Top Villainess Anime Recommendations

Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari

Also known as The Rising of the Shield Hero.

Studio: Kinema Citrus
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy

Naofumi Iwatani, an uncharismatic Otaku who spends his days on games and manga, suddenly finds himself summoned to a parallel universe! He discovers he is one of four heroes equipped with legendary weapons and tasked with saving the world from its prophesied destruction. As the Shield Hero, the weakest of the heroes, all is not as it seems. Naofumi is soon alone, penniless, and betrayed. With no one to turn to, and nowhere to run, he is left with only his shield. Now, Naofumi must rise to become the legendary Shield Hero and save the world!

Note:
- The first episode was pre-aired on December 27th, 2018. Regular broadcast began on January 9th, 2019.
- The first episode aired with a runtime of ~47 minutes as opposed to the standard 24 minute long episode.

Tags: Isekai , Male Protagonist , Conspiracy , Travel , Medieval , Revenge , Magic , Crime , Politics , Exiled , Anti-Hero , Tragedy , Kemonomimi , Bullying , Henshin , Spearplay , Swordplay , Cult , Matriarchy , Female Harem , Slavery , Ojou-sama , Villainess , Tsundere , Language Barrier , Prison , Fugitive , Found Family , Cultivation , Medicine , Economics , Religion , Nekomimi , CGI , Heterosexual , Gore , Monster Girl , Love Triangle , Afterlife , Cohabitation

Kakegurui

Also known as Kakegurui.

Studio: MAPPA
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological

During daylight hours, an exclusive, elite private school prepares its illustrious students for careers in business, politics, and high society. But when darkness falls, the halls of this esteemed establishment transform into an underground gambling den where bright-eyed youngsters learn the timeless art of bluffing, backdoor dealings and social manipulation. In this school for the rich and elite, money is power, and the tyrant of the betting books rules with an iron fist. So when the beautiful Yumeko Jabami upsets the academy hierarchy with her voracious appetite for the thrill of the gamble, the entire student body mobilizes to send her house of cards tumbling down.



Tags: Gambling , Female Protagonist , School , Primarily Female Cast , Masochism , Primarily Teen Cast , Ojou-sama , Poker , Anti-Hero , Body Horror , School Club , Bullying , Shounen , Slavery , Villainess , Yandere , Death Game , Male Protagonist , Idol , Delinquents , Board Game , Guns , Battle Royale , CGI

Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai?: Tensaitachi no Renai Zunousen

Also known as Kaguya-sama: Love is War?.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Psychological , Romance , Slice of Life

After a slow but eventful summer vacation, Shuchiin Academy's second term is now starting in full force. As August transitions into September, Miyuki Shirogane's birthday looms ever closer, leaving Kaguya Shinomiya in a serious predicament as to how to celebrate it. Furthermore, the tenure of the school's 67th student council is coming to an end. Due to the council members being in different classes, the only time Kaguya and Miyuki have to be together will soon disappear, putting all of their cunning plans at risk.
A long and difficult election that will decide the fate of the new student council awaits, as multiple challengers fight for the coveted title of president.


Tags: School , School Club , Ensemble Cast , Tsundere , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Episodic , Heterosexual , Surreal Comedy , Ojou-sama , Coming of Age , Parody , Slapstick , Meta , Kuudere , Seinen , Bullying , Board Game , Villainess , Otaku Culture , Crossdressing , Primarily Female Cast , Archery

Kill la Kill

Also known as Kill la Kill.

Studio: TRIGGER
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Ecchi

After the murder of her father, Ryuuko Matoi has been wandering the land in search of his killer. Following her only lead—the missing half of his invention, the Scissor Blade—she arrives at the prestigious Honnouji Academy, a high school unlike any other. The academy is ruled by the imposing and cold-hearted student council president Satsuki Kiryuuin alongside her powerful underlings, the Elite Four. In the school's brutally competitive hierarchy, Satsuki bestows upon those at the top special clothes called "Goku Uniforms," which grant the wearer unique superhuman abilities.

