Anime's diverse genre categories are commendable. From high school rom-coms and historical dramas, to fantasy sci-fi and straight up shonen, 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 murder mystery anime are often in short supply.

That's not to say that anime doesn't have any murder mystery series. 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 by Sage Ashford on February 9th 2024: This list has been updated to reflect CBR's current publishing style, and add even more information about some of the best mystery anime ever made.

21 B: The Beginning Introduces A Massive Conspiracy To Solve

In a world teeming with technological advances, murder never stops. Depressed and distraught by the murder of his sister Erika eight years prior to the start of the series, former detective Keith Flick is called out of retirement by a friend in the Royal Investigative Services (RIS). A vigilante serial killer named Killer B has been taking down criminals left and right, wreaking havoc on the island.

As Flick comes face to face with a demi-human named Koku, the pair find themselves on a fated path where past and the present collide. Forced to work together, despite their differences, Koku and Keith form a unique bond as they solve the mysterious circumstances surrounding an epic government conspiracy. While B: The Beginning is a great anime, it doesn't quite have the pedigree behind it as some of other well-known mystery anime series, meaning it doesn't deserve to rank higher than #20.

20 Box Of Goblins Pulls Together An Eclectic Group To Solve Crimes In 1950s

19 Tokyo

Box of 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 Goblins is based on a novel by Natsuhiko Kyogoku.

However, the series finds a distinct voice that's both faithful to its source material, but also able to help it evolve. Box of 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.

18 Ergo Proxy Sees Androids Turned Against Man In A Cyberpunk Whodunnit

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.

17 The Apothecary Diaries Focuses On A Young Woman Solving Imperial Court Mysteries

The Apothecary Diaries presents a different sort of mystery-solving protagonist. Maomao isn't an untouchable super-genius who solves impossible crimes. Instead, it's her love of science and medicine that allows her to go from a simple laundry girl to becoming one of the most important people in the imperial court.

Apothecary Diaries introduces fairly simple, mostly episodic mysteries that are nonetheless engaging because of how well-written the characters are. Maomao is easily one of the best protagonists of the 2020s, and the series knows how to smartly rely on some of the best shoujo tropes. It also helps that the series has some drop-dead gorgeous animation thanks to OLM.

16 Shiki Brings Viewers Into A Series Of Murders In A Small Town

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.

15 Beastars Begins With A Simple School Mystery That Could Change The World

While some people see Beastars as a shonen anime for shoujo fans, Paru Itagaki's Beastars doubles as a murder mystery. In a world ruled by anthropomorphic animals, the divide between herbivores and carnivores is bridged by laws that prohibit carnivores from following their brutal animal instincts. When Tem, an alpaca member of the drama club at school turns up dead and devoured in the night, tensions rise within the school that threaten to destroy peaceful relations in the animal kingdom for good.

As fate would have it, main protagonist Legoshi has his own encounter that same night with a dwarf rabbit in the courtyard that makes him question his own nature. Battling his urges to devour with the help of therapist and former carnivore, Gouhin, Legoshi follows the trail of a killer into a dark and twisted world where herbivores sell bites of their body in dark alleys and carnivores pay big money for a taste. Beastars is currently streaming exclusively on Netflix. As good as Beastars is though, the mystery angle isn't quite as well-developed as it could be, keeping it locked at the 15th spot.

14 Talentless Nana Tells The Story From The Perspective Of The Killer

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. It's a dark anime that only gets darker, and 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.

13 Erased Is A Gripping Time Travel Mystery Series

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.

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 In/Spectre Challenges "The Goddess Of Wisdom" To Solve Paranormal Mysteries

On the surface, In/Spectre has the recipe for a successful anime with its unique setting, a likable heroine, and fantasy and occult themes. For fans who've already seen some of the best supernatural anime, their next step is likely to check out a series like In/Spectre.

Kotoko Iwanaga is a so-called "Goddess of Wisdom" who can interact with inhabitants of the supernatural world. She has an 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.

11 ID: Invaded Presents An Inventive Science-Fiction Mystery

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.

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.

10 Gosick Centers Around A Genius Young Detective And Her Beleaguered Assistants

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." Gosick released during a time when anime was obsessed with "cute girls doing cute things", but despite that both the character writing and the mysteries challenging the characters are top-notch. That said, Gosick isn't quite legendary enough to get too far into the Top 10.

9 Black Butler Features A Boy Detective Solving Mysteries In Victorian England

Set in Victorian England, 12-year-old Ciel Phantomhive and his demon bodyguard Sebastian work together solving mysterious threats deemed catastrophic by Queen Victoria herself. But the greatest mystery of all for Ciel is getting to the bottom of his family's brutal murder, a crime so dark he sold his soul to a demon for the aid and strength to see the mystery through to vengeance.

Black Butler follows Ciel on his journey to track down the cultists that ruined his life. Acting as the Queen's watchdog, a title he inherited from his father, Ciel and Sebastian pair together to unearth the dark and mysterious plaguing London. As they get closer to wiping out the cultists involved in his family's murder, Ciel knows his own suffering will be far worse once his contract with Sebastian comes due. Thanks to the BL elements and the action, anime fans of all kinds can get into one of the best historical fantasy anime.

8 Higurashi: When They Cry Offers Unexpected Twists In A Horror Murder Mystery

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.

7 Danganronpa: The Animation Features Teens Trying To Escape A Talking Bear's Dangerous Games

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.

6 The Kubikiri Cycle Offers A Clever, Philosophical Take On The Mystery Genre

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.

5 The Perfect Insider Is A Claustrophobic, Suspense-Filled Masterpiece

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 them 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. The Perfect Insider is great, but the series above it go beyond great into truly legendary, keeping it at the 5th slot.

4 Death Note Is The Biggest Thriller/Mystery Anime On The Market

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

The rivalry between one of the smartest anime characters ever in Light Yagami and the equally clever L 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.

3 Perfect Blue Tells A Brilliant Psychological Mystery Thriller

When pop star Mima decides to give up her musical career to pursue acting, someone objects in the scariest way imaginable. While it's also one of the best psychological thriller anime, Satoshi Kon's Perfect Blue has all the elements of a compelling murder mystery. When the people in Mima's life that support her career change begin dying off mysteriously, she begins to question her career choices.

After a strange website called Mima's Room turns up and details her day-to-day life, including some of her most personal feelings, Mima starts to question her sanity. She's sure she's being stalked, but she can't prove it. Is she the one behind the murders, or is someone she trusts trying to frame her and take over her life?

2 Steins;Gate Pulls Viewers Into A Captivating Time Travel Mystery

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. All these elements combined make the show even better on a rewatch.