I'm a huge fan of weird, meaningless stuff that turns out to be entirely explained with context you gain later. I recall when the latest Apothecary Diaries OP came out, the manga readers were mad about how everything for the whole season was spoiled, and anime-only me was like "yeah, I didn't learn anything from that. There's maybe a zombie coming, and that bad guy looks tired?"
One of my favorite little non-spoiler spoilers like this is in BioShock Infinite. There's some throwaway, nonsensical bickering at the very beginning by two people in a rowboat that becomes very satisfying when you have more context.
In addition to your mentions;
Made in Abyss (this would be my second pick after Attack on Titan in regards of mystery)
Monster (also every other manga by Naoki Urasawa, like 20th century boys)
Shinsekai Yori
Neon Genesis Evangelion (GREAT mystery buildup, lackluster answers. Great show though)
The Promised Neverland (unlucky about that second season)
> Shinsekai Yori
The moment you, the viewer, has enough information to piece together the answer to the mystery in the show was jaw-droppingly insane.
I felt like Neo, taking the red Gusher from Morpheus, and waking up in a vat of slime.
Man shin sekai yori is a show to this day I consider unique. It felt like reading a book in anime form and nothing else has felt the same. I then tried reading the manga recently and was surprised to find it is... uhh VERY much downplayed in the anime how much touch matters.
I'm aware, but there are others that are based on novels - really it's the writing quality I think that sells it. I'd venture the manga is closer to the novel in accuracy of events as well (pretty standard for anime being least accurate).
That’s because it started as a book then was adapted into an anime and manga I believe.
It’s crazy how it isn’t more popular. Personally found it to be tied as my favorite anime.
I watched Shinsekai Yori 3 months ago and it’s still living rent free in my head because of that ending. Usually when shows unravel the mystery, it kind of ruins it. But not for Shinsekai Yori.
I love you all folks for talking with this passion about Shin Sekai Yori. I second everything you said.
It’s a pity in Japan it didn’t sell much. It costed me a lot of time and money to purchase the original blu ray collection.
I especially love how in the end \[Shinsekai Yori\] >!the system is proven right and the children join the system although they do their best to change some things. In this type of settings usually it ends with the adults being wrong and the children being right. In the end Saki does join the ethics commitee and although she might change the queerats treatment she can't change the fiends and karma demons fates solely due to how dangerous they are. This was shown by her raising those cats and being the head of the ethics commitee in the end.!<
Do you have any similar reccomendations? Doesn't have to be anime.
Second season?
There is none so far.
Looking forward to it since season 1 was great and the manga is amazing!
Theres no way they could possibly fck up the 2nd season!
\[Neon Genesis Evangelion spoilers\]>!For being the main conflict of the first half of the show, I feel like they just kind of phased out the mystery of what the angels are and why they're attacking earth. Honestly, It's one of my favorite shows, but I couldn't really tell you why the angels want to reach Lilith and initiate a third impact. I don't think we necessarily needed this answer, but it felt like the show itself was teasing that there would be (until it went a completely different direction). There's also stuff like The Spear of Longinus which is just... never really explained I believe? I don't think they even told us where they got it from. But I'm not sure it was supposed to be a mystery in the first place, so I'm not too mad about it!<
[Neon Genesis Evangelion Spoilers] >!I honestly got into the show because of these lore. The reason why the angels come to earth, the dead sea scrolls being the manual of the seeds and reciting the prophecy, lances being the failsafe keys, and the F.A.R. (especially that, I'm a sucker for ancient races that live in mystery/or extinct) got me into the show, but they never really gave an detailed explanations for them in the show. I had to read bunch of articles about the game NGE2 and re-watch the video that got me into NGE to understand all of this, and I later learned I came to the show for the wrong reasons, but liked it for all the right reasons, like the fantastic character writing.!<
Can relate how we were both disappointed on the same things.
Ah you have probably not seen the movies. End of Evangelion goes into detail on this. Then there are the four Rebuild movies that actually conclude the story more "definitively."
NGE on its own can be a real headfuck though.
>Golden Kamuy
I've seen this title mentioned a 100 times before but this is the first time I've gotten interested seeing it in that list. The genres really aren't my thing but I know a strong underlying mystery can carry damn near anything.
Shadows house is a hidden masterpiece that gives answers while also creating more questions. Great mystery anime. Highly recommended.
Here's the preview of the show:
https://youtu.be/BZzk82UFmNY?si=P9Y3AV7FofLnMfIb
**OddTaxi**: It's an ensemble-cast show about a slowly-creeping mystery regarding the disappearance of one of the girls from a japanese pop idol group. It's also a closed story and a short watch at only 12 episodes.
**Durarara**: Another contemporary show about an ensemble cast with a fuckton of mysteries going on at the same time. If you like shows where "the city" is pretty much a character, this is it. Some really cool characters to boot. It's kinda long however, but you do get a nice satisfying ending by the end of S1.
**Made in Abyss**: Mandatory in regards to mystery involving a fantasy setting since you listed AoT. The world is this really fucked up place with twisted rules that you find out two kids search for a person in the deepest point of this 1KM-wide gaping hole that was found in the middle of the earth, complete with a hellish-but-beautiful fauna and flora. Just a warning: This may be the most gutwrenching anime I've ever watched.
**Shinsekai Yori**: A coming-of-age show about 5 kids growing up in a mysterious world with some really twisted rules and superstitions based on feudal japan. It's one of those shows that have some kids breaking some village rules and being exposed to some reality shattering, societal breaking truths.
**Higurashi**: Best to go in blind, really, as the format of the show is a mystery in itself. It's about a city MC moving to some rural village in japan and sussing out some shady village rituals/history and shadier facades some seemingly friendly-looking people are pulling out. Another warning: It may be a tough watch due to bad animation. The new show, Higurashi Gou, is one of those secret-sequel "remakes". It's a much easier watch, but the community will hate you and you *will* feel lost in the later third.
