whatanimeshouldiwatchnext

The best suspense anime you can start from the beginning

25 suspense anime ranked by MyAnimeList, with none of the sequels, side stories or recap editions you cannot start cold. Top of the list: Steins;Gate, Monster, Shiguang Dailiren.

Recommend me one suspense anime

Narrow it down: Psychological 123 · Mystery 84 · Drama 74 · Action 64 · Sci-Fi 63 · Adult Cast 43 · Horror 38 · Supernatural 34 · Gore 33 · Survival 32 · High Stakes Game 28

The list

1. 1 Steins;Gate TV · 2011 · 24 episodes · White Fox · #6 on MyAnimeList 95% would recommend
2. 2 Monster TV · 2004 · 74 episodes · Madhouse · #26 on MyAnimeList 94% would recommend
3. 3 Shiguang Dailiren Link Click ONA · 2021 · 11 episodes · LAN Studio · #67 on MyAnimeList 95% would recommend
4. 4 Death Note TV · 2006 · 37 episodes · Madhouse · #100 on MyAnimeList 94% would recommend
5. 5 Odd Taxi TV · 2021 · 13 episodes · OLM · #103 on MyAnimeList 95% would recommend
6. 6 Guimi Zhi Zhu: Xiaochou Pian Lord of Mysteries ONA · 2025 · 13 episodes · B.CMAY PICTURES · #106 on MyAnimeList 92% would recommend
7. 7 Shingeki no Kyojin Attack on Titan TV · 2013 · 25 episodes · Wit Studio · #126 on MyAnimeList 94% would recommend
8. 8 Perfect Blue Film · 1998 · Madhouse · #136 on MyAnimeList 94% would recommend
9. 9 Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei The Tatami Galaxy TV · 2010 · 11 episodes · Madhouse · #140 on MyAnimeList 91% would recommend
10. 10 Yakusoku no Neverland The Promised Neverland TV · 2019 · 12 episodes · CloverWorks · #185 on MyAnimeList 95% would recommend
11. 11 Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin Rainbow TV · 2010 · 26 episodes · Madhouse · #189 on MyAnimeList 91% would recommend
12. 12 Summertime Render Summer Time Rendering TV · 2022 · 25 episodes · OLM · #190 on MyAnimeList 94% would recommend
13. 13 Banana Fish TV · 2018 · 24 episodes · MAPPA · #192 on MyAnimeList 90% would recommend
14. 14 Pluto ONA · 2023 · 8 episodes · Studio M2 · #206 on MyAnimeList 94% would recommend
15. 15 Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica Puella Magi Madoka Magica TV · 2011 · 12 episodes · Shaft · #246 on MyAnimeList 91% would recommend
16. 16 Shinseiki Evangelion Neon Genesis Evangelion TV · 1995 · 26 episodes · Gainax · #265 on MyAnimeList 89% would recommend
17. 17 Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song Vivy -Fluorite Eye's Song- TV · 2021 · 13 episodes · Wit Studio · #266 on MyAnimeList 92% would recommend
18. 18 Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu Parasyte: The Maxim TV · 2014 · 24 episodes · Madhouse · #308 on MyAnimeList 93% would recommend
19. 19 One Outs TV · 2008 · 25 episodes · Madhouse · #312 on MyAnimeList 92% would recommend
20. 20 Psycho-Pass TV · 2012 · 22 episodes · Production I.G · #313 on MyAnimeList 92% would recommend
21. 21 Boku dake ga Inai Machi Erased TV · 2016 · 12 episodes · A-1 Pictures · #319 on MyAnimeList 91% would recommend
22. 22 Koukaku Kidoutai Ghost in the Shell Film · 1995 · Production I.G · #364 on MyAnimeList 91% would recommend
23. 23 Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor TV · 2007 · 26 episodes · Madhouse · #387 on MyAnimeList 92% would recommend
24. 24 Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- TV · 2016 · 25 episodes · White Fox · #393 on MyAnimeList 90% would recommend
25. 25 Shinsekai yori From the New World TV · 2012 · 25 episodes · A-1 Pictures · #410 on MyAnimeList 87% would recommend

Why this is not MyAnimeList's suspense ranking. Every entry here is one you can start from the beginning. Anything with a prequel or a parent story is left out, as are recaps and compilation editions — about half of what MyAnimeList ranks — so there are no second seasons or side stories to work backwards from. Ordered by MyAnimeList position. The percentage is the share of MyAnimeList scorers who rated a title 7 or higher.