Mystery anime is a genre that focuses on solving crimes or finding explanations for puzzling situations. The main cast becomes investigators, working to answer the who, what, why, and/or how of the current dilemma. The audience has the same information as the main characters, and anticipation is directed towards discovering the explanation. Unlike Suspense or Horror, where the audience has more information than the cast, mystery anime has a diverse genre category.
Anime has something for everyone, from high school rom-coms to historical dramas, fantasy sci-fi, and shonen. However, there are few murder mystery series in anime compared to Western media. Some excellent anime series embrace and subvert this storytelling genre, such as Bungo Stray Dogs, Case Closed, Hyouka, From the New World, and Higurashi no Naku Koro ni.
The best mystery anime depends on what you’re looking for. For professional detectives and serious suspense, Bungo Stray Dogs or Case Closed are recommended. Hyouka is a laid-back series set in high school with romance elements, while From the New World or Higurashi no Naku Koro ni are more for ordinary people investigating mysterious circumstances. Now let’s have a look of the list of Top 15 Mystery Anime.
Table of Contents
Monster
Monster is a Japanese manga series by Naoki Urasawa, set in 20th-century Germany. It follows the story of Kenzo Tenma, a respected neurosurgeon who becomes involved with Johan Liebert, a psychopathic serial killer, after a falling-out with his employer’s lack of ethics. Tenma saves the lives of fraternal twins Johan and Anna Liebert, but they are murdered by Mayor Roedecker. Tenma becomes Chief of Surgery at Eisler Memorial Hospital and saves Adolf Junkers, who mutters about a “monster.” Tenma finds Junkers dead and holds him at gunpoint, but he refuses to leave. Johan shoots Junkers, and Tenma is suspected by the police, particularly BKA Inspector Lunge.
Tenma learns that the “monster” has origins in the former East Germany’s attempt to use a secret orphanage to create perfect soldiers through psychological reprogramming and the author of children’s books used in a eugenics experiment in the former Czechoslovakia. He vows to fix the mistake he made by ending Johan’s life and learns the scope of the atrocities committed by this “monster”. Monster is considered one of the greatest seinen anime of all time, with its suspenseful and well-written murder mystery.
Perfect Blue
Perfect Blue is a 1997 Japanese animated psychological thriller film directed by Satoshi Kon, which follows Mima Kirigoe, a pop star who decides to leave her J-pop idol group, CHAM!, to pursue acting. Mima’s obsessive fan, Me-Mania, stalks her, leading her to discover a website called “Mima’s Room” detailing her daily life and private thoughts. Mima’s manager, former pop idol Rumi Hidaka, advises her to ignore the site.
Mima lands a minor role in the television detective drama Double Bind, but her agent Tadokoro lobbies the producers to secure a larger part, despite the filming of a rape scene. Mima becomes distressed about her double life and suffers from psychosis, struggling to distinguish real life from her acting pursuits. She is repeatedly visited by an apparition of her former idol self, who claims to be “the real Mima.” A string of murders occur against people involved in Mima’s acting career. Mima finds evidence in her closet suggesting she is the prime suspect.
After finishing shooting Double Bind, Me-Mania attempts to rape and kill Mima, but Mima bludgeons him with a hammer and escapes. Later, Me-Mania is murdered by “the real Mima” for failing to kill Mima. Rumi finds Mima backstage and takes her home, where she discovers that Rumi’s bedroom is a replica of her own. Dissatisfied by Mima retiring from the idol industry, Rumi develops an alternate personality of the “real Mima,” seeking to destroy and replace her to redeem her image.
Mima visits Rumi in a mental institution, where she learns that she must just be a look-alike, as the real Mima Kirigoe would have no reason to visit. As Mima enters her car, she declares, “No, I’m the real thing.”
Death Note
Death Note is a Japanese manga series that has achieved international fame due to its unique psychological and supernatural thrillers. The series follows Light Yagami, a genius high school student who discovers a mysterious notebook called the “Death Note,” which belonged to the shinigami Ryuk. The notebook grants the user the supernatural ability to kill anyone whose name is written in its pages. The series centers around Light’s attempts to use the Death Note to carry out a worldwide massacre of individuals whom he deems immoral and to create a crime-free society, using the alias of a god-like vigilante named “Kira”.
