Mystery is a genre that entices viewers and captures their full attention, consuming audiences as they attempt to crack the case within the span of an episode or series arc. Mystery animes are no exception, and what makes any mystery series successful are their leading detectives. Enigmatic and typically quirky characters are able to solve the most gruesome of murders or uncover the truth with barely a scrap of evidence, making this genre a fan favorite.
There are several unique anime detectives and familiar faces - each one extremely talented in their work, and definitely some of the strongest the genre has to offer.
10 Kiyotaka Yagashira (Holmes Of Kyoto)
In Holmes Of Kyoto, one of the main characters is a young appraiser with a talented eye named Kiyotaka Yagashira. Yagashira has earned himself the nickname of Holmes because of his strong observation and deduction skills, and his ability to discern counterfeit antiques. It is his passion and knowledge of antiques, as well as his observation and deduction skills, that make him such a powerful detective in the world of antique collection.
9 Houtarou Oreki And Eru Chitanda (Hyouka)
Eru Chitanda is a naturally curious girl who wants an explanation for everything. When stoic Houtarou Oreki joins the Classic Literature Club, he finds himself in a predicament. With Eru's desire to have an explanation for every mystery she comes across, it's up to Houtarou's incredible deduction skills to provide her, and the rest of the Classic Literature Club, with an answer.
Over the course of Hyouka, they encounter multiple perplexing mysteries - from mysterious locked doors to a resident school ghost. Houtarou and Eru prove themselves to be an impressive detective duo able to solve any mystery they encounter.
8 Kei Matoba and Tilarna (Cop Craft)
Cop Craft follows human Detective Sergeant and a Semanian Knight of Mirvor who make an interesting crime-solving duo in both human and Semanian cases. The world as Matoba and Tilarna know it changes when a mysterious gate appears connecting the human world to one filled with creatures of fantasy. In San-Teresa, both humans and Semanians live together and crime is abundant. Kei Matoba's detective training and knowledge of the criminal underbelly paired with Tilarna's magical abilities and knowledge of Semanian culture make them a powerful detective pairing.
7 Akane Tsunemori (Psycho-Pass)
As an inspector in Psycho-Pass, Akane Tsunemori is surrounded by mysteries and crime on a daily basis. In a futuristic world where machines can determine one's criminal intent, Akane is left to solve some of the most gruesome and challenging of crimes. Akane must rely on her deduction and crime-fighting abilities to ensure the safety of society. What makes Akane a strong detective is her unshaken sense of justice and ability to maintain a clear psycho-pass despite the tragedies she has experienced on the job.
6 Victorique De Blois (Gosick)
Gosick's Victorique De Blois, a student of Saint Marguerite Academy, is a bit of an enigma. Despite her young age, Victorique has already helped the police solve multiple mysteries. Thanks to her 'Wellspring Of Wisdom' she has an almost-supernatural ability to solve not only mysteries, but even predict the future (to some degree).
With the help of Kujo to stave off her boredom, the two have solved multiple cases throughout Gosick. However, it is her intuition, deduction, calculation skills, and ability to apply them to mystery-solving that make this 15 year old one of the most capable detectives in anime.
5 Yakumo Saitou (Psychic Detective Yakumo)
In Psychic Detective Yakumo's world, the supernatural is very much real. It's up to Yakumo Saitou to solve the mysteries related to the other side. Born with the ability to see ghosts with his red eye, Yakumo has been embroiled in the supernatural world from a young age. With his unique ability, high intellect, and deduction skills, Yakumo aids those plagued with supernatural mysteries. Yakumo Saitou is able to solve various ghost-related cases with the help of Haruka Ozawa and Officer Kazutoshi Gotou. Thus making him an impressive detective for the supernatural.
4 Kabukicho's Sherlock Holmes (Case File no. 221: Kabukicho)
Casefile No.221: Kabukicho is a reimagining of the classic Sherlock Holmes mysteries. In Casefile, Sherlock and Watson are located and solving cases in a modern-esque Kabukicho. However, Sherlock Holmes is still the bright mind that fans know and love, with insane detective skills and even stranger habits. What makes Kabukicho's Sherlock one of the strongest detectives is his uncanny ability to solve a mystery with just the smallest shred of evidence, and do so in a unique manner. Sherlock presents the truth behind each case through a rakugo performance, each performance an inside look at how Sherlock Holmes' deductive brain works.
3 Osamu Dazai (Bungou Stray Dogs)
In a world where people have supernatural abilities, it only makes sense that there is an agency filled with detectives with their own powerful abilities. In Bungou Stray Dogs, one such detective is Osamu Daizai, who has the ability to nullify any supernatural ability through touch. Granted, Osamu Daizai is a bit of an odd character, due to his obsession with achieving a peaceful death with a beautiful woman. Nonetheless, he is an extremely talented detective. Osamu Daizai is an intelligent individual and a proficient tactician making him one of the Armed Detective Agency's best detectives. It is the combination of his deductive skills and supernatural ability that makes Osamu Daizai such an impressive detective.
2 Siesta The Ace Detective (The Detective Is Already Dead)
Intelligent, skilled with a musket, and surrounded by mystery, Siesta is the enigma known as the Ace Detective. She's able to predict and solve a case before it even happens, leaving Siesta in a class of her own.
In The Detective Is Already Dead, Siesta takes a reluctant Kimihiko under her wing as her side-kick, and the two work together to solve various mysteries tied to an underground supernatural criminal organization. It is the amalgamation of all these skills are that makes Siesta one of the top anime detectives on this list.
1 Death Note's L (Death Note)
L is known to be a strange character in Death Note, with his preference for crouching rather than standing and his obsession with sweets. It may be hard to believe that he is a world-renown detective. However, despite these unique quirks, L is intelligent and meticulous when solving a case. It is because of these traits and his out-of-the-box thinking that L is able to connect Light and his Death Note, despite the apparent lack of pattern between the Death Note-induced deaths. Thus. L's quick wit and sharp deduction skills make him a number one detective.