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With its first two seasons now available on Crunchyroll, Psycho-Pass is one of the most famous sci-fi anime of all time. The idea of an AI system governing whether a person will commit a crime or not is pretty dystopian, and the gory manner in which this show disposes of its characters is harrowing. The thrilling nature of this series, along with its captivating setting, is one of the biggest reasons why so many people love it.

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So many people binge this series and are then left with a vacuum once they are out of episodes. There aren't all that many anime like Psycho-Pass, but people who are willing to experiment with slightly different scenarios can check out the following shows that should be right up the alley of fans who love this series.

Updated on November 8, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra: Fans of sci-fi anime with a unique concept and grotesque imagery will love what Psycho-Pass brings to the table. The Minority Report-esque system of predicting when a person would commit a crime makes for a rather tantalizing watch in every way. While some people argue that Psycho-Pass never reaches the high standards set by the first season, the anime is still worth watching for any fan who loves high-concept sci-fi shows with stellar visuals and memorable characters.

17 Fate/Zero

A Prequel That Focuses On The Holy Grail War With Some Grotesque Imagery

Fate/Zero protagonist Saber and Emiya Kiritsugu.
Fate/Zero
Action
Fantasy

Release Date
October 1, 2011
Studio
Ufotable
Creator
Gen Urobuchi

Fate/stay Night is the first chapter in a series that certainly has some disturbing moments of its own, but the entire series doesn't really go all out in its depiction of the heinous activities that take place during the Holy Grail War. However, the first episode of Fate/Zero makes it clear that this show is not for the faint of heart.

Describing the horrifying event that takes place in the show's pilot is harrowing, and people should just check it out for themselves to see if they can stomach such a brutal sight. Of course, Fate/Zero is more than just this shocking event, but, much like Psycho-Pass, players will need to sit through a lot of grotesque events if they wish to enjoy the series to its fullest.

16 Steins;Gate

An Incredible Time-traveling Adventure

Rintarou Okabe in Steins;Gate
Steins;Gate
Thriller
Sci-Fi

Release Date
April 6, 2011
Studio
White Fox
Based On
Visual Novel

Steins;Gate is a series that can take a while to get into. The first few episodes do a great job of explaining the machinations of the series — in fact, some people would argue that it goes overboard here. There are many instances of viewers dropping the series during this time, which is a shame, since the latter half of Steins;Gate makes for some of the most enthralling viewing anime fans can subject themselves to.

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Powering through the first few episodes can be a pain, but the payoff is more than worthwhile. The zany adventures of Rintaro Okabe as he sends text messages into the past to change the future is a mind-bending tale that is simply riveting after the expository episodes are over and done with.

15 Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

A Cyberpunk Anime With Relentless Action

Cyberpunk-Edgerunners-1
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Action
Sci-Fi

Release Date
September 13, 2022
Studio
Trigger
Based On
Video Game

Cyberpunk 2077 has been experiencing a resurgence right now, and a huge part of this is the runaway success of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. The show has done a brilliant job of using the game's universe to tell a compelling story about how people go too far in their journey to become a legend in Night City.

David is a sympathetic figure who gets roped into the world of Edgerunners and starts establishing a name for himself. Honestly, the only bad thing people can say about this anime is that it's simply too short, and viewers would've appreciated more episodes before its saddening ending.

14 Cowboy Bebop

A Fun Sci-fi Adventure Packed With Action, Comedy, And Mystery

Anime Video Game AAA Adaptation Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop
Action
Adventure
Sci-Fi

Release Date
April 3, 1998
Studio
Sunrise
Directors
Shinichirô Watanabe

A space western that provides a ton of entertainment in every episode, Cowboy Bebop is a legendary anime that everyone has heard of at this point. The story of Spike and his buddies as they work towards a common goal while also resolving their own issues throughout the series is a blast.

Cowboy Bebop is a fun ride that will get viewers attached to the main cast in no time. The individual stories in each episode are pretty riveting in their own right and will keep viewers engaged till the very end.

13 Tokyo Ghoul

A Gory Shonen Series Dealing With Flesh-eating Ghouls

tokyo-ghoul-ken

Release Date

July 4, 2014

Genre

Dark fantasy, supernatural thriller

Studio

Pierrot

Creator

Sui Ishida

Tokyo Ghoul is another great series that fans of Ergo Proxy should watch. The violence level in both shows is pretty much off the charts and one of their biggest similarities.