Tags: Henshin , Female Protagonist , Revenge , Nudity , Surreal Comedy , Class Struggle , Parody , Dystopian , Super Power , Tomboy , Aliens , Coming of Age , Age Gap , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Military , Psychosexual , Cosmic Horror , Anti-Hero , Cult , Orphan , Bullying , Tsundere , Tokusatsu , Yuri , Delinquents , Villainess , Ensemble Cast , School Club , Meta , Exhibitionism , Urban Fantasy , Found Family , Ojou-sama , Tragedy , Gore , CGI , LGBTQ+ Themes , Butler , Cosplay , Yandere , Cheerleading , Space

Overlord

Also known as Overlord.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy

The story takes place in the year 2138 when virtual reality gaming is booming. Yggdrasil, a popular online game is quietly shut down one day. However, the protagonist Momonga decides to not log out. Momonga is then transformed into the image of a skeleton as "the most powerful wizard." The world continues to change, with non-player characters (NPCs) beginning to feel emotion. Having no parents, friends, or place in society, this ordinary young man Momonga then strives to take over the new world the game has become.



Tags: Isekai , Anti-Hero , Skeleton , Ensemble Cast , Virtual World , Male Protagonist , Medieval , Magic , Kingdom Management , Necromancy , Demons , Primarily Adult Cast , Succubus , Video Games , Politics , Yandere , Villainess , Maids , Monster Girl , CGI , Butler , Female Harem , Elf , Kuudere , Love Triangle , Monster Boy , Vampire , Twins , Femboy , Crossdressing , Goblin , Dragons , Tomboy , Zombie , Swordplay

Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka

Also known as Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?.

Studio: J.C.STAFF
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy , Romance

Some adventurers delve into the sprawling labyrinths beneath the city of Orario to find fame and fortune. Others come to test their skills against the legions of monsters lurking in the darkness below. However, Bell Cranel’s grandfather told him a different reason: it’s a great place to rescue (and subsequently meet) girls! Now that Bell’s a dungeon delver himself, the ladies he’s encountering aren’t the helpless damsels in distress he’d imagined, and one of them, the beautiful swordswoman Ais Wallenstein, keeps rescuing Bell instead. As embarrassing as that is, it’s nothing compared to what happens when goddesses get involved. Freya, Hephaistos, and Loki, with their powerful Familias, are intimidating enough, but there’s one goddess whose relationship with Bell is certain to spark trouble.



Tags: Dungeon , Male Protagonist , Gods , Medieval , Magic , Ensemble Cast , Mythology , Primarily Female Cast , Female Harem , Swordplay , Cultivation , Kuudere , Love Triangle , Elf , Nudity , Cohabitation , Tomboy , Kemonomimi , Nekomimi , Primarily Teen Cast , Travel , Villainess , Goblin , Heterosexual

Overlord II

Also known as Overlord II.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy

Continuing his quest to rule this new world, Ains begins to put the pieces in place for his conquest. But between a Lizard Man tribe uprising, and performing missions as adamantite adventurer Lord Momon, Ains has his work cut out for him! Thankfully he has his most loyal and willing subordinates to do his bidding. Nothing and no one can stop the supreme and mighty Overlord in his quest to rule all!



Tags: Isekai , Anti-Hero , Skeleton , Male Protagonist , Magic , Butler , Ensemble Cast , Super Power , Politics , Kingdom Management , Virtual World , Demons , Primarily Adult Cast , Succubus , Slavery , Tomboy , Medieval , Heterosexual , Vampire , Age Gap , Elf , Femboy , CGI , Twins , Monster Girl , Villainess , Female Harem , Maids , Monster Boy , Kuudere , Yandere , Interspecies , Artificial Intelligence

Overlord III

Also known as Overlord III.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy

With his foundations now set in this new world, the first steps of Ains Ooal Gown's master plan apparent begin to come to fruition. The value of Carne village and especially the political value of his alter ego Momon are reaffirmed; the “hidden” genius of his actions is continuously met with shock and awe by Demiurge, Albedo, the rest of his guardians, and even Ains himself at his “great wisdom.” His attempts to act in a way befitting the ruler of Nazarick, continuing to further cement his guardian’s loyalty, push him ever further down the path of not-so-intentional world domination. Without human conscience due to being undead, he is motivated only to continue searching for other players from Yggdrasil and to gain power to better protect the children and home of him and his forty former companions. Lord Ains Ooal Gown maintains his mantle of Overlord and leads the Great Tomb of Nazarick unto the world stage, directly into a vicious power struggle between two great empires.



