Psycho-Pass is undoubtedly one of the best mystery anime of all time. Its crime plot, which combines Sci-Fi elements with psychological and philosophical themes, is unique and incredible.
That’s precisely why it’s one of those anime that stays in your heart after you’ve seen it, leaving you eager to watch more similar anime.
That’s also why we’ve created a list of the best anime like Psycho-Pass that you shouldn’t miss.
Table of Contents
20. Babylon
Babylon completely lacks the Sci-Fi component characteristic of Psycho-Pass, but we still recommend it as an excellent mystery and investigative anime.
This is also why we’ve placed it last in the ranking, but give it a chance as you might find it to your liking.
Zen Seizaki works as a prosecutor at the Tokyo Public Prosecutor’s Office, where he’s investigating a mystery connected to a pharmaceutical company.
But his investigation takes a thrilling turn when he discovers a bundle of mysterious documents hidden in an anesthesiologist’s filing cabinet.
19. Speed Grapher
Speed Grapher also entirely lacks a Sci-Fi component, but the same point made about Babylon applies.
Both are excellent mystery anime, so you won’t regret watching it.
The protagonist is a photographer who lacks any real inspiration. Everything seems flat, and the work he is commissioned to do is nothing more than boredom.
That is until he finds himself entangled with a secret organization…
18. B: The Beginning
B: The Beginning is an excellent anime to watch after Psycho-Pass for several reasons.
Both are fantastic mystery anime with an additional twist, although the twists differ between the two series.
Psycho-Pass features a fantastic Sci-Fi twist, whereas B: The Beginning has a supernatural element with superpowers.
The story is located in the fictional peninsula of Cremona, inspired by the existing town of Cremona in Italy and other Italian cities such as Milan.
The plot revolves around the notorious Killer B taking justice into his own hands, armed with a sharp blade and superhuman abilities.
The Royal Investigation Service (RIS) is unable to catch him so is forced to call the help of Keith Flick, a detective who was relegated to the Archives Department after a personal loss.
As the crime rates in Cremona start to grow, Keith begins to unravel the events involving secret organizations, domestic terrorism, and human experiments. Soon the involvement of the RIS will extend even beyond the scope of justice.
17. No. 6
No. 6 and Psycho-Pass are good anime to watch one after the other and for good reasons.
While No. 6 may not have the Sci-Fi twist that distinguishes Psycho-Pass, both anime tell a story about a futuristic world where everything appears perfect, but in reality, it’s only appearance.
The story is set in the city of NO.6, designed exclusively for the elites.
In the Cronos neighborhood resides Shion, a boy who, on the night of his 12th birthday, assists an escaped boy from the city’s Special Security Area.
But what Shion does not know is that this act will lead to unexpected twists and turns that will change his life…
16. Un-Go
Un-Go and Psycho-Pass are both excellent mystery anime set in a futuristic and dystopian world, with a primary focus on investigation and crime.
While Un-Go is more focused on investigations than Psycho-Pass, which also incorporates some psychological and philosophical topics, we’re still sure that you may like it.
Set in a dystopian universe, Un-Go follows the story of detective Shinjuro Yuuki, who uses his incredible intelligence alongside his partner, Inga, to solve mysteries in Tokyo.
Despite their peculiar personalities, they prove to be absolute geniuses when it comes to unraveling complex cases.
15. The Perfect Insider
Both Psycho-Pass and The Perfect Insider feature elements of mystery, crime, suspense, and psychology, all with a predominantly dark atmosphere.
At the same time, the Perfect Insider has a modern and realistic setting, while Psycho-Pass is characterized by a futuristic and dystopian backdrop.
Sohei Saikawa is an associate professor of architectural engineering and he will travel to the research facility of programmer Shiki Magata together with his student Moe Nishinosono.
The two will be trapped in a murder mystery where they will have to unravel the mystery of the island where the facility is located.
14. Parasyte
Parasyte is a fantastic anime to watch, and if you’re a fan of Psycho-Pass and haven’t watched it yet, now might be a good opportunity.
It’s important to note that Parasyte doesn’t primarily focus on mystery like Psycho-Pass, although it shares some similar themes.
But the real reason we recommend it is that it tells a story filled with drama and suspense, with tension comparable to that found in Psycho-Pass, even though the two series start from entirely different premises.
In this thrilling anime, Shinichi Izumi, a high school student, becomes a host to a parasitic alien called Migi, who fails to take over Shinichi’s brain, ending up in his right hand.
Now, they are forced to rely on each other and defend themselves against other hostile parasites seeking to eliminate their species.
13. Steins;Gate
Steins;Gate and Psycho-Pass are essentially counterparts. Both excel in mystery and Sci-Fi, offering a compelling mix of tension and twists, but they are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
Steins;Gate places a greater emphasis on the Sci-Fi while Psycho-Pass leans more towards the mystery.
