Suspense anime – what comes to your mind after hearing these two words? Thrill, drama, and excitement right! There is nothing better than the shows that always keep you on the edge of your seat. And, the good thing about suspense anime is they don’t need to be long like One Piece or Naruto as only a couple of episodes are more than enough to give the viewer that adrenaline rush.

This genre is widely popular in the anime community however, sometimes it gets neglected or disappears in the limelight of shōnen anime. Even so, there are enough thriller anime out there for fans of the genre to enjoy. While some of them are downright disturbing and dark, other series are psychological mystery thrillers that constantly keep you on edge.

And, in today’s article, we’ll take a look at some of the best suspense anime that will blow your mind. So, without any further ado let’s get started.

15. Higurashi

Higurashi When They Cry is a murder mystery novel series set in the year 1983. The series focuses on a group of young friends living in the fictional village of Hinamizawa and the strange events that occur there in 1983. Within a few days of moving to Hinamizawa, Keiichi Maebara starts noticing little oddities surrounding the lives of his fellow villagers.

He then eventually uncovers a connection between mysterious disappearances and murders in the village, and the annual village festival. An increasingly paranoid Keiichi vows to get to the bottom of this mystery. With the help of Rika Furude, who is the sole witness of all the tragedies, he tries to find a way out of it, without knowing if there is one after all.

14. Kakegurui

Kakegurui is a suspense anime based on the theme of gambling and student life. The show aired for the first time in 2017 and was loved by the audience for its animation sequence however, it also received criticism for the intoxicating plot and sexualized characters. The anime is set in a prestigious high school, Hyakkaou Private Academy where students go to learn and explore life.

In the daytime, the school looks normal but at night it turns into a mini spot for gambling, and the one who wins is respected by the other students. Yumeko Jabami, a beautiful transfer student tries her hand at this special curriculum of the school. Her involvement brings more fun and thrill to the table taking the game of gambling to a next level.

13. Moriarty the Patriot

Moriarty the Patriot is a mystery manga series written by Ryōsuke Takeuchi and illustrated by Hikaru Miyoshi. The series is based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series and received an anime adaptation by Production I.G. The anime tells the story of Sherlock Holmes from the perspective of its antagonist.

This anime with a genius main character is set during the late 19th century and follows the story of an ordinary nobleman William James Moriarty. With his brothers at his side, he seeks to totally overthrow the unfair society that dominates British culture, even if it means ending lives to get there.

12. Psycho-Pass

Psycho-Pass is a cyberpunk suspense anime produced by Production IG. Centered around societal and psychological themes, the series is set in the near future when it is possible to instantaneously measure and quantify a person’s state of mind and personality. By using this technique, the mental state of every passing citizen is scanned to calculate the probability of them committing a crime.

Based on the recorded information, the police are dispatched to deal with the “potential” criminal. Basically meaning, execution before the actual crime is even committed, and on what basis? The collected data! Psycho-Pass is the best example of anime with a corrupt government where resources are used to overstep the boundaries.

11. Another

Another is a mystery horror novel written by Yukito Ayatsuji which received an anime television series in 2012. The series follows the life of Kōichi Sakakibara who gets transferred into the Yomiyama North Middle School’s class 3-3. After his arrival, the class gets caught up in a strange phenomenon involving the deaths of students and their family members.

Sakakibara looks into the matter and concludes that the series of deaths are all connected to the curse “Misaki of 1972”, a yearly calamity, that horrified the class 3-3 since 1972. Accompanied by a peculiar student named Mei Misaki, Sakakibara tries to find a solution to stop this massacre and save the lives of other students.

10. Re:Zero

Re:Zero – Starting Life In Another World is a well-known isekai anime where the main character is transported to another world. Subaru, a good-for-nothing NEET, on his way to the convenience store suddenly gets transported to a parallel world with just a bag of groceries in his hand. There he meets a girl named Satella who helps him with the situation.

While dealing with the new world, Subaru encounters catastrophes that result in his death, though he is always revived to a point in time where he can make substantial changes. With no luck and support, Subaru begins his journey in this fantasy world where life can be started again and again but from “zero”.

9. Future Diary

Future Diary is a mix of action and dark elements which makes it a good suspense anime to watch. The anime centers around a psychic girl who goes beyond her limits for the sake of her love. Yukiteru Amano, a lonely high school student’s life suddenly changes when one day he receives a “random diary”. This diary grants him the ability to foresee the future.

However, soon he comes to realize that he needs to participate in a survival game consisting of 11 other players with the same powers as him. To make it out alive, Yukiteru teams up with a psychopath girl, Yuno Gasai who ensures his safety besides clearing the game. But, Yukiteru is unaware of, Yuno’s romantic craze about him!

