Science fiction also known as sci – fi is a genre that focuses on futuristic views, innovations, artificial intelligence, space exploration, time travel and all those fun things. Sci Fi anime specifically revolves around the themes of morality, conflict, identity, survival etc.  Psychological anime on the other hand focus on mind games, life questioning plots, human nature and treading the line between right and wrong. Psychological sci – fi anime is one of the most thought provoking and immersive anime genre of the modern era. From dystopian societies to mind bending technologies and questionable plots, the psychological sci fi anime have it all. 

1. 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. 

2. Parasyte: The Maxim – Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu (寄生獣 セイの格率) 

Author: Hitoshi Iwaaki 

Genre: Psychological, Horror, Action, Sci-Fi 

Demographic: Seinen 

Episodes: 1 Season, 24 Episodes 

Parasyte is a sci – fi psychological horror anime that takes place in a world where parasitic aliens have invaded the planet and are taking over humans as hosts by residing in their brain. These parasites are able to take different forms in order to trap their prey. The story follows a young high school boy named Shinichi Izumi, who ends up being a victim of this parasite, however due to certain circumstances the parasite was unable to host in his brain and ends up on his right hand. Now having no control over the host the parasite and Izumi are forced into a coexistence; where they are both trying to survive. The anime is known for its disturbing themes, thought provoking story lines and the concepts of fear and survival instincts. Parasyte can be watched on Crunchyroll and Netflix. 

3. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion – Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch (コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ) 

Author: Ichiro Okouchi, Goro Taniguchi 

Genre: Psychological, Thriller, Action 

Demographic: Shounen 

Episodes: 2 Seasons, 25 Episodes each

The anime follows the story of Lelouch Lamperouge, an exiled Prince who is mysteriously granted the ‘Power of Kings’, that enables him to force people to obey him. The story is set in the year 2010 where the Holy Empire of Britannia  is trying to establish dominance over the world with its first stop being Japan. When Japan was defeated , they renamed the place as ‘Area 11’. Now with this new found ‘power of absolute obedience’, Lelouch embarks on a journey as a masked vigilante named ‘Zero’, to take revenge on Britannia once and for all. The anime follows him into this journey, where he has to balance morality, strategy and personal revenge. Code Geass is well known for its mind games and shocking twists. It is available to watch on Crunchyroll and Hulu. 

4. 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.

5. 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.