26 Best Incest Anime: Forbidden Love Stories That Stir Controversy

I still remember when I asked for recommendations in the anime community, and they confidently suggested Yosuga no Sora.

I was mindblown by literally everything when I watched it. It’s the classic “anime you watch alone” (has some NSFW moments).

Yosuga no Sora follows twin siblings Haruka and Sora who return to their rural hometown after the death of their parents.

The show is structured like a visual novel adaptation, with multiple routes focused on different love interests, but the final route is where things get spicy. Yes, that route.

Haruka and Sora’s twin bond becomes something more, leading to a controversial but emotionally raw finale.

Whether you find it compelling or shocking, Yosuga no Sora doesn’t pull punches and sets the tone for just how far this genre can go emotionally and ethically.

Yosuga no Sora info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Sky of Connection
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Fall 2010
• Studios: feel.
• Genres: Drama, Romance, Ecchi
• Themes: Harem
• Score: 6.01 (MAL), 6.0 (IMDb)

Watch Yosuga no Sora trailer:

Ah, Oreimo, the anime that launched a thousand memes and nearly as many debates. The full title is pretty much sums it up.

Kirino is a seemingly perfect girl with a secret: she’s obsessed with otaku culture, specifically ‘little sister’ eroge.

Her brother Kyousuke finds out, and the two begin reconnecting over her “hobby,” eventually leading to a story full of misunderstandings, and more than a little shipping controversy.

The show flirts dangerously close to romantic territory. And the ending doesn’t shy away from the implications.

While it starts as a fun, sibling-reconciliation story, it gradually veers into controversial ground.

Love it or rage-quit it, Oreimo is a cornerstone of the genre and a must-watch if you want to understand why this theme became so prominent.

Oreimo info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Fall 2010
• Studios: AIC Build
• Genres: Comedy
• Themes: Otaku Culture
• Score: 6.93 (MAL), 6.4 (IMDb)

Watch Oreimo trailer:

If messiness had a peak, Domestic Girlfriend would be sitting right at the top.

Want love triangles involving sisters? Complicated feelings that never let up? And a really messed up ending? This anime has it all.

It begins with Natsuo, a high school student who’s hopelessly in love with his teacher, Hina. To try and move on, he ends up in a one-night stand with a mysterious girl named Rui.

THEN, their parent remarry, and now Hina and Rui are his stepsisters. That’s right, he’s crushing on one, slept with the other, and now they’re all living under the same roof.

Now stuck living under the same roof with two girls he has very complicated feelings for, Natsuo navigates a minefield of forbidden romance, heartbreak, and deeply questionable decisions.

Domestic Girlfriend is the kind of show where every episode ends in a gasp or facepalm, and whether you love it or hate it, you will keep watching.

Domestic Girlfriend info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Domestic na Kanojo
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Winter 2019
• Studios: Diomedéa
• Genres: Drama, Romance
• Themes: Love Polygon, School
• Score: 6.63 (MAL), 6.8 (IMDb)

Watch Domestic Girlfriend trailer:

OniAi, short for As Long as There’s Love, It Doesn’t Matter If He Is My Brother, Right? (in English).

It’s exactly what you’d expect from the title: a classic anime about a little sister who’s totally NOT in love with her big brother. Who am I kidding… of course, she absolutely is.

This story centers on Akito, who reunites with his younger sister Akiko after years apart. Akiko immediately reveals that her love for him isn’t exactly “brotherly.”

While Akito tries to brush it off, things spiral fast as a parade of other girls, each with their own romantic interest in him, enters the mix.

It’s classic harem chaos with a sibling love twist, leaning hard into ecchi territory but always with a wink to the audience (never fully crosses the line).

It doesn’t take itself too seriously, which makes it an easy watch if you’re in the mood for shameless fun.

OniAi info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Oniichan dakedo Ai sae Areba Kankeinai yo ne!
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Fall 2012
• Studios: SILVER LINK.
• Genres: Comedy, Romance, Ecchi
• Themes: Harem, School
• Score: 6.41 (MAL), 5.8 (IMDb)

If there’s one anime that makes incest weirdly poetic, it’s Bakemonogatari. Or more accurately, the entire Monogatari series.

Araragi’s relationship with his sisters, Karen and Tsukihi, is filled with questionable moments, like brushing teeth way too intimately.

But this is Monogatari, so everything is stylized, layered, and dripping in metaphor.

While the show never commits to an incest plotline, it plays with the idea in surreal, psychological ways that make you think (and sometimes just go “What the hell?”).

