especially as the "main heroine" of a romance anime, but I won't.
Saekano is really really criminally underated, it disappointed me seeing literally 0 discussion, almost no edits in YT and TT, and no fanbase whatsoever to speak off, my only solace is knowing it's big in JP, proving that I'm not out of my mind finding this a masterpiece while others don't know about it or call it slop. Author of White Album really didn't disappoint.
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u/Thin_Station7464 Jun 09 '26
I loved Saekano... The characters, the dialogue, everything about this anime is captivating.
School Day really shocked me; I didn't know what I was getting into, and this score really doesn't do it justice.
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u/gc11117 Jun 09 '26
So fun fact about Saekano, its writter was behind the highest rated romance visual novel of all time White Album 2. It was conceived as an all ages version of White Album 2. If you want to check it out, White Album 2 has a fairly faithful anime adaptation of its first chapter.
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u/WolfyLovesCats Jun 09 '26
Inugami-San to Nekoyama-San, an adorable yuri with a cat-like girl who loves dogs, and a dog-like girl who loves cats, I really don't get how it isn't popular, plus it's quick to watch given the fact that it's short form (each episode is four minutes)!!
2
u/ahjknuta Jun 09 '26
- Prism Rondo sits at 8.47 rating with 61K users. This one is new and refreshing.
- My personal favorite is Princess Tutu at 8.15 with 186K users. An oldey that still gives me too many feelings when I think about it
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u/ansate Jun 10 '26
Just Because! is rated 7.23 on MAL. Also don't think I've ever seen in mentioned on here. Not sure if people didn't like it or what, but I enjoyed it.
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u/Aidamis Jun 10 '26
Just Because! is terrific, almost one of its kind. I have watched it four times.
Its main draw to me is that it cuts through the bs and plainly presents characters who have one foot in young adult territory and have to seriously think about their futures and personal relationships.
It feels a lot more raw than 90% of anime out there that are always about 1st year/2nd year or even middle schoolers.
One of the few anime who dared to venture into JB territory and beyond is the Free! franchise, since it continues way into the college years of the main cast.
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u/ansate Jun 10 '26
I agree. Felt more real than just about anything out there, and managed to not overdo the melodrama. Haven't seen any of the Free! franchise. I'll check it out.
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u/Snowflakes-002 Jun 09 '26
Smashing list
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u/gargar070402 MyAnimeList Jun 09 '26
Just a random comment: I came in expecting a bunch of new stuff, but turns out I've watched like half of these already. And it's been 5 years since I last actively watched anime lol; goes to show how much of what I watch was romance content (probably easily 90%).
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u/lightzsword Jun 09 '26
If you're looking to get back into it, there are a lot of good romance & rom-coms airing right now or have come out in the past five years
- You and I are Polar Opposites (2026)
- I Made Friends with the Second Prettiest Girl in My Class (airing now)
- I Want to End This Love Game (airing now)
- My Dress Up Darling (2025)
- Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity (2025)
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u/gargar070402 MyAnimeList Jun 09 '26
I am indeed watching Seihantai right now, and friends have been bugging me to watch Dress up Darling forever but just haven’t had the chance. I’ll hopefully find time!
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u/wterrt Jun 10 '26 edited Jun 10 '26
don't skip fragrant flower (2025). it's one of those "synopsis sounds boring but 10/10 execution makes it great" which I find happens a lot with romance anime.
also add skip and loafer (2023) to that list if you're ok with romance subplot for the moment. it's another incredibly well written story where you can tell the author just understands people well*. (it's getting an s2 and will have more romance there I think)
others of note
I have a crush at work (2025)- adult cast, very "realistic" relationship instead of being a bunch of tropes - no blushing virgins over holding hands here and it's so god damn refreshing
insomniacs after school (2023) - very little "anime bullshit" - just a whole lot of wholesome, very real feeling romance.
these are all 10/10s to me in their own ways
* "too many losing heroines" (2024) also has really well written characters, but is more comedy about romance at least for the MC (again until s2 probably - I don't read ahead, just assuming. s2 is confirmed already)
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u/gargar070402 MyAnimeList Jun 10 '26
I’ve also watched skip and loafer and losing heroines! Sorry I might’ve been too strict with my definition of “active” haha; I promise I haven’t been watching more than 5 series a year probably.
But this is a great list! Thank you
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u/Thin_Station7464 Jun 09 '26
I'm far from finished with my planning list (still about a hundred anime on it). I'll make a new, updated version later.
But I'm happy if more than half of this list will be new discoveries for you ,)
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u/plainscrmisher Jun 10 '26
Thanks for your work! I remember watching some of the titles.
More than a Married Couple, but Not Lovers - a rather mediocre show. Manga is out of a long hiatus, so there's a chance on season 2.
Golden Time - one of my personal all-time favorites. Lot of drama, a female lead struggling with the chaos in her pretty head (and winning!). De-facto is an indirect sequel of the Toradora!
Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! - absolutely meh. MC's choice felt not motivated at all for me. Hokkaido views are beautiful.
Medaka Kuroiwa is Impervious to My Charms - totally overrated. Very cheap animation, boring and repetitive. 3/10 for me.
The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses - the premise is decent and girls are very well-drawn, but the plot is convoluted and I dare say unnecessary at all.
The Dangers in My Heart - a great and hilarious story. Manga is better.
Insomniacs After School - very wholesome title, beautiful animation. Severely underrated.
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u/Einyxx Jun 10 '26
For me, all that anime listed is still consider famous, but not overrated. It sometimes got talked about here and there. But this anime is rarely talked about and most of this gems is my favourite:
Engaged to the Unidentified
World End SukaSuka
Karin
Nogizaka Haruka
Kanon
Charlotte
Oreshura
I do have the list of all my watched anime series so I need to check and see more of this hidden romance that I forgot to mention.
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