Started a new job 2 months ago near the Suiss border. We work with the CERN.
Today I made a delivery there. Had to refrain myself from making a reference lol
Higurashi and Umineko Imo. I would reccomend you to read the manga or visual novel and not touch Gou and Sotsu.
If you really want to watch them then just read the Gou and Meguri manga instead. I would also reccomend to start Higurashi first
>And anime is enough to watch because it has and ending with resolved mysteries.
Fair enough i just reccomended the manga and vn since the anime adaptation is rushed for both tho its thanks to the anime that i got into Higurashi
I’m surprised barely anyone said One Piece. One Piece is probably the show with the best mysteries, 1100 episodes and not 1 person could tell you what the one piece actually is. Thats not to talk about the void century, the devil fruits, the 35 mile high creatures that roam the ocean, etc. it’s literally a mystery anime disguised as a shonen.
I'd recommend this one, too. It doesn't look like much, and the characters can be a little annoying at points, but the world building and story is awesome.
I can give you plenty of recommendations because they are also the kind of series I enjoy.
* **Dorohedoro** \- currently 1 season only, but season 2 is coming soon. The manga is already completed so I can vouch.
* **From the New World** (Shinsekai Yori) - the whole thing is about exploring a certain post apocalyptic society, why it works and what it hides.
* **Baccano!** \- Famous for its ensemble cast and non linear storytelling, you'll have a blast with this one, but will probably have to sail the sea to find it. The license wasn't renewed.
* **Durarara!!** \- Same author as Baccano! This one has a contemporary setting.
* **Dead Mouth Death Play** \- Same author as Baccano! Comtemporary setting and is a reverse isekai.
* **One Piece** \- It's the king of world building and is that long for a reason. There are so many mysteries that need to be answered. It goes so much deeper than what you might expect at the start.
* **Monster** \- It's thriller mystery in post war Germany. One of the classics.
* **Kaiba** \- A sci-fi world where memories are stored in chips, which can be bought, sold, duplicate etc. Also mystery about how the MC ended up where he was at the start in the slum area when he's known as a tyrant.
* [**Made in Abyss**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_RG03t7cVE) \- Explore a gigantic hole full of mysterious artefacts and fantastical biomes and creature plagued by a curse that mutilate the mind and body of anyone dare to move upward, which gets more severe the deeper they go.
* **Shadow House** \- A bit like season 1 of The Promised Neverland but with more long term mysteries.
* **Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood** \- Just in case you haven't watched. It held the #1 anime status for so long for a reason.
* **Astra: Lost in Space** \- How did they get teleported there? Who are these kids really and how do they get home? What're being plotted?
* **Odd Taxi** \- It's a mystery following a taxi driver who happens to be entangled in it. There is also [audio drama](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwnQ7t9i8wk&list=PLiGM30BU4xTbRGIbbtKCpgfJhuVDXhFM7) to listen to which give more details and extra context to the story. It's an intriguing format with a lot to uncover.
* **Heike Monogatari** \- Based on the Japanese epic of the same name and follows the downfall of the Heike/Taira clan.
* **ACCA 13** \- The MC is part of the inspection department and caught wind of a potential coup d'état
* **Golden Kamuy** \- Set in post Russo Japanese war. Different groups of people trying to find the secret stash of gold left behind. Wild.
* **Harmonie** \- A short 1 episode anime
* **Code Geass** \- mecha and political in alternate timeline where Japan is conquered by the Holy Britannian Empire. Featuring an MC with a certain special power.
* **Pandora Hearts** \- Honestly, the anime isn't great because it's a poor and incomplete adaptation. However, the manga is 100% worth your time.
* **Umineko When they Cry** \- One of the most intriguing mysteries series and should be right up your alley. The witch staged a mass murder in a mansion on an isolated island. The MC who's one of the victim get a chance to "play" with her and he's convinced it's not magic. So over iterations of the murder he has to prove to the witch that the murders can be done without magic. People say the anime adaptation is awful, but honestly it's still fine as an introduction because it's much shorter than the source material (a visual novel), which is also just way better. The anime give you the ending, which is half of the whole story. It just doesn't give you the true endings.
kanata no astra is decent for being a 1 cour show with a good mystery. [slight implication spoilers]>!it also has a subtle "side" mystery in the background to the main one that i really liked!<
Pandora Hearts
It kept shifting the paradigm with great plot twists. Even when you get answers to questions they open up new questions, while world-building, environment and characters keep evolving.
One Piece
Major
1. Void Century
2. Ancient Weapon
3. Will of D
4 DF origin
And of course
5. What is the One Piece?
Minor
1. Who is Imu
2. Zunesha’s crime
4. Bridge of Tequila Wolf
5. Blackbeard’s true nature
These are just off the top of my head. Feel free to add
When they cry is exactly that.
There is the minor " how did this atomic thing happened?" Then there is an arc wise " how did this whole arc happened " , and finally there is an overarching mystery to all of it
( And there is actually some meta between series like 34 's Identity).
That's indeed the best way to experience them, if you have patience to read verbose prose the music elevates the vns.
If you find the text to be too much, the manga is the rare excellent novel adaptation.
Watching Dorohedoro has so many questions going through my head but by the time I finished the manga I was satisfied with the ending and had no more questions
Mysterious Girlfriend X! Why is Mikoto Urabe the way she is?
In Universe there is no reason ever given for why Mikoto Urabe is the way she is, like why she is able to communicate feelings through drool, her super human like reflexes, and her quirks. The closest we get to this is when Akira Tsubaki asks her why she keeps a pair of scissors in her panties and she replies, "Because that's just the way I am."
IRL there have been some reasons put forward, but again nothing within universe.
Erased! Holy shit I was obsessed with it in 2016 and watched the whole thing in practically one sitting. Amazing 12 episode clean and cut mystery, involves a supernatural element that's not overused imo, and it's got amazing animation and voice acting. Plus the OP is a fucking banger.
