15 Must-Watch Mystery Anime That’ll Keep You Guessing

Who said mysteries were only for dusty old novels? Anime is here to serve you a piping hot plate of whodunits, time-warp conundrums, and stories that’ll have you shouting “Nani?!” at your screen. So, ready to challenge those little gray cells with the most plot-twisting, clue-chasing, jump-out-of-your-seat series? Pop that corn, keep an eye out for those sneaky red herrings, and dig into my list of the 15 best mystery anime. Ready, set, sleuth!

1. Monster

1 season | 74 episodes
Watch on: Netflix

Dr. Kenzo Tenma is a big-shot surgeon who saves a child named Johan. But plot twist—adult Johan is a psycho killer. What’s a doc to do? Chase him down, obviously. So this is a reverse whodunit, but not exactly the Columbo kind. Monster is raw, unnerving, and contemplating-good-and-evil-at-3-AM kind of deep. After all, it’s an adaptation of Naoki Urasawa’s manga, and this man is the overlord of dark mystery thrillers. Watch it, love it, thank me later.

2. Death Note

1 season | 37 episodes
Watch on: Hulu, Peacock, Tubi TV, Pluto TV

High schooler Light finds a notebook that can off anyone just by writing their name. And surprise, surprise, he soon goes from a justice seeker to a murderous megalomaniac (or misunderstood mastermind—pick your poison). So, yes, this is an open mystery and more of a ‘can Light get away with it or will L, the genius-slash-weirdo detective, connect the dots?’ situation. If you’re up for some brainy suspense and a fast-burning plot, watch this (and skip the cringeworthy Netflix live-action version).

3. Erased

1 season | 12 episodes
Watch on: Netflix, Funimation, Crunchyroll, Hulu

Satoru’s time-rewinding ability takes him to 1988, right before a series of kidnappings in his hometown. Our sadboi is a teenager again, using past clues to catch a predator. Erased isn’t just a whodunnit; it’s a can-he-prevent-it! And beyond the mystery, the adaptation of Kei Sanbe’s manga is a heart-wrenching story of redemption. I cried, no shame. It’s about saving your soul as much as solving a crime, okay??

4. Steins;Gate

1 season | 26 episodes
Watch on: Funimation, Crunchyroll, Hulu, Prime Video

Nutty scientist Okabe and his labmates discover a way to send messages back in time. Cool, but how ’bout those consequences? Kudos to the unlikely director duo, Hiroshi Hamasaki (Texhnolyze, only the darkest anime ever) and Takuya Sato (Strawberry Marshmallow, a CGDCT classic), for pulling this off. This series is fun, deadly serious when it needs to be, and all about the mystery of cause-and-effect in those wonky timelines.

5. The Promised Neverland

2 seasons | 23 episodes
Watch on: Funimation, Crunchyroll, Hulu, HIDIVE

Kids at the Grace Field orphanage are blissfully unaware that they’re trapped in a “high-stakes farm.” And they’re clueless about the outside world too! Emma, Norman, and Ray catch on, but they can’t just peace out. The kiddos will have to outsmart their devious ‘Mom’ first. So don your detective hat—this is an ontological mystery where every clue counts. Just a heads up: season one is where it’s at. CloverWorks rushed through Kaiu Shirai’s manga in the follow-up, and it shows.

6. Terror in Resonance

1 season | 11 episodes
Watch on: Funimation, Crunchyroll

Teenage troublemakers who call themselves “Sphinx” have turned Tokyo into a giant escape room. They’re blowing stuff up left and right and leaving cryptic Greek mythology-inspired messages for the cops. So, what’s got these youngsters so riled up to play terrorists? Creator & director Shinichirō Watanabe isn’t messing around—this psychological mystery tackles trauma and shattered childhoods, delivering a sharp socio-political commentary.

7. Moriarty the Patriot

1 season | 24 episodes
Watch on: Funimation, Crunchyroll

Ryōsuke Takeuchi gave Sherlock Holmes’ arch-nemesis, James Moriarty, a fresh makeover in manga form. He’s still not the nicest guy around, but he’s now out to dismantle the British Empire’s rotten class system, one devious plot at a time. And Production I.G. worked their magic, adapting this into a fantastic anime mystery with a ‘howdunit’ twist. It’s the bad guy’s turn in the limelight—and he puts on one epic show!

