Love isn’t always sweet. In fact, it’s physically and mentally exhausting to death. It utilizes your own flesh, your blood running through your vein, and your nerve cells as they stimulate your whole body. Like sword fights in the bloody mist of battlefield, love requires the most effective tactical moves to conquer someone’s heart. You need to analyze every simple thing. After all, love is like a tug of war: you shouldn’t let someone bring you to your knees.

Kaguya-sama: Love is War is about a battle between two brilliant minds in the name of love, albeit in the most disastrous way. This is about the romantic story of Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya, the president and vice president, respectively, of Shuchiin Academy’s student council. Although the two witty students like each other, none of them would confess their feelings. Out of embarrassment and being a little too prideful, they end up dueling each other using their intellectual powers. Whoever confesses first is the loser. It’s a tricky game blended with fun and twists that will let you enjoy a brand new world of romance.

The anime offers a unique thrill in a world surrounded with mushy couples. Looking for an anime series similar to the engaging relationship of Miyuki and Kaguya might be difficult for you. As it takes a large amount of time to search for some titles that will absolutely hit your taste, MANGA.TOKYO is here to help you in your otaku journey, so here are 10 anime like Kaguya-sama: Love is War.

Special A

Spring 2008

24 Episodes

Special A is one of the highly recommended anime series if you’re looking for a perfect blend of romance, comedy, and drama. Since they were little kids, Kei Takishima and Hikari Hanazono have been known for their endless rivalry not only in terms of academic performance but also in any kind of competition such as pro-wrestling. Their rivalry doesn’t actually grow intensely like that of real enemies and for the majority of it there would be some awkward tone between them: Hikari isn’t aware that Kei is falling in love with her.

While every moment is such a delight for rom-com fans, Special A is more than just the typical moments of young romance. It also highlights the harmony and emotional bonding between the characters as they are given a decent amount of time on screen from their great entertainment to the dramatic angles of their stories. Since the plot is about a rivalry between two brilliant students and how romance grows through the never-ending battle of the brains, the anime shares the same vibes as Kaguya-sama: Love is War.

Winter 2017

12 Episodes + OVA

The titular character is determined to become the sexiest man whom girls will surely admire. His determination in going to the gym and making diet plans are praiseworthy. This is all the consequence of being rejected by his crush, Aki Adagaki, when they were little kids, and the worst, he was nicknamed ‘Pig’s Foot’. As a part of his revenge plan, he would make Aki fall in love with him and will eventually reject her. However, he will struggle to make it happen the exact way he has wanted it to be.

Although the anime offers the cliché of a romantic comedy, what makes Masamune-kun’s Revenge a perfect sweet romance is the male protagonist. He mirrors the image of a coming-of-age individual who has a lot of insecurities and tries to develop his self-esteem. Since he tries to make the girl fall in love with him, it’s no doubt that the protagonist and the series have a strong closeness to Kaguya-sama: Love is War. Plus, Aki’s cold demeanor matches up Kaguya’s mood swings, yet they were able to choose the most compatible men for them.

Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun

Summer 2014

12 Episodes

After confessing her feelings to her ultimate crush in the name of Umetaro Nozaki, Chiyo Sakura’s life becomes disastrously fun. Due to misinterpretation, she is instead invited by this handsome and decent-looking man to help him work on his comic books. Sakura is surprised that he is actually a popular manga artist under the pen name Yumeno Sakiko. She then agrees to become his crush’s assistant to get closer to him.

While Chiyo has always been very supportive to Nozaki, it’s not evident whether Nozaki reciprocates her feelings back. One thing is for sure: he cares for Chiyo and he just can’t admit it. It’s funny how he teases her, and this is just a subtle way to show how he really enjoys her company. Kaguya-sama: Love is War shares this denial stage of romance and features the same chaotic moments in Nozaki and Chiyo’s relationship. If you like the balance of romance and humor of Kaguya-sama: Love is War, then watching Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun will relieve your stressful days.

Ouran High School Host Club

Spring 2006

24 Episodes

This famous anime revolves around Haruhi Fujioka as she ends up joining the dazzling host club members of the prestigious Ouran High School. As she lives an ordinary life like other commoners, she must deal with the wealthy and luxurious life of these host club members.

The wide difference of social status between Tamaki and Haruhi is the same as the gap between Miyuki and Kaguya. While Tamaki is highly regarded as a royal man like Kaguya’s social upbringing, Haruhi is a commoner. Like a fairytale-like story, it’s perfect how these young individuals have crossed the path of one another despite a world that is full of diversity. The entertainment brought by the main leads in Kaguya-sama: Love is War shares the same comical relief as of the one found in the host club members. Moreover, both anime are set in prestigious schools for wealthy families. If you enjoy watching the school setting of Kaguya-sama: Love is War where you encounter everything extravagant, then the perfect ambiance of Ouran High School will let you live with majesty.

Winter 2018

12 Episodes + OVA (Season 1)

While teasing is a form of affection, no one who does it dares to admit their feelings. Takagi-san loves to tease Nishikata and enjoys seeing his reaction to her pranks. Nishikata vows revenge to make her blush from embarrassment as he believes a living principle: if you blush, you lose.

