25 Best Psychological Anime that'll Make You Think Deep - MyAnimeGo (2024)

In the vast and diverse world of anime, there is a genre that delves into the intricate workings of the human mind, offering captivating stories that leave viewers pondering long after the final episode. Psychological anime explores the depths of emotions, thoughts, and motivations through complex characters and mind-bending narratives. These thought-provoking shows challenge conventional storytelling norms by presenting intricate plots filled with psychological twists and turns.

Romance and action anime may seem fun, but nothing compares to the thrill you feel when watching a psychological anime. These series make you feel the suspense in your gut, making you return for more.

25. Kakegurui

Hyakkou Private Academy is secretly the hub of gambling, portrayed as a prestigious school. The ranks of each student are decided according to their gambling skills, and the academy has enough power to control your entire life. Students gamble at high stakes, risking their future.

A mysterious student, Yumeko Jabami, enters among them, an exceptional gambler who plays fearlessly only for fun. Challenging the top students and throwing them from top to rock bottom, Yumeko’s psychological games will make you feel the thrill of gambling.

24. Ergo Proxy

Ergo Proxy is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the last of humanity lives in a domed city, Romdo. Android, called AutoReivs, coexists with humans. Still, a virus called Cogito Virus spreads amongst AutoReivs, making them out of control from humans and going on a killing spree.

Protagonist Re-l Mayer begins investigating the cause of this virus to bring a stop to it. Still, she discovers secrets about the AutoReivs beyond her imagination on her journey. Ergo Proxy is a psychological thriller that will make you question individuality and the impact of A.I.

23. Elfen Lied

Elfen Lied is a psychological anime with lots of gore and violence, which doesn’t make it easy to watch for everyone, but behind all that lies a thought-provoking lesson for viewers.

Lucy is born a Diclonius, a genetically modified human with telekinetic powers. Since Diclonius have dangerous powers, they’re locked up and tortured. But one day, Lucy escapes, killing many but then getting a headshot, causing her to lose her memories and develop a split personality, Nyu.

Nyu lives an average life with two high school students, but her tragic past chases her. As her memories return, Lucy must retake bloody measures to save herself.

22. Terror in Resonance

Japan is threatened by terrorist attacks, and the police cannot find the perpetrators until two boys called “Sphinx” release a public video claiming to continue destruction until they are captured. The police are helpless against the genius Sphinx, and it’s now in Detective Kenjirou Shibazaki’s hands to find them.

However, catching the Sphinx will be challenging; the more time Shibazaki takes, the more lives are lost. But the Sphinx isn’t making these attacks for no cause; their dark reason is to shake the world of the corrupt organization in power. Terror in Resonance is a top psychological anime series that kept me up all night and made me question this corrupt society’s reality.

21. Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Everyone thought the magical girl series was all glitz and glamour until they came across a series as dark as this one.

A cheerful high school girl, Madoka, lives an average life until she is approached by Kyubey, who offers to grant any of her wishes if she accepts to become a magical girl and fight witches. The plot seems all cute until the series turns dark as Madoka realizes the high cost of being a magical girl and the evil intentions behind the magical girl system and Kyubey. A series filled with complex characters and unexpected twists, it’s a unique addition to the magical girl genre.

20. Higurashi: When They Cry

Starting this anime thinking it’s a slice of life/ harem series will be the biggest mistake of your life.

Keiichi Maebara transfers to the small town of Hinamizawa and considers it peaceful. He befriends his classmates, and all is going well until the dark secrets behind the town begin to unravel. The series becomes filled with violence, murders, and mysteries, with each character losing their sanity and questioning the existence of everything. It’s a psychological horror series with supernatural elements, told from a different character’s perspective in each arc.

19. Parasyte: The Maxim

A parasitic alien enters Shinichi Izumi’s body to take control of his mind but gets stuck in his arm again, which forces Shinichi and the parasite, Migi, to coexist. Shinichi uses his new powers by working with Migi to save his loved ones and other humans from these dangerous parasites. He faces enormous physical and emotional challenges as he uncovers the truth behind Migi and questions his humanity.

Parasyte the Maxim is a psychological thriller series that doesn’t hold back on action but also impacts your mind.

18. Another

Another is like the final destination (movie) of anime, except that it’s creepier.

