If you love puzzles, conspiracies, and psychological thrillers, these mystery anime aren’t just must-watch — they’re impossible to forget. Whether you’re into detectives, supernatural twists, or psychological warfare, these shows will keep your brain spinning long after the credits roll.
1. Steins;Gate
Time travel meets conspiracy in a brilliantly twisted narrative. The butterfly effect has never been so emotionally devastating or mind-bending.
2. Monster
A chilling tale about a surgeon who saves a boy’s life—only to discover he may have unleashed pure evil. Gripping, cerebral, and utterly haunting.
3. Paranoia Agent
A mysterious kid on rollerblades assaults people with a golden bat—but each victim hides dark secrets. Satoshi Kon’s eerie masterpiece blurs reality like no other.
4. Erased (Boku dake ga Inai Machi)
A failed manga artist travels back in time to stop a string of child murders—and save his mother. A blend of suspense, emotion, and time-travel tension.
5. The Promised Neverland (Season 1)
What starts as an idyllic orphanage quickly spirals into a horror-laced escape mission. The secrets behind the walls will freeze your blood.
6. Psycho-Pass
In a future where a computer can judge your criminal intent, one inspector questions the system. A noir cyberpunk mystery with philosophical punch.
7. Serial Experiments Lain
Reality, identity, and technology collide in this cryptic slow-burn. Lain’s journey through the Wired is as disturbing as it is prophetic.
8. Another
A cursed classroom. A mysterious girl with an eyepatch. And gruesome deaths no one can explain. This horror mystery is as addictive as it is unsettling.
9. Death Note
What if you could kill anyone just by writing their name? This legendary cat-and-mouse game between Light and L will make you question morality — and your own sanity.
10. Higurashi: When They Cry
Time loops, small-town secrets, and brutal twists. Just when you think you understand Hinamizawa, everything resets—and gets worse.
11. Made in Abyss
Don’t let the art style fool you. Beneath the cute exterior lies a dark, mysterious pit full of deadly secrets and ancient horrors.
12. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Terrorists, hackers, and artificial intelligence collide in this cyber-noir classic. Every standalone case subtly feeds into a deeper web of intrigue.
13. Perfect Blue
A pop idol turns actress—and spirals into madness. Is she being stalked… or is it all in her head? A disturbing psychological puzzle from Satoshi Kon.
14. Ergo Proxy
In a post-apocalyptic world, androids and humans struggle with identity and rebellion. If you like your mysteries existential, this one’s for you.
15. Paprika
Dreams leak into reality in this visual overload of a psychological thriller. It’s confusing in the best way, and you’ll want to rewatch it instantly.
16. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
A sweet coming-of-age story with a time-travel twist. Every choice alters the future—and uncovers something deeper.
17. The Perfect Insider
An unsolvable locked-room murder on a remote island. Minimalist, smart, and refreshingly grounded for a mystery anime.
18. Boogiepop Phantom
Chronological chaos and psychological terror reign in this abstract mystery. Each episode reveals a different piece of the puzzle.
19. ID: Invaded
A detective enters the subconscious of killers to solve crimes. Think “Inception” meets “CSI” with a uniquely anime twist.
20. The Garden of Sinners (Kara no Kyōkai)
Seven movies, one complex timeline. Supernatural crimes and a haunting protagonist draw you into this elegant web of murder and memory.
21. B: The Beginning
In a high-tech future, a genius detective hunts a mysterious killer—but nothing is as it seems. Stylish and full of twists.
22. Un-Go
A futuristic detective with an unusual partner solves high-profile cases. Beneath each lie lies a disturbing truth.
23. Hyouka
Not all mysteries are murders. This high school mystery is charming, clever, and unexpectedly deep thanks to its brilliant protagonist.
24. Parasyte: The Maxim
A boy and his alien parasite form an uneasy alliance—but the real mystery is what it means to be human. Gruesome, philosophical, unforgettable.