8. Baccano!

1 season | 16 episodes
Watch on: n/a

Baccano is a crazy ride on The Flying Pussyfoot, a train crowded with thieves, mafiosos, and alchemists all chasing the elixir of immortality. The story zig-zags through time and perspectives like it’s trying to lose you in a game of interdimensional tag. Total chaos (that’s what ‘Baccano’ means in Italian), but it all makes sense in the end. Heads up, it’s violent—less Agatha Christie train murder mystery, more Tarantino-style murderfest.

9. Gosick

1 season | 24 episodes
Watch on: Funimation, Crunchyroll

Studio Bones aced the adaptation of Kazuki Sakuraba’s gothic story about amateur sleuths Kujo and Victorique. It’s jam-packed with fair-play mysteries; you’ll get all the clues you need to solve them, but good luck doing so before our loli Sherlock, Victorique, does. A great pick for anyone who loves a good mystery with historical elements and a touch of romance.

10. The Apothecary Diaries

1 season | 24 episodes
Watch on: Crunchyroll

What’s a mystery anime list without some good old poison drama? Maomao is a clever pharmacist who ends up working in the Emperor’s palace (not willingly, mind you). She tries to keep her knowledge a secret, but, yeah, not happening. She gets dragged into solving medical puzzles, identifying poisons, and navigating the schemes of totally-not-Chinese imperial palace. Halfway through season one, and I’m already calling it my favorite this year!

11. Another

1 season| 12 episodes
Watch on: Crunchyroll

Koichi Sakakibara, the new kid in school, walks straight into a horror show. There’s a cursed class, a ghostly presence, and a body count that keeps rising. Who’s the “extra” student here? Who’s next on the chopping block? It’s a nightmarish puzzle based on Yukito Ayatsuji’s novel, with chilling foreshadowing, freaky deaths and creepy AF dolls. Perfect for supernatural mystery & horror anime fans.

12. Odd Taxi

1 season| 13 episodes
Watch on: Crunchyroll

Studio OLM’s Odd Taxi is your taxi ride through anthropomorphic Tokyo. The cabbie is Odokawa, a grumpy walrus who is basically a magnet for secrets. Customers blab away, a missing girl mystery unfolds, and both the police and yakuza are hot on Odokawa’s tail! *gasps* And don’t miss the audio dramas on OT’s official YouTube channel (they’re styled like a podcast) for extra fun!

13. Mononoke

1 season| 12 episodes
Watch on: Netflix, Crunchyroll

The mysterious Medicine Seller searches feudal Japan for evil spirits, or ‘Mononoke,’ to send them packing. But to do this, he must determine their Form, Truth, and Reason (nasty human business involved, of course). A spinoff of Ayakashi: Japanese Classic Horror, the series is a fantastic blend of yokai folklore, mystery, and trippy horror. But honestly, Toei’s stunning, avant-garde animation was a good enough sell for me.

SEE ALSO: Best Yokai Anime With Ghosts & Spirits

14. Paranoia Agent

1 season | 13 episodes
Watch on: Funimation, Crunchyroll

Lil’ Slugger, a golden-bat-wielding rollerblader dishing out concussions, is Tokyo’s latest nightmare. Is he real? Is he a shared delusion? Something isn’t adding up, and the detectives are baffled. You will be, too, because this is not your typical catch-the-bad guy story. It’s Satoshi Kon (and his long-time collaborators, Madhouse) at his jigsaw puzzle-plotting best, digging into social and psychological issues with each episode.

15. Hyouka

1 season| 22 episodes
Watch on: Funimation, Crunchyroll

Wrapping up my list with KyoAni’s Hyouka! It’s about Houtarou Oreki, a high schooler who likes to keep things low-effort. But when he meets Eru Chitanda, Miss Curiosity herself, he gets caught up in solving quirky little mysteries. No Poirot business here. From school myths to movie plot holes, this is a brain-tickling slice-of-life for those who love life’s little enigmas.

Disclaimer: The Rockle has no affiliation with the streaming services mentioned in this article. Our opinions are based on our research and experience, and we do not receive any commission or compensation for promoting these services.

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