Are you a fan of Death Note and craving more anime with the same dark themes, mind games, and shocking twists? You’re in the right place! In this list, we’ve put together the Top 12 Thrilling Anime Similar To Death Note that will keep you hooked with clever plots, psychological battles, and unforgettable characters. Whether you loved Light and L’s cat-and-mouse chase or the moral dilemmas of the Death Note itself, these anime will give you that same thrilling experience.
#17 Tokyo Ghoul
Tokyo Ghoul is about Kaneki, an ordinary college student who loves books and a quiet life. One day, he goes on a date with a mysterious girl, but things take a dark turn when he learns she is actually a ghoul, a creature that feeds on humans. After a deadly accident, Kaneki survives only because doctors transplant some of the ghoul’s organs into his body.
From that moment, his life changes forever. Kaneki becomes a half-human, half-ghoul hybrid who can no longer eat normal food. He struggles to hide his new identity, torn between the human world he grew up in and the ghoul world he never wanted to be part of.
#16 Parasyte: The Maxim
Parasyte: The Maxim tells the story of Shinichi, a high school student whose life changes when strange alien creatures called parasites invade Earth. These parasites take over human bodies by entering through the ears or nose, turning people into deadly monsters that prey on others.
One night, a parasite tries to enter Shinichi’s body but fails to reach his brain. Instead, it gets stuck in his right hand, giving him a mind of its own. Now forced to share his body with the creature he names “Migi,” Shinichi must learn to live with it while battling other parasites that see him as a threat.
#15 Future Diary
A shy high school boy who spends most of his time writing in his phone diary. One day, he discovers that his diary has gained a strange power, it can predict the future in detail. Soon, he learns that eleven other people also have special diaries, each with unique abilities.
These twelve diary holders are forced into a deadly survival game by a god named Deus, with the last survivor becoming the next god of time and space. Yukiteru teams up with Yuno, a mysterious classmate who is obsessed with him, but her intense devotion hides dangerous secrets that could change everything.
#14 Platinum End
Platinum End begins with Mirai, a boy who has lost all hope and tries to end his life. At that moment, a mysterious angel saves him and gives him special powers, wings that let him fly and arrows that can control or even kill people. Mirai soon learns he is one of 13 chosen humans competing to become the next God.
As the deadly contest unfolds, each candidate uses their powers differently, some for kindness, others for selfish or cruel reasons. Mirai wants to hold on to his humanity and live a peaceful life, but to survive, he must face ruthless opponents and question what it really means to be worthy of becoming God.
#13 Another
Kouichi, a transfer student who arrives at a quiet town and joins Class 3-3 of Yomiyama North Middle School. Soon, he notices something strange, his classmates are unusually tense, and one girl named Mei seems to be ignored by everyone as if she doesn’t exist.
Kouichi eventually learns about a terrifying curse linked to his class. Each year, students and even their families die in mysterious and gruesome accidents. Together with Mei, he tries to uncover the truth behind the curse and stop the chain of deaths before it’s too late.
#12 The Promised Neverland
Emma, Norman, and Ray, three children living in a seemingly perfect orphanage called Grace Field House. Life there appears happy, with plenty of food, love, and care from their “Mom,” Isabella. But one day, the children discover a horrifying secret, the orphanage is actually a farm, and they are being raised as food for demons.
Determined to survive, Emma and her friends begin planning a daring escape. They must outsmart the adults, avoid deadly traps, and work together to find freedom beyond the walls of the orphanage.
#11 Tomodachi Game
Yuuichi, a high school student who values friendship above all else. One day, he and his friends are mysteriously forced into a dangerous game called the “Tomodachi Game,” where trust is tested and friendships are pushed to the breaking point.
The game challenges them to repay massive debts, and players must lie, cheat, and manipulate each other to survive. Yuuichi must use his intelligence and instincts to uncover secrets, protect his friends, and find a way out of the deadly game without losing himself.
#10 Black Butler
Ciel Phantomhive, a young boy who inherits his family’s noble estate after a tragic incident kills his parents. To seek revenge on those responsible, he makes a contract with a demon named Sebastian, who becomes his loyal butler and possesses extraordinary abilities.
Together, Ciel and Sebastian investigate dark mysteries, confront dangerous criminals, and navigate the secret underworld of Victorian England. While Sebastian carries out Ciel’s orders flawlessly, their relationship hides secrets that slowly unravel as the story progresses.
#9 Death Parade
Death Parade is set in a mysterious bar where people go after they die. There, a bartender named Decim makes them play games that reveal the secrets of their lives. The outcome of the games decides whether their souls will be reincarnated or sent into the void. As each new guest arrives, the show explores human emotions, morality, and the choices people make.
#8 Elfen Lied
Lucy, a girl born with mysterious powers and invisible arms called vectors. She escapes from a secret laboratory where she was experimented on, but her violent abilities make her extremely dangerous. After her escape, Lucy meets two kind-hearted teenagers, Kouta and Yuka, who try to help her adjust to the outside world.
#7 Terror in Resonance
Two mysterious teenage boys, Nine and Twelve, who carry out a series of terrorist attacks in Tokyo. Despite their actions, they have a deeper reason behind the chaos, tied to secrets from their past and a desire to expose hidden truths. As detective Shibazaki investigates the attacks, he begins to uncover the boys’ real motives.
#6 Jikogu Shoujo: Hell Girl
Ai Enma, a mysterious girl who offers people a dark service. Anyone who feels deep hatred or seeks revenge can contact her through a special website. In return, she will send their enemy to hell but there’s a price: the person requesting the revenge will also be doomed to hell when they die. Each episode shows a new story of someone seeking vengeance, exploring human anger, regret, and the consequences of their choices.
#5 No Game No Life
Sora and Shiro, a brother and sister duo who are unbeatable at games. One day, they are transported to a mysterious world called Disboard, where everything is decided through games instead of violence. In this new world, the siblings aim to challenge the powerful ruler and conquer the various races.
#4 Code Geass
Lelouch Lamperouge, a high school student who gains a mysterious power called Geass, which allows him to command anyone to obey his orders. Using this power, he adopts the identity of “Zero” to lead a rebellion against the oppressive Holy Britannian Empire. The series is full of clever strategies, intense battles, and shocking twists, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.
#3 Classroom Of The Elite
Classroom of the Elite is set in a prestigious high school where students are ranked by their academic performance and special privileges. Kiyotaka, a quiet and intelligent student, joins Class 1-D, which is considered the lowest-ranked class.
As he navigates school life, Kiyotaka discovers that nothing is as it seems. The students must use strategy, manipulation, and clever thinking to survive the school’s secret competitions, where only the smartest and most cunning can rise to the top.
#2 Erased
#1 Steins,Gate
Rintarou Okabe, a self-proclaimed “mad scientist,” who accidentally discovers a way to send messages to the past using a modified microwave. This leads him and his friends into a dangerous world of time travel and unforeseen consequences.
As they experiment with changing events, they realize that even small alterations can have serious, sometimes deadly effects.
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