What is this genre all about? Harem is an entertainment-related trope which is characterized by three or more characters, normally female, who for some reason are in the presence and under the influence of one character, generally male, according to a few genre-defining guidelines; here it will be assumed, for simplicity of language, that the harem lead is a male character and the members are female characters. Though that is the rule, there are exceptions; a story in which there is one female character and several male characters is normally called a "reverse harem", or sometimes also "male harem". Aside from the swapping of the characters' genders, the trope's details are mostly the same, with the majority of the changes relating to the differences in behavior between men and women of the characters' age range. It is also possible to create harems with homosexual relationships, again with very few changes to the main antics themselves. The harem may not have more than only one lead, as that would be a love polygon, or less than three members, as one would form a couple and two would make a love triangle.
As a defining rule of harem, the interactions between the lead and each of the individual members are filled with romantically or sexually loaded content, either implicitly, through innuendo or subtext, or explicitly, through text or actions, and those actions are a key plot element. Generally, the female characters' looks and personalities will vary a lot among the ones present in one single series, but quite rarely will they actually differ from the common stock archetypes, which are known, well-defined, and easy to copy; for this reason, the genre as a whole is often considered repetitive. Usually, the characters involved directly in this trope are in the late teenager to young adult age range, but that is not mandatory. Sexually charged behavior on the lead's part pretty much can't be avoided, and it's typical to see him stamped as a pervert by some or all of the members, regardless of whether he is one; the sexual tones also applies to the depiction of the harem members, often leading the genre to labeled sexist. The lead will often suffer very violent retribution for his behavior, which has attracted criticism of gratuitous violence as well.
Most of the harem members will be romantically or sometimes sexually interested in the one male character, and in him alone; that, however, is not an absolute rule, and indeed sometimes none of the female characters are really interested at first, so the protagonist has to build relationships with them from scratch. That idea comes in large part from visual novels; it is quite common for visual novels to revolve around controlling the male lead and have him build relationships with either as many female characters as possible or with one of them, the latter being more common for visual novels with branched story paths; a large portion of those visual novels also feature erotic content, which may be hard to adapt to TV series. It may be also possible that the harem is only a support to the existing or predictable relationship between the lead and the most important member; additionally, the lead may end up in relationships with most or all of the harem members, with the agreement of all, in a setting normally called "harem ending".
We present you the list of Harem manga you should read right now.
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Top 20 Harem manga you should read right now. [2026 List]
- 20. Martial Peak
- 19. Release That Witch
- 18. Shinjiteita Nakamatachi ni Dungeon Ouchi de Korosarekaketa ga Gift "Mugen Gacha" de Level 9999 no Nakamatachi wo Te ni Irete Moto Party Member to Sekai ni Fukushuu & "Zamaa!" Shimasu!
- 17. Mato Seihei no Slave
- 16. Yuan Lai Wo Shi Xiu Xian Da Lao
- 15. Iron Ladies
- 14. Cong Goblin Dao Goblin Shen
- 13. Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute
- 12. Against the Gods
- 11. Mikadono Sanshimai wa Angai, Choroi.
- 10. Mayonaka Heart Tune
- 9. Sono Akuyaku Kizoku, Mama Heroine ga Suki Sugiru: Shinshi na Doryoku de Saikyou to Nari Fuguu na Oshi Chara Tasukemakuru
- 8. Kanojo, Okarishimasu
- 7. I'm The Great Immortal
- 6. Wo Mei Zhou Suiji Yi Ge Xin Zhiye
- 5. Fengaotian Xiaoshuo Li De Huangmao Fanpai Ye Xiang Xingfu
- 4. Tensei Shitara Dai Nana Ouji Dattanode, Kimamani Majutsu wo Kiwamemasu
- 3. Akdangege Sarangbanneun Unmyeongimnida
- 2. Yuusha ni Zenbu Ubawareta Ore wa Yuusha no Hahaoya to Party wo Kumimashita!
- 1. The Villain Wants to Live
20. Martial Peak
The journey to the martial peak is a lonely, solitary and long one.In the face of adversity,you must survive and remain unyielding.Only then can you break through and and continue on your journey to become the strongest. Sky Tower tests its disciples in the harshest ways to prepare them for this journey.One day the lowly sweeper Yang Kai managed to obtain a black book, setting him on the road to the peak of the martials world.