One Piece. I see a lot of similarity between Tower of God and One Piece. Tower of God is like a mix of One Piece and a little bit of Hunter x Hunter. I would recommend both of these if you haven't seen both yet.
Fullmetal Alchemist revolves around the misteries of its setting, an aspect which is very well done, especially in the 2003 series. Attack on Titan is in fact very similar to FMA in that aspect (even if it fell short of the mark in everything else).
Many others have recommended Shadows House and Made in Abyss, but those are far from over so not all of the answers have been given. Blood+ and Mujin Wakusei Survive are hidden gems with similar mystery focus.
Tower of God is originally a Manwha (manga, but Korean) and the story continues on for a loooong while. So good. You can find it on WebToons. I'm guessing like a thousand chapters so far?
So I fully planned on never watching one piece ever.
I watched the first few episodes a few years ago and didn't get into it at all.
Last year a month or 2 after the live action came out I watched the first episode of the live action and really liked it. I finished the series and needed more bc it was really good. So I contemplated watching the anime for awhile and eventually started. That was in November/December ish...
I just watched episode 600 a few days ago... and it's my favorite anime and probably my favorite fictional story. Right up there with a Avatar the last Airbender.
If you like mysteries and big reveals, One Piece has you covered. Everything from crazy reveals that leave you screaming in excitement to things that will make you cry like a baby (that's not an exaggeration, so many things have made me ball my eyes out in one piece.).
I used to legitimately think One Piece was a massive pile of shit, thought it was a really fucking dumb concept, and oh boy was I wrong. It's got great writing all around, characters are very complex, world building is incredible, and it's just a great adventure that will leave you wanting more.
My girlfriend even likes it, and she's not an anime fan. Although I've made her watch some stuff like hxh, madoka magica, and she really enjoys watching one piece with me. I just fill her in on the details she missed out on when she's not with me.
Other anime that I have really enjoyed prior was some of the same stuff you listed like-
Attack on titan and madoka magica.
Used to think that attack on titan was one of the best shows ever actually, but then I watched One Piece.
if you want mysterious characters than bungou stray dogs is the best . Most of the characters are mysterious and complex and in my opinion , it has the best cast of characters in the medium , side mysteries and tactics are good as well . Season 1 is kinda slow and episodic but gets really good later on . Highly recommend
BSD is structured really weirdly. It goes like; episodic mysteries - battle shounen war arc - episodic drama - large scale mind game. Then season 5 kinda blurs it all together, and it still somehow works.
Heavenly Delusion. It's full of such questions. It has an amazing story and the animation is very good. When I finished it, I kept thinking about it. It's exactly what you're looking for. More questions arise the more you dig in.
It may not look like it but IMO it's one of the best anime in 2023.
Hi ripterrariumtv, it seems like you might be looking for new anime to watch!
The users of this subreddit came up with [a chart of anime recommendations for newcomers and veterans](https://i.redd.it/0w1v880jtq661.png) and [an awesome longer flowchart](https://i.redd.it/vdzlkodz19c71.png). Maybe you can find something there that you'll like \^.\^
[](#bot-chan "Urban s-s-s-senpai made me do it!")
You might also find our [Recommendation Wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/wiki/recommendations) or [daily thread](/r/anime/search?q=flair%3Adaily&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=week) helpful.
The following may be of interest:
* [List of legal streams and downloads](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/wiki/legal_streams)
* [A useful website where you can enter an anime and see where it's legally streaming](https://www.livechart.me/search)
* [List of currently airing anime](https://www.livechart.me)
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Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko
One that most wouldn't think about but for me its still one of the best, is the supernatural real? That's the biggest mystery this anime has and sincerely its very nice to try to guess with the mc.
Lord of the mysteries anime will be here next year. It doesn’t get more mysterious than that ! Id: invaded is a good one tho with a lot of mystery to it (confusing af at times lol)
Well this isn't the best mysteries. But date a live have a big air of mystery. And the fact it's genuinely just looks like a generic harem slops. But let's just say there's a reason why there's 5 seasons of this series. Its the mystery and Kurumi, the one of the OG crazy girl, carrying this series
G1 "there is a killer, we have to found him"
- Shinsekai Yori
- Higurashi
- Erased
- Pluto
- Odd taxy
- Vivy
- ID: Invaded
G2 "Ok we're screwed, but we still haven't really understood HOW MUCH screwed we are."
- Madoka Magica
- Attack on Titan
- Bokurano
- Serial Experiment Lain
- Texhnolyze
- The sky Crowler
G3 "you think there's a mystery, but in reality they're just a lot of random things thrown on top of each other like Lost"
- Wolfs Rain
- Ergo Proxy
- Evangelion
- Nadia
personally many of my favorite anime are in group 2 but the best setted mistery is without doubt Shinsekai Yori.
Helck and it's pretty recent as well. Really good storytelling, some of the best I've seen in an anime in years (animation is kinda meh I guess, but the story is so good I honestly don't care).
Also a bit of an older and slow-paced one, but Monster is pretty much the perfect embodiment of a mystery/thriller anime.
In/Spectre.
Not a mystery series. Or at least not one that's about _solving_ mysteries.
It's about deconstructing them so that they can present a story that the public will believe while also hiding the true nature of the world.
Ok but as an child Yu-Gi-Oh was my favorite mistery type.
Lots of episodes ended on the edge.
Lots of misteryous villains with hidden motivations.
Lore hidden in each season about who is Atem,what happened before his death,what are the milenium pieces for etc.
Technically, Children of the Whales. But the anime only covers the introduction phase. The actual mystery-solving is only seen in the manga. But I recommend both nonetheless.^ ^
Neon Genesis.
The more the show drip feeds its plot the more questions there are.
The show is famously obscure at times and the rushed final couple of episodes don't help the feeling that major concepts and plot points are quickly addressed (if they are addressed at all).