8. Parasyte: The Maxim

The popular seinen anime by Madhouse Studios, Parasyte: The Maxim is well-known for its body horror theme and sci-fi elements. Parasyte is dark from the beginning and features a great number of gore scenes that can be disturbing for anyone. The original manga was initially published in the early 90s and it’s one of the few anime that are banned in China for the public.

Parasyte is a story of a 17-year-old Shinichi Izumi who is partially infected by a space Parasyte that butchers and consumes humans. In order to survive, he must learn to co-exist with the creature and live the life of both a Parasyte and a human. Good thing about this anime is that it never degrades because of its plotline and evolves further with more intense moments.

7. The Promised Neverland

Acclaimed as one of the best anti-shonen and suspense anime series, The Promised Neverland should be a must-watch if you’re into thrilling moments and unexpected plot twists! The anime is comprised of only 12 episodes and follows a group of orphaned children in their plan to escape from their orphanage, after learning the dark truth behind their existence and the purpose of the orphanage.

The rich character exploration and narrative of the story help in building up an intense storyline. Initially, it looks like a slice-of-life anime but the truth will begin to unfold as soon as you finish watching the first episode. Keep in mind that pick up the manga of the series, as the anime adaptation is enlisted as the worst anime of all time.

6. Code Geass

Code Geass is a story of war among three superpowers: the Holy Britannian Empire, the Chinese Federation, and the European Union. In this classic event of political and moral turmoil, Holy Brittanian Empire acts as a villainous force burning the candle at both ends. Lelouch Lamperouge, the exiled prince of Britannia, swore to take revenge on Britannia for destroying his homeland and causing the death of his mother.

After inheriting the power of complete disobedience through his supernatural ability called “Geass”, Lelouch creates a superhero alter-ego to bring down Britannia once and for all. Using high-powered mechs, his mind-controlling Geass power, and his own intelligence, Lelouch does whatever it takes to overcome his opposition.

5. Terror In Resonance

Terror in Resonance is another great suspense anime produced under the banner of Studio MAPPA. One of the finest anime directors, Shinichiro Watanabe has directed the series and it can be seen in its narrative as well which brings forward the core problems faced by modern society and the consequences caused by a terror attack on a child.

The anime follows two brothers, Nine and Twelve who are the survivors of a secret experiment that turns orphan children into human weapons. In a terror attack, they get their hands on a prototype atomic bomb. Disguising themselves as “Sphinx” they threaten to destroy Tokyo city unless a cryptic riddle can be solved.

4. Death Note

Death Note is a top-tier dark fantasy anime show made by the pair of Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata. The series is recognized globally and is appreciated for the character dynamic between Kira and L. As the name suggests, the show tells the fascinating story of a high school student Light Yagami who gets his hand on a notebook that grants him the power to eliminate anyone.

Aware of the terrifying godlike power that has fallen into his hands, Light – under the alias “Kira” – follows his wicked sense of justice with the ultimate goal of cleansing the world of all evil-doers. To execute his master plan without getting caught by the genius detective L, Light uses every ounce of his creativity and brainpower that could amaze anyone.

3. Steins;Gate

Steins;Gate is the most popular sci-fi anime based on the sole theme of time manipulation. The complex story timeline sends viewers into a world of confusion & shock and it’s totally not everyone’s cup of tea. The main protagonist, Rintaro Okabe, and his friends are amateur scientists who spend their free time inventing whatever comes to mind.

One day, they create a machine called the Phone Microwave that sends emails to the past. This causes changes to the past and the present that they don’t anticipate. With the help of this discovery, they try to bring back the dead neuroscientist, Kurisu Makise by changing the timeline which is gonna take every brain cell of Rintaro’s mind.

2. Erased

The suspense thriller anime series, Erased is certainly the best anime with 12 episodes you can binge-watch in a day! The show is about a pizza delivery guy, Satoru Fujinama who possesses an ability called ‘Revival’, 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.

But, one day being accused of his mother’s murder, Satoru’s ability triggers again and sends him 18 years back in time where he is back to his school days again. 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.

1. Monster

Monster is arguably the best suspense anime series fans ever got to know. Critically acclaimed for the crime-thriller story and unexpected turn of events, Monster is a series that can give you chills anytime. The series author, Naoki Urasawa has portrayed each character beautifully and to the point which is why it’s also the highest-rated manga on MyAnimeList.

Monster is a story about a Japanese brain surgeon, Kenzo Tenma whose life turns upside down when he gets involved with one of his former patients who is revealed to be a dangerous serial killer now. Consisting of stirring 74 episodes, the series received a lot of positive critics for its intense storyline and in-depth illustration of the characters.

Which one of the following suspense 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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