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 the best ones are the ones that combine psychological elements and horror. 

A good horror anime is one that keeps you up at night. Horror anime is a genre that blends psychological elements, dark themes, disturbing visuals and supernatural elements into an disturbingly unforgettable experience. From cursed places to supernatural entities, the horror genre has captivated horror fans from all around the world. However, horror anime are such that you look forward to what’s next rather than fearing it.  With a number of slow burns, crazy suspense and plot twists, there’s too many options to choose from. 

So here’s a starter pack list for you:

1. Another (アナザー )

Author: Yukito Ayatsuji 

Genre: Horror, Psychological, Mystery, Supernatural 

Demographic: Seinen

Episodes: 1 Season, 12 Episodes + OVA 

‘Another’ is an anime that is famously classified as the ‘Final destination’ of the anime universe. It is  classified as a highly gore and horror anime. The story revolves mainly around two characters Koichi Sakakibara and Mei Misaki. When Sakakibara transfers to Yomiyama North Middle School in Class 3-3, he is welcomed to an eerie classroom atmosphere; and soon understands that everyone in the classroom ignores Mei.  Oblivious of the curse upon Class 3-3, Sakakibara talks to Mei and ruins the balance of the class, unleashing a series of unexpected and fatal deaths of his friends and their families. Realising this Sakakibara and Mei go on a mission to discover the truth behind the phenomenon, unraveling the sinister mystery behind the curse from 26 years ago. ‘Another’ is known for its suspense and horror elements and can be watched on Crunchyroll.  

2. Psycho-Pass (サイコパス)

Author: Gen Urobuchi

Genre: Action, Mystery, Sci – Fi, Suspense 

Demographic: Seinen

Episodes: 3 Seasons, 41 Episodes

In 22nd century Japan justice is delivered on the basis of the ‘Sibyl’ system. This system detects a citizen’s threat level based on their biological reading known as the ‘Psycho-Pass’. Now to deal with citizens who fall under the criteria of a criminal The Public Safety Bureau deployees ‘Inspectors’, elite detectives who manage the ‘Enforcers’ who are latent criminals given a pass from execution as long as they help catching others like them. But when Akane Tsunemori, a young woman with a desire for justice steps into this world alongside veteran Enforcer Shinya Kougami , she soon discovers that the ‘Sibyl’ system is not perfect. This forces her to confront the deeply corrupted system that hides itself in the facade of a Utopian world. ‘Psycho-pass’ is available on Crunchyroll Netflix and Amazon Prime.

3. Higurashi When They Cry – Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (ひぐらしのなく頃に )

Author: Ryūkishi Zero-Nana 

Genre: Horror, Psychological, Mystery, Thriller 

Demographic: Seinen 

Episodes: 4 Seasons, 80+ Episodes, 2 OVAs

The anime revolves around Keiichi Maebara, Rena Ryugu, Mion Sonozaki, Satoko Hojo, and Rika Furude, five friends belonging to a little village called Hinamizawa. Keiichi, who moved into the village a few months ago soon discovers the local legend of mysterious deaths and people going missing, which is connected to the festival celebrated by the villagers every year. The village tends to blame these incidents on their village deity, to whom they refer to as Oyashiro – sama. When she does not receive any answers from her friends, she takes it in her own hands to discover the truth. The anime is classified as highly disturbing. It is known for its mysterious elements, dark atmosphere and suspense. Higurashi when they cry can be watched on Crunchyroll. 

4. Death parade (デス・パレード)

Author: Yuzuru Tachikawa 

Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Suspense 

Demographic: Seinen

Episodes: 1 Season, 12 Episodes

We are all aware of the concept of Heaven And Hell after death, you either go to heaven or you go to hell. ‘Death Parade’ introduces a new place which can only be accessed on one condition. When two people die at the same time on earth, these people are not sent to Heaven or Hell but are sent to a high end bar called ‘Quindecim’. This bar is the judgement stage where the bartender, referred to as Decim, plays the arbiter. He makes people play a series of life threatening games usually as simple as billiards or bowling or darts. With no memory of being dead, the people play the games thinking that they could be physically harmed, which in turn brings out their true nature, showing how far humans can go when trying to survive.  With each game as the psychological tension increases the people begin to expose their darkest secrets. However this system is disrupted by the sudden appearance of a black-haired woman, who happens to remember dying. To know what outcome this leads to, watch ‘Death Parade’ on Crunchyroll or Prime videos. 

5. Tokyo Ghoul – Tokyo Kushu (東京喰種-トーキョーグール- )

Author: Sui Ishida 

Genre: Psychological, Horror, Action, Supernatural 

Demographic: Seinen 

Episodes: 4 Seasons, 48 Episodes 

‘Tokyo Ghoul’ is a highly dark psychological anime. In a world where flesh-eating Ghouls who appear like humans, blend into the human population, Ken Kaneki is a timid high school student. However, his entire life takes a turn when a beautiful woman asks him out on a date. Soon learning that she had sinister motives, he ends up waking up in the hospital where he is told that he had been saved by her organs being transplanted into his body. This forces him to live a life between the two worlds, the Humans and the Ghouls. With this new identity embarks on a journey to find his own identity and to survive. The Anime explore came such as transformation and inner conflict focusing on dark themes, emotional storytelling, dark tones and intense tragedy. It can be watched on Crunchyroll and Hulu.  

6. From the new world – Shinsekai yori (新世界より)

Author: Yusuke Kishi 

Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Suspense

Demographic: Seinen

Episodes: 1 Season, 25 Episodes 

‘From the new world’ is a Sci-fi anime that takes place 1000 years into the future. Set in a world where teenagers gain telekinetic powers, which they refer to as ‘Cantus’, the story follows Saki Watanabe who joins the Sage Academy; a school for psychics like her. Though everyone awakens their ‘Cantus’, the power levels are different for everyone. Soon after, 1 of the students from the class disappears, and Saki and her friends decide to uncover the truth. On this journey they soon uncover the dark, violent and dystopian history of their world that was kept a secret from everyone. Throughout the anime they are forced to face life-threatening challenges in order to save their world. This slow – burn mystery can be watched on Crunchyroll and Amazon Prime.