The world of detective anime is a captivating realm filled with enigmatic crimes, brilliant investigators, and mind-boggling mysteries waiting to be solved. The stories enveloped around the brilliance of the investigators inhabiting the narrative give viewers a sneak peek into the intricacies of the cases they tackle.

From traditional whodunits to supernatural conundrums, the genre has to offer a diverse range of detective tales that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best detective anime. So, without further ado, let’s get started.

10. Millionaire Detective Balance: Unlimited

Millionaire Detective portrays the life of Daisuke Kambe, a man of extraordinary wealth, who is assigned to the Modern Crime Prevention Headquarters as a detective. There he gets partnered with Haru Katou, a humane detective who values justice above all.

With polar apart beliefs and their morals clash time and time again, the two must put their differences aside and cooperate to solve their city’s most serious crimes. Millionaire Detective is a very fun show and doesn’t take itself too seriously while still being intense and dramatic at the same time.

9. Moriarty The Patriot

Based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Sherlock Holmes” series, Moriarty the Patriot is a suspenseful detective anime taking place in the late 19th century during the Victorian era in England. The anime explores the themes of class inequality and social justice while focusing on Holmes’ nemesis, William James Moriarty.

Being the successor of the Moriarty family and with his brothers at his side, William seeks to overthrow the corrupt government even if it means ending lives to get there. As a brilliant strategist and tactician, he ventures on an expedition to change the downtrodden world.

8. B: The Beginning

B: The Beginning is an original Netflix detective anime known for its crime thriller and dark fantasy elements. In a world powered by advanced technology, the series is set in the fictional city of Cremona which is being terrorized by a vigilante serial killer known as “Killer B”.

The Royal Investigation Service (RIS) takes charge of the situation, but they are soon drawn into a larger conspiracy involving secret organizations, domestic terrorism, and human experiments. In this gripping story of death at each turn, every single character will have to put their life at stake.

7. Terror In Resonance

Studio MAPPA’s Terror in Resonance is a well-crafted detective anime that provides an interesting look into the diabolical minds of anti-heroes. The series follows two individuals who pose a threat to the modern world in order to uphold their ideologies in a society they no longer believe in.

Months after a terrorist attack on a nuclear facility in Japan, a video mysteriously appears on the internet where two teenagers – identifying themselves as “Sphinx” – take charge of the assault and threaten to destroy Tokyo unless a cryptic riddle can be solved.

6. Bungo Stray Dogs

Taking place in an underworld and mafia anime setting, Bungo Stray Dogs features a colorful cast based on real-life personas. The series tells the story of Atsushi Nakajima, an orphan who has the strange ability to transform into a white tiger in the moonlight.

After rescuing a supernatural investigator who was about to commit suicide, Atsushi ends up joining their firm where he finds himself the target of underworld leaders who want his power as part of a bigger plot to alter the very fabric of reality.

5. Erased

Erased is a suspense thriller detective anime with 12 episodes in totality and features 29-year-old deliveryman Satoru Fujinama who has an ability that sends him back in time moments before a tragic incident is about to occur. With this ability, he prevents many accidents that could have been severe.

One day being accused of his mother’s murder, Satoru’s ability triggers again and sends him 18 years back in time. This time, he has the chance to prevent his mother’s murder besides, preventing a kidnapping case as well that took the lives of his three best friends in school days.

4. Un-Go

Un-GO is an 11-episode anime by Studio Bones that tackles with heavy theme of human philosophy and ethics by pouring it into the format of a buddy-detective show, following cynical detective Shinjuurou Yuuki and his quirky assistant Inga as they tackle cases in a Japan that’s recovering after a war.

The end result is something that thematically feels less like the typical mystery anime with a touch of sci-fi crime drama. Un-GO isn’t your conventional detective anime and lacks in various aspects but as a fan of this genre, one should give it a shot.

3. Detective Conan

Detective Conan, also known as “Case Closed” in the English version, is one of the most popular 90s detective anime known for its brainstorming case-solving techniques implemented by a high school student, Shinichi Kudou who’s turned into a seven-year-old boy after being dosed with an unknown substance.

Using his sheer intellect, Shinichi takes on the code name “Conan Edogawa” and covertly goes on to solve the biggest mystery of his life. Anyone who’s looking for an adventure-filled storyline with a hefty amount of mind-boggling cases should blindly go for Detective Conan.

2. Psycho-Pass

Psycho-Pass is a cyberpunk psychological thriller anime by Production IG taking place in an authoritarian future dystopia where omnipresent public sensors continuously scan the mental states of every passing citizen in order to determine their criminal propensity.

The series follows Akane Tsunemori, a young woman who’s part of a team tasked with apprehending individuals whose “Psycho-Pass” levels indicate they may pose a threat to society. Alongside her colleagues, Akane explores the ethical dilemmas surrounding crime prevention in a futuristic setting.

1. Death Note

Even after so many years, Death Note remains a prime example of how a thrilling detective anime should be done right. The series features Light Yagami, a young, diabolical genius who accidentally stumbles upon a death-granting notebook and follows his wicked sense of justice to eliminate all the evil-doers of society.

As the crimes of Light alias Kira start to rise, a genius detective named L comes into the picture and thus begins a battle of two brilliant minds fighting to seek justice. Death Note is still remembered to date for spawning one of the best anime rivalries in fictional history.

Which one of the following detective anime is your favorite? Feel free to comment down your thoughts and make sure to recommend some other anime like the ones listed above, also don’t forget to share this article with your fellow otaku friends.

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