Best Romance Anime Like Rent-A-Girlfriend

Summary

• “The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You” is a parody harem series with a male lead who seeks to satisfy his 100 soulmates.
• “Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions” follows the story of Yuta and Rikka, a heartwarming and silly love story that will make viewers laugh.
• “My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU” offers a more reflective take on romance, with characters in a school service club navigating the ups and downs of adolescence.

Anime is an entertainment medium with a great variety of options. Fans of action can enjoy a traditional Shonen Jump experience like Dragon Ball Z. Those interested in psychological thrillers can delve into Death Note, but fans of Rent-a-Girlfriend might prefer a solid romantic comedy.

After being dumped, Kazuya Kinoshita starts renting a girlfriend, Chizuru Mizuhara. A complicated chain of events draws the two together outside the dating app they met on. If someone is looking for a show with a similar feel, one that mixes romance and comedy, these upcoming recommendations are the best anime like Rent-a-Girlfriend.

Updated December 22, 2024 by Mark Sammut: Rent-a-Girlfriend will be making its big comeback in 2025, with season 4 launching at some point during the year. While it remains to be seen whether it ends up being the best harem anime of 2025, the series will almost certainly be among the most discussed. To pass the time until season 4 drops, fans can check out some anime similar to Kanojo, Okarishimasu, including a currently airing harem that started in Fall 2024 and will continue throughout Winter 2025.

19

Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister

A Safe But Enjoyable Harem Romance

A lot can be said about Rent-a-Girlfriend‘s storytelling and characters, both bad and good; however, the manga and anime are not conventional attempts at rom-com harems. Technically, Kazuya finds himself surrounded by girls who are interested in him to an extent, but there is never any question regarding his end-goal. Chizuru is, first-and-foremost, the main girl, and everyone else is just a distraction to add flavor en route to the finale. Admittedly, Rent-a-Girlfriend has stretched itself out to the point of diminishing returns, but that is primarily a consequence of the manga grind to maintain a successful project rather than anything else.

Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister comes in at the opposite end of the spectrum, delivering a traditional harem narrative that does not contain all that many surprises. An orphan who wants to be a doctor, Uryuu is allowed to live at the local shrine. However, his good fortune is undermined by the reveal that he can only stay if he marries one of the shrine maidens (Yae, Yuna, and Asahi). None of them are particularly excited by this potential future, although they are willing to get to know each other.

Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister has a rough start that does not do a particularly good job of highlighting the characters’ originality, with the girls especially coming across as bland archetypes (Yuna is particularly bad). However, the anime improves as it goes along, allowing the girls to showcase unique traits that flesh them out from their many, many contemporaries. Uryuu is a decent male lead too.

18

Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!

Supporting Fallen Waifus

Arguably the nicest surprise of Summer 2024, Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! is a charming rom-com that emphasizes a different part of the usual routine. In harems or love triangles, there are always those girls (or guys) who fail to capture the protagonists’ hearts, dooming them to a sad end. Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! revolves around three characters who lose at love, and they end up gravitating toward a fairly nondescript male student who lends them a shoulder to cry on.

While romance is a big part of the equation, Makeine primarily focuses on the friendships that form between these girls and Nukumizu, the male protagonist. The latter does not have the biggest personality, but he does grow a bit throughout the season. Similar to Rent-a-Girlfriend, the female characters are the main reason to watch Makeine.

17

The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You

The Opposite Of Kazuya

Rent-a-Girlfriend‘s Kazuya is a polarizing figure due to his hesitant nature when pursuing his main love interest, Chizuru, leading to a lot of stalling in their relationship’s potential growth. If someone wishes to watch a harem that develops at a quick pace and cuts out the typical conflict between the contenders, they can do no better than 100 Girlfriends, a parody series that still manages to be a fantastic entry in the genre. Due to a mistake by a god, Rentaro has 100 soulmates, and he plans to satisfy them all.

100 Girlfriends would not work if its male lead was not convincing or charming, and the manga (and anime) completely works. Direct, passionate, and likable, Rentaro is an absolute delight and a contender for the best protagonist in the harem genre. 100 Girlfriends‘ partners are also great in their own right, and the show gets progressively more chaotic with each new arrival.

16

More Than A Married Couple, But Not Lovers

Playing House

Rent-a-Girlfriend has a strange premise for a rom-com, but More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers might have it beat. The story revolves around a school program that pairs students up and forces them to live together as “married” couples, and they are scored depending on their commitment to these roles. If they are successful enough, they are rewarded with a divorce and the possibility to marry somebody else, which seems somewhat counterintuitive. The popular Akari Watanabe is matched with the quiet Jiro, a pairing that satisfies neither student as they are interested in other people. Nevertheless, they are required to co-exist, a process that gradually allows them to build a friendship that threatens to leak into romance.