The plot revolves around Light Yagami, a disaffected high school student who discovers the “Death Note,” a mysterious black notebook with rules that can end anyone’s life in seconds as long as the writer knows both the target’s true name and face. Light uses the notebook to kill high-profile criminals and is visited by Ryuk, a shinigami and the Death Note’s previous owner. Global media suggest that a single mastermind is responsible for the mysterious murders and name them “Kira.” Interpol requests the assistance of the enigmatic detective L to assist in their investigation. L deduces that Kira has inside knowledge of the Japanese police investigation, led by Light’s father, Soichiro Yagami. L assigns a team of FBI agents to monitor the families of those connected with the investigation and designates Light as the prime suspect.
Four years later, cults worshiping Kira have risen, and L’s potential successors are introduced: Near and Mello. Mello joins the mafia while Near joins forces with the US government. Mello kidnaps Director Takimura, who is killed by Light, and exchanges her for the Death Note. Mello kidnaps Mogi and gives him to Near. Kira’s supporters attack Near’s group, but they escape.
The Perfect Insider
The Perfect Insider is a one-season anime based on Hiroshi Mori’s 1996 novel, Subete ga F ni Naru. The story follows a genius programmer named Shiki Magata, who lives a solitary life on a distant island. When she is visited by her colleagues Souhei Saikawa and Moe Nishinosono, they become embroiled in a double-homicide. Shiki and her friends must become exceptional detectives to solve the murders and earn their escape.
The anime premiered in Japan on October 8, 2015, and follows the story of two friends, an associate professor of architectural engineering and Moe Nishinosono, who work together to solve the murders of a prominent artificial intelligence researcher and the director of the lab on the island.
Danganronpa
Danganronpa: The Animation is a Japanese video game franchise created by Kazutaka Kodaka and developed by Spike Chunsoft. The series revolves around 16 high-school students who are forced into murdering each other by a robotic teddy bear named Monokuma. The gameplay features a mix of adventure, visual novel, detective, and dating simulator elements. The series has morphed into a franchise that includes manga, anime, and novels, becoming one of Spike’s most successful works since they previously outsourced their works.
The series revolves around an elite high school, Hope’s Peak Academy, which scouts “Ultimate” students and one “Ultimate Lucky Student” by lottery. The three games, Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc (2010), Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair (2012), and Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony (2017), have similar premises. The cast is trapped in an establishment and the only way to return home is by killing another person and avoiding being found guilty during class trials.
The series has received many positive reviews from critics, with Rui Komatsuzaki’s character designs becoming popular for cosplay. Kodaka’s work inspired staff members from the studio Pierrot in the making of an anime titled Akudama Drive. By 2021, the Danganronpa series reached 5 million copies sold worldwide. The first game was ported to iOS and Android in August 2012, with new features such as retina display support, touch screen controls, and a new image gallery.
Erased
Erased is a hard-boiled murder mystery anime that features Satoru Fujinuma, a man in his thirties with a unique ability to briefly go back in time to prevent bad things from happening. He is catapulted to his younger self over a decade ago, and he works tirelessly to find the identity of a kidnapper whose crimes will have terrible consequences in the future.
Erased is a blend of Zodiac and Back to the Future, and was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten’s Young Ace magazine from 2012 to 2016. The anime adaptation was released by A-1 Pictures, and a live action film was released in March 2016. Netflix released a live-action drama series in December 2017, and a spin-off manga was published from June to November 2016.
ID:Invaded
ID: Invaded is a 2020 Japanese anime television series that blends classic detective mysteries with Psycho-Pass-style science fiction. The series follows Akihito Narihisago, a former detective who becomes a brilliant detective after killing a serial killer who murdered his family. Narihisago is tasked with investigating serial killers’ id wells, a mental plane that can be digitally entered to collect clues about victims, crime scenes, and motives.
The series takes place in a future where technology can access the inner recesses of the human mind, allowing law enforcement to explore the minds of criminals. Narihisago, who has turned to murder after his family’s deaths, is tasked with diving into the id wells of various serial killers. The series also features a manga sequel by Yūki Kodama, which was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten’s seinen manga magazine Young Ace from October 2019 to November 2020.
The series follows Narihisago, who is haunted by the deaths of his family and his own past, but also uses his work to help stop serial killers. Rookie field analyst Hondomachi becomes an important character after having a brush with death in a serial killer case. Field analysts use a handheld radar gun called “Wakumusubi” to collect “cognition particles” from a person’s intent to kill, fleshing out the killer’s well for a more thorough investigation.
