When we think about anime, we usually think of adventure, fantasy, action and thriller. However, there is a whole genre of anime that people are yet to discover and that is the psychological anime genre. These anime focus on psychological aspects of human nature, often portraying mind games that make the characters question themselves and their surroundings. There are so many mind bending, life questioning anime out there, but these are the top 3 psychological anime you should have on your next watch list.

1. Death Note

Author: Tsugumi Ohba

Genre: Psychological, Thriller, Supernatural

Demographic: Shounen

Episodes: 37 (1 Season)

This psychological thriller follows the story of Light Yagami, a high school student who comes across a mysterious book titled the ‘Death Note’. He soon realizes that any person’s name that is written in the book ends up dead. Light uses this to kill criminals who he thinks deserve it, soon thinking of himself as God often questioning his moral compass. With these unexpected and untraceable deaths, a global investigation is launched to catch the perpetrator. The anime follows an intense intellectual battle between two geniuses, Light Yagami and L; who is an esteemed international consulting detective. The anime is used for its dark psychological theme and constant control shift among the two main characters. The anime reflects on how human nature is manipulated when granted power that cannot be controlled. Can be watched on Netflix and Crunchyroll.

2. Monster

Author:  Naoki Urasawa

Genre:  Psychological, Thriller, Drama

Demographic: Seinen

Episodes:  74 (1 Season)

The anime follows the story of Dr. Kenzou Tenma, a well known neuro-surgeon, who was recently engaged to the director’s daughter. However his life takes a drastic dark turn when a single decision made by him leads to consequences that cannot be fixed. When given the choice to operate on the Mayor or a boy brought into surgery, he chose to save the boy over the mayor which costs him his job and reputation. However, due to the mysterious death of the hospital director and 2 other doctors, Dr. Kenzou reclaims his position in the hospital. 9 years later his past comes back to haunt him and he now has to face the consequences of his doing, trying to amend the havoc created by the patient he once saved.  The enemy questions whether even is born or created, trying to find the answer to what or who exactly can be defined as a ‘Monster’. The anime is a slow burn that revolves around psychologically driven tension rather than sudden twists. Is available on Netflix.

3. Steins;Gate 

Author: Chiyomaru Shikura, Naotaka Hayashi

Genre: Psychological, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Demographic: Seinen

Episodes: 48+ (2 Seasons)

Considered as the best time travel and may of all time, Steins;Gate follows the story of eccentric scientist Rintarou Okabe and his friends who discovered that the phone-microwave that they created is not just a simple microwave that can turn bananas into green goo. The phone microwave turns out to be a Time Machine through which they can send texts to the past.  We all know basic time travel 101, any interference with the past can cause a repel effect into the present and the future. This is the basis that the anime revolves around, where these friends have to make decisions that can alter their faith, heartbreaking decisions involving sacrifice and responsibility. And obviously the discovery of a Time Machine cannot go unnoticed causing his friends and him being monitored by an organisation named SERN. It is a slow suspense building anime that delivers emotional impacts from time to time.  Watch it on Crunchyroll or Netflix.