Tags: Male Protagonist , Kingdom Management , Isekai , Anti-Hero , Magic , Medieval , War , Skeleton , Super Power , Politics , Primarily Adult Cast , Tragedy , Ensemble Cast , Demons , Tomboy , Monster Boy , Succubus , CGI , Goblin , Villainess , Vampire , Twins , Kaiju , Femboy , Yandere , Time Manipulation , Kuudere , Monster Girl , Female Harem , Heterosexual , Artificial Intelligence

Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka II

Also known as Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? II.

Studio: J.C.STAFF
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy , Romance

There's rarely a dull moment when you're the champion of a tiny Familia, and things only get rougher for Bell when the God Apollo declares war on Hestia and her followers. With Apollo's Familia able to field a hundred times as many men, Hestia will have to work a lot of favors to keep her Familia from being completely destroyed.

Even if Bell and Hestia manage to pull off the impossible, a major debt that Hestia owes is about to come due and Lili's sordid past comes back to haunt her! Which means that when Bell and his friends come to Lili's aid, it sets into motion yet another impending clash of the titans that may destroy everything!



Tags: Male Protagonist , Gods , Dungeon , Magic , Swordplay , Female Harem , Mythology , Ensemble Cast , Tanned Skin , Primarily Female Cast , Kemonomimi , Nudity , Kuudere , Tomboy , Elf , Villainess , Medieval , Primarily Teen Cast

Kakegurui ××

Also known as Kakegurui xx.

Studio: MAPPA
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological

At Hyakkao Private Academy, Yumeko Jabami’s star rises just as the student council’s reputation starts to dim. In the shadows of the council’s dwindling power, discord reigns supreme. In a bold effort to rebalance the social scales, student council president Kirari Momobami intends to place her bet on the election for the council’s next president. Everyone starts with a single chip, and at the end of 30 days, the whoever holds the most becomes the president of the Momobami Clan. But chips aren’t the only things students can wager as they fight tooth and nail to ascend to the council presidency, and Yumeko Jabami intends to clean house no matter the prizes she must risk in the betting pool.



Tags: Gambling , School , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Anti-Hero , Twins , Revenge , Primarily Teen Cast , Yandere , Suicide , Death Game , Yuri , Slavery , Villainess , Shounen , Ojou-sama , LGBTQ+ Themes , Gender Bending , School Club , Idol , CGI

Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta…

Also known as My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!.

Studio: SILVER LINK.
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Romance , Slice of Life

Wealthy heiress Katarina Claes is hit in the head with a rock and recovers the memories of her past life. It turns out the world she lives in is the world of the game Fortune Lover, an otome game she was obsessed with in her past life... but she's been cast as the villain character who tries to foil the protagonist's romances! The best ending the game has for Katarina is exile, and the worst, death! She'll have to find a way to avoid triggering the flags of doom, and make her own happy future!



Tags: Mixed Gender Harem , Isekai , Female Protagonist , Reincarnation , Villainess , Ensemble Cast , Ojou-sama , Maids , Medieval , Slapstick , Bisexual , Parody , Unrequited Love , Time Skip , LGBTQ+ Themes , Royal Affairs , Horticulture , Episodic , Revenge , Tragedy , Age Regression , Magic , Tsundere , Adoption , Bullying , Agriculture , Twins , Yuri

GATE: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri Part 2

Also known as Gate 2.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy

Several months have passed since the infamous Ginza Incident, with tensions between the Empire and JSDF escalating in the vast and mysterious "Special Region" over peace negotiations. The greed and curiosity of the global powers have also begun to grow, as reports about the technological limitations of the magical realm's archaic civilizations come to light.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Youji Itami and his merry band of female admirers struggle to navigate the complex political intrigue that plagues the Empire's court. Despite her best efforts, Princess Piña Co Lada faces difficulties attempting to convince her father that the JSDF has no intention of conquering their kingdom. Pressured from both sides of the Gate, Itami must consider even more drastic measures to fulfill his mission.

Tags: Military , Alternate Universe , Isekai , Politics , Male Protagonist , War , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Female Cast , Dragons , Elf , Medieval , Reverse Isekai , Kemonomimi , Tanks , Female Harem , Villainess , Slavery , Aviation , Fairy , Kuudere , Conspiracy

SSSS.GRIDMAN

Also known as SSSS.GRIDMAN.

Studio: TRIGGER
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Mecha , Sci-Fi

Collaboration with Tsuburaya Productions.