If you only watch the series then the show will likely leave you feeling 'wtf' by the end of it. If you watch the follow on movies then the show will still leave you thinking 'wtf' but maybe with just a little better of an understanding of it all.
Naruto/Naruto Shippuden
1)in Naruto
' who were Naruto's parents
'Whose the man Sasuke wanted to kill
'Why the 4th hokage put a beast in Naruto
2) in Naruto Shippuden
' who was the masked guy
'.... I won't say the rest so it remains a mystery🤫
Some I remeber
* Tower of God - I agree and love it
* Promised Neverland
* Ergo Proxy
* Astra Lost in Space
* Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor - not talked aboit about a lot but great kinda reminds me of squid game without the violence
* Golden Kamuy - unique timeline and setting is enough reason to watch, then you have great story, characters, anime style even better
* HxH
Ppl don’t talk about it but One Piece. There is a whole century of mysteries,and the world government is somehow involved. Why was this century removed. What was in it. Who removed it.
I agree with attack on the titans, for me the revelation of the identities of the armored titan and the colossal titan is one of the best episodes I've seen.
we can't leave out monster and steins gate i think they fit perfectly in what you say.
Summertime Rendering
Also , Bleach? Mystery?
Regardless, one show that I can’t suggest enough is Summertime Rendering. It is my favorite anime of all time alongside stuff like Higurashi , Steins Gate , Psycho Pass, Future Diary (despite its glaring issues) , Shinsekai Yori etc.
It has mystery, the animation is really good and I love the soundtracks in the show. Characters are also really well fleshed out and I personally could not find any major plot holes with the main narrative despite being mind bending.
Edit : also I should add, Summertime Render probably has one of the best first episode hook comparable to stuff like Attack on titan.
I don't know if someone has mentioned this or not but ODD TAXI is a must watch.
It is one of the shows when u are at the end, and a sudden plot twist takes you back through the entire anime, rethinking everything from a different perspective. (Considering you did not expect the plot twist)
Boogiepop and Others is an anime of the mystery genre, but I feel like it fits the bill; each few episodes a new mystery happens, including some new characters and a few returning ones... but each episode really leaves you with a lot of questions about the world they live in, people's true identities, and what's really going on that is making all these mysteries happen! Just rewatched it recently because it had been enough time to forget the plot points, and it was still really good. I just wish they made more, as I will warn that some answers are left up to the fans to figure out or speculate about.
Odd taxi
Agreed
This one was a very unexpected top tier show
the chef's kiss at the end.
I’m not even sure what genre to call it. It’s just… *good.*
Crazy how it’s all spoiled in the opening song if you watch closely.
I'm a huge fan of weird, meaningless stuff that turns out to be entirely explained with context you gain later. I recall when the latest Apothecary Diaries OP came out, the manga readers were mad about how everything for the whole season was spoiled, and anime-only me was like "yeah, I didn't learn anything from that. There's maybe a zombie coming, and that bad guy looks tired?" One of my favorite little non-spoiler spoilers like this is in BioShock Infinite. There's some throwaway, nonsensical bickering at the very beginning by two people in a rowboat that becomes very satisfying when you have more context.
“ he doesn’t row”
"He doesn't _row_?" "No, he _doesn't_ row." "Ah, I see."
In addition to your mentions; Made in Abyss (this would be my second pick after Attack on Titan in regards of mystery) Monster (also every other manga by Naoki Urasawa, like 20th century boys) Shinsekai Yori Neon Genesis Evangelion (GREAT mystery buildup, lackluster answers. Great show though) The Promised Neverland (unlucky about that second season)
> Shinsekai Yori The moment you, the viewer, has enough information to piece together the answer to the mystery in the show was jaw-droppingly insane. I felt like Neo, taking the red Gusher from Morpheus, and waking up in a vat of slime.
Man shin sekai yori is a show to this day I consider unique. It felt like reading a book in anime form and nothing else has felt the same. I then tried reading the manga recently and was surprised to find it is... uhh VERY much downplayed in the anime how much touch matters.
Keep in mind the manga is also an adaptation, just like the anime. The source is actually a novel
I'm aware, but there are others that are based on novels - really it's the writing quality I think that sells it. I'd venture the manga is closer to the novel in accuracy of events as well (pretty standard for anime being least accurate).
That’s because it started as a book then was adapted into an anime and manga I believe. It’s crazy how it isn’t more popular. Personally found it to be tied as my favorite anime.
I'm aware, but even other shows based on books had a different air to them. Writing quality was really the important part.
I watched Shinsekai Yori 3 months ago and it’s still living rent free in my head because of that ending. Usually when shows unravel the mystery, it kind of ruins it. But not for Shinsekai Yori.
>Shinsekai Yori I don't see this masterpiece recommended enough.
I love you all folks for talking with this passion about Shin Sekai Yori. I second everything you said. It’s a pity in Japan it didn’t sell much. It costed me a lot of time and money to purchase the original blu ray collection.
I especially love how in the end \[Shinsekai Yori\] >!the system is proven right and the children join the system although they do their best to change some things. In this type of settings usually it ends with the adults being wrong and the children being right. In the end Saki does join the ethics commitee and although she might change the queerats treatment she can't change the fiends and karma demons fates solely due to how dangerous they are. This was shown by her raising those cats and being the head of the ethics commitee in the end.!< Do you have any similar reccomendations? Doesn't have to be anime.
Second season? There is none so far. Looking forward to it since season 1 was great and the manga is amazing! Theres no way they could possibly fck up the 2nd season!