Martial Peak is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: MP , Wu Lian Dian Feng , Wǔ Liàn Diān Fēng , Wǔ Liàn Diānfēng , Вершина боевых искусств , Пик боевых искусств
19. Release That Witch
A male engineer transmigrated into another world, and became a prince. This place strikingly resembles the Middle Ages of Europe, but at the same time, it seems kind of different? Witches truly exists, and they even possess magic powers! Magic powers are productive forces! Save the witches, liberate the productive forces! Open map, fight demons, break conspiracies, climb up the science and technology tree, and open the path of hardcore ‘farming’!
(Source:MU)
Release That Witch has finished publishing and it has 695 Chapters. It is also Known as: Release That Witch
18. Shinjiteita Nakamatachi ni Dungeon Ouchi de Korosarekaketa ga Gift "Mugen Gacha" de Level 9999 no Nakamatachi wo Te ni Irete Moto Party Member to Sekai ni Fukushuu & "Zamaa!" Shimasu!
A kid named Light is the only human member of the adventuring party Legion of Races, but humans are by far the weakest race in his world. When his comrades abandon him to the lowest levels of a dungeon, Light resorts to the gift of Infinite Gacha to create a harem of Lvl 9999 allies! With his powerful and beautiful new friends by his side, can Light escape the dungeon and exact vengeance upon the Legion of Races…and the entire world?
Backstabbed in a Backwater Dungeon: My Party Tried to Kill Me, But Thanks to an Infinite Gacha I Got LVL 9999 Friends and Am Out For Revenge is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 信じていた仲間達にダンジョン奥地で殺されかけたがギフト『無限ガチャ』でレベル9999の仲間達を手に入れて元パーティーメンバーと世界に復讐＆『ざまぁ！』します！, My Gift LVL 9999 Unlimited Gacha, Backstabbed in a Backwater Dungeon
17. Mato Seihei no Slave
When entrances to a different dimension known as the "Mato" emerge all over Japan, a new resource known as "Peaches" are discovered which give unique abilities only to women. However, dangerous monsters called "Yomotsu Shuuki" also roam throughout the Mato and have been responsible for various disasters ever since. To combat the Yomotsu Shuuki, the government formed the Anti-demon Corps, an elite group of women who have received power from the Peaches.
One day, a high school student named Yuuki Wakura was walking home from school when he suddenly gets lost in a Mato entrance. When he calls for help, he is immediately rescued by Kyouka Uzen, the chief of the Seventh Unit of the Anti-demon Corps. Recognizing his potential while also needing him to make her Peach power more effective, she ask that Yuuki join the Anti-demon Corps by becoming her slave, a position he might find more enjoyable than he initially would have thought..
Chained Soldier is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 魔都精兵のスレイブ, Slave of the Hell Soldiers, Matoseihei no Slave
16. Yuan Lai Wo Shi Xiu Xian Da Lao
Li Nianfan transmigrated into the world of immortal cultivation with a mortal body. After learning that he had no talent for cultivation, he settled down to live an ordinary life. But only to find...
The dog he adopted watched his writing and painting, and became the demon lord that ruled half the world. The tree he planted in the backyard listened to him play and sing, and grew into the world tree that held up the bridge between heaven and earth. A casual conversation enlightened a passing traveler to become the immortal sage that defined the era...
I'm Actually a Cultivation Bigshot is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: I Am a Cultivation Bigshot, I'm Actually a Cultivation Big Shot, Nguyên Lai Ta Là Tu Tiên Đại Lão, So I Am the Godfather of Immortal Cultivation, Turns Out I'm an Immortal Cultivator, Turns Out I’m a Great Cultivator, Yuán Lái Wǒ Shì Xiū Xiān Dà Lǎo, 転生から5年、いつの間にか最強になってました
15. Iron Ladies
College graduate Mu Siyun submitted his resume and suddenly became the head of a space fleet, leading thousands of mecha girl soldiers to conquer the universe!
Iron Ladies has finished publishing and it has 730 Chapters. It is also Known as: Iron Ladies Steel Soldiers, Metal Goddess Soldier
14. Cong Goblin Dao Goblin Shen
Lin Tian reincarnated as a goblin, the lowest rank of magical creatures, and initially, he had to lie low. Later, he fully unleashed the true nature of a goblin. Blessed with many offspring, the more children he has, the stronger he becomes thanks to the blessings from the gods!
Cong Goblin Dao Goblin Shen is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: Cong Ge Bu Lin Dao Ge Bu Lin Shen, Cóng Gē Bù Lín Dào Gē Bù Lín Shén, Chuyển Sinh Thành Goblin, De duende a Dios Goblin, From Goblin to Goblin God, From Goblin to Goblin-God - Goblin's Life Simulator, Goblin's Life Simulator, God Goblin, ゴッドゴブリン〜異世界で始まる無双ライフ〜
13. Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute
Just like how everyone adored heroes in their childhood, a certain young man adored those powers hidden in shadows. After hiding his strength and living the mediocre life of a mob character by day while undergoing frenzied training by night, he finally reincarnates into a different world and gains ultimate power. The young man who is only playing at being a power in the shadows, his misunderstanding subordinates, and a giant organization in the shadows that gets trampled….. This is the story of a young boy who had adored powers in shadows possibly eventually reigning over the world of shadows in another world.