Yuta Hibiki awakens with amnesia and the ability see things that others cannot. He first encounters a Gridman in the reflection of his friend Rikka Takarada's computer and it tells him to "Remember his calling," but Yuta doesn't understand what this means. Later, in the distance, he sees an extremely large monster but it doesn't move. It's only when Yuta gets to school that the two sightings make sense: a monster attacks and the hero Yuta saw in the computer screen pulls him within the computer and transforms Yuta into a giant hero named Gridman.



Tags: Tokusatsu , Kaiju , Super Robot , Denpa , Alternate Universe , Memory Manipulation , Virtual World , Meta , Ensemble Cast , Anti-Hero , Henshin , Hikikomori , Gods , Amnesia , Yandere , School , Aliens , Male Protagonist , Mixed Media , Female Protagonist , Superhero , Villainess , Love Triangle , Episodic

Renai Boukun

Also known as Love Tyrant.

Studio: EMT Squared
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Ecchi , Romance , Supernatural

A Kiss Note is a powerful notebook that makes anyone who has their name written together will instantly fall in love if they kiss each other regardless of any circumstances. This magical and very familiar item belongs to an angel named Guri whose job as cupid is to create couples. However, she accidentally writes down Aino Seiji, a regular high school student, and unless he kisses someone, Guri will die. She convinces Seiji to go kiss his crush, Hiyama Akane, the school's popular girl who turns out has even stronger feelings for him, bordering on obsessive and psychotic. Eventually Akane and Seiji come together but not before Guri decides that she likes Seiji as well. What seems awesome to most guys becomes hell for Seiji who just wants a normal relationship with girls.



Tags: Love Triangle , Parody , Female Harem , Surreal Comedy , Male Protagonist , Cohabitation , Polyamorous , Bisexual , Urban Fantasy , Yandere , School , Tsundere , Angels , Primarily Female Cast , Shounen , Primarily Teen Cast , LGBTQ+ Themes , Interspecies , Henshin , Swordplay , Sadism , Gods , Villainess , Samurai , Unrequited Love , Age Gap , Boys' Love

Tensei Oujo to Tensai Reijou no Mahou Kakumei

Also known as The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady.

Studio: diomedéa
Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Romance

Despite her supposed ineptitude with regular magic, Princess Anisphia defies the aristocracy’s expectations by developing “magicology,” a unique magical theory based on memories from her past life. One day, she witnesses the brilliant noblewoman Euphyllia unjustly stripped of her title as the kingdom’s next monarch. That’s when Anisphia concocts a plan to help Euphyllia regain her good name-which somehow involves them living together and researching magic! Little do these two ladies know, however, that their chance encounter will alter not only their own futures, but those of the kingdom...and the entire world!



Tags: Female Protagonist , Magic , Yuri , Royal Affairs , Primarily Female Cast , Politics , Conspiracy , LGBTQ+ Themes , Cohabitation , Maids , Vampire , Isekai , Swordplay , Reincarnation , Villainess , Religion , Dragons , Adoption , Matriarchy , Drugs , Curses

Loop 7-kaime no Akuyaku Reijou wa, Moto Tekikoku de Jiyuu Kimama na Hanayome Seikatsu wo Mankitsu Suru

Also known as 7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy!.

Studio: HORNETS , Studio KAI
Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Romance

Rishe Irmgard Weitzner, a duke's daughter, has a secret: she died at the age of 20 and returned to the moment five years prior when her engagement was called off. She has already experienced this time loop six times and lived out those five years a different way each time, as a merchant, a doctor, a maid, a knight, and more. Now, on her seventh go-around, she's determined to live to a ripe old age and spend it relaxing. But the moment she flees the castle with that decision in her heart, she runs into the infamously cruel crown prince of a rival kingdom, Arnold Hein. He happens to be the one who killed her during her life as a knight, but now, he seems to have taken a bizarre liking to her... and begs her to become his wife. Thus, in order to stay alive and prevent a war, Rishe utilizes her previous experiences to kick off her seventh life as the bride of an enemy nation's crown prince.