It’s not a traditional incest anime, but it definitely earns a mention for how it plays with boundaries and expectations.

Bakemonogatari info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 15
• Released: Summer 2009
• Studios: Shaft
• Genres: Mystery, Romance, Supernatural
• Themes: Vampire
• Score: 8.32 (MAL), 8.0 (IMDb)

It’s from the creator of Oreimo also, but it’s step-sibling instead of blood related one.

Eromanga Sensei follows light novel author Masamune and his reclusive stepsister Sagiri, who turns out to be the lewd illustrator for his novels.

Cue awkward, hilarious, and sometimes way-too-close sibling interactions.

Though they’re not blood-related, the show toes the line constantly, playing up the romantic tension and classic tsundere-little-sister energy.

It’s a fanservice-heavy comedy with bursts of surprisingly sweet moments, especially when Sagiri slowly opens up.

You’ll either be giggling or groaning, but it’s undeniably entertaining in its own over-the-top way.

Eromanga Sensei info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Spring 2017
• Studios: A-1 Pictures
• Genres: Comedy, Romance, Ecchi
• Themes: Otaku Culture
• Score: 6.32 (MAL), 5.5 (IMDb)

Watch Eromanga Sensei trailer:

Peak degeneracy but make it fun, Kiss x Sis is the anime that said “What if stepsisters just stopped pretending?” Uh…

Keita, a high school student, finds himself the constant target of affection from his two step-sisters, Ako and Riko. And they are not shy about it.

Unlike most shows that tease forbidden love, Kiss x Sis dives headfirst into ecchi territory with no shame and no brakes.

It’s played for laughs and nosebleeds more than genuine romance, and that’s exactly its charm. It’s a guilty pleasure for many, and a chaos ride for anyone willing to brave it.

Kiss x Sis info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Spring 2010
• Studios: feel.
• Genres: Comedy, Romance, Ecchi
• Themes: Harem, School
• Score: 6.57 (MAL), 6.0 (IMDb)

This one’s a harem mystery with a twist: Shougo must find a bride before graduating high school to claim his inheritance.

But one of the many girls interested in him might secretly be his long-lost sister, and no one will tell him who.

So yes, it’s basically “Guess Who?” with accidental incest as the stakes.

It’s ridiculous, tropey, and full of anime logic, but it also knows exactly what kind of show it is and embraces it.

If you like your incest danger levels with a side of comedy and mystery, this one delivers.

NAKAIMO: My Little Sister Is Among Them! info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Kono Naka ni Hitori, Imouto ga Iru!
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Summer 2012
• Studios: Studio Gokumi
• Genres: Comedy, Mystery, Romance, Ecchi
• Themes: Harem, School
• Score: 6.49 (MAL), 6.1 (IMDb)

My Stepmom’s Daughter Is My Ex follows Mizuto and Yume, two high schoolers who dated, broke up, and then became step-siblings after their parents remarried.

Forced to live under the same roof, they battle over who’s the “cooler ex” while dealing with lingering feelings and hilarious domestic tension.

It’s more rom-com than reunion drama, with the added spice of forced proximity and unresolved feelings.

The banter is sharp, the awkwardness is authentic, and you’re constantly rooting for (or against) them getting back together.

My Stepmom’s Daughter Is My Ex info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Mamahaha no Tsurego ga Motokano datta
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Summer 2022
• Studios: Project No.9
• Genres: Comedy, Romance
• Themes: N/A
• Score: 6.73 (MAL), 6.5 (IMDb)

Forbidden love, but make it GL (Girls Love).

Citrus tells the story of Yuzu, a flashy high schooler who suddenly gets a conservative, mysterious stepsister named Mei when their parents remarry.

Things get spicy when Yuzu realizes she might have romantic feelings for Mei… and vice versa.

While the series is controversial for its portrayal of consent and power dynamics, it’s also a rare mainstream example of yuri with a messy but memorable plot.

Citrus isn’t subtle, but it’s definitely passionate, and its drama-laced storytelling pulls in viewers who crave that forbidden-love intensity.

Citrus info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Winter 2018
• Studios: Passione
• Genres: Drama, Girls Love
• Themes: School
• Score: 6.43 (MAL), 6.5 (IMDb)

A ghost-possessed sister must fulfill romantic goals to move on. It’s something else, really.

Mitsuki, an average teen girl, suddenly finds herself possessed by the ghost of a horny teenage girl who wants to hook up with Mitsuki’s stepbrother. Yeah.

