Kyon, who once believed in the supernatural, is now a typical high school student at North High. Upon meeting Haruhi Suzumiya, however, he discovers how interested in time travelers, espers, and aliens she really is. He accidentally inspires Haruhi to form her own club because of her disinterest in the other ones; the result is the SOS Brigade’s birth, a club whose specialty is everything about the supernatural. Much to his dismay, Kyon and a few others are recruited as members who happen to be a bit abnormal themselves. We follow the crazy adventures of these four; Kyon, Itsuki Koizumi, Mikuru Asahina, and Yuki Nagato, as they follow their eccentric leader, Haruhi.

The story is told from Kyon's viewpoint and his commentary on the events that revolve around their little club; his personality pushes the narrative positively and illustrates the relationships between the characters. Like Inou-Battle, all the supernatural powers are realistic, but it’s a little more complicated. Haruhi’s ability allows her to alter reality and is what causes all of this mischief in their lives, although she herself isn’t aware of her powers. The plot is one that’s continuous with each individual arc focusing on a specific incident; this, along with great characters, well-executed comedy, and exceptional storytelling is what makes Haruhi Suzumiya so iconic and loved by fans.

The plot is a bit confusing and does take time to understand at first, but is worth the time investment. It may not be for everyone, but if you liked the characters and antics in Inou-Battle, then this anime will deliver, along with a little more.
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Trailer

First-year high schooler Koutarou Satomi must find a cheap apartment for himself due to his father's job relocation. He jumps at the chance to move into room 106 of the Corona House because of the cheap pricing; a measly 5000 yen a month. Everything starts fine until he stumbles upon a mysterious cave while working at his part-time job. The following night, he's visited by five otherworldly and supernatural girls who each want his room for different purposes. Now, Koutarou and the girls are forced to live together and settle on who claims room 106.

Rokujyoma is the closest to Inou-Battle with genres and presentation. It has a great cast and unique interactions, although it does harem elements to help push its narrative. Like most harem anime, every few episodes will focus on one heroine along with progressing the overall story; what makes this method work well with character development is you get more insight into the heroine’s personality versus only having them there to fill a harem checklist. Some do it well while others fail, and we can safely say Rokujyoma does a pretty good job. The comedy is good and doesn't heavily rely on fan service, there's genuine romance, and the slice-of-life is relaxing; all of which makes Rokujyoma worth the watch.

This is a perfect fit if you want an anime that's closely like Inou-Battle. The harem is quite enjoyable, especially when compared to most harem anime, and has great characters with well-thought development – there’s a girl for everyone to like, too.

Supernatural beings, called phantoms, were thought to be a superstition, until recently. A virus that infects the brain has spread throughout society, changing everyone's perception of the world and revealing that these phantoms have lived alongside mankind all along. It has also granted the next generation special abilities to fight against the more dangerous phantoms. Haruhiko Ichijou and Mai Kawakami, along with phantom Ruru and a few more that join later, form Team E of Hosea Academy and dedicate their time to dealing with mischievous beings. This is a story where the real and surreal intertwine.

This one is heavy on the supernatural, especially when comparing it to the anime on this list. What makes this one stand out is the art, which is to be expected from Kyoto Animation. Every scene is packed with vibrant, beautiful colors and complements the designs of the characters and phantoms. Characters aren't anything special or developed well in comparison to others, but they can still be likable. Like Inou-Battle, Phantom World is an episodic and light-hearted series one can watch without too many worries. Not very strong with its plot, but its strengths are in the action, comedy, and characters - including the harem elements. One similar concept between the two is that Phantom World has the characters actively involved with the supernatural; Inou-Battle does the opposite.

In comparison to everything on this list, this one may be a hit or miss for some; but, that doesn't mean Phantom World isn’t entertaining. Keep an open mind and you'll find this to be an enjoyable, casual watch.

He may seem like a normal and handsome teenager, but Yuu Otosaka has a secret: the ability to control a person’s body for five seconds. He's been using his ability to cheat his way into a prestigious high school. When Nao Tomori catches Yuu using his powers, she forces him and his sister, Ayumi, into transferring to Hoshinoumi Academy, a school housing many students with special abilities like Yuu. The student council is tasked with finding adolescents who abuse their powers and keep them in check. Yuu is coerced into joining the student council by Tomori, and together, they face challenges that bring him closer to realizing how powerful his ability truly is.

Compared to Inou-Battle, this anime is more serious with a narrative that starts light and slowly becomes more significant as time progresses. Charlotte places heavy emphasis on its supernatural concepts due to its importance for the plot. The individual abilities are unique, with each having a handicap that limits their use. This creates many situations where use of their powers turns into a comedic moment. This anime does use comedy and light-hearted moments to brighten the mood and overall atmosphere of the plot, which is a nice welcome if you want to watch a different approach compared to Inou-Battle. The humor puts a smile on your face as you watch these characters learn more about their abilities, the world around them, and the struggles they face.

If you want to watch anime that’s like Inou-Battle, but with a more serious outlook, then Charlotte is for you. Be ready for when the plot switches gears as you will be hit by the feels - the creators of this anime are the same people who made Angel Beats.

Yuuta Togashi used to have chuunibyou, believing he owned superpowers and referred to himself as the “Dark Flame Master”. He considers his past embarrassing and decides to enter a high school where nobody knows him, avoiding anyone that could possibly know of his background. Rikka Takanashi is a girl who still suffers from chuunibyou and learns of Yuuta’s past, becoming entangled into his new high school lifestyle, whether he wanted it or not. A heartwarming story of high school students and delusions of grandeur begins.

All the imaginative fight scenes look beautiful and make up a good portion of the entertainment; like in Inou-Battle, characters like to stage supernatural fights, although in Chuunibyou’s case, the delusional one is the lead female. There may not be any real superpowers, but that doesn't take away from this anime’s characters and story. It’s fun watching their interactions and view their growth as the series progresses. The plot is more important in comparison with Inou-Battle, but isn’t gloomy or heavily emotional like Charlotte; the story prefers a more normal and cute approach, which is a good decision and adds to its charm.

Love watching characters act silly and then grow as people? Chunibyo will do just that and additionally provide funny, cute moments that will be memorable; a perfect fit if that’s what you loved about Inou-Battle.

The lifestyle of Ken Sugisaki, vice president of the student council, is one to be envied, or so he wishes to believe. In Hekiyou Academy, members of the student council are elected by popular vote, but one additional position is granted to the student with the highest exam scores. Ken worked hard to join the student council, his ultimate goal of creating his own harem; unfortunately, things don’t go as planned. They consistently rebuke his advances and would rather focus on activities that a student council should be doing. This won't stop Ken from chasing his dreams, though, however trivial they may seem.

Like Inou-Battle, the setting and plot take place in a club room, where all the shenanigans and entertainment occur. Compared to the many harem series out there that use a similar approach, Seitokai no Ichizon is one that tells its story differently, making the experience a unique one. The plot description doesn't do the anime justice and may paint it as a stereotypical harem; this isn't the case, however. Ken may be weird and obnoxious like Andou, but there’s a good reason why he’s obstinate on this harem fantasy and it's a lot more personal and humbling than you think. Also, all of the characters are quirky and have defining characteristics that make them amazing to watch; the fun they have together in their lives is one to be envied - like wishing you had supernatural powers of your own. Not only do they have fun, but we see them grow and watch as they appreciate the moments they spend together.

Seitokai no Ichizon has a good amount of humor, slice-of-life features, and harem elements that should remind you of Inou-Battle and the nonsense that happens in their club. Also, If you want to see a harem done differently, whether or not you like how the genre is done normally, then this recommendation works even more.