Tags: Heterosexual , Foreign , Royal Affairs , Time Loop , Female Protagonist , Reincarnation , Time Manipulation , Primarily Adult Cast , Shoujo , Estranged Family , Ojou-sama , Marriage , Politics , Kuudere , Economics , Tomboy , Swordplay , Medicine , Alchemy , Urban , Villainess , Horticulture , Maids , War , Agriculture , Crossdressing , Medieval

Grancrest Senki

Also known as Record of Grancrest War.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Fantasy , Romance

The series takes place on a continent ruled by chaos. The chaos breeds disaster, but the Lords of the continent have the power of "Crest" (Holy Seal) that can calm the chaos and protect the people. However, before anyone realizes it, the rulers cast aside their creed of purifying the chaos, and instead start to fight each other for each others' Crests and to gain dominion over one another. Siluca, an isolated mage who scorns the Lords for abandoning their creed, and a wandering knight named Theo, who is on a journey to train to one day liberate his hometown, which is under tyrannical rule, make an everlasting oath to each other as master and servant and work together to reform this continent dominated by wars and chaos.



Tags: War , Heterosexual , Tragedy , Ensemble Cast , Adoption , Werewolf , Vampire , Witch , Estranged Family , Medieval , Primarily Adult Cast , Revenge , Ships , Twins , Vikings , Slavery , Curses , Post-Apocalyptic , Lost Civilization , Swordplay , Male Protagonist , Politics , Marriage , Magic , Gore , Kingdom Management , Royal Affairs , Villainess , Demons , Acting , Nudity , Netorare , Tsundere ,

Maou-jou de Oyasumi

Also known as Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle.

Studio: Doga Kobo
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Slice of Life

Sshhh! Princess Syalis is trying to get a good night's sleep. Some shut-eye. Forty winks. Catch some Z's. Long ago in olden times when people and demons lived together in—well, disharmony, really—a demon king kidnaps a human princess and imprisons her in his castle. Bereft, the princess's subjects beat their chests in anguish…until a hero arises to spearhead Project Rescue Our Princess! While waiting for her knight in shining armor, what's an imprisoned princess to do...? Teddy-bear guards with bat wings are all very well, but her dungeon cell is bo-o-o-ring! So, she decides to wile away the long hours by sleeping. Now if only she could get comfortable…and didn't suffer from insomnia...



Tags: Ojou-sama , Female Protagonist , Prison , Episodic , Parody , Demons , Kuudere , Slapstick , Iyashikei , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Magic , Ensemble Cast , Found Family , Monster Boy , Dungeon , Fairy Tale , Primarily Male Cast , Primarily Adult Cast , Monster Girl , Villainess , Animals , Goblin , Mythology , Skeleton , Dragons , Snowscape , Succubus , Swordplay

Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta… X

Also known as My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! X.

Studio: SILVER LINK.
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Romance , Slice of Life

Katarina Claes, the daughter of a duke, regains her memories from a previous life after hitting her head on a rock. The world she lives in now is the world of Fortune Lover, the otome game she was hooked on in her previous life, and she is now the villainess who interferes with the heroine's love story! The happy ending prepared for Katarina in the game is being exiled from the country, and the bad ending, she gets killed... but she's determined to avoid all destruction flags and claim a happy future for herself! And after she succeeds in avoiding those flags, a new crisis awaits?! The curtain rises once again on this flirtatious romantic comedy!



Tags: Female Protagonist , Ojou-sama , Mixed Gender Harem , Isekai , Royal Affairs , Male Harem , Unrequited Love , Maids , Swordplay , Medieval , Magic , Reincarnation , Villainess , Female Harem , Bisexual , Parody , LGBTQ+ Themes , Video Games , Episodic , Torture , Ensemble Cast , Fairy , Dragons , School , Heterosexual , Tsundere , Agriculture , Virtual World , Twins , Inseki , Dissociative Identities , Gender Bending

Akuyaku Reijou Level 99: Watashi wa Ura Boss desu ga Maou de wa Arimasen

Also known as Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss but I'm Not the Demon Lord.

Studio: Jumondou
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Romance

This college kid wants nothing more than a quiet life. So when she’s reborn as Yumiella, the hidden villainess of an Otome RPG, she’s not exactly thrilled. Still yearning for peace, she abandons her evil duties to live a more discreet life. Until her gamer side kicks in and she accidentally reaches level 99! Now, everyone suspects that she’s the infamous Demon Lord. What future awaits her?



Tags: Villainess , Magic , Female Protagonist , Kuudere , School , Isekai , Reincarnation , Heterosexual , Boarding School , Royal Affairs , Primarily Teen Cast , Medieval , Swordplay , Maids , Spearplay , Archery , Class Struggle , Shoujo , Chibi , Ojou-sama , Dungeon , Goblin , Skeleton , Chimera , Dullahan , CGI , Demons , Dragons