The ghost can only pass on if Mitsuki falls in love with him, leading to some seriously uncomfortable but intentionally absurd situations.

This anime walks a very thin line between supernatural comedy and just plain weird, but it’s played with enough self-aware absurdity to stay entertaining.

Definitely one of the more infamous entries in the genre.

Recently, My Sister Is Unusual info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Saikin, Imouto no Yousu ga Chotto Okashiinda ga
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Winter 2014
• Studios: Project No.9
• Genres: Comedy, Romance, Supernatural, Ecchi
• Themes: N/A
• Score: 6.19 (MAL), 5.5 (IMDb)

If you like your forbidden love with a heavy side of emotional complexity and slow-burn drama, Super Lovers might catch your interest.

This boys’ love series that starts with Haru, a young man who’s asked to take care of a troublesome boy named Ren.

They grow close, but things get complicated when Ren is later adopted into the family, and the relationship starts to shift into romantic territory.

While technically not blood-related, the series explores a kind of emotional incest as the characters blur familial lines. Not for everyone, but it’s a unique entry in the genre.

Super Lovers info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Spring 2016
• Studios: Studio Deen
• Genres: Boys Love, Comedy, Drama
• Themes: N/A
• Score: 6.73 (MAL), 6.8 (IMDb)

Title aside, Hinako clearly DOES like her brother, just not in the usual sisterly way.

Hikaru is your average high schooler, and his little sister, Gekka, is… completely obsessed with him. As in, cling-to-him-24/7 levels of obsession.

The anime is chaotic, fast-paced, and very much a gag comedy. It plays up the absurdity of the little sister complex to such an exaggerated degree that it becomes pure parody.

There’s no real romance here, just comedic mayhem built around one girl’s incredibly one-sided (and aggressively over-the-top) affection.

Still, it’s weird, wild, and weirdly hard to look away from.

I Don’t Like My Big Brother At All! info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Oniichan no Koto nanka Zenzen Suki ja Nai n da kara ne!!
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Winter 2011
• Studios: Zexcs
• Genres: Comedy, Romance, Ecchi
• Themes: Harem
• Score: 6.06 (MAL), 5.8 (IMDb)

On the surface, this is a sci-fi magic school anime with OP protagonists, but underneath, it’s also one of the most notorious examples of sibling love that’s… not exactly subtle.

The Irregular at Magic High School introduces us to Tatsuya and Miyuki Shiba, siblings who attend a prestigious magic school.

Tatsuya is low-ranked on paper but secretly overpowered, and Miyuki is both brilliant and very, very devoted to her brother. Like, suspiciously devoted.

Their bond becomes a recurring element, often dipping into romantic overtones that often raise the viewer’s eyebrows.

If you’re into overpowered protagonists and want just a sprinkle of sibling weirdness with your magic, this one’s for you.

The Irregular at Magic High School info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei
• Episodes: 26
• Released: Spring 2014
• Studios: Madhouse
• Genres: Action, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi
• Themes: School, Urban Fantasy
• Score: 7.37 (MAL), 7.0 (IMDb)

Days with My Stepsister is a slow-burn slice-of-life story about a high school boy and his new stepsister adjusting to life together after their parents remarry.

What sets this one apart is its introspective tone, focusing on subtle interactions, emotional boundaries, and the quiet bond between two people suddenly made family.

There’s no overt romance (at least not at first) but the tension builds with subtle realism, toeing the line of incest. Basically, it’s borderline incest.

If you’re looking for something more emotional and character-driven, this one’s surprisingly wholesome… and quietly heartbreaking.

Days with My Stepsister info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Gimai Seikatsu
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Summer 2024
• Studios: Studio Deen
• Genres: Romance
• Themes: N/A
• Score: 7.34 (MAL), 7.0 (IMDb)

You might not immediately think “incest anime” with this one, but look closely and you’ll notice Stella isn’t the only character crushing on our protagonist.

Ikki’s little sister, Shizuku, is extremely attached to him, so much so that she will declare war on any girls who gets close to him.

While the main romance centers on Ikki and Stella’s knightly passion, Shizuku’s obsessive, romantic affection for her brother is a running subplot that adds a spicy layer of tension.

It’s mostly played for drama and comedy rather than being the emotional core, but it definitely earns Chivalry a spot on this list.

