10 Gripping mystery anime with major twists

Mystery anime relies on suspense, deception, and jaw-dropping surprises. A truly gripping mystery anime doesn’t just keep you guessing - it pulls you into its twists and turns, making you question everything you thought you knew. Whether it’s mind games, dark conspiracies, or shocking betrayals, the best mystery anime keeps you hooked with unpredictable storytelling and deep intrigue.

The most exciting aspect of a mystery anime is the tension it creates through subtle clues, eventually resulting in shocking discoveries. Death Note has intense mental battles that constantly keep the viewer on edge, while Steins;Gate makes time travel an emotional puzzle to be solved.

Other mystery animes, such as The Promised Neverland and Monster, gradually uncover disturbing truths and mechanically guide the characters to untangle a web of lies. If you enjoy being uncertain until the end of a story, you must watch these ten intriguing mystery animes below.

Disclaimer: The article solely reflects the author's opinion and not Sportskeeda as a whole.

Mind-Bending twists in gripping mystery animes like Perfect Blue and Monster

1) Perfect Blue

A still from Perfect Blue (Image via Madhouse)

Former pop idol Mima is shifting into acting to reinvent herself. However, her success comes with pressures and haunting hallucinations, leaving her unsure of what is real. A shadowy stalker is monitoring her every move, and as paranoia begins to set in, the line between reality and delusion is blurred.

Perfect Blue wonderfully walks the line between perception and delusion, and it creates an enthralling atmosphere that becomes a mystery anime you will think about for a long time.

2) Another

A still from Another (Image via P.A. Works)

When Kouichi Sakakibara transfers to a new school, he quickly realizes something isn’t right - his classmates act like Mei Misaki doesn’t even exist. As a string of gruesome deaths unfolds, he’s pulled into a terrifying mystery tied to a long-buried tragedy.

Each death seems random at first, but the chilling truth behind the curse slowly comes to light - someone in the class shouldn't exist. Another is a gripping mystery anime filled with eerie suspense, shocking twists, and chilling moments that keep viewers on edge until the very end.

3) Higurashi: When They Cry

A still from Higurashi (Image via Studio Deen)

Keiichi Maebara has moved to a small, sleepy village. But the tranquility of the village conceals a terrible, deadly secret. Every year on the night of the local festival, someone dies mysteriously. As it happens, Keiichi becomes entrapped in a cycle of horrendous violence.

The more he investigates, the more horrific the truth becomes, his friends know something, and the same violent incidents happen almost exactly the same way each year. Higurashi When They Cry is a mystery anime that makes the viewer constantly second-guess what is reality so that the ultimate shocking reveal is even more repulsive.

4) Paranoia Agent

A still from Paranoia Agent (Image via Madhouse)

A series of bizarre attacks by a rollerblading kid known as Lil' Slugger throws Tokyo into chaos. At first, it seems like the work of a serial assailant, but as detectives dig deeper, they find all the victims were emotionally vulnerable before being attacked. The real twist? Lil’ Slugger isn’t just a person - he’s the embodiment of fear itself.

As paranoia spreads, reality starts to distort, making it impossible to tell what’s real. Paranoia Agent is a gripping mystery anime that plays with perception, turning fear into something tangible and leading to a mind-bending revelation.

5) The Future Diary (Mirai Nikki)

A still from The Future Diary (Image via Asread)

Yukiteru Amano is just a lonely boy - until he’s thrown into a brutal survival game where players wield diaries that predict the future. As he fights to survive, he grows close to Yuno Gasai, a seemingly sweet girl with a deadly obsession.

The biggest shock? Yuno isn’t who she claims to be - she’s already played this game before, and the real mastermind is far closer than he ever expected. The Future Diary keeps viewers guessing with nonstop twists, intense mind games, and shocking betrayals.

6) Monster

A still from Monster (Image via Madhouse)

Dr. Kenzo Tenma makes an impactful choice when he saves a boy named Johan Liebert, unaware that he is setting in motion a horrific set of circumstances. Years later, Tenma learns that Johan has become a manipulative master killer, who leaves a trail of horror behind him.

As Tenma attempts to chase the truth, he becomes mired in a web of corruption and deceit that goes beyond anything he thought possible. Monster is more than a clever mystery anime, it is a psychological thriller that makes you question the line between good and evil.

7) Steins;Gate

A still from Steins;Gate (Image via White Fox Studio)

Okabe Rintarou begins his experience as a "mad scientist" and goofs around with time travel as a test subject - until he realizes that even the simplest of changes can become disastrous. With every attempt to save someone he cares about, he only makes it worse, propelling him into a tragic fight against fate.

Meanwhile, he uncovers a horrible conspiracy that changes his life completely. Steins;Gate is far more than a narrative about time travel, it is a heart-stopping experience filled with suspense, psychological implications, and gut-wrenching twists.

8) Death Note

A still from Death Note (Image via Madhouse)

When Light Yagami stumbles upon a mysterious notebook that lets him kill anyone just by writing their name, he sees it as his chance to create a crime-free world. But his plans spiral into a deadly mind game when the brilliant detective L begins hunting him down.

This gripping mystery anime is packed with intense mental battles, shocking betrayals, and unpredictable twists. Death Note keeps viewers on edge as the balance of power shifts constantly, making it impossible to predict who will come out on top until the very end.

9) Erased

A still from Erased (Image via A-1 Pictures)

Satoru Fujinuma can reverse time. When he is wrongly accused of murder, his ability unexpectedly sends him back to when he was a child. Now, Satoru has an opportunity to prevent a series of kidnappings before they occur. As Satoru digs deeper into this mystery anime's complicated plot, he becomes close with Kayo Hinazuki, one of the victims, making this even more personal.

The thrills culminate when he finds out the killer was someone he trusted in the first place. Erased combines time travel with psychological tension to make each twist feel both heart-wrenching and thrilling.

10) The Promised Neverland

A still from The Promised Neverland (Image via Cloverworks)

At Grace Field House, Emma, Norman, and Ray grow up believing they have a perfect life with their fellow orphans under the warm care of "Mama" Isabella. But their world comes crashing down when they uncover the horrifying truth - children who leave the orphanage aren’t going to loving families; they’re being sent to be devoured by monstrous creatures.

This mystery anime, The Promised Neverland keeps viewers on edge with its masterful suspense, carefully placed hints, and shocking revelations. With no choice but to out-think their captors, the children face a dangerous game of survival, leading to nerve-wracking mind games and heart-pounding escape attempts.

Final Thoughts

An amazing mystery anime mesmerizes audiences with complex stories, plot twists, and themes that bring about questions. Each of these riveting mystery animes tantalizes audiences in its own unique way, whether through psychological tension, supernatural elements, or surreal storytelling. If you love anime that keeps you guessing, these ten shows are must-watch experiences that will leave you thinking long after they end.

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Edited by Niharika Dabral