15 Best Murder Mystery Anime, Ranked (2023)

Anime's diverse genre categories are commendable. From high school rom-coms, to historical dramas, to fantasy sci-fi, anime has something for everybody, no matter how niche. Anime over-indulges in certain genres, like shonen action and mecha, but the tight tropes of a murder mystery are often in short supply.

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That's not to say that anime doesn't have any murder mystery series, but the grand total is quite minuscule when compared to how much Western media celebrates this suspenseful genre. It's possible that American audiences are more accustomed to the makings of a murder mystery, but there are still some excellent anime series that embrace and subvert this storytelling genre.

Updated December 4, 2022 by Daniel Kurland: Anime is a versatile animation medium that freely indulges in so many extreme genres. Audiences love to see heightened anime fight sequences and magical girl transformations, but there’s a level of satisfaction that comes out of a well-constructed mystery that’s hard to top. Anime is no stranger to smart, suspenseful mystery series and there are plenty of shows that go the extra mile and add murder into the mix. Anime murder mysteries can be grounded and serious or wildly exaggerated, but they always amount to a satisfying story that’s full of tense twists and turns.

15 Schoolyard Rivalries Evolve Into A Feud-Filled Death Game

Danganronpa: The Animation

Based upon the popular video game series of the same name, Danganronpa: The Animation is set at the seemingly idyllic Hope's Peak Academy high school. 16 students find themselves caught in a disturbing death game and murder mystery trial courtesy of an antagonistic anthropomorphic bear, Monokuma, who calls the shots.

The only way to escape this purgatory is by killing another student and leaving the ensuing murder trial with an innocent verdict. Danganronpa: The Animation creates genuine suspense out of not only who's pulling the strings through this macabre exercise, but also who will survive.

14 A Bleak World Sets Up An Unfair Victim To Take The Fall

Ergo Proxy

Ergo Proxy is a dark 23-episode cyberpunk anime from the early 2000s that often gets overlooked because of its nihilistic themes. Set in an increasingly despondent utopia where AutoReiv androids peacefully service humans, a rogue virus infects these machines and results in a series of self-aware murders.

Re-l and her AutoReiv partner, Iggy, investigate who's responsible for this deadly malware and their true intentions behind this attack. An intimidating government conspiracy is revealed that leaves Re-l questioning everything she thought she knew about this world.

13 Time Travel And Detective Skills Come Together To Stop A Serial Killer

Erased

(Video) Ranked, The 15 Best Mystery Solving And Detective Anime of All Time

Erased is a hard-boiled murder mystery anime bound to appeal to science fiction and time travel fans. Satoru Fujinuma is a man on the cusp of his thirties who has a unique ability to briefly go back in time to prevent bad things from happening.

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One such incident unexpectedly catapults Satoru to his younger self more than a decade back in time. Limited in this new state, Satoru works tirelessly to find the identity of a kidnapper whose crimes culminate in terrible consequences in the future. Zodiac meets Back to the Future, Erased is a breath of fresh air.

12 A Town Of Bloodsucking Beasts Hides A Horrific Secret

Shiki

Shiki is a tense 23-episode series that more or less feels like the anime version of Stephen King's Salem's Lot. Shiki looks at the sleepy village of Sotoba, which doesn't just experience one murder, but a whole epidemic throughout the community.

An engrossing mystery plays out over what exactly is responsible for claiming all of these lives, but the answer is far more frightening than any vengeful serial killer. Shiki embraces the horror genre more than it does mystery tropes, but the anime effectively uses compelling questions to draw in the audience.

11 A Multiverse Of Possibilities Reveal The Ultimate Murder Mystery Sci-Fi Hybrid

Steins;Gate

Time travel is a tempting subject to explore, but it's frequently underdeveloped. Steins;Gate is one of the best deconstructions of time travel storytelling that begins with the simple premise where text messages can be sent to the past and used to alter the present.

This evolves into an unbelievable story that has one of the most satisfying endings of any anime. Admittedly, Steins;Gate is more about time travel and alternate realities than it is a murder mystery series, but there's still a crucial whodunit that temporarily takes over the story and becomes essential to proceed.

10 Fantasy And The Occult Drive Forward A Moving Mystery

In/Spectre

On the surface, In/Spectre has the recipe for a successful anime with its distinguishably unique setting, a likable heroine, and fantasy and occult themes. However, fans can't be blamed for their disappointment once the series spends most of its 12-episode run on a single story arc.

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Kotoko Iwanaga is a so-called "Goddess of Wisdom" who can interact with inhabitants of the supernatural world. She has unparalleled wit and charm that keeps her subjects coming back for her advice. That being said, most humans find Kotoko odd and even annoying. With her boyfriend, Kuro Sakuragawa, Kotoko investigates the various incidents that plague her paranormal subjects and everyday civilians.

9 A Rejuvenated Reinvention Of 19th Century's Most Distinguished Detective

Gosick

Gosick is a Sherlock Holmes-based anime, but this time the revered detective is a short, blonde high schooler with a sharp tongue. Both stories also happen to take place in 19th and 20th-century Europe and involve essential sidekicks. The detectives' assistants constantly complain while they're dragged around with each new case.

Gosick is a mystery anime that focuses on a young wannabe detective, Victorique de Blois, and her only friend, Kazuya Kujo. These two solve various crimes together through Victorique's ability to "reconstruct chaos."

