In this article, we delve into the world of the unknown and present to you the “30 Best Mystery Anime of All Time.” Get ready to embark on a journey filled with intrigue, suspense, and the thrill of solving some of the most perplexing mysteries ever animated. Whether you’re a seasoned mystery enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, this list has something to offer everyone, promising a mesmerizing exploration of the mysterious and the unknown within the world of anime.
List of Best Mystery Anime:
Death Note
The story follows Light Yagami, a high school student who discovers a mysterious notebook that allows him to kill anyone whose name he writes in it.
The anime explores themes of justice, morality, and power, as Light becomes more and more obsessed with using the Death Note to shape the world according to his own ideals.
The series has a highly intellectual and suspenseful tone, as Light engages in a cat-and-mouse game with the brilliant detective L, who is trying to uncover his identity and stop his killing spree.
The characters in Death Note are complex and well-developed, with both Light and L being depicted as highly intelligent and capable individuals who are both flawed in their own ways.
Death Note has been praised for its gripping storytelling, memorable characters, and intricate plot twists, and has become a classic of the psychological thriller genre.
Detective Conan (Case Closed)
The series follows Shinichi Kudo, a brilliant young detective who is transformed into a child after being poisoned by a mysterious organization.
Shinichi takes on the alias of Conan Edogawa and continues to solve crimes as a child detective, all while searching for a cure to his condition and trying to take down the organization responsible.
The series features a wide variety of cases, from locked-room mysteries to international espionage plots, and incorporates elements of comedy and romance alongside its detective storylines.
Detective Conan has a large and diverse cast of characters, including a wide range of police officers, detectives, and other professionals who often assist Conan in his investigations.
The series has been praised for its intricate and well-plotted mysteries, as well as its engaging characters and clever use of forensic science and deduction.
Monster
The anime follows the story of Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a talented surgeon who saves the life of a young boy over the life of a prominent politician, leading to a series of tragic events.
The series explores themes of morality, responsibility, and the consequences of one’s actions, as Tenma becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue and danger surrounding the boy he saved.
Monster has a dark and gritty tone, with a suspenseful and complex plot that involves a wide range of characters, from criminals and conspirators to law enforcement officials and innocent bystanders.
The series is notable for its intricate and well-developed characters, with even minor figures given detailed backstories and motivations that add depth to the overall narrative.
Monster has been praised for its mature storytelling, psychological depth, and realistic depiction of complex social issues, and is often considered a classic of the psychological thriller genre.
Steins;Gate
The anime follows the story of a self-proclaimed mad scientist, Rintaro Okabe, who invents a time machine with his friends and accidentally gets caught up in a conspiracy involving time travel and alternate realities.
The series explores themes of cause and effect, determinism, and the consequences of altering the past, as Okabe and his friends try to navigate the dangers of time travel and prevent a dystopian future from coming to pass.
Steins;Gate features a unique and memorable cast of characters, including the enigmatic time traveler Kurisu Makise and the quirky hacker Daru.
The anime has a slow start but gradually builds up to an emotional and satisfying conclusion, with intricate plot twists and a gripping storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Steins;Gate has been praised for its complex and well-crafted narrative, as well as its memorable characters, excellent voice acting, and overall production values.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
The anime is set in a futuristic world where technology has advanced to the point where people can merge with machines, creating a new kind of hybrid being known as a cyborg.
The series follows the exploits of an elite unit of law enforcement officers called Section 9, who are tasked with investigating cyber crimes and fighting against cyber terrorism.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex explores themes of identity, consciousness, and the relationship between humans and machines, as well as the implications of technological progress on society as a whole.
The anime is notable for its impressive animation and visual effects, as well as its intricate and thought-provoking storyline.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex has been praised for its intelligent and mature storytelling, as well as its complex and well-rounded characters, including the cyborg protagonist Major Motoko Kusanagi.
Psycho-Pass
The anime is set in a dystopian future where people’s mental states and personalities are constantly monitored by a system known as the Sibyl System, which assigns them a “crime coefficient” based on their likelihood to commit criminal acts.
The series follows the story of Akane Tsunemori, a new member of the police force tasked with tracking down and apprehending criminals.
Psycho-Pass explores themes of free will, determinism, and the relationship between individuals and society, as well as the implications of a world where technology can predict and control people’s actions.
The anime is notable for its dark and thought-provoking storyline, as well as its memorable and complex characters, including the enigmatic detective Shinya Kogami.
Psycho-Pass has been praised for its intelligent and mature storytelling, as well as its impressive animation and visual effects.