Teasing Master Takagi-san may not be a top-notch romantic comedy but the fun interaction between the two main leads is full of pleasant amusement. The intensity of their competition is like the clashing of wits in Kaguya-sama: Love is War as they can fight on their own and nobody would want to be outmatched. Takagi-san will definitely give you a high dosage of stress relieve.

Spring 2015: 24 Episodes (Season 1)

Summer 2016: 13 Episodes (Season 2)

Fall 2017: 12 Episodes (Season 3–First Cour)

Spring 2018: 12 Episodes (Season 3–Second Cour)

The very appetizing title will definitely satisfy your palate and sense of smell. Food Wars! centers on the journey of Yukihira Soma, the son of a prodigious chef who owns a simple yet sought-after diner known as Yukihira Diner. In order to follow his father’s path to become the most outstanding chef in the world, Yukihira is encouraged to enroll in Totsuki Academy, an elite culinary school. Yukihira finds himself being caged in the most challenging and adventurous world of foods. Despite his reckless character, he has got what it takes to let you savor the real spice of foods.

While this anime is all about culinary arts and doesn’t solely focus on romantic development, it is a little similar to Kaguya-sama: Love is War. It gifts both Yukihira and Erina with wits, and they are making their best to surpass one another. While their rivalry grows on fire, Erina wouldn’t admit to herself that she is being surpassed by an ordinary chef as Yukihira. However, she gradually shows her soft side towards him. While she is initially a cold-hearted girl, Erina is similar to Kaguya’s character, but both of them look so adorable when love strikes them.

The Kawai Complex Guide to Manors and Hostel Behavior

Spring 2014

12 Episodes

The story revolves around Kazunari Usa, a freshman high school student, who wants to live in peace and comfort. One day, he finally gets to enjoy living on his own at the Kawai Complex, a boarding house that serves delicious meals for the residents. Surprisingly, he lives in the same dormitory as Ritsu Kawai, his ultimate crush in school. Meanwhile, he meets other residents who are full of fun. His stay has made his whole life a total different; he never finds his daily life boring.

While Kaguya-sama: Love is War is set in a boarding school, the lighthearted romance of Usa and Ritsu revolves around a more refreshing setting. What makes the anime similar to Kaguya-sama: Love is War is how both the main leads try to hide their feelings for one another. Nobody wants to confess, but it’s cute how the socially aloof girl shows her soft side towards Usa. It’s just your typical romantic comedy that is full of awkwardness and how the protagonists struggle to keep their romantic feelings to themselves, just like the daily bonding of Miyuki and Kaguya.

My Little Monster

Fall 2012

13 Episodes + OVA

Shizuku Mizutani is a studious high school girl who only cares about her academic performance. Her world changes when she meets Haru Yoshida who is the exact opposite of her. While interaction between them grows fonder, Haru confesses her love to Shizuku, but it takes much longer for Shizuku to realize how she feels for Haru.

Shizuku is a cold-hearted and blunt girl just like Kaguya’s overall disposition. She might be rude at first glance but she struggles to find herself and doesn’t often show her emotions until she learns to accept her romantic feelings to Haru. Being a rational individual, Shizuku is an exact parallel to Kaguya when it comes to romance. Added to that, Haru is academically good and a top-ranked student like Kaguya-sama’s Miyuki, but the difference is that Haru is a troublemaker and would always skip classes. Nevertheless, Haru and Shizuku make a perfect couple as how Miyuki and Kaguya have skyrocketed to the battlefield of romance.

Wolf Girl and Black Prince

Fall 2014

12 Episodes + OVA

In order to fit in a clique where it consists of girls who already have a boyfriend, Erika Shinohara claims to have one by showing a photo of a random guy she has taken in the street. The guy turns out to be Kyoya Sata. Erika asks him to be her fake boyfriend but he has one condition: she will become the pet girl of this handsome young man. Surprisingly, Erika later on finds out that Kyoya is the popular school’s heartthrob.

Wolf Girl and Black Prince is your typical rom-com that centers on the relationship of an average girl and a prince-type guy. While their daily interaction seems to be devastating most of the time (they behave like real enemies), the anime is similar to Miyuki and Kaguya’s warfare as they love to tease one another. Their romantic development may not progress easily, but Wolf Girl and Black Prince has a lot more to offer with its pinch of comical entertainment.

Tsuredure Children (Idle Children)

Summer 2017

12 Episodes

The anime is simply about the struggles of teenagers when it comes to romance. They find it hard to express their feelings to someone as it takes a great deal of courage to say the three magical words.

While it doesn’t have a complex storyline, the anime is such a delight for young adolescents as it’s very relatable in many ways. Kaguya-sama: Love is War is more mature in terms of its fluid interaction between the characters, but what makes it closer to the ambiance of Tsuredure Children is how it shows the inner feelings of being in love which has a realistic approach.

It’s not yet over. The war has just begun.

Kaguya-sama: Love is War is a unique romantic comedy that will never fail to brighten up your day. It will give you a bizarre yet enjoyable experience. The anime series on the list will get you involved in those awkward yet amusing moments of watching the crazy world of romance brought by Miyuki and Kaguya’s warfare. It’s hard to confess your feelings, but at the end, it’s all worth the sweat and pain.