Chivalry of a Failed Knight info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Fall 2015
• Studios: SILVER LINK., Nexus
• Genres: Action, Fantasy, Romance, Ecchi
• Themes: School, Urban Fantasy
• Score: 7.42 (MAL), 7.2 (IMDb)

Take one part step-sibling setup, one part demon war, and two parts outrageous fanservice, and you get The Testament of Sister New Devil.

Basara is a normal high schooler whose life takes a 180 turn when he suddenly gains two new step-sisters who also happen to be a future demon lord and succubus.

There’s magic, battles, and a very lewd “master-servant” contract that requires lots of, uh… intimate maintenance.

The romantic tension between Basara and Mio is real, but it’s wrapped in supernatural high-stakes and enough ecchi moments to make High School DxD blush.

If you’re in it for the action and “the action”, this is peak guilty pleasure.

The Testament of Sister New Devil info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Shinmai Maou no Testament
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Winter 2015
• Studios: Production IMS
• Genres: Action, Supernatural, Ecchi
• Themes: Harem
• Score: 6.69 (MAL), 6.5 (IMDb)

Flipping the usual little-sister trope on its head, Oneechan ga Kita is about Ichika, an older stepsister who becomes way too attached to her new younger brother, Tomoya.

Each episode is just a few minutes long, and the whole series is basically one long gag reel about Ichika doting on Tomoya in ways that are way too much for his introverted heart.

Everything is exaggerated for laughs, and it doesn’t aim for emotional depth. It’s just silly, slapstick fun with a slice of life vibe.

If you enjoy your taboo tropes in under five minutes per episode, this one’s a snack-sized treat.

Oneechan ga Kita info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Winter 2014
• Studios: C2C
• Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life
• Themes: N/A
• Score: 6.32 (MAL), 5.7 (IMDb)

This anime is about Yu, a high school boy who wants to be a novelist.

The twist? His little sister wins a light novel contest by writing a steamy romance… about a little sister in love with her brother.

Since she can’t publish under her own name, Yu pretends to be the author. Cue a flood of awkward situations, fanservice, and sibling feelings that go a little too far.

It’s campy, weirdly self-aware, and often unintentionally hilarious… though animation quality is not really great (not sure about the BD version).

Still, it’s kind of iconic in its own disaster way. A true “so bad it’s good” entry.

My Sister, My Writer info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Ore ga Suki nano wa Imouto dakedo Imouto ja Nai
• Episodes: 10
• Released: Fall 2018
• Studios: NAZ, Magia Doraglier
• Genres: Comedy, Romance, Ecchi
• Themes: N/A
• Score: 4.88 (MAL), 4.2 (IMDb)

This time, the girl’s the one caught in the sibling soup.

Brothers Conflict follows Ema, who suddenly gains thirteen (yes) stepbrothers after her dad remarries. And you know the rest… more than a few of them start falling for her.

Brothers Conflict is melodramatic, romantic, and full of beautiful bishounen vying for one girl’s attention.

It leans into fantasy over realism, serving up over-the-top romance, angst, and forbidden love vibes. It’s a guilty pleasure for fans of pretty boys and incest with some drama.

Brothers Conflict info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Summer 2013
• Studios: Brain’s Base
• Genres: Romance
• Themes: Reverse Harem
• Score: 5.89 (MAL), 5.8 (IMDb)

Technically not incest (though it flirts with the idea), Do You Love Your Mom? earns a spot for how heavily it leans into mommy issues as the story progresses.

Masato gets isekai’d into an RPG world, not alone. His overly doting mom, Mamako, tags along, and she’s stronger, prettier, and way too affectionate.

While the affection is mostly played for laughs, the show definitely flirts with tension in a way that makes it feel like an incest anime.

It’s weird in a different direction, but it scratches the same taboo itch for viewers who enjoy seeing family boundaries get absolutely steamrolled. For laughs, of course.

Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks? info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Tsuujou Kougeki ga Zentai Kougeki de Ni-kai Kougeki no Okaasan wa Suki desu ka?
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Summer 2019
• Studios: J.C.Staff
• Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Ecchi
• Themes: N/A
• Score: 5.54 (MAL), 5.2 (IMDb)

Date A Live starts as a sci-fi harem about a boy named Shido who saves the world by making spirits fall in love with him.

One of these girls is Kotori, the protagonist’s adoptive younger sister who also happens to lead the mysterious organization behind the dating mission.

While they’re not blood-related, there’s definite romantic tension at times, especially in certain arcs.

The show is mostly focused on its unique dating-action premise, but the sibling dynamic adds another layer of intrigue.