Hyouka
The anime follows the story of a high school student named Oreki Houtarou, who is forced by his sister to join the Classic Literature Club at his school.
The series focuses on the day-to-day activities of the club, which include solving various mysteries and puzzles around the school and interacting with other students.
Hyouka is notable for its beautifully rendered animation and art style, as well as its relaxed and contemplative tone.
The anime explores themes of human nature, personal growth, and the beauty of everyday life, as the characters learn more about themselves and each other through their shared experiences.
Hyouka has been praised for its understated and nuanced storytelling, as well as its well-developed and relatable characters.
Baccano!
The anime is set in the 1930s in America and tells the story of a diverse group of characters whose paths intersect in a series of interconnected events, including a group of immortals who gain their immortality through a mysterious substance.
The series is known for its non-linear storytelling, with events presented out of order and from multiple perspectives, which gradually builds up to a climactic finale.
Baccano! features a large cast of memorable and well-developed characters, each with their own unique personalities and motivations.
The anime is notable for its fast-paced and action-packed storyline, as well as its distinctive art style and animation.
Baccano! has been praised for its intelligent and complex narrative, as well as its excellent voice acting and overall production values.
Paranoia Agent
The anime follows the story of a mysterious young boy named Lil’ Slugger, who goes around attacking people with a baseball bat and causing mass hysteria and paranoia in the city.
The series explores themes of identity, perception, and the nature of reality, as well as the ways in which fear and anxiety can spread and affect people’s behavior.
Paranoia Agent is notable for its surreal and dreamlike storytelling, as well as its unique and distinctive art style and animation.
The anime features a large cast of characters, each with their own story and perspective on the events unfolding in the city.
Paranoia Agent has been praised for its bold and unconventional storytelling, as well as its intelligent and thought-provoking themes.
Another
The anime is set in a high school in a small town in Japan and follows the story of a transfer student named Kouichi Sakakibara, who begins to uncover a dark and mysterious secret surrounding his classmates and the town itself.
The series is known for its suspenseful and horror-filled atmosphere, with a number of shocking and gruesome deaths occurring throughout the story.
Another explores themes of fate, superstition, and the human psyche, as the characters struggle to survive and unravel the mysteries of the town.
The anime is notable for its well-crafted storyline, with many unexpected twists and turns that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Another has been praised for its effective use of suspense and horror, as well as its engaging and well-rounded characters.
Erased
The anime follows the story of Satoru Fujinuma, a struggling manga artist who possesses the ability to travel back in time a few minutes before a tragedy occurs, allowing him to prevent accidents and save lives.
The series takes a darker turn when Satoru finds himself transported back to his childhood in order to prevent a series of kidnappings and murders that occurred in his hometown many years ago.
Erased explores themes of trauma, regret, and the importance of human connection, as Satoru tries to come to terms with his past and make amends for his mistakes.
The anime is notable for its well-crafted storyline, with many suspenseful and emotional moments that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats.
Erased has been praised for its effective use of time travel as a narrative device, as well as its well-developed and relatable characters.
The Promised Neverland
The anime is set in an orphanage called Grace Field House, where Emma, Norman, and Ray live with their siblings. The children lead a happy life until they discover the dark truth behind their existence.
The series is known for its intense and suspenseful storytelling, with a number of twists and turns that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
The Promised Neverland explores themes of survival, morality, and the bonds of family, as the children struggle to escape from their captivity and uncover the truth about their world.
The anime is notable for its well-developed and relatable characters, as well as its unique and distinctive art style and animation.
The Promised Neverland has been praised for its intelligent and complex narrative, as well as its excellent voice acting and overall production values.
Gosick
The anime is set in the early 20th century in a fictional European country and follows the story of Kazuya Kujo, a Japanese student who attends the prestigious Saint Marguerite Academy and meets a mysterious girl named Victorique de Blois.
The series is known for its mystery-filled and Gothic atmosphere, with a number of puzzles and crimes that Kujo and Victorique must solve together.
Gosick explores themes of history, politics, and the human psyche, as the characters investigate the darker side of society and unravel the secrets of the past.
The anime is notable for its well-crafted and intricate storyline, as well as its beautiful and detailed art style and animation.
Gosick has been praised for its engaging and well-rounded characters, as well as its effective use of suspense and mystery to keep viewers hooked.
Zankyou no Terror (Terror in Resonance)
The anime follows the story of two teenage boys named Nine and Twelve, who carry out a series of terrorist attacks in Tokyo as part of a mysterious plot to expose the corruption and injustice of society.
