Romance anime has evolved. Gone are the days of yesteryear’s clunkers and cliches. The 2020s ushered in a new generation of love stories that feel genuinely new. Whether you find yourself in the realm of the slowest of slow burns, the fantasy dramatic tropes, or unexpectedly profound fake relationship storylines, there’s something for everyone in this list that’ll get you right in the feels. These new romance anime shows that the genre is anything but old news—and better than ever. Let’s count down the top new titles you absolutely shouldn’t miss.
10. Yakuza Fiancé
Getting things off on the right foot, Yakuza Fiancé is no ordinary romance. Imagine this: two dominant crime clans desire harmony, so they orchestrate a marriage between their heirs, Yoshino and Kirishima. But harmony is far from what they have on their minds. Kirishima is cruel and capricious, and Yoshino isn’t going to play the dutiful bride. What starts as a rough game of manipulation gradually develops into something more profound—and strangely intimate. It’s messy, morally ambiguous, and surprisingly emotional. If you like your love stories with bite, this one’s got it.
9. Blue Box
Blue Box combines sports and romance in a way that works. Taiki, a soft-spoken badminton player, silently longs for Chinatsu, the team captain of the basketball team. When she becomes his adoptive sister and moves in with his family, it only complicates matters further. It’s all the slow-burn tension, school life moments, and unspoken emotions you’d anticipate—but with a down-to-earth charm that makes it wonderfully relatable. Their love of sports serves as the common ground that unites them, and seeing their relationship blossom is as adorable as it is endearing.
8. 365 Days to the Wedding
This is for all the introverts out there. Takuya and Rika are co-workers in a travel agency who fake being engaged to prevent being transferred to a new job. Easy peasy, right? Not so much. The longer they spend together, pretending becomes to pretend, and feelings begin to creep in. It’s a slow-burn office romance that doesn’t depend on flash drama. Rather, it relies on awkward silences, hesitant looks, and actual emotional tension. It’s like Wotakoi, but it has a soft rhythm.
7. The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Arch Enemies
What if your arch-nemesis suddenly turned out to be the one person you couldn’t get out of your head? That’s the premise of this sweetly quirky romance. A bad-guy lieutenant named Shun falls for Byakuya, the magical girl he’s been told to fight. Instead of grand battles, we see awkward sweetness and side-splitting misunderstandings. The show doesn’t pretend to be anything too serious, and that’s what makes it succeed. Their cringeworthy chemistry and improbable connection make this a winner in the enemies-to-lovers category.
6. Nina the Starry Bride
Nina the Starry Bride is set in a secretive kingdom as much about power and identity as it is romance. Nina, a tough orphan, has to pretend to be a holy priestess and finds herself caught up in the enigmatic Prince Azure. What ensues is a blend of palace intrigue, feeling tension, and romance that builds slowly under all the fibs and expectations. It’s gorgeously animated and surprisingly mature, making it a good choice for anyone who likes to have some depth accompany their romances.
5. Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!
Don’t be fooled by the title—this one’s a treasure. Kiyoshi Adachi develops the strange power of mind-reading after his 30th birthday and lifelong bachelor status. Before long, things become uncomfortable (and comedic) when he discovers his good-looking, self-assured co-worker Kurosawa has a huge crush on him. This is a gentle, slow-developing love filled with inner monologues, self-doubt, and real emotional evolution. It has the soul of a traditional office romance with an offbeat twist that adds something special to it.
4. Tadaima, Okaeri
This one takes a softer, more familial approach to love. Masaki and Hiromu are a married couple raising their young son, navigating the everyday challenges of being a non-traditional family in a world that doesn’t always accept them. Their story is quiet but powerful, showing how love can thrive in the ordinary—bedtime routines, parenting hiccups, and shared meals. It’s not your typical romance anime, but it lingers long after the credits roll.
3. A Condition Called Love
High school dating can be a disaster, and A Condition Called Love doesn’t hold back. Hotaru, never one to care about love, finds herself amid a fiery affair with Saki Hananoi after assisting him in a moment of need. What might’ve been an old trope becomes much more considerate. The series delves into emotional boundaries, self-doubt, and what it actually means to love someone for the first time. It’s raw, cringeworthy, and intensely genuine.
2. 7th Time Loop: The Villainess Lives a Life Without Cares
In a reincarnation romance world, 7th Time Loop does something different. Rishe lives her seventh life and, honestly, has had enough. Rather than attempt to repair everyone, she opts to have fun. But all doesn’t go according to plan when she gets engaged to the icy, ruthless Prince Arnold. What transpires is a captivating love affair shrouded in politics and second chances. It’s romantic, witty, and more complex than you’d imagine from a villainess premise.
1. Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again
At the top of the list is arguably the most surprisingly wholesome anime on the planet. Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again is just that. Shouzou and Ine, a lifelong couple in their older years, wake up to the surprise of being back in their young bodies. But rather than take crazy adventures, they opt to recapture the daily pleasures of life together, hand in hand, dancing, and running after old aspirations. It’s plain, pleasant, and a wonderful reminder that age does not dissipate love. Sometimes, the best romances aren’t the loudest—they’re the most genuine.
Whether you’re in the mood for something lighthearted, intense, magical, or down-to-earth, these romance anime offer stories worth falling for. The genre is evolving, and these titles are leading the way—one heartfelt moment at a time.