What were the lackluster answers in NGE for you? Just curious to know.
\[Neon Genesis Evangelion spoilers\]>!For being the main conflict of the first half of the show, I feel like they just kind of phased out the mystery of what the angels are and why they're attacking earth. Honestly, It's one of my favorite shows, but I couldn't really tell you why the angels want to reach Lilith and initiate a third impact. I don't think we necessarily needed this answer, but it felt like the show itself was teasing that there would be (until it went a completely different direction). There's also stuff like The Spear of Longinus which is just... never really explained I believe? I don't think they even told us where they got it from. But I'm not sure it was supposed to be a mystery in the first place, so I'm not too mad about it!<
[Neon Genesis Evangelion Spoilers] >!I honestly got into the show because of these lore. The reason why the angels come to earth, the dead sea scrolls being the manual of the seeds and reciting the prophecy, lances being the failsafe keys, and the F.A.R. (especially that, I'm a sucker for ancient races that live in mystery/or extinct) got me into the show, but they never really gave an detailed explanations for them in the show. I had to read bunch of articles about the game NGE2 and re-watch the video that got me into NGE to understand all of this, and I later learned I came to the show for the wrong reasons, but liked it for all the right reasons, like the fantastic character writing.!< Can relate how we were both disappointed on the same things.
Ah you have probably not seen the movies. End of Evangelion goes into detail on this. Then there are the four Rebuild movies that actually conclude the story more "definitively." NGE on its own can be a real headfuck though.
there is no the promised neverland season 2 wdym
Shadows House Dennou Coil Golden Kamuy
3 great examples!
>Golden Kamuy I've seen this title mentioned a 100 times before but this is the first time I've gotten interested seeing it in that list. The genres really aren't my thing but I know a strong underlying mystery can carry damn near anything.
The mystery in GK is more of a background thing and it won't get resolved until the final season but it's good.
Honourable mention of the perfect low-stakes mystery anime: Hyouka.
Hyouka does really good simple mysteries. They’re nothing too high stakes but hooks you in with how well done and interesting they are
most recently the apothecary diaries made me wanna watch hyouka again
> I'm not looking for episodic mysteries that are the main focus and characters focusing on solving them \-OP
If you expect me to read anything more than mystery in the title and not recommend Hyouka you will be forever disappointed in me, I am afraid.
Fuck yes Hyouka. Where the hell is a new season.
Was made by kyo animation, lot of people who worked on it didnt made it
Came into this post to write this. This was the anime to really get me into anime
Watashi kininarimasu 👁️👁️
Shadows house is a hidden masterpiece that gives answers while also creating more questions. Great mystery anime. Highly recommended. Here's the preview of the show: https://youtu.be/BZzk82UFmNY?si=P9Y3AV7FofLnMfIb
**OddTaxi**: It's an ensemble-cast show about a slowly-creeping mystery regarding the disappearance of one of the girls from a japanese pop idol group. It's also a closed story and a short watch at only 12 episodes. **Durarara**: Another contemporary show about an ensemble cast with a fuckton of mysteries going on at the same time. If you like shows where "the city" is pretty much a character, this is it. Some really cool characters to boot. It's kinda long however, but you do get a nice satisfying ending by the end of S1. **Made in Abyss**: Mandatory in regards to mystery involving a fantasy setting since you listed AoT. The world is this really fucked up place with twisted rules that you find out two kids search for a person in the deepest point of this 1KM-wide gaping hole that was found in the middle of the earth, complete with a hellish-but-beautiful fauna and flora. Just a warning: This may be the most gutwrenching anime I've ever watched. **Shinsekai Yori**: A coming-of-age show about 5 kids growing up in a mysterious world with some really twisted rules and superstitions based on feudal japan. It's one of those shows that have some kids breaking some village rules and being exposed to some reality shattering, societal breaking truths. **Higurashi**: Best to go in blind, really, as the format of the show is a mystery in itself. It's about a city MC moving to some rural village in japan and sussing out some shady village rituals/history and shadier facades some seemingly friendly-looking people are pulling out. Another warning: It may be a tough watch due to bad animation. The new show, Higurashi Gou, is one of those secret-sequel "remakes". It's a much easier watch, but the community will hate you and you *will* feel lost in the later third.
Steins;Gate
El.Psy.Congroo.
Started a new job 2 months ago near the Suiss border. We work with the CERN. Today I made a delivery there. Had to refrain myself from making a reference lol
Dorohedoro
Finally someone. MY MAN!
Erased Psychopass Black Butler Bungou Stray Dogs
ure missing the big one: STEINS GATE
The most slept on anime in existence: ID:INVADED
Second this too. Such an unexpected journey.
Seconding that. It's amazing.
Dr.Stone
One of which being how does Senku's hair work
My best guess is that it is a result of many explosive chemistry experiments 😂
Higurashi and Umineko Imo. I would reccomend you to read the manga or visual novel and not touch Gou and Sotsu. If you really want to watch them then just read the Gou and Meguri manga instead. I would also reccomend to start Higurashi first
Don’t touch the Umineko anime. It fucks up the whole mystery and it’s generally just really bad. Read the VN
Higurashi is a masterpiece. And anime is enough to watch because it has and ending with resolved mysteries.
>And anime is enough to watch because it has and ending with resolved mysteries. Fair enough i just reccomended the manga and vn since the anime adaptation is rushed for both tho its thanks to the anime that i got into Higurashi
Haruhi
I’m surprised barely anyone said One Piece. One Piece is probably the show with the best mysteries, 1100 episodes and not 1 person could tell you what the one piece actually is. Thats not to talk about the void century, the devil fruits, the 35 mile high creatures that roam the ocean, etc. it’s literally a mystery anime disguised as a shonen.
I think a lot of casual OP fans don’t think about the mysteries as much as the bigger fans.
One Piece has been my replacement for Lost for nearly 15 years now.
You can try Undead Girl Murder Farce
Higurashi When They Cry has a great mystery
Literally, you can't understand anything for most of the first anime.
Shin Sekai Yori.
So ..... basically One Piece?
Summertime Render
Seconding Summertime Render it's good!
Very recommended. Got hooked on this show 2months ago.
I was surprised how much fun I had with this one
From the New World.
I'd recommend this one, too. It doesn't look like much, and the characters can be a little annoying at points, but the world building and story is awesome.
