Whether it’s a TV drama or an animated series, the murder mystery genre is thrilling, keeping audiences on their toes with unexpected twists and suspense.
From complex crime investigations to dark psychological thrillers, the animated murder mystery series provides viewers with an immersive experience that keeps them on their toes. These animated series explore the complexities of crime-solving, the true nature of humanity, and the thrill of uncovering hidden truths.
From classic anime that are a must-see for beginners, such as death note and monster A relaxing mystery story Pharmacist’s diary and gothicin the dark world of murder mystery anime, every clue, every suspect, every revelation holds the key to solving these mind-boggling puzzles.
And the best murder mystery anime series are the perfect combination of all these elements.
Here are the 8 best murder mystery anime series to add to your watchlist
Death Note (2006)
Light Yagami discovers a mysterious notebook that says to kill those whose names are written on it, and decides to use the Death Note to eliminate criminals from the world and establish himself as a god-like being. As this murder case attracts the attention of law enforcement agencies around the world, a brilliant detective is tasked with catching him. Thus begins a high-stakes game of cat and mouse.
This psychological thriller is hailed as one of the best anime of all time, combining different genres such as crime, mystery, and paranormal elements. This animated series questions justice, morality, and the abuse of power, creating ethical dilemmas for both of its main characters.
IMDb rating: 8.9/10
Monster (2004)
Faced with the ethical dilemma of which patient to prioritize during surgery, Dr. Kenzo Tenma chooses to save the life of a young boy, Johann Liebert, instead of the mayor. This decision set in motion a chain of events that led to the mayor’s death and Johan’s disappearance.
Years later, Tenma learns that Johan has grown up to become a manipulative sociopath who is responsible for a series of murders. Feeling responsible for Johan’s actions, the doctor sets out to stop him and unravel the mystery surrounding his past.
like death note, monster It explores the concept of evil nature, human thought processes, and dilemmas, creating a great murder mystery for viewers.
IMDb rating: 8.7/10
Pharmacist’s Diary (2023)
Mao Mao is a young woman sold into slavery and apprenticed to a court pharmacist in the capital of a fictional ancient Chinese empire. She has extensive knowledge of medicine and pharmacology, and uses her skills to solve mysteries, uncover secrets, and help treat the various ailments plaguing the imperial family and court officials.
meanwhile Pharmacist’s diary Rather than the main character working on a murder case, each episode involves a different mystery. What’s more, it combines the genres of historical fiction and drama, making it a fascinating watch.
IMDb rating: 8.6/10
Erased (2016)
Satoru Fujinuma, a struggling manga artist, has a supernatural ability called “Revival” that allows him to travel back in time just before a life-threatening event occurs. When his mother is murdered, the manga artist is forced to travel back in time to his childhood in 1988. Realizes that the murder of his classmate Kayo Hinazuki is related to his mother’s death.
Erased An intricate interweaving of the mystery, suspense, and psychological thriller genres, Satoru races against time to uncover the truth and prevent further tragedy.
IMDb rating: 8.5/10
Ergo Proxy (2006)
in ergo proxy, Rel Mayer is an investigator in the domed city of Romdor, and while investigating a mysterious murder, he encounters a being called a Proxy, a being with great power. Vincent Law, a compatriot with a mysterious past, becomes embroiled in the events surrounding Proxy. As Rell and Vincent travel outside the safety of their domed city, they uncover dark truths about the nature of their world, the origins of humanity, and the existence of proxies.
In a dystopian setting, erho proxy Combining multiple elements such as science fiction and mystery, the story explores existential questions.
IMDb rating: 7.9/10
Higurashi: When They Cry (2006)
Higurashi When They Cry Hinamizawa Village is a village where mysterious and gruesome incidents occur one after another every year during the Cotton Nagashi Festival. A group of friends including Keiichi Maehara, Rena Ryugu, Mion Sonozaki, Satoko Hojo, and Rika Furute become entangled in the village’s dark secrets.
As events unfold, the characters find themselves trapped in a time loop and experience tragic and horrifying events that lead to murder, paranoia, and paranormal activity.
Well, not everything is as it seems. Higurashi When They Cry It may seem like just another mystery anime series, but it gets more intense with each episode thanks to the various horror tropes.
IMDb rating: 7.8/10
Gothic (2011)
Set in the fictional European country of Sauville in the early 20th century, gothic The story follows Kazuya Kujo, a Japanese exchange student who attends St. Marguerite Academy. He meets and befriends Victorica de Blois, a mysterious girl who is good at solving mysteries. Kazuya and Victorica go on various adventures, solving intricate mysteries and discovering dark secrets hidden within the halls of the Academy of Saint-Marguerite and the wider Sauville.
The first episode focuses on Kazuya and Victorica engaging in various criminal investigations. As the animated series progresses, Victorica’s past and her family’s history resurface, casting a shadow on her present and challenging her in unexpected ways.
IMDb rating: 7.3/10
Talentless Nana (2020)
Nana with no talent The film is set in a world where children with supernatural abilities are trained and sent to a remote island to fight creatures known as humanity’s enemies. Life on this island caters for their every need, and interaction with the outside world is strictly prohibited until graduation. Nana Hiiragi is a new student, and her friendly personality quickly makes her friends in the class. However, she has an extraordinary ability to read her mind.
But here’s the twist. Nana is a talentless government assassin sent to kill talented people whom the government considers to be humanity’s true enemies. Before long, students are mysteriously dying one after another on the isolated island, and another student, Nanao, is also suspected, leading to a tense situation.
IMDb rating: 6.9/10
(Hero and featured image credit: IMDb/Death Note and Monsters)
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
– Which anime has the most mysteries?
death note, monster, Erased, Nana with no talent and Pharmacist’s diary are some of the best mystery anime series.
– Who is the best anime detective?
From L death note He is hailed as one of the best anime detectives of all time.
– Which anime has the most suspense?
monster, erased, death note and ergo proxy These are some of the anime series that have a lot of suspense.
– teeth death note Mystery anime?
death note It’s a fusion of crime, mystery, psychological thriller, and paranormal genres.