Gosick
Gosick is a mystery anime based on Sherlock Holmes, featuring a young wannabe detective named Victorique de Blois and her friend Kazuya Kujo. Set in 19th and 20th-century Europe, the series follows Kazuya, a transfer student at St. Marguerite Academy, who meets Victorique, a mysterious and brilliant girl who spends her days reading and solving mysteries. The anime adaptation, Gosick New Continent, takes place in New York City in 1931, where Victorique and Kazuya own a small detective agency.
The series is set in a small, French-speaking fictional European country called Sauville, which stretches from Switzerland to the Mediterranean Sea. The protagonist, Kazuya, is a transfer student and a transfer student of a high-ranking officer of the Imperial Japanese Army. The series explores the tenebrous background of Victorique and her family, as well as the bond they form with each other.
As the series progresses, the tenebrous background of Victorique and her family haunts her. The sequel series, Gosick New Continent, takes place in 1931 in New York City, where Victorique and Kazuya’s bond is shattered by a new party seeking to get their hands on Victorique. Despite the popularity of “cute girls doing cute things,” Gosick remains a top-notch mystery anime.
Black Butler
Black Butler is a Japanese manga series by Yana Toboso, published in Monthly GFantasy since September 2006. The series follows 12-year-old Ciel Phantomhive, the Earl of Phantomhive, who serves as the Queen’s Watchdog in Victorian-era London. Ciel has formed a contract with demon Sebastian Michaelis to seek revenge on those who tortured him and murdered his parents. In exchange for his services, Sebastian will be allowed to consume Ciel’s soul.
Set in Victorian England, Ciel and his demon bodyguard Sebastian work together to uncover the dark and mysterious underworld of London. As they work towards wiping out the cultists involved in his family’s murder, Ciel knows that his suffering will worsen once his contract with Sebastian comes due.
Ciel takes over his father’s position as the Queen’s Watchdog, investigating cases deemed catastrophic by Queen Victoria herself. Sebastian recruits notable individuals such as sniper Mey-Rin, veteran soldier Baldroy, and superhuman teenager Finnian to assist them. As Ciel and Sebastian resolve incidents under Queen’s orders, they encounter the Aurora Society, a secret organization led by a grim reaper known as “Undertaker.” Undertaker reveals that his true objective was to reanimate the body of Ciel’s older twin brother and the real Ciel Phantomhive, who was the original heir of the Phantomhive estate.
The revived “Ciel” incriminates his brother for crimes committed by the Aurora Society and assumes control of the Phantomhive estate, forcing Ciel and his subordinates to flee. Branded as fugitives, Ciel, Sebastian, and their allies investigate the Aurora Society further to prove Ciel’s innocence and stop Undertaker’s plans.
Higurashi:When they Cry
Higurashi: When They Cry is a Japanese murder mystery dōjin soft visual novel series set in the fictional village of Hinamizawa in 1983. The series is a “sound novel” with narration and dialogue presented in on-screen text. The games are built on the NScripter game engine and the Microsoft Windows operating system. The series is divided into chapters, each covering a separate story arc. The chapters are divided into “question arcs” and “answer arcs,” each based on the same scenario as the previous one.
In June 1983, Keiichi moves to Hinamizawa and befriends classmates Mion Sonozaki, Shion, Rena Ryūgū, Rika Furude, and Satoko Hōjō. They learn about the annual Watanagashi Festival, a celebration dedicated to the local deity Oyashiro. Four years in a row, murders and disappearances occur on the day of the festival, leading to the “Oyashiro Curse.” Rika’s body is found in the family shrine, and a cataclysm wipes out the population. The village’s clinic is secretly investigating a mysterious parasite causing Hinamizawa Syndrome, with Rika being the only remaining member of the line after her parents’ death in 1981.
Ergo Proxy
Ergo Proxy is a Japanese cyberpunk anime television series from the early 2000s, set in a post-apocalyptic utopia where AutoReiv androids peacefully serve humans. A rogue virus infects these machines, leading to a series of self-aware murders. Inspector Re-L Mayer investigates the murders and discovers a complex plot involving a humanoid species called “Proxy” who are the subject of secret government experiments. The series is heavily influenced by philosophy and Gnosticism and features a combination of 2D digital cel animation, 3D computer modeling, and digital special effects.