Tokyo Ghoul deals with the trials and tribulations Ken Kaneki has to face after being turned into a ghoul. It makes for a riveting time, with Kaneki's descent into chaos and anarchy being a huge blast.

12 Akira

One Of The Finest Anime Movies Ever Made, Set In A Cyberpunk Dystopia

Shotaro Kaneda in Akira

Release Date

July 16, 1988

Genre

Cyberpunk, political thriller, post-apocalyptic

Studio

Tokyo Movie Shinsha

Creator

Katsuhiro Otomo

Akira is one of the most groundbreaking anime movies of all time. It's set in the futuristic Neo Tokyo where espers exist, with the unfortunate Tetsuo Shima getting the powers of such an esper after getting into an accident.

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These adventures into space and looks at life in the distant future are sure to please any anime fan.

Watching this character try and control his powers only to fail and create an entire universe of his own is definitely an interesting watch indeed. It helps that the art direction and animation in this series are stellar and still hold up to this day.

11 Gantz

A Twisted Game Played By The Deceased With A Lot Of Gruesome Imagery

Main-characters-of-Gantz-1
Gantz
Action
Thriller
Sci-Fi
Horror

Release Date
April 13, 2004
Studio
Gonzo
Creator
Hiroya Oku

Gantz is a sci-fi action thriller that is full to the brim with gory violence across the board. However, while the series is known for its more shocking moments, it's the thrilling narrative and amazing characters of Gantz that make it such a brilliant watch.

Viewers will easily get attached to the characters in the show before having their emotions curb-stomped by the series over and over again. It's a great series to watch for people who want a unique take on the sci-fi genre.

10 Ergo Proxy

A Psychological Thriller Set In A Cyberpunk World

the character re-l mayor from the anime ergo proxy

Release Date

February 25, 2006

Genre

Cyberpunk, psychological thriller, post-apocalyptic

Studio

Manglobe

Director

Shuko Murase

A cyberpunk anime that feels a lot like Psycho-Pass, Ergo Proxy is a great series. This psychological thriller poses fascinating questions about whether self-aware androids deserve the same rights as humans.

The only problem with the show is its pacing, which can be ridiculously slow at times. However, if viewers manage to look past this minor inconvenience, they'll be able to enjoy one of the better sci-fi shows around.

9 Monster

A Thriller Anime With One Of The Greatest Antagonists Of All Time

monster
Monster
Thriller
Mystery

Release Date
April 7, 2004
Studio
Madhouse
Creator
Naoki Urasawa

Monster is a beloved show that might suffer from slightly slow pacing at times, but that's a pretty small complaint at the end of the day. After all, this faithful adaptation is considered by many to be one of the best thrillers in anime, with a captivating story that will keep viewers on edge all the way to the very end.

The titular Monster, Johan Liebert, is one of the most fascinating antagonists of all time. Watching the main characters try and hunt him down throughout the series feels like a futile exercise due to how smart Johan really is.

8 Darker Than Black

A Riveting Shonen Anime With Contractors Possessing Unique Powers

Hei from Darker Than Black

Release Date

April 6, 2007

Genre

Mystery, science fiction, supernatural thriller

Studio

Bones

Creator

Tensai Okamura

A sci-fi action-thriller with an amazing premise, Darker than Black is a rather underrated anime. The show focuses on the idea of certain individuals becoming Contractors, allowing them to use supernatural powers at a cost.

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Darker than Black is a completely original anime, which is already a massive achievement for how good it is. The action scenes are clever and feel different from the usual raw power battles showcased in, for instance, most battle shonen anime.

7 Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex

A Sci-fi Action Anime With Espionage Elements

Promo art featuring characters from Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex

Release Date

October 1, 2002

Genre

Cyberpunk, spy, thriller

Studio

Production I.G

Creator

Masamune Shirow

Ghost in the Shell is a name that needs no introduction. The show features a cyberpunk aesthetic that will feel right at home with fans of Psycho-Pass.