The series is known for its tense and thrilling storytelling, with a number of intense action scenes and plot twists that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Zankyou no Terror explores themes of justice, revenge, and the consequences of one’s actions, as the characters navigate a complex web of conspiracies and personal struggles.
The anime is notable for its striking and visually stunning art style and animation, as well as its atmospheric and haunting soundtrack.
Zankyou no Terror has been praised for its well-crafted storyline, as well as its complex and nuanced portrayal of the characters and their motivations.
The Perfect Insider
The anime is set on a remote island where a genius programmer named Shiki Magata has been living in isolation for years. A group of people visit the island to meet her, but they soon become entangled in a murder mystery.
The series is known for its psychological and philosophical themes, as well as its focus on the nature of truth and reality.
The Perfect Insider explores the complex and often ambiguous motivations of the characters, as they grapple with their own personal demons and conflicting desires.
The anime is notable for its atmospheric and visually striking art style and animation, as well as its complex and layered narrative structure.
The Perfect Insider has been praised for its intelligent and thought-provoking storyline, as well as its well-developed and fascinating characters.
Darker Than Black
The anime takes place in a world where a mysterious event called the “Hell’s Gate” has appeared in Tokyo, granting some people superhuman powers while others have lost them.
The series follows the story of Hei, a Chinese contractor who works as an assassin for a secret organization known as the Syndicate.
Darker Than Black explores themes of morality, identity, and the cost of power, as the characters are forced to make difficult choices in their pursuit of their goals.
The anime is notable for its unique and compelling premise, as well as its complex and well-developed characters.
Darker Than Black has been praised for its engaging and thought-provoking storyline, as well as its stunning animation and action sequences.
Kara no Kyoukai (The Garden of Sinners)
The anime follows the story of Shiki Ryougi, a girl with the ability to perceive and destroy the “lines of death” that exist in the world.
The series is known for its dark and atmospheric tone, as well as its exploration of themes such as life, death, and the nature of existence.
Kara no Kyoukai features a nonlinear narrative, with the story told in a series of disjointed and often surreal flashbacks.
The anime is notable for its beautiful and haunting animation, as well as its powerful and emotionally resonant soundtrack.
Kara no Kyoukai has been praised for its intricate and well-crafted storyline, as well as its ability to create a sense of mystery and intrigue in its viewers.
Danganronpa: The Animation
The anime takes place at Hope’s Peak Academy, a prestigious high school where the students are known as “Ultimates” for their exceptional talents and abilities.
The series follows the story of Makoto Naegi, a student who finds himself trapped in the school with his fellow classmates, forced to participate in a deadly game of murder and mystery.
Danganronpa: The Animation is known for its over-the-top and darkly comedic tone, as well as its exploration of themes such as trust, betrayal, and the cost of survival.
The anime is notable for its unique and vibrant character designs, as well as its stylish and dynamic animation.
UN-GO
The anime takes place in a dystopian future where the government controls all aspects of society through the use of advanced technology.
The series follows the story of Shinjuurou Yuuki, a detective who solves mysteries in a world where the truth is often hidden or manipulated.
UN-GO explores themes of power, corruption, and the nature of truth, as the characters struggle to uncover the secrets and lies that pervade their society.
The anime is notable for its distinctive and atmospheric art style, as well as its clever and thought-provoking storytelling.
Shiki
The anime takes place in a small and remote village named Sotoba, which is plagued by a mysterious and deadly epidemic that appears to be linked to a family of aristocrats who recently moved to the area.
The series is known for its horror elements and exploration of the human psyche, as the characters struggle to survive against the supernatural threat and the darkness within themselves.
Shiki explores themes of life, death, and the value of human existence, as well as the consequences of one’s actions and the nature of morality.
The anime is notable for its distinctive art style and animation, as well as its well-crafted and emotionally powerful soundtrack.
Durarara!!
The anime takes place in the bustling and chaotic city of Ikebukuro, Tokyo, where a number of interconnected and often eccentric characters live and interact with each other.
The series is known for its intricate and non-linear storytelling, as well as its exploration of urban legends and supernatural phenomena.
Durarara!! explores themes of identity, friendship, and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in life, as the characters navigate the complexities of their relationships and the world around them.
The anime is notable for its diverse and well-developed cast of characters, as well as its dynamic and engaging animation style.
Jigoku Shoujo (Hell Girl)
The anime follows the story of a mysterious girl named Ai Enma, who is known as the “Hell Girl” and offers a supernatural service that allows people to send their enemies to Hell in exchange for their own souls.
