Stranger Things is one of Netflix's most popular original shows, but it certainly has quite a few flaws. The sci-fi hit receives praise for its ingenuity and refreshing take on the entire genre, but it seems to fall flat on its character development and chooses to ignore blatant plot holes.
For fans who feel like the series is lacking in one way or another, there are several great titles to help scratch that itch or fill that void. Whether it's because of excellent writing or a better relationship with sci-fi elements, these anime series will impress every Stranger Things fan.
8 Mob Psycho 100 Is Perfect For Fans Who Enjoy Psychokinetic Characters Fighting Supernatural Enemies
Similar to Eleven, Mob, or Shigeo Kageyama, is a telepath with a variety of abilities. Mob can bend spoons with his mind or move any object remotely — even heavy buildings. When he's enraged, he will unleash 100% of his power and instantly defeat his enemies. Compared to Mob, Eleven is a pretty weak telepath.
He fights a variety of supernatural entities like ghosts, cults, espers, and other people with psychokinetic powers. The series is a blend of sci-fi with the action-packed fights of classic shonen.
7 The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K. Is A Quick-Witted Comedy With A Telepathic Main Character
For fans who enjoy Eleven but want a break from the constant action, The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K. is a perfect choice. The series follows Saiki Kusuo, a high school student with a seemingly endless roster of psychokinetic abilities ranging from mind-reading to clairvoyance and a whole assortment of other powers.
The series is a quick-witted comedy with a lovable cast of characters. It takes the classic exaggerated campiness of predecessors like Gintama and maintains a fast pace so the audience never gets bored.
6 My Hero Academia Has A Lovable Cast
My Hero Academia is the perfect choice for Stranger Things fans who want a new setting. In this series, 80% of the population has a power, or "Quirk." Izuku, the protagonist, starts out quirkless, but still dreams of being a hero.
His idol All Might comes along and gifts him a quirk. From there, Izuku enrolls at U.A. High, where he and his Class 1-A peers train to be the next generation of pro-heroes. The series is one of the best modern shonen offers, and its lovable cast of characters will surely appeal to Stranger Things' audience.
5 Gon & Killua's Adventures In Hunter X Hunter Are Well-Written Masterpieces
Yoshihiro Togashi's Hunter X Hunter is one of the most legendary anime series of all time. Though it's classified by its shonen demographic, it blends several literary genres together to form one brilliant masterpiece.
Fans of Stranger Things are sure to enjoy watching all of Gon and Killua's adventures in the series, no matter how dark or gritty they become. Hunter X Hunter's depiction of character development is much better written than it is in Stranger Things, so viewers will appreciate that aspect as well.
4 Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Always Reinvents Itself
Since it's a generational story, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure constantly reinvents itself with every new part. The series has a rotating cast of characters, but some are recurring, like Jotaro, Joseph, and Koichi. The series has been ongoing since the late '80s, and new viewers will instantly recognize the hundreds of pop culture references throughout the story.
With a unique art style, neverending campiness, and wonderfully choreographed fights that revolutionized the shonen genre, it's no question why Jojo's is universally acclaimed. Stranger Things is certainly weird, but Jojo's Bizarre Adventure pushes the limits on bizarreness and absurdity in the best way possible.
3 Demon Slayer Is One Of The Best Modern Shonen Series
Demon Slayer quickly became a smash-hit, and as fans await the third season, the hype only grows. The series has a much different setting than Stranger Things, but it impacts the audience differently. Stranger Things is set in the '80s, while Demon Slayer is a historical piece set in Taisho-era Japan.
However, fans of the former are sure to appreciate the series' nail-biting fight sequences and lovable cast. It stars Tanjiro Kamado, a boy who picks up a nichirin blade and joins the Demon Slayer Corps to fight demons and save his sister.
2 Jujutsu Kaisen Is The Most Innovative Modern Shonen
Everybody loves when a series isn't afraid to take risks, which is precisely why Jujutsu Kaisen is a critically-acclaimed series. This series is perfect for fans who prefer older seasons of Stranger Things because it never feels boring.
Jujutsu Kaisen isn't afraid to get dark and gritty, but it blends lighthearted comedy for a nice balance. Yuji is a fantastic protagonist who was thrust into the gruesome world of jujutsu sorcery after swallowing a cursed finger. However, he took this new challenge in stride and always finds a reason to smile.
1 The Promised Neverland Has A Similar Premise, But Truly Plays Up Its Horror Elements
The horror element in Stranger Things is nothing to scoff at, but one of the series' most common criticisms is that it starts to feel gimmicky after a while. The Promised Neverland has a similar premise, but it plays up its horror elements and makes them a crucial element of the plot.
The anime follows Emma, Ray, and Norman after discovering that the Grace Field House, their orphanage, is just a gateway for them to be sold to man-eating demons as food. They craft an escape plan, rally the rest of the orphans, and forge their escape into an unknown future.