The series takes place in Romdeau, a city where humans and AutoReiv androids coexist peacefully. The government has been conducting secret experiments on a mysterious humanoid life form called “Proxy,” which are said to hold the key to humanity’s survival. Re-l Mayer, granddaughter of the Regent, investigates the murders with her partner Iggy and discovers two unknown and powerful humanoids, the Proxies. Vincent Law, an immigrant, is also connected to the Proxies and is hunted down. Re-l and Vincent try to uncover the truth behind the Proxies and the domes, which are created by Proxies and cannot function without their presence.
Shiki
Shiki is a 23-episode anime series that resembles Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot. Set in the sleepy village of Sotoba, the series explores a series of bizarre deaths that coincide with the arrival of the Kirishiki family. Toshio Ozaki, the dean of the only hospital in Sotoba, discovers supernatural presences, known as shiki, or “corpse demons.” The series premiered on Fuji TV, Kansai TV, Tōkai TV, and their affiliated stations on July 8, 2010.
Funimation simulcast the series with English subtitles one hour after its initial broadcast in Japan. The first DVDs and Blu-rays were released on October 27, 2010, and the complete-series box set, including an English dub and two OVA episodes, was released in June 2014. The series uses On’yomi pronunciation for Japanese numerals, with each phrase related to death or the corruption of the physical body.
Beastars
Beastars is a Japanese manga series by Paru Itagaki, set in a modern world ruled by anthropomorphic animals. The divide between herbivores and carnivores is brimming with laws that prohibit carnivores from following their brutal instincts. When an alpaca member of the drama club at school is murdered and devoured, tensions rise within the school, threatening to destroy peaceful relations in the animal kingdom.
The main protagonist, Legoshi, has an encounter with a dwarf rabbit that makes him question his own nature. He follows the trail of a killer into a dark and twisted world where herbivores sell bites of their body in dark alleys and carnivores pay big money for a taste. The anime television series adaptation produced by Orange aired from October to December 2019 on Fuji TV’s +Ultra programming block.
Beastars won multiple awards in 2018, including the 11th Manga Taishō, the New Creator Prize at the 22nd Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize, the 42nd Kodansha Manga Award in the shōnen category, and the New Face Award at the 21st Japan Media Arts Festival. By October 2021, the manga had over 7.5 million copies in circulation.
Apothecary Diaries
The Apothecary Diaries is a Japanese light novel series written by Natsu Hyūga and illustrated by Touko Shino. The series follows Maomao, a young girl who becomes a key figure in the imperial court due to her love of science and medicine. The series introduces simple, episodic mysteries that are engaging due to well-written characters and the use of shoujo tropes. The series has been adapted into two manga series in 2017, with one published by Square Enix and another by Shogakukan.
An anime television series adaptation produced by Toho Animation Studio and OLM aired from October 2023 to March 2024, with a second season premiered in January 2025. Set in a fictional country based on Imperial China during the Tang dynasty, the series follows Maomao, who is kidnapped and sold to the Imperial Palace as an indentured servant. She investigates the cause of the emperor’s newborns and concubines’ illness and, despite her anonymity, becomes the protagonist of the series.
Talentless Nana
Talentless Nana is a dark anime series written by Looseboy and illustrated by Iori Furuya. It follows the story of the “Talented,” children with supernatural powers, who are sent to a deserted island school to prepare for the battle against mysterious monsters called “Enemies of Humanity.” The school is forbidden from communication with the outside world until graduation. One day, a new student named Nana Hiiragi arrives at the school, despite her friendly and cheerful personality.
Nana is actually a government assassin sent to kill the Talented, who the government considers to be the true Enemies of Humanity. The anime is suspenseful and exciting, with each episode adding an eerie twist to the story. While it may not be suitable for everyone, those willing to sit through the anime will be treated to a suspenseful and exciting mystery.
Final Thoughts
Mystery anime is a genre where the main cast becomes investigators, working to solve crimes or find explanations. The narrative focuses on collecting evidence, identifying suspects, and theorizing scenarios before capturing the perpetrator. Japanese animators and storytellers have a knack for tackling mystery with grace and style, weaving captivating plots with charming characters, intense drama, and humor. The above list will help you to watch the Top 15 Mystery Anime.
Keep in touch with our Instagram Page for more such updates!