Kouichi Sakakibara transfers to the Yomiyama North Middle School and soon begins a mysterious, eerie atmosphere in his classroom, 3-3. Sakakibara is creeped out the most because his classmate, Mei Misaki, is completely ignored by everyone in their class, and they refuse even to acknowledge her existence. When nobody answers Sakakibara, he begins to investigate the truth himself, which causes a series of gruesome events. A curse haunts the classroom, and nobody knows how to escape it.

17. Paranoia Agent

One of the greatest psychology animes by mastermind Satoshi Kon is set in Musashino City, where a mysterious boy called Lil’ Slugger is attacking residents. Each victim has only three descriptions about him, a baseball bat, golden inline skates, and a baseball cap.

Two detectives, Keiichi Ikari, and Mitsuhiro Maniwa, begin the hunt for Lil’ Slugger, but the secrets and hauntings they’ll face will make their task much more difficult. Paranoia Agent explores the lives of various individuals as they deal with their fears and anxiety of Lil’ Slugger, putting their sanity at risk.

16. Steins; Gate

Considered one of the best psychological sci-fi anime of all time, Steins; Gate centers around a mad scientist Rintaro Okabe and his group of friends with whom he developed a time-traveling machine, a “Phone Microwave.” Okabe sends messages to the past, but soon, the consequences of his actions haunt him as altering the past turns everything upside down. Okabe goes through tremendous emotional turmoil and character development as he begins to lose all he has.

Steins; Gate is an anime that takes sharp turns, and you can guess what happens at the end.

15. The Future Diary

Future Diary is such a crazy psychological thriller anime that it’ll leave you feeling like a psycho yourself.

Yukiteru Amano, a high school student, finds out he’s one of the eleven people with a diary that predicts the future, and they all are competing against each other in a survival game. The last one to survive becomes the god.

Yukiteru teams up with Yuno Gasai, a typical yandere obsessed with Yukiteru and often goes on a killing spree to protect him. Together, the two go through violent battles against other competitors and find out realities that will make their messed-up world even messier. The fast-paced series has plot twists to keep your jaws wide open.

14. Welcome to the N.H.K.

Tatsuhiro Satou is a shut-in, a Hikimori who considers himself a failure and believes a secret organization called N.H.K. is responsible for him being a Hikimori. One day, he meets a mysterious girl who tells him she can cure him of this lifestyle. That begins Satou’s journey as he slowly heals from mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression and returns to a normal lifestyle.

Welcome to the N.H.K. is a series that conveys to the audience about society’s pressure on people and its impact on mental health. It’s an anime that uses slice-of-life and comedy to send a profound message to viewers.

13. Death Parade

When someone dies, their soul is sent to Quindecim, a bar where the bartender, Decim, and his assistant make the souls play a game that unveils their true nature and deepest secrets. Decim observes their actions throughout the contest and, in the end, decides whether they should be reincarnated or sent to void.

Death Parade is an anime series that questions morality and explores human nature. Each episode focuses on a different set of characters, from greedy, to selfish ones. Humans may feel regret or guilt by the end, but it’ll be too late.

12. Paprika

Is dream a reality, or reality a dream? That’s the questions you’ll think of when watching Paprika. The plot is set in a futuristic world where a device called “DC Mini” has been developed, which allows you to delve into people’s dreams. Psychologist Dr. Atsuko Chiba begins to illegally use this device to cure her patients until the device gets stolen, which leads to heavy consequences.

Atsuko pairs up with Detective Toshimi Konakawa to find the culprit before more destruction is done, but the challenge comes when they struggle to differentiate between dreams and reality. Paprika is a rare masterpiece with stunning animation that inspired the creation of the movie Inception.

11. Monster

Tenma’s filled with guilt when he chooses to save a celebrity over a poor man. When faced with a similar choice again, Tenma decides to save a child over the town’s Mayor. However, years later, the horrible consequences of his decision began to show up as the child he saved, Johan Liebert, became a sociopath destroying the lives of many.

Tenma severely regrets his decision and embarks on a journey to catch Johan. But the truth he finds out about Johan’s past and the characters he meets throughout his journey will change his life forever. Monster is psychological thriller series with so much mystery that it’ll keep you hooked on every moment.

10. Classroom of the Elite

Classroom of the Elite has earned itself a spot as the best psychological anime to watch because of being so well-written and exciting. The story is set in a prestigious school by the Japanese government. Students are put in classrooms A to D according to their academic skills, with A having the brightest students and D having the leftovers.