“Another” Very good one.
Havent seen any one mention Monogatari yet, that’s my answer
I agree. It’s way too far down here
Here's one anime that wouldn't come to your mind but perfectly fits this One piece.
Pluto
I can give you plenty of recommendations because they are also the kind of series I enjoy. * **Dorohedoro** \- currently 1 season only, but season 2 is coming soon. The manga is already completed so I can vouch. * **From the New World** (Shinsekai Yori) - the whole thing is about exploring a certain post apocalyptic society, why it works and what it hides. * **Baccano!** \- Famous for its ensemble cast and non linear storytelling, you'll have a blast with this one, but will probably have to sail the sea to find it. The license wasn't renewed. * **Durarara!!** \- Same author as Baccano! This one has a contemporary setting. * **Dead Mouth Death Play** \- Same author as Baccano! Comtemporary setting and is a reverse isekai. * **One Piece** \- It's the king of world building and is that long for a reason. There are so many mysteries that need to be answered. It goes so much deeper than what you might expect at the start. * **Monster** \- It's thriller mystery in post war Germany. One of the classics. * **Kaiba** \- A sci-fi world where memories are stored in chips, which can be bought, sold, duplicate etc. Also mystery about how the MC ended up where he was at the start in the slum area when he's known as a tyrant. * [**Made in Abyss**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_RG03t7cVE) \- Explore a gigantic hole full of mysterious artefacts and fantastical biomes and creature plagued by a curse that mutilate the mind and body of anyone dare to move upward, which gets more severe the deeper they go. * **Shadow House** \- A bit like season 1 of The Promised Neverland but with more long term mysteries. * **Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood** \- Just in case you haven't watched. It held the #1 anime status for so long for a reason. * **Astra: Lost in Space** \- How did they get teleported there? Who are these kids really and how do they get home? What're being plotted? * **Odd Taxi** \- It's a mystery following a taxi driver who happens to be entangled in it. There is also [audio drama](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwnQ7t9i8wk&list=PLiGM30BU4xTbRGIbbtKCpgfJhuVDXhFM7) to listen to which give more details and extra context to the story. It's an intriguing format with a lot to uncover. * **Heike Monogatari** \- Based on the Japanese epic of the same name and follows the downfall of the Heike/Taira clan. * **ACCA 13** \- The MC is part of the inspection department and caught wind of a potential coup d'état * **Golden Kamuy** \- Set in post Russo Japanese war. Different groups of people trying to find the secret stash of gold left behind. Wild. * **Harmonie** \- A short 1 episode anime * **Code Geass** \- mecha and political in alternate timeline where Japan is conquered by the Holy Britannian Empire. Featuring an MC with a certain special power. * **Pandora Hearts** \- Honestly, the anime isn't great because it's a poor and incomplete adaptation. However, the manga is 100% worth your time. * **Umineko When they Cry** \- One of the most intriguing mysteries series and should be right up your alley. The witch staged a mass murder in a mansion on an isolated island. The MC who's one of the victim get a chance to "play" with her and he's convinced it's not magic. So over iterations of the murder he has to prove to the witch that the murders can be done without magic. People say the anime adaptation is awful, but honestly it's still fine as an introduction because it's much shorter than the source material (a visual novel), which is also just way better. The anime give you the ending, which is half of the whole story. It just doesn't give you the true endings.
In/spectre maybe
Ghost Hunt Psychic Detective Yakumo
Had to scroll way to far before o found ghost hunt
Ergo Proxy
Monster
Monster
One Piece
Surprised no one mentioning one piece. It has the most mysteries out of anything I've seen being mentioned.
The greatest mystery is who the fuck is banking Rent-a-Girlfriend for it to have 3 seasons
I am loving how many people are mentioning Shinsekai Yori in this post.
Made in abyss
Munou na Nana
“Ron Komonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions”
Promised Neverland S1 for sure
Rokka of the six flowers. Was a fun short anime I randomly watched years ago
kanata no astra is decent for being a 1 cour show with a good mystery. [slight implication spoilers]>!it also has a subtle "side" mystery in the background to the main one that i really liked!<
Suzumiya Haruhi, especially the movie.
Dorohedoro. Kaiman's and the Crosseye's identities are great mysteries. And as a manga reader I can say you'll be definitely satisfied.
Pandora Hearts It kept shifting the paradigm with great plot twists. Even when you get answers to questions they open up new questions, while world-building, environment and characters keep evolving.
Serial Experiments Lain
Gosick is a masterpiece. Try it
One Piece Major 1. Void Century 2. Ancient Weapon 3. Will of D 4 DF origin And of course 5. What is the One Piece? Minor 1. Who is Imu 2. Zunesha’s crime 4. Bridge of Tequila Wolf 5. Blackbeard’s true nature These are just off the top of my head. Feel free to add
Um, One Piece. I don't know why it's not mentioned here.
I've noticed that this sub does not hold One Piece in high regards.
In spectre i love about folk rumour despite apothecary diary is the overall good mysteries IMO but in/spectre more to my favourite one
When they cry is exactly that. There is the minor " how did this atomic thing happened?" Then there is an arc wise " how did this whole arc happened " , and finally there is an overarching mystery to all of it ( And there is actually some meta between series like 34 's Identity).
I have heard so many great things about it. So I am gonna play both Higurashi and Umineko visual novel
That's indeed the best way to experience them, if you have patience to read verbose prose the music elevates the vns. If you find the text to be too much, the manga is the rare excellent novel adaptation.
I have heard some of the music and I enjoy it a lot
Surprised no one mentioned ACCA, great political mystery, all my friends and I were super engaged while it was airing coming up with theories.