Combine that with time-bending plots, cute girls with god-tier powers, and emotional arcs, and you’ve got a surprisingly solid harem show with just a hint of taboo.

Date A Live info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Spring 2013
• Studios: AIC PLUS+
• Genres: Action, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi
• Themes: Harem, School, Urban Fantasy
• Score: 7.14 (MAL), 6.9 (IMDb)

Sora and Shiro are the ultimate brother-sister duo: inseparable, unbeatable, and a little too close for comfort.

They’re undefeated gamers known as “ ” (Kohaku/Blank) and are transported to a fantasy world where everything is settled through games.

While their relationship is (probably) not romantic, the way they cling to each other and act like they’re the only two people who matter is intense.

The show plays up their co-dependency and hints at deeper feelings mostly for comedy, but nothing romantic ever truly happens.

Still, fans love to speculate, and the series doesn’t exactly discourage it.

If you like your sibling duo brilliant, hilarious, and maybe a little too touchy-feely, this is a genre-defining example.

No Game No Life info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Spring 2014
• Studios: Madhouse
• Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Ecchi
• Themes: Isekai, Strategy Game
• Score: 8.05 (MAL), 7.6 (IMDb)

Oshi no Ko isn’t technically an incest anime, but it flirts with the theme enough to warrant a mention, especially during one arc that hints incestuous relationship between Aqua and Ruby.

It follows twin siblings Aqua and Ruby, reincarnated from tragic past lives into the children of a famous idol.

While there’s little to no romantic angle between them, the brother-sister relationship is intense, protective, and central to the plot.

While not romantic, the emotional co-dependency they share taps into the kind of sibling dynamic that fuels more dramatic (and sometimes darker) titles in this genre.

The anime leans more into psychological thriller than taboo romance.

However, its emotional complexity and blurred lines around identity and connection make it a compelling experience with themes that feel adjacent to the genre.

Oshi no Ko info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 1
• Released: Spring 2023
• Studios: Doga Kobo
• Genres: Drama
• Themes: Reincarnation, Showbiz
• Score: 8.58 (MAL), 8.3 (IMDb)

Though this series isn’t about incest, it does have a heavy dose of miscommunication, flirtation, and romantic confusion.

The story is about Alya, who like to spoke her true feeling in Russian, thinking others can’t understand it. But our main guy, Kuze Masachika, can understand Russian.

So why is it here? The little sister, Yuki, is totally in love with her big brother. She even thinks Alya as her love rivals.

While the main plot follows the flirty, tsundere Russian-Japanese Alya and her banter with Kuze, Yuki provides the “forbidden feelings” flavor on the side.

It’s not the main focus, but it adds that extra layer of romantic rivalry with an incest twist. Honestly, many fans end up shipping the siblings anyway.

Consider it a lighthearted bonus “anime that has incest” not “anime incest”.

Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Tokidoki Bosotto Russia-go de Dereru Tonari no Alya-san
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Summer 2024
• Studios: Doga Kobo
• Genres: Comedy, Romance
• Themes: School
• Score: 7.59 (MAL), 7.2 (IMDb)

Makeine is a rom-com that thrives on subverting love tropes, and yes, it includes a little sister character who is a full-on romantic challenger.

The protagonist, Kazuhiko, is surrounded by girls who, in most shows, would be the losing heroines (think childhood, tomboy), but this time, they all get a shot at love.

The show plays the “little sister is best girl” trope as well, poking fun at all the other love interests while letting the sibling character go surprisingly far in her affections.

It’s self-aware, trope-savvy, and a fun way to see how anime constantly reinvents these “forbidden love” stories with a wink and a grin.

Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Make Heroine ga Oosugiru!
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Summer 2024
• Studios: A-1 Pictures
• Genres: Comedy, Romance
• Themes: School
• Score: 8.13 (MAL), 7.4 (IMDb)

Final Thoughts: The Allure of Taboo in Anime

Anime is a medium where everything can happen, even things like love between brother-sister.

Their love isn’t always simple, things can get really complicated, real fast. But that’s exactly what makes these stories stand out.

Whether it’s the deep emotions of stepsiblings, the wild comedy of little sisters, or the romantic tension between them, these anime embrace the taboo playfully (…or seriously).

Love them, hate them, or secretly binge them all, incest-themed anime keeps sparking debates and guilty pleasures.

So, what’s your favorite? Got a show that didn’t make the list? Drop your hot takes in the comments.

Just remember: in anime (and in anime only), anything is possible, even falling for your stepsibling.