Protagonist Kiyotaka Ayanokouji is an antisocial student in class D. Still, he’s smart enough to challenge the school’s hierarchy without being in the light. He teams up with other eccentric students in the class to climb up to the top of the school, using tactics no one could’ve imagined.

9. Perfect Blue

Perfect Blue shows the dark side of show business, which isn’t as glamorous as portrayed in the media. Perfect Blue revolves around Mima Kirigo, a popular Japanese idol who leaves her idol group to pursue actress. However, Mima’s decision begins to shatter her life as a maniac fan stalks her, and her acting role further strains her mental health.

Everything seems to be falling out of hand as Mima starts to see images of her former self, and a series of murders begin of those around her. Soon, Mima falls into emotional turmoil as she loses grasp of reality.

8. Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion’s known as the best mecha anime, but that often leaves the brilliant psychological aspects it covers.

Giants monsters have invaded the earth, and the future of humans now lies in the hands of a few children. Protagonist Shinji Ikari already struggles with his inner demons, but to make it worse, he has to fight against these monsters by piloting mechas called “Angels.” Piloting the Angel directly affects Shinji’s brain, which leaves him and the other pilots emotionally exhausted.

7. Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor

Kaiji’s already living in poverty when he’s told he has to pay a massive debt to a former co-worker. Having no choice left, Kaiji takes his chances at gambling, where he has no choice but to win. With his life online, Kaiji’s survival instincts unlock as he plays mind-blowing psychological games one by one. Kaiji is an underrated series that is hugely unpredictable and captivating.

6. School-Live!

School-Live! At first, glance seems like a typical slice-of-life anime with cute school girls, but that’s when the series takes the darkest turn in anime history.

Zombies have infected the city, and a group of girls are its sole survivors. Yuki Takeya is completely losing touch with reality and is still delusional that she’s living an everyday school life. Worried about their food supplies, future, and constant fear of zombies, the girls struggle daily to maintain their sanity.

5. Psycho-Pass

Psycho-Pass is set in a world where crime has ended by establishing the “Sibyl System,” a supercomputer that can tell if a person intends to commit a crime, and their intent is shown on their Psycho-Pass. The law enforcers punish the person once the Psych-Pass shows any wrong intentions.

Akane Tsunemori has a strong sense of justice. Still, as she starts to work as an enforcer, she realizes the flaws in the justice carried out by the Sibyl System.

4. ERASED

Satoru Fujinuma can go back in time and prevent an incident from happening. When his mother is taken away from him in his home, Satoru travels back to when he was a child and is given the chance to prevent his mother’s death and the lives of his childhood friends. But with so many lives hanging on his head, Satoru faces significant emotional pressure.

Erased is an unforgettable series that keeps improving with each episode.

3. Mononoke

Mononoke centers on a man called “Medicine Seller” who travels across feudal Japan, finding and defeating evil spirits called “Mononoke” These spirits feed off negative human emotions. The Medicine Seller uses his knowledge to discover the truth behind their existence, which is the key to eradicating them.

The series has different arcs, each focusing on a different spirit. Mononoke uses the human psyche and Japanese folklore to express human emotions and their intensity.

2. Serial Experiments Lain

A best psychological animes list can only be completed by including Serial Experiments Lain, an anime relatable to the modern era.

An introverted teenager, Lain receives an email from her deceased classmate telling her she’s alive. This email introduces Lain to Wired, an online world where Lain connects to many people. However, Lain encounters powerful begins aiming to control human consciousness through Wired. Soon, it becomes difficult for Lain to draw a boundary between the real and the online world.

Serial Experiments Lain will make you question the influence of the internet in our world and understands its impacts on our minds.

1. Death note

Years have passed, and Death Note remains the majority’s favorite Psychological Thriller anime. Genius high school student Light Yagami comes across a book called “Death Note,” which allows him to kill anyone by writing their name. He develops a god complex and takes justice into his hands by killing criminals. With his supernatural power, light is easier to find once prodigy detective L takes responsibility for outsmarting and finding him. Death Note is a series portraying the complexity of the human mind and the consequences of power in the wrong hands.

Bonus Mentions

The Promised Neverland

Aoi Bungaku Series

The Tatami Galaxy

Kino’s Journey

Ping Pong the animation