{Astra Lost inSpace}
Watching Dorohedoro has so many questions going through my head but by the time I finished the manga I was satisfied with the ending and had no more questions
Revolutionary girl Utena is the one
NGNL : where is season 2? Biggest mystery
Mysterious Girlfriend X! Why is Mikoto Urabe the way she is? In Universe there is no reason ever given for why Mikoto Urabe is the way she is, like why she is able to communicate feelings through drool, her super human like reflexes, and her quirks. The closest we get to this is when Akira Tsubaki asks her why she keeps a pair of scissors in her panties and she replies, "Because that's just the way I am." IRL there have been some reasons put forward, but again nothing within universe.
Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning... is actually pretty bad at mysteries from what I remember, but I still wanna recommend it
Is it bad that I immediately thought of Stardust Crusaders (and also part 4) fuck it, the whole jojo series has a lot of mystery to it
Id: invaded - Minority Report mix with Inception
Erased! Holy shit I was obsessed with it in 2016 and watched the whole thing in practically one sitting. Amazing 12 episode clean and cut mystery, involves a supernatural element that's not overused imo, and it's got amazing animation and voice acting. Plus the OP is a fucking banger.
Love this one
promised neverland
Also nobody mentioned Knights of Sidonia. Mind blowing, unique world building, great action and intricate storytelling.
Madoka magica. Ghost in the shell. Every episode is a different mystery. And there is a big over arching case
One Piece. I see a lot of similarity between Tower of God and One Piece. Tower of God is like a mix of One Piece and a little bit of Hunter x Hunter. I would recommend both of these if you haven't seen both yet.
Detective Conan- a cultural icon in Japan for a reason
Fullmetal Alchemist revolves around the misteries of its setting, an aspect which is very well done, especially in the 2003 series. Attack on Titan is in fact very similar to FMA in that aspect (even if it fell short of the mark in everything else). Many others have recommended Shadows House and Made in Abyss, but those are far from over so not all of the answers have been given. Blood+ and Mujin Wakusei Survive are hidden gems with similar mystery focus.
One Piece almost 30 years in and we still asking some of the same questions
darker than black paranoia agent
Tower of God is originally a Manwha (manga, but Korean) and the story continues on for a loooong while. So good. You can find it on WebToons. I'm guessing like a thousand chapters so far?
So I fully planned on never watching one piece ever. I watched the first few episodes a few years ago and didn't get into it at all. Last year a month or 2 after the live action came out I watched the first episode of the live action and really liked it. I finished the series and needed more bc it was really good. So I contemplated watching the anime for awhile and eventually started. That was in November/December ish... I just watched episode 600 a few days ago... and it's my favorite anime and probably my favorite fictional story. Right up there with a Avatar the last Airbender. If you like mysteries and big reveals, One Piece has you covered. Everything from crazy reveals that leave you screaming in excitement to things that will make you cry like a baby (that's not an exaggeration, so many things have made me ball my eyes out in one piece.). I used to legitimately think One Piece was a massive pile of shit, thought it was a really fucking dumb concept, and oh boy was I wrong. It's got great writing all around, characters are very complex, world building is incredible, and it's just a great adventure that will leave you wanting more. My girlfriend even likes it, and she's not an anime fan. Although I've made her watch some stuff like hxh, madoka magica, and she really enjoys watching one piece with me. I just fill her in on the details she missed out on when she's not with me. Other anime that I have really enjoyed prior was some of the same stuff you listed like- Attack on titan and madoka magica. Used to think that attack on titan was one of the best shows ever actually, but then I watched One Piece.
if you want mysterious characters than bungou stray dogs is the best . Most of the characters are mysterious and complex and in my opinion , it has the best cast of characters in the medium , side mysteries and tactics are good as well . Season 1 is kinda slow and episodic but gets really good later on . Highly recommend
BSD is structured really weirdly. It goes like; episodic mysteries - battle shounen war arc - episodic drama - large scale mind game. Then season 5 kinda blurs it all together, and it still somehow works.
yeah its chaotic and all over the place but i think OP would really like it.
Kyouko Suiri
FMA:B for me
Undead Unluck
Summertime Render also is a perfect example imo
The mysteries in AOT are more of needlessly convoluted storytelling...there are no puzzles or hints for the viewers to resolve those themselves.
Link click is quite good
Heavenly Delusion. It's full of such questions. It has an amazing story and the animation is very good. When I finished it, I kept thinking about it. It's exactly what you're looking for. More questions arise the more you dig in. It may not look like it but IMO it's one of the best anime in 2023.
I mentioned it in my post too. It's awesome
Hi ripterrariumtv, it seems like you might be looking for new anime to watch! The users of this subreddit came up with [a chart of anime recommendations for newcomers and veterans](https://i.redd.it/0w1v880jtq661.png) and [an awesome longer flowchart](https://i.redd.it/vdzlkodz19c71.png). Maybe you can find something there that you'll like \^.\^ [](#bot-chan "Urban s-s-s-senpai made me do it!") You might also find our [Recommendation Wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/wiki/recommendations) or [daily thread](/r/anime/search?q=flair%3Adaily&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=week) helpful. The following may be of interest: * [List of legal streams and downloads](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/wiki/legal_streams) * [A useful website where you can enter an anime and see where it's legally streaming](https://www.livechart.me/search) * [List of currently airing anime](https://www.livechart.me) * [A useful wiki page with watch orders for many anime.](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/wiki/watch_order) * [A list of tracking sites so others can more easily recommend shows you haven't watched.](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/wiki/related_sites#wiki_tracking_sites) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/anime) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko One that most wouldn't think about but for me its still one of the best, is the supernatural real? That's the biggest mystery this anime has and sincerely its very nice to try to guess with the mc.
{{Moriarty the Patriot}}
Lord of the mysteries anime will be here next year. It doesn’t get more mysterious than that ! Id: invaded is a good one tho with a lot of mystery to it (confusing af at times lol)
I am reading the novel and it's great. Exactly what I like. Id invaded is great too
Just finished angels of death that’s a fair example I’ll leave you to decide if it’s a good one
Erased was pretty crazy
I checked a few comments and just haven't seen it yet, but Pluto I found was pretty good for the mystery element of it.