8 A Powerful And Deadly Tome Becomes A Murderer's Greatest Weapon

Death Note

Few anime have achieved the kind of international fame that Death Note has, and rightfully so. It's undeniably one of the most unique psychological and supernatural thrillers of its kind. Death Note's popularity exceeds the concept of "anime" itself.

Light Yagami and L's rivalry is legendary and a relationship that fans continue to discuss almost two decades after the anime's ending. Nothing defines "murder mystery anime" like Death Note and it's left an incalculable influence on the genre. It's a sublime blend of intelligent detective work with dark, supernatural forces.

7 Science Fiction And Class-Based Mysteries Meld Together

ID: Invaded

An underrated gem from 2020 that's come and gone, ID: Invaded mixes classic detective mysteries with Psycho-Pass-style science fiction to create a rare, but intelligent form of storytelling. ID: Invaded takes place in the future, where technology can access the inner recess of the human mind.

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Law enforcement utilizes this technology to explore the minds of criminals, while Akihito Narihisago is willing to get his hands dirty in these problematic psyches. A former detective has turned to murder after killing the man who massacred his family. Now, he dons the identity of "brilliant detective Sakaido," as he looks into the murders.

6 A Grim Murder Mystery That's Told By Its Deadly Culprit

Talentless Nana

Like Death Note, Talentless Nana is a murder mystery, but with a big twist that guarantees that it's far from a classic "whodunit." Talentless Nana's story is told by the murderer herself, which makes for an eerie twist in comparison to most murder mystery anime.

This murderous narrator element adds a lot to Talentless Nana, but it's also not the kind of content that's suited for everybody. Talentless Nana is borderline disturbing at times. However, those who are willing to sit through the anime will be treated to a mystery that only gets more suspenseful and exciting with each passing episode.

5 Powerful Forces Pull The Strings In This Small Town Murder Mystery

Higurashi: When They Cry

People who expect a generic high school drama from Higurashi: When They Cry are in for a shocking ride. Upon first glance, Higurashi appears to be an innocuous slice-of-life series with adorable characters. However, murder, high school, and nihilistic time loops aren't concepts that are commonly grouped together. This unusual mix of inspirations and genres adds to Higurashi's horrific charm.

Across its multiple seasons and arcs, Higurashi revolves around a new student named Keiichi Maebara. After Keiichi moves to Hinamizawa, he starts to investigate historical murders that have taken place in the town. In typical horror fashion, everything isn't what it seems, but they're far worse than what Keiichi imagines.

4 Supernatural Folklore Informs These Gripping Mysteries

Box Of Spirits And Goblins

Box of Spirits and Goblins follows an eclectic group of inquisitive minds that consists of a crime fiction writer, a news magazine editor, and an "onmyoji" – a magic and spirit specialist – as they investigate a series of murders in 1950s Tokyo. Box of Spirits and Goblins is based on a novel by Natsuhiko Kyogoku.

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However, the series finds a distinct voice that's both faithful to its source material, but also able to help it evolve. Box of Spirits and Goblins isn't the most popular murder mystery anime, but it's a winning mix of folklore, engaging dialogue, and character-driven storytelling that's full of surprises.

3 Deceptively Deep Storytelling And Unique Animation Give This Murder Mystery Life

The Kubikiri Cycle

The animation studio SHAFT and mangaka/novelist, Nisio Isin, are famous for producing the critically-acclaimed Monogatari series. However, one of their more underrated collaborations, The Kubikiri Cycle, was Isin's debut in the manga industry and show's tremendous promise from this emerging talent. Also known as Zaregoto, The Kubikiri Cycle passionately displays SHAFT's signature quirky and avant-garde animation style.

The Kubikiri Cycle is an 8-episode OVA series that accomplishes an incredible amount in this short span of time. A group of brilliant individuals gather on an island and wind up participants in a ghastly murder. Like most of the author's work, The Kubikiri Cycle is a story that appears flashy on the surface but becomes more philosophical and inventive as the audience gets deeper into it.

2 Close Quarters Become The Perfect Pressure Cooker To Solve A Double-Murder

The Perfect Insider

The Perfect Insider is a one-season anime that's based on Hiroshi Mori's popular 1996 novel of the same name. Mori's suspenseful story has found new life as a manga, visual novel, and live-action series, but its anime doesn't get its due when it comes to smart murder mystery series.

The Perfect Insider focuses on a genius programmer, Shiki Magata, who chooses to live a solitary life on a distant island. Shiki's simple existence takes a complicated turn when she's visited by two colleagues, Souhei Saikawa and Moe Nishinosono, and the three of the get embroiled in a double-homicide. Stuck in this claustrophobic facility where there's no clear escape, Shiki and her friends must become exceptional detectives in order to solve these murders and earn their escape.

1 A Cult Classic Series Explores Responsibility And Guilt Through The Frankenstein's Monster Mythos

Monster

Mangaka Naoki Urasawa is considered one of the most influential creators in the industry and his 1994 series Monster is frequently lauded as his most iconic work. Monster is a cult classic by every definition of the word, yet newer anime fans often overlook this gripping gem due to its age. Anyone who checks Monster out will quickly realize that it's a solid, well-written murder mystery.

In 20th-century Germany, Monster's story focuses on a well-respected neurosurgeon named Kenzo Tenma. After a falling-out due to his employer's lack of ethics, Dr. Tenma finds himself in hot water and without support. Tenma's actions put him on the hunt for a serial killer, whose livelihood he can't help but feel responsible for since he's a former patient that he saved. Monster tells a deep, dark story that takes time to develop, but it only grows more suspenseful in the process.

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