At the core of this series lies the concept of time travel, following the journey of the eccentric scientist Rintaro Okabe and his circle of friends who stumble upon the ability to send text messages into the past.
But their experiments attract the attention of the enigmatic organization SERN, placing them in grave danger.
With a well-crafted romance between Rintaro and his love interest Kurisu Makise, Steins;Gate delves into the theme of sacrifice as Rintaro navigates the challenges of saving those he holds dear while risking his own sanity.
12. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
If you enjoyed the futuristic and dystopian setting of Psycho-Pass with a focus on the underworld and suspense, we highly recommend Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.
This is because both series unabashedly stand out as among the best in this genre that have been released in recent years.
As a prequel to the game Cyberpunk 2077, this anime follows the story of David Martinez.
In Night City, a futuristic metropolis, David attends Arasaka Academy to fulfill his mother’s dream of reaching the top of the world’s leading security corporation.
But things changed when a street gang incident left him devastated.
He then implanted Sandevistan cyberware for superhuman speed and strength, to get revenge on his enemies.
Witness his journey as he fights to survive the dangerous, corrupt system while never backing down from any fight.
11. Eden of the East
Eden of the East and Psycho-Pass are made by the same producers, so it’s evident why they share similar themes and genres.
Both anime explore the meaning of the human conscience and delve into how individuals with the potential to influence society act when given the power to do so, placing a strong emphasis on morality.
The key difference lies in the settings: Eden of the East explores these themes in a modern setting, while Psycho-Pass does so in a futuristic world.
In the year 2010, Japan faced a devastating terrorist attack as 10 missiles rain down on the country. The enigmatic figure behind this act, known as Zero, remains shrouded in mystery.
Three months later, Misaki Mori, a young Japanese student traveling to the United States capital, finds herself entangled in a strange incident.
Fortunately, she’s rescued by Akira Takizawa, a fellow Japanese man suffering from amnesia.
Upon returning to Japan, another missile strikes the country, and a perplexing message reaches Takizawa’s cellphone: he’s tasked with delivering 8.2 billion yen.
What does this mean?
10. Top Secret: The Revelation
Top Secret is an anime with incredibly similar premises to Psycho-Pass, almost identical. Both are detective/investigative anime with a Sci-Fi component related to people’s minds to solve cases.
Despite these significant similarities, we’ve placed it in the middle of the ranking due to its execution, which, unfortunately, is not as strong as that of “Psycho-Pass, which consistently maintains a very high standard.
The story is set in 2050 where a powerful technology has been developed. This technology can open the way to the mind of a serial killer because it allows viewing the memories of a dead person’s brain.
This method is used by the investigators of the National Research Institute of Police Science’s 9th Forensics Laboratory.
This poses them with a situation where they have to constantly face moral dilemmas and try not to sink into insanity by being too exposed to dead people’s memories.
9. Monster
Monster has a completely different premise and plot compared to Psycho-Pass, but it’s still an anime that can’t miss from this list for one simple reason: it’s one of the best mystery/crime anime ever.
So if you are a fan of Psycho-Pass, it’s a series you can’t afford to miss.
The story follows Kenzo Tenma, a renowned surgeon. One day he decides to rebel against his boss, saving a child from a fatal wound instead of the mayor of Düsseldorf, the city where the hospital is located.
Time will prove Dr. Tenma wrong as he realizes that the child he saved, Johan Liebert, has become over time a serial killer who continues to claim lives.
It will then be up to him to investigate to get to the bottom of it and stop Johan, to make up for his mistake.
8. Darker than Black
Darker Than Black is a series with a different plot compared to Psycho-Pass, but it’s one that you might enjoy because of its similar vibes and mood.
Both series take place in the future and revolve around the concept of individuals with anomalies working for organizations to defeat others with similar anomalies.
After the appearance of Hell’s Gate, an area where the laws of physics don’t apply, powerful individuals called Contractors started appearing around the world.
The protagonist is Hei, a famous contractor also called Black Reaper, known and feared for his cold and dangerous attitude.
7. Akira
While it might seem that Psycho-Pass and Akira are totally different, there are valid reasons for including Akira on this list.
Both series, in different ways, address the theme of the degradation of society and portray futuristic, dystopian settings, answering the question “What happens when the world falls apart?”.
If you’re interested in exploring another perspective on a similar premise but with a different approach than Psycho-Pass, Akira might be a perfect choice.
In the ’80s, the city of Tokyo has been destroyed by a boy with mysterious psychic powers, and the government is forced to take him into custody as World War III rages on.
In 2019 the Japanese capital was rebuilt into a new city called Neo-Tokyo and it is riddled with crime, violence and acts of terrorism.
