From Re:Zero Season 4's dominant 9.17 to breakout hits like Ikoku Nikki, here are the highest-scored anime of 2026's first half ranked by MyAnimeList user ratings.
With Winter 2026 wrapped and Spring 2026 deep into its run, the MyAnimeList scoreboard has crystallized around a clear hierarchy. Here are the highest-scored anime of the year so far, ranked by MAL user ratings.
Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World Season 4 sits atop the 2026 leaderboard with a staggering 9.17 score from over 261,000 user ratings. White Fox's adaptation of the beloved isekai thriller delivered on years of anticipation, pushing Subaru's story into its darkest and most emotionally demanding arc yet. That 9.17 places it among the highest-rated TV anime in MAL history, not just 2026.
Right behind it is Steel Ball Run: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure at 9.11, drawn from roughly 214,500 ratings. David Production's long-awaited adaptation of Part 7 arrived as a Netflix ONA and immediately justified the hype. The cross-country race through an alternate 1890s America, starring Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli, translated beautifully to animation and earned near-universal acclaim from the JoJo faithful and newcomers alike.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 rounds out the top three at 8.87 with over 561,700 ratings the largest rating pool of any 2026 entry by a wide margin. Madhouse's continuation of the contemplative fantasy adventure briefly surpassed its own first season to become the highest-rated anime on the entire platform, an almost unprecedented feat for a sequel. While the score has since settled, the sheer volume of voters underscores Frieren's crossover appeal.
Ikoku Nikki (A Journal of My Other World) landed at fourth with an 8.74 from around 116,000 ratings. The slice-of-life drama about a manga artist reluctantly taking in her orphaned niece became one of Winter 2026's most emotionally resonant originals a rare non-sequel cracking the top five.
Oshi no Ko Season 3 followed at 8.70 with over 276,500 ratings. Doga Kobo's continuation of the entertainment-industry thriller kept its momentum through the Tokyo Blade arc, and community polls from Winter 2026 voters ranked it as the season's single most popular title overall, factoring in both weekly episode hype and end-of-season retrospectives.
Witch Hat Atelier (Tongari Boushi no Atelier) debuted at 8.68 with approximately 341,800 ratings. BUG FILMS' adaptation of Kamome Shirahama's manga was one of the most-watched new anime of Winter 2026, praised for its lush watercolor-inspired art direction and deliberate pacing.
Jujutsu Kaisen: The Culling Game Part 1 scored 8.62 from a massive pool of over 523,800 ratings. MAPPA returned to the franchise with the Shimetsu Kaiyuu arc, and while divisive pacing discussions surfaced mid-season, the final tally reflects strong overall reception. Community polls also crowned it the best action anime of Winter 2026.
Super no Ura de Yani Suu Futari (Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You) earned an 8.57 from roughly 95,800 ratings. The workplace romance between two convenience-store co-workers who bond over cigarette breaks was a quiet standout small in scope but precise in execution.
Nippon Sangoku arrived at 8.51 with about 87,200 ratings. The historical drama set during Japan's Sengoku period drew comparisons to Vinland Saga for its grounded approach to warfare and political intrigue.
Dorohedoro Season 2 closed out the top ten at 8.49 from approximately 83,200 ratings. MAPPA's return to Q Hayashida's grimy, surreal world as a Netflix ONA satisfied fans who had waited years for a continuation after the acclaimed first season.
Several patterns stand out across the first half of 2026. Sequels dominate: seven of the top ten entries are continuations rather than new properties. The two original newcomers that broke through Ikoku Nikki and Nippon Sangoku share a literary, character-driven sensibility, suggesting MAL's scoring audience rewards depth over spectacle. The ONA format also made a strong showing, with both Steel Ball Run and Dorohedoro Season 2 proving that streaming-first releases carry no scoring penalty on the platform.
With Spring 2026 titles still accumulating ratings and several major series yet to conclude, the final year-end picture may shift. But as of mid-June, Re:Zero Season 4's 9.17 remains the number to beat.
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