Science fiction is a juggernaut of a genre that spans virtually all media from books to comics to anime. Typical of the genre is a focus on futuristic and out-there concepts that range from advanced technologies to time travel and alien life. Anime has quite a few shows that fall under this broad grouping with accompanying themes of drama, romance, and comedy, depending on the particular work.
And these shows can differ massively in quality with some excelling as artistic works while others can come off as flat and uninspired. In this list, we'll run down the best sci-fi stories that anime has to offer, at least according to MyAnimeList.
10 Aria The Origination (8.60)
This show is the third season in the Aria series. Unlike many other entries on this list, this show uses its sci-fi conceit as a set-up for a pleasant slice of life adventure that follows the daily lives of the main cast. Specifically, viewers are allowed a glimpse into the worlds of Akari, Alice, and Aika, three girls who are working towards their goal of becoming professional tour guide gondoliers.
The apprenticeships they undertake in pursuit of this dream take place in the world of Neo-Venezia, a futuristic recreation of Venice. This show's focus on character development and gradual plot changes meld nicely with its lighthearted pace and feel.
9 One Punch Man (8.67)
One Punch Man takes place in a world not too unlike our own. Except of course for the fact that high-powered superheroes and villains roam the streets, leaving chaos in the wake of their intense duels. The eponymous protagonist Saitama is one of these heroes and despite his lack of renown or recognition he is easily one of the universe's strongest heroes, able to defeat the vast majority of enemies in a single punch.
The show follows his action-comedy adventures as he and his cyborg student Genos take on the problem antagonists and perils of daily life that they can't avoid.
8 The Promised Neverland (8.68)
In The Promised Neverland sci-fi meets horror in the superficially idyllic world the show takes place in. At its center is a mysterious orphanage where our main characters live happily while acting as surrogate families to one another.
But they are restricted from traveling too far from the orphanage, must take daily tests of varying complexity and occasionally orphans leave, never to be seen again. The show follows an older trio as they attempt to unravel the mysteries at the heart of their home, making for a tense edge-of-your-seat experience.
7 Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (8.70)
This high flying and fast-paced action show is a well-known work made by Studio Gainax, the creators of other hit shows like Neon Genesis Evangelion and FLCL. In it, we follow Simon, Kamina, and Yoko who meet after Simon and Kamina burst out of their deep underground village inside a mecha and fend off an attack from the surface.
This trio then explores the surface world, fighting off challengers to reclaim it for their own. At the heart of this show's appeal is its epic proportions, with the scale of fights getting exponentially more dramatic and intense as the plot progresses.
6 Cowboy Bebop (8.79)
Cowboy Bebop is a classic sci-fi western that many anime fans have heard of or been recommended to watch and for good reason. It takes place in a future society where humanity has gone to the stars and turned the planets into alternately lawful and lawless places. So to help keep the peace bounty hunters roam space, like our two initial leads Spike and Jet.
As the show continues more of the main cast is introduced, like femme fatale Faye Valentine and the eccentric technology expert Edward Wong. The show's largely episodic plot fosters a strong attachment to these characters, making for a big payoff as they develop and the show comes to its heartwrenching conclusion.
5 Made In Abyss (8.82)
This anime takes place in a fantasy and sci-fi world where a massive abyss exists, one that leads down into the depths of the earth. This crevasse is filled with strange beings and high-tech relics of a time long past. It is regularly explored by people known as divers, one of which is the novice diving protagonist Riko, the daughter of a missing in action expert diver, Lyza.
One day while patrolling the upper layer Riko meets an amnesiac robot boy named Reg and together they decide to head to the bottom of the abyss to uncover the secrets that lie in his memory. This show has a bunch of great qualities, from its initially lighthearted adventure vibe to thrilling moments and great character chemistry.
4 Code Geass: Lelouch Of The Rebellion (8.92)
Both seasons of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion show up in the upper echelons of MyAnimeList, so the higher of the two scores was taken and used for its entry in this list. This mecha anime takes place in a future where Japan has been conquered by the militant and imperialistic empire of Britannia. However rebel forces still quietly brew and fight back against the ruling party.
Things shift when Lelouch Lamperouge gains a power called the Geass, granting him the ability to command others to do whatever he asks, provided he can make direct eye contact with them. With a mysterious past that makes him hate the empire, Lelouch decides to become a revolutionary leader, making for a fantastic tale filled with twists and turns.
3 Legend Of The Galactic Heroes (9.07)
Legend of the Galactic Heroes is a classic military space opera that tells an intricately realized plot in its 110 episode span. Viewers are introduced to a world where a more than century-long war has been taking place between the hierarchical Galactic Empire and the democratic Free Planets Alliance.
However, with the rise of two new military leaders, the empire's Reinhard von Lohengramm and the alliance's Yang Wenli, the war's stalemate breaks and the two military geniuses face off. This show provides ample motivation for the characters on both sides, never painting one as good and the other as bad. It also has a well-realized universe and lore that lend an almost documentary-like feel to its immersive proceedings.
2 Gintama (9.11)
Like other items within this article, Gintama shows up several times within the top ranks of MyAnimeList so for the purposes of this list it's been placed by its highest ranking iteration. This comedy series takes place in a world where aliens have invaded earth and taken over feudal Japan.
But the show mainly follows the cast of Gintoki Sakata, Shinpachi Shimura, and Kagura as they perform a variety of odd jobs for a varied amount of side characters. The plot isn't critical and takes a back seat to the show's humor and jokes that mix together eastern and western influences to arrive at a unique winning formula that's all its own.
1 Steins;Gate (9.14)
Steins;Gate is not like most of the other shows on this list. It trades in high flying action and fantastical worlds for a grounded and realistic story centering around the discovery of a time travel device. The creator of this device is Rintarou Okabe. Okabe's days are spent with his friends Mayuri Shiina and Hashida Itaru tinkering on gadgets and gizmos, living out the life of a so-called mad scientist.
But the stakes get higher when they create a time travel device that actually works. With it comes the attention of dangerous forces that push Okabe on a timeline spanning and heartbreaking adventure as he tries against all odds to rescue his friends.