The original movie is a landmark release in its own right, and Stand Alone Complex adds more complexity to the world. Watching a futuristic version of the police take down heinous criminals could be a straightforward concept, but it's the amazing storytelling of Stand Alone Complex that lets this anime really shine.

6 Paranoia Agent

A Mind-bending Psychological Thriller

Paranoia Agent

Release Date

February 3, 2004

Genre

Mystery, psychological thriller, supernatural

Studio

Madhouse

Director

Satoshi Kon

Legendary director Satoshi Kon is responsible for creating one of the most engaging mystery-thrillers in anime history. Paranoia Agent's premise is deceptively simple and hides a wealth of layers that add a ton of richness to this eerie story.

The show is incredibly riveting, and fans will find this show difficult to put down once they've gone through a few episodes. The fact that the brilliant Madhouse produced Paranoia Agent also does not hurt.

5 Id:Invaded

An Anime Where People Explore The Minds Of Serial Killers To Stop Any Potential Murders

Id Invaded

Release Date

January 5, 2020

Genre

Murder mystery, science fiction

Studio

NAZ

Creator

Otaro Maijo

Id:Invaded is relatively unknown as far as the other anime recommended here. The protagonist of this tale has a haunting backstory, with his motivations being strong enough to make him a highlight of the experience.

Id:Invaded takes a twisted look into the minds of serial killers and how they can be stopped before they complete a crime. A system is in place for the same, which is quite reminiscent of Psycho-Pass.

4 Terror In Resonance

A Riveting Psychological Thriller

Nine And Twelve (Terror In Resonance)

Release Date

July 10, 2014

Genre

Psychological thriller

Studio

MAPPA

Creator

Shinichiro Watanabe

Speaking of underrated anime, Terror in Resonance also deserves a shout-out of its own. The anime is simply excellent, and it's a shame that not many people talk about this brilliant series.

This psychological thriller has some social commentary that makes it a pretty riveting watch. The turmoil the main characters have gone through is brutal and makes them quite likable, even though they might be morally bankrupt at times.

3 From The New World

A Brutal Take On How Humans Become Psychopaths After Getting Access To Special Psychic Powers

From The New World anime characters

Release Date

October 3, 2012

Genre

Dark fantasy, dystopian, thriller

Studio

A-1 Pictures

Creator

Yusuke Kishi

From the New World shows the reality of what would happen if humans gained access to psychic powers. The untold death and destruction that can follow are realistically depicted in From the New World, with modern society collapsing in spectacular fashion before being remolded a thousand years down the line.

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This is where the anime starts off, and the setup is so riveting that many people are likely to be hooked from the get-go. Similar to Psycho-Pass, From the New World goes through quite a few twists and turns, particularly during its second course.

2 Death Note

One Of The Most Iconic Mystery Anime

the character light yagami holding the death note book from the anime death note
Death Note
Thriller
Supernatural

Release Date
October 4, 2006
Studio
Madhouse
Creator
Tsugumi Ohba

There aren't many anime as popular as Death Note. The battle of wits between Light Yagami and L is simply legendary, producing a run of about 20 episodes that is as strong as any other anime out there.

The emergence of Near after L's death does make for a rather annoying second half, but it's still a decent show that deserves all its plaudits. Fans of suspenseful thrillers with a touch of the supernatural will have a great time with Death Note.

1 Code Geass

A Mix Of The Mecha And Political Thriller Genres

Code Geass
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (2006)
Mecha
Action
Sci-Fi

Release Date
October 6, 2006
Studio
Sunrise
Japanese Title
Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch

Another amazing mystery thriller where the protagonist's intellect is simply in a class of its own is Code Geass. This show is an absolute masterpiece that makes the most of its premise and uses a morally dubious yet infinitely likable protagonist to great effect.

The power of the Geass allows for some amazing moments where the creativity of the show's writing is extremely palpable. This, coupled with a bunch of great characters and some emotional moments, establishes Code Geass as a must-watch for fans of Psycho-Pass.

pyscho pass
Psycho-Pass
Action
Thriller
Sci-Fi

Release Date
October 12, 2012
Seasons
3
Studio
Production I.G, Tatsunoko Production
Number of Episodes
41
MyAnimeList Score
8.34 (Season 1)