More than a Married Couple, but Not Lovers is primarily a romance, with the anime generally resisting the temptation to drift into harem territory. Akari and Jiro’s relationship takes center stage throughout the available season, and their discussions are simultaneously wholesome and risqué. Like Rent-a-Girlfriend, the 2022 anime starts with almost nothing but stereotypical characters, before systemically peeling away their layers to reveal they have much more to offer. Akari is especially well-written, while Jiro is fine as the male lead with very little self-confidence.

15

Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable!

Strong Female Lead, Polarizing Harem

Part of Winter 2024’s anime lineup, Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! and Rent-a-Girlfriend share a strange similarity that, frankly, is more of a negative than a positive. Both series instantly identify their main couple and set the stage for a rom-com; however, they eventually introduce other girls and shift into harem territory, despite not having the “who will win” element that makes that genre so exciting.

Now, Hokkaido Gals keeps its relationships more platonic than Rent-a-Girlfriend, so the tone is closer to a slice of life than a competitive harem. Still, the other girls do distract from Minami, the main girl who is by far the best part of the anime. While her character is nothing like Chizuru’s, she is also a big and enigmatic personality who dominates the spotlight. Tsubasa, Hokkaido Gals‘ male lead, is somewhat similar to Kazuya, in the sense that they are both fairly hesitant to take action.

14

Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions

A Charming & Silly Love Story

Looking to capture that inner child? Then, Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions is one to watch. This series follows Yuta Togashi, a freshman in high school trying to forget his time as a Chunibyo. He used to pretend he had superpowers, dress up in class, and put off other classmates.

After moving to a new school, he meets Rikka, a girl who hasn’t left this childish phase of her life behind yet. When Rikka learns that Yuta used to be like her, she becomes interested in him. It’s a heartwarming story that’s sure to make viewers laugh.

13

Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki

Breaking Out Of His Shell

Similar to Rent-a-Girlfriend, Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki can be polarizing due to its male lead. A loner who seemingly hates the real world and prefers to focus all his energy on playing a fighting game, the eponymous character can be very frustrating during the opening few episodes. However, Tomozaki slowly begins to change as he starts to learn a thing or two from Aoi, a popular girl who wears a mask to “game” everyday life. Bordering on antagonism at first, their dynamic is weird but entertaining, especially since both characters are fairly self-centered.

Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki focuses heavily on character development, and its male protagonist grows a lot as he steadily becomes more sociable and gains new friends. Although arguably becoming less likable as the story progresses, Aoi is a fascinating character with a twisted outlook born out of self-preservation, and she can be incredibly mean-spirited if a situation allows for it.

12

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU

Dissecting Romance

People interested in a more pessimistic take on romance should check out My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU. In this anime, Hachiman Hikigaya and Yukino Yukinoshita are taking part in the school’s service club, despite their aversion to dealing with other people.

They’re joined by the preppy Yui Yuigahama and experience many of the ups and downs of adolescence together, seeing some romance along the way. Compared to Rent-a-Girlfriend, SNAFU takes a more reflective look at its characters and relationships in general.

11

Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends

Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover

Haganai takes a ton of interesting ideas and condenses them within the standard harem/romcom format. Unlike many shows within the genre, Haganai doesn’t play it especially safe when it comes to its main character and the dynamics that form throughout the narrative.

The series revolves around transfer student Kodaka Hasegawa, who has trouble making friends due to his delinquent-like appearance. The series mixes in standard comedy and harem elements while tackling some interesting character dynamics. That said, the adaptation was short-lived, lasting only 12 episodes; consequently, it leans more into comedy than romance.

10

Tsuredure Children

Young Love Comes In Many Forms

There’s nothing like young love, few anime capture that sensation as thoroughly as Tsuredure Children. This short series follows several sets of high schoolers trying to navigate their first crushes.

Each couple has its own quirks and dynamics that make for a varied view of adolescent attraction. With 12 episodes averaging about 12 minutes each, viewers will be able to binge the series in no time.

9

Nisekoi: False Love

Faking Romance (Like Rent-A-Girlfriend)

Sometimes, a meet-cute involves a knee to the face. Nisekoi and Rent-a-Girlfriend share one major plot element in common: their primary characters pretend to be a couple. In the former’s case, Raku and Chitoge are forced into this position to subdue a rivalry between two opposing gangs. Naturally, the teenagers hate each other at first, although they do eventually develop a bond.

Also, similar to Rent-a-Girlfriend, Nisekoi introduces a harem aspect quite quickly. And, also like Rent-a-Girlfriend, an argument could be made that Nisekoi‘s secondary girls are better fits for the male protagonist than the main female lead.

8

My Love STORY!!

Just A Cute Romance

Looks can be deceiving, especially when someone is as intimidating as Takeo Gouda, the protagonist of My LOVE Story!!. This gentle giant is often feared by his peers and overshadowed by his attractive best friend.

That all changes when he meets the beautiful Rinko Yamato, who is interested in him. It’s Gouda’s first experience with love and an adorable show from start to finish. Few anime are as wholesome as this show, so make sure to check it out!