The series is known for its dark and atmospheric tone, as well as its exploration of themes such as revenge, justice, and the consequences of one’s actions.
Jigoku Shoujo presents a bleak and pessimistic view of human nature, as the characters are often driven by hatred, jealousy, and other negative emotions.
The anime is notable for its striking and memorable character designs, as well as its haunting and evocative soundtrack.
Rokka no Yuusha (Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers)
The anime follows the story of Adlet Mayer, a self-proclaimed “strongest man in the world,” who is chosen as one of the six heroes tasked with defeating the demon god threatening to destroy their world.
The series is known for its action-packed and adventure-filled storyline, as well as its complex and unpredictable plot twists.
Rokka no Yuusha explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the nature of heroism, as the characters are forced to question their own beliefs and motivations.
The anime is notable for its well-crafted and diverse cast of characters, as well as its colorful and vibrant animation style.
Terror in Resonance
The anime follows the story of two teenagers who call themselves “Sphinx” and engage in a series of terrorist attacks in Tokyo.
The series explores themes of justice, morality, and the effects of trauma, as the characters are forced to confront the consequences of their actions.
Terror in Resonance is notable for its complex and well-developed characters, as well as its striking visual style and unique soundtrack.
The anime has been praised for its tense and thought-provoking storyline, as well as its ability to create a sense of mystery and intrigue in its viewers.
Eden of the East
The anime follows the story of Akira Takizawa, a young man who wakes up in Washington D.C. with no memory of who he is or how he got there.
The series explores themes of identity, responsibility, and the power of technology, as Akira and his fellow “Seleção” are drawn into a deadly game of intrigue and politics.
Eden of the East is notable for its slick and stylish animation, as well as its engaging and complex storyline.
The anime has been praised for its intelligent and thought-provoking themes, as well as its ability to create a sense of tension and suspense in its viewers.
Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle (Phi Brain: Puzzle of God)
The anime follows the story of Kaito Daimon, a high school student with a talent for solving puzzles, who is drawn into a mysterious game known as the “Phi Brain” by a fellow student.
The series explores themes of determination, friendship, and the power of the mind, as Kaito and his friends face increasingly difficult challenges and puzzles.
Phi Brain is notable for its creative and challenging puzzles, as well as its colorful and dynamic animation.
The anime has been praised for its engaging and likable characters, as well as its ability to balance humor and drama.
Gosick
The anime takes place in a fictional European country in the early 20th century, and follows the story of Kazuya Kujo, a Japanese student who befriends the eccentric and brilliant Victorique de Blois.
The series explores themes of mystery, history, and the power of deduction, as Kazuya and Victorique solve a series of difficult and often bizarre cases.
Gosick is notable for its detailed and immersive setting, as well as its lush and evocative art style.
The anime has been praised for its charming and memorable characters, as well as its ability to create a sense of wonder and excitement in its viewers.
Mawaru Penguindrum
The anime follows the story of the Takakura siblings, who are given the task of finding the “Penguindrum,” a mysterious object that can grant any wish.
The series explores themes of fate, family, and the power of love, as the characters confront their past traumas and try to save the people they care about.
Mawaru Penguindrum is notable for its surreal and symbolic imagery, as well as its unique storytelling style that blends comedy, drama, and mystery.
The anime has been praised for its complex and well-developed characters, as well as its thought-provoking themes and social commentary.
The Case Study of Vanitas
The anime takes place in an alternate version of 19th century Paris, and follows the story of Vanitas, a young vampire who uses a magical book to cure other vampires of their afflictions.
The series explores themes of prejudice, identity, and the power of compassion, as Vanitas and his companions navigate a world that is hostile towards their kind.
The Case Study of Vanitas is notable for its lush and detailed art style, as well as its well-crafted worldbuilding that blends historical and fantastical elements.
The anime has been praised for its engaging and likable characters, as well as its ability to balance action, comedy, and drama.
In/Spectre
The anime follows the story of Kotoko Iwanaga, a young girl who becomes a mediator between humans and supernatural beings after being chosen by the “god of wisdom.”
The series explores themes of logic, strategy, and the power of intellect, as Kotoko and her companion Kuro Sakuragawa solve a series of supernatural mysteries and cases.
In/Spectre is notable for its witty and intelligent dialogue, as well as its creative and unique approach to the supernatural genre.
The anime has been praised for its dynamic and likable characters, as well as its ability to balance humor and suspense.
