While there are countless romance anime series to choose from, it can be a bit more challenging to recommend a good one that features an MC who is a loner.
However, with a little digging, there are some great romance anime out there that center around a character who struggles with socializing and building connections.
Let’s dive in!
10. More Than A Married Couple, But Not Lovers
More Than A Married Couple, But Not Lovers is your next Nisekoi. The solitary protagonist of the anime is Jirō Yakuin, a 17-year-old high schooler whose life is about to turn upside down.
Why, you ask? Well, it’s all thanks to the couple’s training program implemented by his high school. While Jiro was hoping to end up with his high school crush, his partner turned out to be someone else: a popular and gorgeous gyaru girl named Akari Watanabe. Needless to say, Akari is less than thrilled to be paired with him since she has a crush on someone else.
However, there is still hope for both Akari and Jirou to have the partner they want, but only if they can attain enough “newlywed points”!
9. A Silent Voice
Get ready for a rollercoaster ride of emotions with A Silent Voice, one of the most popular heartwarming anime movies ever made.
Interestingly, the protagonist, Shoya, isn’t really lonely. He attends middle school and life is pretty great. But then, a new deaf student named Shoko arrives in class. At first, Shoya cruelly bullies Shoko along with the whole class. However, things change when the whole class turns on him and he becomes an outcast.
Years later, as Shoya grows up, he realizes that he wants to make amends for his past mistakes. He sets out to build a connection with Shoko and learn the true meaning of empathy and forgiveness.
8. Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki
If there is anime that proves that even the lowest-ranked “characters” can rise to the top, it’s Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki. Don’t sleep on this one just because it’s not that popular!
Meet Tomozaki, the ultimate video game master who’s totally crushing it in the virtual world. But in the real world, it’s a totally different story. He’s a complete loner, struggling to navigate the social scene at school.
However, his life takes an unexpected turn when he meets his unlikely mentor, the popular and charismatic Aoi Hinami. With Aoi’s help, Tomozaki sets out to level up his real-life skills and become a top-tier player. Along the way, he learns some surprising truths about himself and the world around him.
7. Horimiya
Horimiya is a romance anime that’s all about being real and connecting with yourself and others.
Hori’s the queen bee of the school, but when she’s not crushing it in class, she’s low-key a boss at taking care of her family. And then there’s Miyamura, the emo boy who’s more than meets the eye.
When these two cross paths, they realize they’ve been sleeping on each other hard. As they start hanging out, they find out they’re way more alike than they thought. Hori’s not so perfect after all, and Miyamura’s got secrets even he doesn’t fully understand.
6. Hyouka
Step into a world of mystery and romance with Hyouka, the romance anime with a loner MC that’s as captivating as it is heartwarming.
Oreki is a loner who is content with his simple life and has no interest in getting involved in anything. That is, until he meets Chitanda, a curious and persistent girl who drags him along on her quest to solve a mystery from their school’s past.
As they work together, he starts to see her in a new light and finds himself falling for her. But as a socially awkward guy, he struggles to express his emotions and connect with others. Can Oreki break out of his shell and make a move on Chitanda, or will he retreat back into his comfortable solitude?
5. My Little Monster
My Little Monster is an anime that has everything: romance, comedy, and a quirky loner MC that you can’t help but root for.
The show follows the story of Shizuku Mizutani, a straight-A student who only cares about her grades. But when she’s tasked with delivering class materials to her classmate Haru Yoshida, she gets pulled into his chaotic world.
Haru’s got a rep for being a delinquent troublemaker, but as Shizuku gets to know him better, she sees that he’s more than just a rebel without a cause.
4. The Future Diary
Buckle up, because we’re diving into the world of The Future Diary, a thrilling romance anime that follows not one, but two loner MCs.
Yukiteru Amano is a quiet and introverted high school student who spends most of his time writing in his diary. But when he realizes that his diary can predict the future, he is unwillingly forced to participate in a deadly game with 11 other diary owners.
He hit the jackpot with his yandere sidekick, Yuno Gasai, who could chop down a tree with a toothpick. As they battle to stay alive in a game of life and death, they slowly fall for each other. But with their lives on the line and danger around every corner, their romance is in for a real test.
3. Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You
The anime follows the story of Sawako Kuronuma, a shy and introverted high school student who’s often misunderstood by her peers because of her resemblance to Sadako from the horror movie “The Ring”. Despite her kind and gentle nature, she struggles to make friends and communicate her true feelings.
But when the popular and outgoing Shouta Kazehaya starts to show an interest in her, Sawako’s world starts to change. Not only does she start slowly opening up to him but she also makes new friends. Thanks to him, she discovers the joy of being understood and accepted for who she is.
With its uplifting themes of friendship and acceptance, Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good romance anime.
2. My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
SNAFU is another romance anime with a loner MC. His name is Hachiman Hikigaya, a guy with a pretty bleak outlook on life. He doesn’t care much about making friends or fitting in, and instead prefers to keep to himself.
But when he’s forced to join the school’s Volunteer Service Club, he ends up working alongside two other students, the popular Yukino Yukinoshita and the bubbly Yui Yuigahama. Together, they tackle all sorts of problems from their fellow classmates, all while Hachiman struggles to keep his cynical attitude in check.
1. Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai is a unique blend of supernatural elements with real-life issues faced by teenagers.
Sakuta Azusagawa is a high schooler who encounters various girls suffering from “adolescence syndrome”. This phenomenon affects teenagers and causes them to experience supernatural occurrences that are often connected to their emotional struggles or anxieties.
One of these girls is Mai Sakurajima, a famous actress who’s rocking a bunny girl costume and only visible to Sakuta. As Sakuta helps each girl out, he gets closer to Mai and helps her uncover the reason for her invisibility. While they’re at it, they deal with all the drama of being teenagers and ultimately learn some difficult lessons.
Ah, Hyouka 😍 Oreki and Chitanda’s relationship is so cute, love that it’s on this list