7

Tonikawa: Over The Moon For You

Tired Of The Chase? Then, Try A Married Couple

Despite being almost nothing alike, Rent-a-Girlfriend and Tonikawa work as companion pieces since they highlight two very different sides of romance stories. The former is a pure harem all about that melodramatic and chaotic chase; conversely, the latter focuses on an established couple who get married almost immediately. While Kazuya might not know what he wants most of the time, Tonikawa‘s Nasa is direct about his love for Tsukasa, even if both male leads tend to turn bright red at the bare minimum of physical contact.

Both series mix romance with comedy, although Tonikawa leans into wholesome slice of life banter rather than slapstick shenanigans. The anime tends to move at a fairly slow pace, to the point that long stretches can pass with nothing of note seemingly transpiring. This is especially the case in season 2, which primarily consists of adorable scenes that do not amount to much but are still enjoyable.

6

Toradora!

A Genre-Defining Romance

Ever felt too shy to approach a crush? That’s the scenario that brings Ryuuji Takasu and Taiga Aisaka together in Toradora. It just so happens that each of them has a crush on the other’s best friend! The pair agree to work together to get the attention of their crushes.

It’s a goofy story with plenty of twists, turns, and heartfelt moments. Watchers are sure to crack a smile during the show’s 25-episode run, and they might even find themselves tearing up during some scenes.

5

The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses

Romance, Comedy, And Big Personalities

In many ways, The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses is the prototypical harem. A guy ends up inheriting his grandmother’s cafeteria, only to learn that five similarly aged girls have made it their home. Naturally, they reach an agreement to live under the same roof, with the girls acting as waitresses. Also, naturally, they nearly all fall in love with Hayato, the MC who mostly just wants to keep the shop running smoothly and not cause a mess. Also once again, the second season introduces a rival cafeteria solely to add a bunch of other girls to the roster, and they mostly exist for really unsubtle fanservice.

All of the above might sound like a negative, but The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses is quite entertaining. Genuinely hilarious, the anime does a very good job of giving each girl unique quirks, and they have fun interactions with each other. More importantly, Hayato is an awesome protagonist and the perfect counter to Kazuya.

4

Girlfriend, Girlfriend

Two-Timing But Wholesome

While pretty funny at times, Rent-a-Girlfriend leans heavily into drama, particularly in relation to Kazuya and Chizuru’s turbulent dynamic. At times, the show’s melodrama can be a bit much, so people who want a rest bite can check out Girlfriend, Girlfriend. A pure comedy, this hilarious anime follows the unflinchingly honest Naoya Mukai and his harem of girlfriends whom he dates openly.

Girlfriend, Girlfriend is over-the-top silliness, and the anime relies heavily on slapstick humor. Consequently, the punchlines can get a bit repetitive, particularly in the show’s second half. Still, the characters are funny, and Naoya is the polar opposite of Kazuya since he approaches each scenario without any hesitation or doubt.

3

Domestic Girlfriend

Behold, The King Of Trash

If someone considers Rent-a-Girlfriend to be a “so bad, it’s good” romance show, then they might want to consider the Citizen Kane of trashy anime: Domestic Girlfriend​​​​​​. Natsuo has a crush on his teacher, Hina, and unknowingly loses his virginity to her sister, Rui. In a convenient twist of fate, Natsuo’s father marries the sisters’ mother, turning the trio into siblings who live under the same roof. Naturally, their change in relationship status does not get in the way of lust, with Natsuo trying desperately to juggle both partners while occasionally becoming interested in someone else.

Domestic Girlfriend plays things surprisingly straight, so much so that it borders on soap opera territory. None of the characters are necessarily endearing or likable, but they are so messed up that they become entertaining.

2

Oreshura

Harem Driven By A Make-Belief Romance

Fans of Rent-a-Girlfriend’s narrative should feel right at home with Oreshura. The series follows protagonist Eita Kido after he agrees to enter a fake relationship with his classmate. When word gets out, some girls close to Eita decide to make their move.

The set-up is somewhat similar to Rent-a-Girlfriend, but the characters and motivations are completely different. Anime fans will appreciate the bevy of JoJo references made throughout the show.

1

The Quintessential Quintuplets

Five Twins & Five Individual Girls

Looking for another anime where a harem of girls pine for the same boy’s attention? Look no further than The Quintessential Quintuplets. When five identical sisters are on the brink of being held back at school, their opulent father hires Fuutarou Uesugi.

The series follows his efforts to help Itsuki, Ichika, Nino, Yotsuba, and Miku. While their appearances are identical, their personalities are completely different, and the series (and movie) does a great job of highlighting all five girls. Each episode builds on the previous one as the anime gradually shows how Fuutarou grows to appreciate each member of this extraordinary family. With two full seasons and a movie out, along with a third being on the way, there’s no better time to hop into this anime.