Summary
- Dark harem manga explore grim themes like murder and abuse in pursuit of love, going beyond typical fan service.
- Stories like School Days and Abnormal-kei Joshi blend romance with darkness, featuring macabre endings and psychological horrors.
- Harem Royale and Vampire Master Dark Crimson showcase suspenseful narratives of deadly competitions for love in harem settings.
B are often associated with frisky fan service and harmless love debacles, treating emotions as an excuse for a string of raunchy affairs. However, the very same affection can lead to some macabre conclusions, with some characters going a bit too far in their pursuit of love. The essence of dark harem revolves around this very concept, featuring narratives filled with grim themes that, more often than not, spring from the harem itself.
8 Darkest Isekai Manga
These isekai manga feature some potent dark themes for fans of isekai series with a dark twist to it.
Some dark harem manga are naturally set in grisly settings, while others are a result of characters giving in to their carnal desires. These narratives know no bounds in terms of incorporating all manner of mature elements, ranging from trauma and abuse to straight-up murders and killing sprees — all in the name of love.
7 Sister Blood: Gensou no Tsuki to Furueru Chi
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.28/5
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Release Date |
May 9, 2014 |
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No. Of Chapters |
1 |
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Author |
Matra & Milan |
After being bitten by a vampire, Saya remains locked up inside her home, fearing that she will end up feasting on innocent humans. The only thing she looks forward to in life is getting to see her brother, Shou, a once-gentle big brother who now hunts pure-blooded vampires in the dead of night.
However, Shou and Saya’s relationship isn’t that simple, as turning into a vampire led to her primal instincts taking over. With Saya being part of Shou’s harem, Sister Blood: Gensou no Tsuki to Furueru Chi trudges towards a few controversial elements, though the manga balances out its scandalous side with a very intriguing setting.
6 School Days
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.31/5
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Release Date |
May 26, 2006 |
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No. Of Chapters |
12 |
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Author |
Overflow |
School Days is the quintessential dark harem manga, notorious for its macabre ending. The manga primarily follows Makoto and his love triangle with Kotonoha and Sekai, with the latter helping Makoto with his crush on Kotonoha. As the two finally begin to date, Sekai reveals her true intentions — keeping Makoto all to herself.
10 Romance Anime & Manga Where The Protagonist Dies
Romance loves a good tragedy, especially when it befalls the protagonist of a story like it does with these excellent anime and manga romances.
Love triangles often end up leaving behind broken hearts, yet this one ends up leaving a trail of blood. With multiple on-screen and video game adaptations, School Days' premise certainly has merit, though the horrid nature of this dark harem manga is sure to take readers by surprise.
5 Mousugu Shinu Hito
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.33/5
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Release Date |
Jul 10, 2013 |
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No. Of Chapters |
16 |
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Author |
Touka Takei |
On the surface, Mousugu Shinu Hito seems like any other harem manga, covering all the bases, with a male protagonist being the target of attention of the childhood friend, the popular girl, and the transfer student. However, the initial facade of a rom-com harem is immediately shattered after the first chapter, revealing the true nature of the premise.
Riku Kominato may have women vying for his affection, yet he has an even bigger murder-mystery plot looming over his head. As Riku and his harem begin receiving threatening messages regarding their dooms, the lives of this unfortunate group are forever upended.
4 Harem Royale: When The Game Ends
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.35/5
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Release Date |
Nov 26, 2016 |
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No. Of Chapters |
19 |
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Author |
Ryukishi07 |
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Japanese Title |
Renai Harem Game Shuuryou no Oshirase ga Kuru Koro ni |
True to its namesake, Harem Royale: When the Game Ends is a literal battle between a group of girls, and those that fail to win over the protagonist will end up dying. After releasing a demon, Kohinata Asanaro’s life is turned upside down, as a harem suddenly surrounds his everyday life, fighting for his attention.
For the oblivious protagonist, his sudden harem of babes might seem like something out of a rom-com. The same can’t be said for the victims of this curse, as those who fail to make Kohinata fall for them will meet their demise. While this dark harem manga has some semblance of comedy within it, the suspense of their eventual fate keeps the setting dark and grim.
3 Vampire Master Dark Crimson
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.48/5
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Release Date |
Nov 13, 2000 |
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No. Of Chapters |
32 |
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Author |
Satoshi Urushihara |
Vampire manga are all the rage in the harem landscape, though most of these narratives are often heavy on the fan service side of things, forgoing the plot entirely. Vampire Master Dark Crimson might be a vampire harem manga, yet the main premise takes center stage in this suspense-laden dark manga.
19 Best Supernatural Anime, Ranked
From shinigami to the occult, anime with supernatural themes have enraptured audiences for years. Here are the best supernatural anime ever.
‘Crimsons’ and ‘Clients,’ two opposing forces, have always been at odds with each other, and Shion is at the center of this conflict as he battles Clients, despite bearing half of their blood inside him. With a loyal sidekick and a new follower, this vampire fights monsters on the daily, all while harboring a burgeoning harem by his side.
2 Holy Corpse Rising
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.65/5
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Release Date |
Oct 30, 2014 |
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No. Of Chapters |
41 |
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Author |
Hosana Tanaka |
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Japanese Title |
Seigai no Majo |
Set in 15th-Century Rome, the human world is at war against witches, and one man discovers he is fated to be the key in ending this conflict. Nikola bears the power to revive fallen witches to fight for humans, essentially ending the enemy’s onslaught once and for all.
There’s a catch, however, as Nikola must enter a marriage contract with every witch he revives as an ally. With beautiful witches and gore-filled scenes, Holy Corpse Rising perfectly captures the essence of dark harem manga.
1 Abnormal-kei Joshi
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.75/5
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Release Date |
May 2, 2012 |
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No. Of Chapters |
15 |
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Author |
Haruaki Katou |
Despite harboring a strong dislike for women, Shinya ends up getting entangled in an eccentric bunch of girls, each with a personality that represents overly-exaggerated harem tropes. However, Abnormal-kei Joshi isn’t a typical flimsy harem manga, as things turn dark with murders, psychological horrors, and suspenseful drama taking hold of the narrative.
Unlike regular harem protagonists, Shinya is rather calm and calculated, a refreshing change from the usual airheads featured in these manga. The same can’t be said for his peculiar harem, as each member brings something more bizarre than the previous one, ranging from a delusional fantasy enthusiast to a wanna-be vampire who wants to suck Shinya’s blood.
15 Best English Dub Harem Anime, Ranked
Despite featuring the raunchy side of anime, several harem series offer exceptional English dubs, with some even surpassing their subbed counterparts.