In a post-apocalyptic world where survival is a daily challenge, love seems like a distant fantasy. Yet some anime manage to provide a binge-worthy romance staged in post apocalyptic world.
From a handful of choices, I have dug out some anime that are staged in dystopian worlds and follow their usual premise with the spice of romance.
So whether you’re looking for some crazy good plot settings or wholesome romance, I am pretty sure that this list will help you sort out your next watchlist.
10: Neon Genesis Evangelion
Honestly speaking, many mecha anime shows like Ergo Proxy and Eureka Seven are well-considered anime romances staged in dystopian worlds. Yet I have decided to enlist Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Although Neon Genesis Evangelion is not primarily focused on romance, it still fuses the romantic elements with an apocalyptic theme brilliantly.
The plot concentrates mostly on the major characters’ psychological issues and interpersonal connections, particularly the protagonist, Shinji Ikari, as they pilot massive mechs called Evangelions to confront enigmatic monsters known as Angels in a post-apocalyptic universe.
9: Jobless Reincarnation (Season 2)
Does Jobless Reincarnation, widely known as one of the best ecchi isekai anime, really fit in the category of romance anime staged in post-apocalyptic worlds? Rationally speaking, the answer is yes.
If we particularly follow season 2 and ignore the fact that it’s an Isekai anime, it really fits our query. First, the show is staged in a dystopian world where civilization has collapsed due to a destructive travel teleportation.
Amidst all this chaos is our perverted dude, Rudues, who first falls in love with Eris Boreas Greyrat and, in the second season, engages with his childhood friend Sylphiette.
8: Heavenly Delusion
If not the best mystery anime ever, Heavenly Delusion should fall into the category of the year 2023’s best anime. This show is pretty underrated, despite the fact that it’s so well developed.
At its core, Heavenly Delusion is a sci-fi mystery anime staged in a post-apocalyptic world. In this world, civilization has collapsed, and man-eating monsters loom around, wreaking havoc.
In all this mess, our protagonists Maru and Kiriko united for a reason: to find a mysterious place called “Heaven.” While navigating through the dystopian lands, romance blooms between them, which is not completed yet. It’ll move forward once its second season is released, so stay tuned.
7: Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is a quite unique anime that combines the theme of the zombie apocalypse with the exploited workforce of the modern world.
Although the romantic element is handled sparingly in this show, there is hope that more romance will be introduced as the plot progresses.
The show follows the depressed employee Akira, who becomes super happy, like he’s on cloud nine, upon learning that the world has been overrun by a zombie apocalypse and he doesn’t have to follow his routine work from now on.
While navigating through this messed-up world, he encounters a hot, modelish chick named Shizuka. Their bonding was hinting at romance, but it’s not official yet. So we can consider this pretty much a romance anime staged in an apocalyptic world.
6: World’s End Harem
Frankly speaking, the title of this show literally tells the whole story. Yes, it’s what it’s labeled. It’s a harem romance anime staged in an apocalyptic world.
World’s End Harem is an ecchi harem anime with a pretty good art style. This lewd show is famous for its borderline fan service, staged in a world where only men are erased by a viral virus.
Due to this specifically spreading pandemic, a handful of men are alive with the help of some sci-fi hibernation processes. The good thing is that the show is equally focused on the apocalyptic world and the biggest harem plot.
5: 7 Seeds
Even with quite an intriguing plot, 7 Seeds is vastly known as one of the most underrated sci-fi romance anime.
Despite being an official Netflix production, with a pretty decent art style and a psychological plot, it stings me why this show is buried under some useless high-ranking shows.
Earth has been doomed, and some youngsters are kept alive through the process of cryogenics. When they finally awake after years, the Earth has been changed, and there are no humans around to accompany them.
In this chaotic setting, young people, both males and females, have to survive using any necessary methods. To make things worse, there are also horrible monsters. With a handful of resources, the young ones experience love and survival all together.
4: Astra Lost In Space
Astra Lost in Space is a wild ride of mystery survival anime. The plot has impressed fans by delivering an unpredictable storyline from a generic theme.
I don’t know why shows like this went under the radar, but it’s a super good mystery anime staged in space.
A class field trip takes a wild turn as the students suddenly find themselves billions of miles from home, stranded on an unknown planet somewhere out in deep space.
With no way to call for help or get back to Earth, these boys and girls will need to rely on each other’s smarts as they try to figure out why they were brought so far. Together, they search for clues and materials to hopefully make the long journey back before running out of supplies.
3: High School Of The Dead
One thing is certain: once a show lands in the hands of Madhouse Studios, the success of that show is inevitable, no matter what theme it brings to the table.
High School of the Dead is one of the greatest action harem anime that has impressed fans with the blend of fan service and amazing action animations staged in an apocalyptic world.
The show follows a group of Japanese high school students who come together to survive a zombie apocalypse. Zombie settings are overused to present a survival anime, but still, Madhouse Studios manages to hook audiences.
2: Darling In The Franxx
Missing out Darling In The Franxx is like a sin for mecha romance anime lovers. It’s created by the efforts of three renowned studios, so you can expect a little more fun from this futuristic show.
Set in a futuristic world where humanity lives in large mobile cities called plantations, the story centers around teenage pilots who each partner with humanoid mechas called Franxx to battle faceless invaders.
At the Garden plantation, Hiro teams with partner Zero Two, but sinister secrets lurk behind their battles for humanity’s survival. If you’re looking for a combo of sci-fi psychology and romance, it’s probably custom-tailored for you.
1: Blue Gender
For the top spot on our list, I have picked up the classic survival romance anime “Blue Gender.”
Just imagine: if you’re watching an anime staged in post-apocalyptic times, how can you be satisfied in the absence of gore and horror stuff? Then what’s the reason to watch a survival show? For such reasons, I have picked up “Blue Gender.”
In the Blue Gender world, humanity has been collapsed and forced to live on space stations in the presence of deadly mecha monsters. Yuji Kaido was cryogenically frozen and is now ready to shift to a space station with the help of some soldiers.
Unfortunately, their return plan becomes a failure, and now Yuji and these soldiers have to survive until reaching their destination. Yuji falls in love with a local throughout the storyline, but romance is not the main focus of the series.
