Genre · ranked
The best romance series of all time
25 ranked · updated July 2026
True romance transcends borders and genres, weaving together tales of high-stakes sports rivalries, poignant coming-of-age discoveries, and the enduring power of found family. These series capture the messy, exhilarating reality of falling in love across cultural divides, school hallways, and the complicated landscape of modern adult relationships.
How this ranking works
Ranked by a Bayesian-weighted score (rating average + rating count) across series classified as Romance.
Sex and the City
Darren Star
This series earns its place by masterfully capturing the evolution of female friendship and the candid, unfiltered realities of navigating love in a bustling metropolis.
Explores: Female Friendship, Dating in the City, Single Life.
Off Campus
Gina Fattore
The series excels by blending the tropes of fake dating with profound emotional healing, grounding its college setting in authentic, character-driven personal growth.
Explores: Fake Dating, Emotional Healing, Coming-of-age.
Heartstopper
Alice Oseman
Its top-tier status is secured by a tender and honest exploration of self-discovery, capturing the delicate, transformative nature of first love during high school.
Explores: First Love, Self-Discovery, High School.
Heated Rivalry
Jacob Tierney
This story stands out for its intense portrayal of forbidden love, balancing the crushing pressure of professional sports ambition with a deeply magnetic connection.
Explores: Rivalry, Forbidden Love, Career Ambition.
When Life Gives You Tangerines
Lim Sang-choon
The series earns its spot through a sweeping, lifelong narrative that beautifully illustrates how love endures across decades of personal setbacks and triumphs.
Explores: First Love, Childhood Sweethearts, Island Life.
It's Okay to Not Be Okay
Park Shin-woo
It is distinguished by its brave approach to psychological healing, showing how two people with significant emotional baggage can find solace and family together.
Explores: healing through love, emotional baggage, found family.
TONIKAWA: Over the Moon for You
This series captures the charm of an unconventional beginning, focusing on the sweetness of newlywed life that blossoms from a sudden, life-changing commitment.
Explores: Love at First Sight, Newlywed Life, Arranged Marriage (Implied).
Horimiya
The show earns its place by highlighting the vulnerability of hidden identities, proving that unexpected friendships often reveal our most authentic selves to others.
Explores: Hidden Identities, Unexpected Friendship, Social Outcasts.
Crash Landing on You
Park Ji-eun
This series is unforgettable for its high-stakes premise, which uses a fish-out-of-water scenario to explore deep, forbidden love against a dramatic political backdrop.
Explores: Forbidden Love, Culture Clash, Fish Out of Water.
Young Royals
Lisa Ambjörn
It secures its position by examining the heavy burden of duty, portraying the difficult struggle of following one's heart within a restrictive royal environment.
Explores: Royal Life, Boarding School, Class Differences.
given
The series earns its spot by using music as a bridge for emotional connection, beautifully depicting the quiet, transformative power of finding a shared voice.
Explores: Musical Passion, Emotional Connection, Self-Discovery.
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo
Yang Hui-seung
This show succeeds by grounding its romantic comedy in the relatable transition to adulthood, highlighting the enduring bond between long-time childhood friends.
Explores: First Love, Childhood Friends, Athlete Romance.
Bon Appétit, Your Majesty
Jang Tae-yoo
It earns its place through a unique historical fantasy premise, where the clash of modern culinary skills and royal tradition creates a compelling forbidden romance.
Explores: Fish out of Water, Culture Clash, Forbidden Love.
Golden Time
The series is notable for its exploration of memory loss, using the protagonist's amnesia to complicate and deepen the dynamics of his college-age romantic relationships.
Explores: Amnesia, Coming-of-age, Obsessive Love.
Maid Sama!
It earns its spot by expertly playing with the tsundere trope and class differences, creating a high-energy dynamic between two characters hiding their true selves.
Explores: Secret Identity, Tsundere, Class Difference Romance.
My Dress-Up Darling
A standout of romance series.
Explores: Cosplay, Fish Out of Water, Hidden Talents.
Business Proposal
Han Sul-hee
A standout of romance series.
Explores: Mistaken Identity, Forced Proximity, Fake Dating.
Marry My Husband
Shin Yoo-dam
A standout of romance series.
Explores: Second Chance, Reincarnation, Betrayal.
Yo soy Betty, la fea
Fernando Gaitán
A standout of romance series.
Explores: Ugly Duckling, Unrequited Love, Social Class.
The Quintessential Quintuplets
A standout of romance series.
Explores: Tutoring, Multiple Love Interests, Academic Setting.
Descendants of the Sun
Baek Sang-Hoon
A standout of romance series.
Explores: Forbidden Love, Duty vs. Love, Star-Crossed Lovers.
Queen of Tears
Park Ji-eun
A standout of romance series.
Explores: Marital Crisis, Second Chance Romance, Corporate Intrigue.
My Love Story!!
A standout of romance series.
Explores: First Love, Unrequited Love (initial), Kindness.
Blue Spring Ride
A standout of romance series.
Explores: First Love, High School Romance, Past Trauma.
What's Wrong with Secretary Kim
Park Joon-hwa
A standout of romance series.
Explores: Boss-Secretary Relationship, Quitting Job, Arrogant Boss.
Common questions
What are the best romance series featuring LGBTQ+ themes?
Several highly-rated series explore LGBTQ+ relationships, including the coming-of-age drama Heartstopper, the sports-focused rivalry in Heated Rivalry, the royal pressures depicted in Young Royals, and the music-centric emotional journey found in the anime series given.
Are there any good romance series that involve time travel or historical settings?
Yes, Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is a standout choice in this category. It features a modern-day chef who travels back to the Joseon era, where her contemporary cooking skills help her navigate a complex and forbidden romance with a king.
Which romance series deal with childhood friends falling in love?
Several series on this list explore the depth of long-term bonds, such as When Life Gives You Tangerines, which follows a couple from childhood into adulthood, and Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo, which portrays the evolving relationship between two athletes who grew up together.