Tetsuo Shima, a member of a criminal gang is starting to develop weird abilities after a mysterious encounter so the government seeks to capture him to prevent another apocalypse.
6. Terror in Resonance
Terror in Resonance may lack the futuristic and Sci-Fi themes of Psycho-Pass, but it is still a perfect choice.
This is because it’s an anime with a crime and suspense component that challenges the viewer’s morality to the limits, which will keep you engaged from the first to the last episode.
Tokyo falls under attack by a mysterious group known as Sphinx, which plants explosive devices throughout the city and presents riddles via the Internet, challenging the police to solve them before the bombs detonate.
But who are these Sphinx, why do they act this way, and will the police be able to keep them at bay?
5. Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop, besides being one of the best anime ever in general, is also a perfect series to watch if you are a fan of Psycho-Pass.
Both are Sci-Fi anime set in the future with mystery elements, but what really unites these two series is that they feature protagonists labeled as anti-heroes with difficult pasts, facing very similar villains.
Set in a not-too-distant future where inter-spatial travel is the norm and Mars is a vital part of human life, the show follows a group of bounty hunters, or cowboys, as they chase down intergalactic outlaws.
Meet Spike Spiegel, a bounty hunter, in the year 2071, and witness Spike’s many talents and abilities in hand-to-hand combat and martial arts, garnering a reputation as one of the strongest fighters in the universe.
He chases criminals with his partner, Jet Black, and together they team up with a con artist, a child hacker, and a Welsh Corgi to form a bizarre family.
But when an old enemy comes back into Spike’s life, he must now choose between his past and his newfound family.
4. ID: Invaded
ID: Invaded is a great anime to watch after Psycho-Pass, as both series share incredibly similar themes and plots.
They are both mystery/crime-oriented series with the twist of dubious technology to enter the minds of criminals and expose them.
Without a doubt, if you are a fan of Psycho-Pass, you will likely enjoy ID: Invaded as well.
The story revolves around the Mizuhanome System, a groundbreaking technology that allows detectives to enter the minds of criminals and uncover their darkest secrets.
The protagonist is Sakaido, a former detective who committed murder and becomes the perfect candidate to enter the id wells and solve cases, as he is well-known due to his exceptional detective skills.
But as he dives deeper into the criminal’s minds, he realizes that there’s more than meets the eye with these cases.
3. Death Note
Death Note is another must-watch anime for fans of Psycho-Pass, even though it focuses on supernatural themes rather than the Sci-Fi elements present in the latter.
This is because Death Note is one of the best crime/mystery anime ever created, with a plot that like the one of Psycho-Pass, will continually challenge your morality.
The story revolves around Light Yagami, a model student who is disillusioned with the world.
One day, he discovers a mysterious notebook, the Death Note, which has the power to cause the death of anyone whose name is written in it with the help of Ryuk, a shinigami.
Light begins using the notebook to kill criminals to purge the world of evil, but he soon finds himself facing off against L, the world’s greatest private investigator, who is determined to stop him.
2. Ergo Proxy
Ergo Proxy is an anime that bears a striking similarity to Psycho-Pass, and there’s an explanation for this: both are inspired by Ghost in the Shell, the anime at the top of this list.
In both Ergo Proxy and Psycho-Pass, the setting is a futuristic, dystopian cyber world where crime is rampant, and it is combated using advanced technology of dubious morality.
In essence, if you enjoyed one, there’s no doubt that you’ll appreciate the other as well.
The story is set in a post-apocalyptic future where survivors live under a dome city called Romdo, to get shelter from the lethal and toxic climate.
To help with mankind’s recovery, AutoReivs, humanoid-like robots, have been created to assist people in their day-to-day lives.
But these automatons have begun contracting an enigmatic disease called the Cogito Virus which grants them self-awareness.
1. Ghost In The Shell
Ghost in the Shell undeniably deserves its place at the top of this list for a simple but significant reason: it is the series that inspired Psycho-Pass, and the influence is clear.
Both anime are detective/mystery series set in the future within dystopian societies, featuring strong moral, philosophical, and psychological themes.
Ghost in the Shell is the progenitor of Psycho-Pass and other anime on this list, so it’s normal for us to consider it the GOAT.
This movie follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, a member of Public Security Section 9, in the year 2029, and an incredibly skilled agent and fighter.
She is tasked with investigating a case involving a powerful hacker, the Puppet Master, who leaves victims without memories. But as she delves deeper into the case, things get more complicated with other factions getting involved.
Along the way, Motoko is forced to confront some deep philosophical questions about her existence. As she learns more about the Puppet Master, she realizes that they hold the answers she’s been searching for.
Passionate about Japanese culture for years, serial devourer of manga, anime, and videogames that have now become part of my routine.
My favorite series? Goodnight Punpun and One Piece.