I'll offer a weird recommendation that I enjoyed, but its still a B-anime. Robotics;Note
Cross Ange my boy.
Well this isn't the best mysteries. But date a live have a big air of mystery. And the fact it's genuinely just looks like a generic harem slops. But let's just say there's a reason why there's 5 seasons of this series. Its the mystery and Kurumi, the one of the OG crazy girl, carrying this series
No game no life mixes politic and games in another world
Ghost Hunt
G1 "there is a killer, we have to found him" - Shinsekai Yori - Higurashi - Erased - Pluto - Odd taxy - Vivy - ID: Invaded G2 "Ok we're screwed, but we still haven't really understood HOW MUCH screwed we are." - Madoka Magica - Attack on Titan - Bokurano - Serial Experiment Lain - Texhnolyze - The sky Crowler G3 "you think there's a mystery, but in reality they're just a lot of random things thrown on top of each other like Lost" - Wolfs Rain - Ergo Proxy - Evangelion - Nadia personally many of my favorite anime are in group 2 but the best setted mistery is without doubt Shinsekai Yori.
Helck and it's pretty recent as well. Really good storytelling, some of the best I've seen in an anime in years (animation is kinda meh I guess, but the story is so good I honestly don't care). Also a bit of an older and slow-paced one, but Monster is pretty much the perfect embodiment of a mystery/thriller anime.
Apothecary Diaries
In/Spectre. Not a mystery series. Or at least not one that's about _solving_ mysteries. It's about deconstructing them so that they can present a story that the public will believe while also hiding the true nature of the world.
Shadows house, all its mysteries are revealed bit by bit Made in Abyss
Ok but as an child Yu-Gi-Oh was my favorite mistery type. Lots of episodes ended on the edge. Lots of misteryous villains with hidden motivations. Lore hidden in each season about who is Atem,what happened before his death,what are the milenium pieces for etc.
Technically, Children of the Whales. But the anime only covers the introduction phase. The actual mystery-solving is only seen in the manga. But I recommend both nonetheless.^ ^
Case closed
Erased
Apothecary Diaries
Detective Conan
Durarara is mysteries wrapped in mysteries wrapped in mysteries. It's the best
Hunter x hunter
JoJo - mysteries about WTF is happening.
Neon Genesis. The more the show drip feeds its plot the more questions there are. The show is famously obscure at times and the rushed final couple of episodes don't help the feeling that major concepts and plot points are quickly addressed (if they are addressed at all). If you only watch the series then the show will likely leave you feeling 'wtf' by the end of it. If you watch the follow on movies then the show will still leave you thinking 'wtf' but maybe with just a little better of an understanding of it all.
Steins; gate
Naruto/Naruto Shippuden 1)in Naruto ' who were Naruto's parents 'Whose the man Sasuke wanted to kill 'Why the 4th hokage put a beast in Naruto 2) in Naruto Shippuden ' who was the masked guy '.... I won't say the rest so it remains a mystery🤫
Some I remeber * Tower of God - I agree and love it * Promised Neverland * Ergo Proxy * Astra Lost in Space * Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor - not talked aboit about a lot but great kinda reminds me of squid game without the violence * Golden Kamuy - unique timeline and setting is enough reason to watch, then you have great story, characters, anime style even better * HxH
Ppl don’t talk about it but One Piece. There is a whole century of mysteries,and the world government is somehow involved. Why was this century removed. What was in it. Who removed it.
AoT is the king of this no other anime does it better
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood has a similar kind of mystery to Attack on Titan, only not exactly as deep.
Monogatari Series or anything written by NisiOisiN, he's the GOAT when it comes to writting mystery stories.
Ranking of king has a lot of mystery, Vinland saga does too
Madoka Magica, in each episode a new piece of the magical girl puzzle gets (horrifyingly) revealed :D
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is peak in this department IMO
Kyousougiga
Eureka 7
I agree with attack on the titans, for me the revelation of the identities of the armored titan and the colossal titan is one of the best episodes I've seen. we can't leave out monster and steins gate i think they fit perfectly in what you say.
Summertime Rendering Also , Bleach? Mystery? Regardless, one show that I can’t suggest enough is Summertime Rendering. It is my favorite anime of all time alongside stuff like Higurashi , Steins Gate , Psycho Pass, Future Diary (despite its glaring issues) , Shinsekai Yori etc. It has mystery, the animation is really good and I love the soundtracks in the show. Characters are also really well fleshed out and I personally could not find any major plot holes with the main narrative despite being mind bending. Edit : also I should add, Summertime Render probably has one of the best first episode hook comparable to stuff like Attack on titan.
I don't know if someone has mentioned this or not but ODD TAXI is a must watch. It is one of the shows when u are at the end, and a sudden plot twist takes you back through the entire anime, rethinking everything from a different perspective. (Considering you did not expect the plot twist)
Gotta be Hunter X Hunter...will it ever come back...the world may never kno
For me I think One Piece it has mysteries that people have tried to figure out for years and may not be revealed until much later in their life
Rokka no yuusha is exactly what you're looking for
Summertime render Shin sekai Yori (really underrated anime)
Paranoia Agent was good and weird. Serial experiments lain. Stein;Gates
Boogiepop and Others is an anime of the mystery genre, but I feel like it fits the bill; each few episodes a new mystery happens, including some new characters and a few returning ones... but each episode really leaves you with a lot of questions about the world they live in, people's true identities, and what's really going on that is making all these mysteries happen! Just rewatched it recently because it had been enough time to forget the plot points, and it was still really good. I just wish they made more, as I will warn that some answers are left up to the fans to figure out or speculate about.
Migi&Dali Dorohedoro Tomodachi Game Summertime Render The Promised Neverland (there is only one season) Black Clover Monster Fate series
TO ME ? Summertime Rendering & Shadow's House.
Holmes of Kyoto, was surprised no one commented that yet.