To Be a Power in the Shadows! is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 陰の実力者になりたくて！, The Eminence in Shadow, Восхождение в тени
12. Against the Gods
Mythical Abode Mountain, Cloud’s End Cliff, the most dangerous of Azure Cloud Continent’s four deadly areas. Cloud’s End Cliff’s base is known as the Grim Reaper’s Cemetery.
Over countless years, the number of people that have fallen off this cliff is too high to count. None of them, even three stronger than god masters, whose power could pierce the heavens, have been able to return alive. However, a boy that’s being chased by various people because he alone holds a priceless treasure jumps off the cliff, but instead of dying he wakes up in the body of a boy with the same name in another world!
This is the story of a boy wielding the Sky Poison Pearl, cultivating the strength to oppose heaven and earth, a lord overlooking the world!
Against the Gods is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: ATG
11. Mikadono Sanshimai wa Angai, Choroi.
It's genius vs mediocrity. When three genius sisters meet our average main character, love blossoms... or maybe not?!
is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 帝乃三姉妹は案外、チョロい。, Mikadono Sanshimai wa Angai, Choroi.
10. Mayonaka Heart Tune
When Arisu Yamabuki was all alone in bed at night, he was able to find solace in the voice of a radio host who went by “Apollo.” However, one day, she simply stopped broadcasting without any explanation.Years then passed, and Arisu is now a second-year high-schooler. He makes it his mission to search for Apollo, as there is something he wants to tell her. He doesn’t know what she looks like, or even what her real name is, but he manages to get some leads on her in his school’s broadcasting club. That’s where he meets four girls who all dream to get a job where they can make full use of their voices! Just who is Apollo, and how will those four’s dreams pan out
Tune In to the Midnight Heart is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 真夜中ハートチューン, Mayonaka Heart Tune
9. Sono Akuyaku Kizoku, Mama Heroine ga Suki Sugiru: Shinshi na Doryoku de Saikyou to Nari Fuguu na Oshi Chara Tasukemakuru
The mature female characters in this game were relegated to supporting characters, doomed to unfortunate endings.
"Why...... must the cute mommy die?"
Our protagonist spent days seeking a redemption route for these women, but he was disappointed when it didn't work out. However, one day, he was suddenly transmigrated into this game world as a villainous aristocrat who only appears on the bad-end route.
The man who loves in-game MILFs, in order to save them (and himself), must find a way to escape certain death, while living a happy harem life!!!!
The Villainous Noble Loves Mom Heroines Too Much: Becoming the Strongest with Sincere Effort to Save Misfortunate Fave Chars is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: その悪役貴族、ママヒロインが好きすぎる ～真摯な努力で最強となり不遇な推しキャラ助けまくる～, That Villainous Aristocrat Loves Mama Heroine Too Much., Ngài Quý Tộc Phản Diện Yêu Các Bà Mẹ Nữ Chính Quá Mức: Trở Nên Mạnh Nhất Bằng Nỗ Lực Chân Thành Để Cứu Các Nhân Vật Yêu Thích Bị Bất Hạnh., Sono Akuyaku Kizoku, Mama Heroine ga Suki Sugiru ~Shinshi na Doryoku de Saikyou to Nari Fuguu na Oshi Chara Tasukemakuru~
8. Kanojo, Okarishimasu
Kinoshita Kazuya is a regular college student who was just dumped by his girlfriend for another guy. Feeling down in the dumps, he decides to use an app called Diamond to hire Mizuhara Chizuru, a rental girlfriend, to make himself feel better. From their first meeting, she seems to be the perfect girl for him, but is there more to her than meets the eye? And how will their not quite typical relationship develop?
Rent-A-Girlfriend is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 彼女、お借りします, I'd like to Borrow a Girlfriend
7. I'm The Great Immortal
The previous life was a peerless genius in the world of immortality. He was killed by 3 celestial beings. He was accidentally reborn to his 20s by the book of heaven. All he wanted to do was to become an immortal and return to the immortal world, and he became the strongest man on the earth, turning his hands into clouds and covering his hands with rain, provoking anyone who defies him! He is the venerable one! the ruler of 3000 worlds! the guy
who is 10 000 times better than Thanos! He is Taixuan Taizun! the Great Immortal!
