10 best psychological thriller manga that will give you chills

Psychological thriller manga combine suspense, mystery and thrills to tell gripping stories that explore the dark side of the human psyche. These stories are layered with complex characters, clever plots and unexpected twists that leave readers on the edge of their seats.

These manga tap into universal themes that examine moral ambiguity, warped motivations, unstable mental states, dangerous obsessions and more. Let's explore 10 hugely best psychological thriller manga series that have received critical claim and commercial success.

Disclaimer: the opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

Death Note, Monster, and 8 best psychological thriller manga

1. Death Note

Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata (Image via Shueisha)

This psychological thriller manga has achieved overwhelming global popularity since its 2003 launch, spawning anime and live-action adaptations. The dark fantasy supernatural story follows Light Yagami, a brilliant high school student who discovers a supernatural notebook called the "Death Note."

It gives Light the power to kill anyone just by writing their name while visualizing their face. When Light decides to use the lethal notebook to rid the world of criminals and evil people, a cat-and-mouse game ensues between him and an enigmatic detective known only as "L."

What elevates Death Note is its complex moral questions about crime, justice, power, and hubris. Readers are kept guessing about Light and L's next moves in this suspenseful battle of wits.

2. Monster

Monster by Naoki Urasawa (Image via Shogakukan)

The chilling medical thriller Monster ran from 1994-2001, winning several awards. It follows the story of Japanese neurosurgeon Dr. Kenzo Tenma, whose life enters a spiral when he saves the life of a young boy over his director's preferred patient.

When a string of murders occurs around Dr. Tenma, he discovers that the very boy he saved, Johan Liebert, is behind them. Johan is completely detached from morality or empathy, possessing both intelligence and charisma to manipulate others.

Full of conspiracies and mystery, Monster makes readers question their assumptions about pure evil versus redemption. It stands as a classic psychological thriller manga that forces deep introspection.

3. Psychic Detective Yakumo

Psychic Detective Yakumo by Manabu Kaminaga (Image via Kadokawa Shoten)

This engaging psychological thriller manga follows Saitou Yakumo, a university student born with a red left eye that allows him to see ghosts. Yakumo helps police solve bizarre crimes, but his investigations typically revolve around the hidden motives of people rather than directly confronting evil spirits.

With the aid of female college student Ozawa Haruka, Yakumo investigates mysterious disturbances and paranormal activities beyond human perception. This engrossing manga provides chilling glimpses into the spirit realm while exploring thought-provoking themes on the nature of the soul.

Yakumo's tragic past and mystical powers result in a brooding, haunted protagonist trying to understand his purpose. Psychic Detective Yakumo is a great pick for readers who enjoy supernatural twists in their psychological thrillers.

4. Liar Game

Liar Game by Shinobu Kaitani (Image via Shueisha)

Liar Game takes an original approach to the psychological thriller genre through a suspenseful manga about complex games and strategies. Protagonist Nao Kanzaki is an honest college student who gets swindled into a "Liar Game Tournament" requiring elaborate lying and scamming to win huge sums of money.

Initially unable to lie, Nao is helped by a genius swindler named Shinichi Akiyama, who understands the psychology guiding the elaborate Liar Game. As stakes rise with each round and opponents hatch ruthless plans, readers are left breathless by the high-tension mind games in Liar Game.

It’s a standout psychological thriller manga that unravels human deception layer by layer.

5. The Promised Neverland

The Promised Neverland by Kaiu Shirai and Posuka Demizu (Image via Shueisha)

It subverts the popular "children in a magical orphanage" trope by turning it into a terrifying psychological thriller manga. Underneath the façade of happy child-care, the Grace Field House orphanage hides explosive secrets that completely shatter the main characters Emma, Norman, and Ray's realities once discovered.

With disquieting elements like demonic enemies, unnerving cliffhangers, and philosophical debates on morality, courage, and survival, The Promised Neverland proves a gripping examination of the best and worst of humanity.

