Must-Watch Psychological Thrillers: Discover the Best Anime Right Now!

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Summary

  • Contemporary psychological anime provide suspense & jeopardy for fans looking beyond classic thrillers.
  • Tomodachi Game offers a creepy watch with friends forced to play sadistic games for money.
  • Id:Invaded, Classroom of the Elite, & other shows provide thrilling stories with interesting characters.

There are numerous fantastic psychological thrillers in anime, some of which are highly acclaimed. Shows like “Serial Experiments Lain” and “Monster ” instantly come to mind as exceptional series that keep viewers on the edge of their seats with their gripping suspense.

That said, most people have probably given these classic shows a try and might want to scratch the itch with something more contemporary. Thankfully, there are great shows that have come out in the last little while that fill the gap and tell great stories while also adding a sense of jeopardy to the audience member.

8. Tomodachi Game

Friends Forced To Play Sadistic Games Is Always A Creepy Watch

The title “Tomodachi” translates to ‘Friend’ in Japanese, so you could say this is about ‘Friend Games’. However, the show’s content is far from innocent. Five friends find themselves trapped in a white room and must compete in various games to recover $20,000 that was stolen from their school trip fund.

The show, Tomodachi Game, offers a unique blend of familiar plot twists and unexpected turns, with the main character sometimes causing controversy among viewers, but never failing to keep things interesting. Despite sharing some similarities with other shows, Tomodachi Game manages to carve out its own distinct identity.

7. Id:Invaded

Who Doesn’t Love Brilliant Detectives?

2020 kicked off with some intriguing television series, such as the third installment of Haikyu! and Darwin’s Game. Additionally, the lesser-known show Id:Invaded was released, which stood out due to its unique concept: a team of specialized detectives delve into the minds of criminals to solve perplexing mysteries.

The main character used to be a detective and possesses the ability to enter people’s minds due to a past action he took. In the gripping narrative “Invaded,” there are thought-provoking concepts and well-developed characters, such as Koharu, who is a novice assisting in the investigation but shows determination and refuses to back down from responsibilities.

6. Classroom Of The Elite

Ayanakoji Makes For A Riveting Lead

Classroom Of The Elite is one that seems to have become a lot more popular over time since it first made its debut in 2017. The show is set in a prestigious school where the students use points as a means of currency. The school empowers students to plot and scheme in a bid to rise to the top, a position which will see them do well in society at large.

In Class D, Ayanakoji finds himself among the underdogs and troublemakers of the school. Together with his fellow students, he navigates through a series of games and activities to ascend the school hierarchy. Despite the lack of physical violence, the high stakes involved in each contest makes every event thrilling.

5. Moriarty the Patriot

Definitely The Most Handsome Moriarty In Fiction

Japan loves Sherlock Holmes and there have been loads and loads of shows that either feature him as a character or have characters inspired by him. Moriarty The Patriot takes things in another direction by focusing on the antagonist of the Sherlock Holmes books; James Moriarty.

In this show, Moriarty wants to turn England upside down and turn it into a society that is more egalitarian. He is willing to go to any lengths to do this, and of course there is a Sherlock Holmes character there to stop him. The show is a battle of wits, which is something that every good thriller anime should have.

4. Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-

The Biggest Nightmare Of An Isekai

Isekai at its heart is a horror show. The idea of a person being snatched to not another state, or another country…but to another world entirely, where nothing works as one would understand it. Re:Zero captures this perfectly, even giving its protagonist a busted power that is both a blessing and a curse.

The first season came out in 2016, and it was one of the best shows of the time. However, the fact that the second season did not come for almost five years might have doused interest a bit. However, the third season is airing and it is a masterpiece. The woes of Subaru really tug at the heartstrings and the hellish world of Re:Zero has the audience really rooting for the protagonist to make it.

3. Summertime Rendering

A Time Loop Anime With Tonnes Of Suspense

The television series “Summertime Rendering” is widely recognized, yet not enough viewers have tuned in. Despite its high acclaim, it doesn’t generate as much conversation as it deserves. Shinpei Ajiro visits his foster sister Ushio’s hometown, only to learn that she might be deceased. This revelation sparks his suspicion that all is not as it appears.

This title has a few similarities to Re:Zero. The protagonist is able to return from death, but unlike Subaru who would die again and again just to get the ending he wants, Shinpei is a lot more circumspect. It is certainly a show worth seeing and is one of the best psychological thrillers from the last decade.

2. Link Click

A Refreshing Take On Supernatural Mystery

Link Click is another example of a very underrated Chinese show that should be on more radars. It follows Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang who have the ability to go back in time through pictures. They use this to solve mysteries and carry out other activity.

While in the past, they must be careful not to change the course of the future as that has dire consequences. While the premise of the show is strong by itself, it has some surprisingly tender character stories that sometimes get pretty emotional. Naturally, there is a mysterious antagonist and a lot of twists and turns. It deserves a watch.

1. Pluto

A Cerebral Masterpiece

When the writer of Monster, Naoki Urasawa, puts forth anything, it is sure to get a lot of attention. Unfortunately, not as much attention has been given to Pluto. This is the plight of many cerebral shows as Pluto is a story devoid of bombastic flashes and shine more in its methodical dialogue and masterful plotting.

This series, titled “Pluto,” offers a fresh take on the Astro Boy tale, veering off in many directions. Remarkably, given its futuristic backdrop, it maintains a surprising sense of realism. The narrative includes an unexpected turn that is truly jaw-dropping. Keeping up with this show demands concentration, but the reward is substantial.

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2025-03-15 22:19