I'm The Great Immortal is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: I'm Daxianzun
6. Wo Mei Zhou Suiji Yi Ge Xin Zhiye
Experience the job as a driver and gain the reward of a Pagani. Experience the job as a university teacher and gain the reward of ten buildings. Experience the job as a landlord and gain 160 million dollars. Experience… This story is also called Why Are the People Who Like Me So Nice, Urban Beauties, and I Am Tired of Being Rich.
I Randomly Have a New Career Every Week is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: I Get An All-career Experience System, Каждую неделю у меня появляется новая профессия, Tanpaile, Wo Quan Zhiye Xitong!, Wǒ Měi Zhōu Suíjī Yīgè Xīn Zhíyè
5. Fengaotian Xiaoshuo Li De Huangmao Fanpai Ye Xiang Xingfu
Transmigrating into the body of a blonde-haired villain at the start of a yuri novel, Mu En just wanted to survive. But… why does the story seem to be going off track?
The princess is drugged and unclothed — so why hasn't the heroine shown up to save her yet? Why does the heroine’s childhood friend, a noble and pure saint, keep giving me flirtatious looks? Even my obedient personal maid has started looking at me in alarming ways!
Where is the heroine?! Please save me!!
"If you're going steal my women, you better be prepared to take responsibility…" the protagonist told me, with a kind smile on her face and a sharp machete in her hand.
The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix's Novels Also Desires Happiness is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: The Blonde-Haired Villain in Girl Overlord Novel Also Longs for Happiness, The Yellow-Haired Villain in the Female Main Character's Novel Wants Happiness
4. Tensei Shitara Dai Nana Ouji Dattanode, Kimamani Majutsu wo Kiwamemasu
A magic nerd's life came to an end after a dreadful encounter with the nobles who ended his life with a powerful spell. His last wish, being able to study and master more magic, has been answered when he was reincarnated as Lloyd de Saloom, the 7th prince of Saloom Kingdom. Now he'll be able to perfect his magic as he pleases...(source: MU)
I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince So I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 転生したら第七王子だったので、気ままに魔術を極めます, Tensei Shitara Dai Nana Ouji Dattanode, Kimamani Majutsu wo Kiwamemasu
3. Akdangege Sarangbanneun Unmyeongimnida
The protagonist became the character Daud Campbell in "Savior Rising," a game he enjoyed and became an veteran in. He possessed the body of a powerless noble living on the outskirts, and decided to live quietly, avoiding others' attention.
On his first day inside the game, he gets involved with the Final Boss, also known as the vessel of the Grey Demon, "Elnore Elinarize la Tristan."
After their encounter, the protagonist gains two special rewards : "Desperate Survival," which makes him stronger when his rate of survival decreases, and "Deadly Charm," which charms those who have evil traits.
Not only do these two skills get him entangled with the Final Boss, but they also get him entangled with other demon vessels. However, with the use of his skills, he calmly overcomes the challenges with his veteran expertise.
But every time he overcomes a challenge, those with evil traits become interested in him...
Finally, he received his end goal.
Akdangege Sarangbanneun Unmyeongimnida is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: It's your destiny to be loved by villains, Fated to Be Loved by Villains
2. Yuusha ni Zenbu Ubawareta Ore wa Yuusha no Hahaoya to Party wo Kumimashita!
A young man wants to marry the mothers of the hero's party—
As a member of the hero's party Ceres, the main character, set out to defeat the demon king.
But one day, he was suddenly dismissed by the hero, and he had to leave the party.
All alone, Ceres sought to find a domestic slave to take care of him. What he saw at the slave market was Ms Shizuko, the mother of the hero, sold as a slave—??
The unreasonably expelled young man's Isekai mama harem is born!!
Betrayed by the Hero, I Formed a MILF Party with His Mom! is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: 勇者に全部奪われた俺は勇者の母親とパーティを組みました！, The Hero Took Everything from Me, So I Partied with the Hero’s Mother!
1. The Villain Wants to Live
The Middle Boss of the AAA-CLASS game. The villain who dies 999 times out of 1,000 times. Deculein.
That person, was me now.
“You’re Going To Die On Almost Every Route.”
Deculein, like all villains, inevitably dies.
[First And Foremost Survival Goal : Be what the game requires you to be].
I’ll have to survive even if it means twisting my fate if I am destined to die.
The Villain Wants to Live is currently publishing and has Chapters. It is also Known as: A Villain's Will to Survive, 악당은 살고 싶다 (악살싶)