Nicely paced plotting and empathetic characterizations of the children make this a unique psychological thriller manga.

6. 20th Century Boys

20th Century Boys by Naoki Urasawa (Image via Shogakukan)

This masterful psychological thriller manga is considered among manga visionary Naoki Urasawa's greatest achievements, the 22-volume series ran from 1999-2007, winning several accolades.

Set over decades, it begins with a group of friends who establish a secret club with various prophecies during their 1970s childhoods in rural Japan. In the late 1990s, the group discovers that global catastrophes and deaths match their childhood prophecies about an evil entity called "Friend."

20th Century Boys becomes a riveting apocalyptic thriller traveling across decades and continents, underscored by universal themes of memory, loyalty, truth versus deception, and good versus evil.

7. Tokyo Ghoul

Tokyo Ghoul by Sui Ishida (Image via Shueisha)

Sui Ishida’s breakout gory dark fantasy Tokyo Ghoul grew into a franchise after its 2011 launch, spawning anime and live-action versions. The dangerous world unites humans and "Ghouls" – beings that survive by hunting and devouring human flesh, posing as ordinary people around society.

Protagonist Ken Kaneki becomes half-Ghoul after a deadly encounter and faces an identity crisis, working to keep his Ghoul side in check. The manga's violence has symbolic resonances highlighting complex questions and grey areas around morality.

Combining elements of modern fiction and psychological horror, Tokyo Ghoul terrifically examines split identities and serves as a profound psychological thriller manga.

8. Pluto

Pluto by Naoki Urasawa and Osamu Tezuka (Image via Shogakukan)

This cerebral psychological thriller manga from master mangaka Naoki Urasawa is a darker, futuristic re-imagining of Osamu Tezuka's classic manga Astroboy, full of suspense and philosophizing.

In a world where highly advanced robots and A.I. coexist with humans, Europol robot detective Gesicht is investigating a string of mysterious robot murders committed by a robotic serial killer on the loose.

The who-done-it case takes Gesicht across multiple countries as he slowly uncovers clues pointing to those controlling the robot from the shadows. With its weighty ruminations on memories, connections, life's meaning, and what separates humans from A.I., Pluto will haunt you long after.

9. Homunculus

Homunculus by Hideo Yamamoto (Image via Shogakukan)

A cult classic first published in serialized manga from 2003 to 2011, the 15-volume Homunculus focuses on Susumu Nakoshi, a social recluse whose unique medical procedure goes awry, giving him the ability to visually see people's inner states, fears, obsessions, dirty desires, and more as grotesque manifestations.

He then monetizes this ability to "read minds and see true selves," allowing people to indulge in their usually socially prohibited urges. As topics span sexual taboos, violent trauma, painful memories, and playing God with others' psyches, Homunculus remains a disturbing psychological thriller manga.

10. Kaiji

Kaiji by Nobuyuki Fukumoto (Image via Kodansha)

This intense psychological thriller manga has garnered acclaim for its uncommon protagonist and realist examination of human psychology when money and survival are at stake. Low-life Kaiji Itou finds himself in hot waters owing huge debts to dangerous loan sharks.

When he's offered an opportunity to pay these debts through high-stakes gambling scenarios, Kaiji gets pulled into insane games of psychology, luck, desperation, and dirty tactics.

With its somber study of how poverty and helplessness dehumanize people amidst capitalistic exploitation, as Kaiji struggles to maintain his sanity and negotiate his morals through games of fear and paranoia, Kaiji makes for an addictive psychological thriller.

Conclusion

Japanese manga has dramatically advanced the thriller genre by exploring profound psychological themes around morality, society, justice, and human nature itself.

The ten hugely acclaimed psychological thriller manga above will resonate emotionally and intellectually long after putting them down, bringing fans to the edge of their seat through labyrinthine plots while spotlighting complex questions of ethics, sanity, and existence itself.