Anime like Death Note?

Hi everyone!

My gf is dipping her toes into the anime world, and I would like some advice on what she should watch next. She loved Death Note, and wants something else with a similar psychological thriller vibe. Anime with lots of action wont do anything for her, and most of what Ive watched is that type so Id love some help please?

Thanks!

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AutoModerator2026-01-19 04:41

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Nomar_952026-01-19 04:43

Monster

ConfusedLilMuffin2026-01-19 04:56

Thanks! Seems to be a lot of love for that one

Ved_Raj2026-01-19 04:44

Monster

ConfusedLilMuffin2026-01-19 04:56

Thank you :) seeing a lot of that in the answers, Ill definitely check it out

Ved_Raj2026-01-19 05:07

I hope she likes it because the animation style is old so idk but for me it's so good

Ok_Pear_24342026-01-19 04:46

Like the comments say Monster.
Code Geass for sure.

ConfusedLilMuffin2026-01-19 04:56

Thanks, Ive seen a lot saying Monster so Ill definitely check that out. Ive never heard of Code Geass, whats that one about?

69ShadesofPurple2026-01-19 05:08

It's very similar to Death Note with intelligent main characters and mind games. Death Note and Code Geass get recommended together a lot.

aimglitchz2026-01-19 05:34

rival of death note is code geass

SolDarkHunter2026-01-19 05:50

Code Geass is sillier than Death Note, but more... epic in scale, I suppose. More action. The protagonist is just as dramatic and theatrical as Light, if not more so.

There's mecha and high school drama to go along with mind games and war crimes.

JonFrost2026-01-19 06:24

> similar psychological thriller vibe

Code Geass is not like this at all I don't know what these other peeps are talking about

Riddlerquantized2026-01-20 00:34

Code Geass not like Death Note. Maybe they think Light and Lelouch are similar but code Geass is different kind of story

Snarfsicle2026-01-19 08:17

Platinum end was made by the Deathnote creator I believe

Toloran2026-01-19 16:50

Yes, and was kinda terrible.

suuushi-roll2026-01-19 04:46

Theres this website called Myanimelist

You can go on there and look at the page of an anime you enjoyed. On that page if you scroll down you can click on view all under the recommendations section.

There it will have tons of recommendations similar to that anime.

ConfusedLilMuffin2026-01-19 04:57

That sounds really helpful! Thanks!

suuushi-roll2026-01-19 05:00

no problem i have this ready to copy paste because threads like yours are very common

ConfusedLilMuffin2026-01-19 05:06

Makes sense, theres SO MANY great shows out there

Ved_Raj2026-01-19 04:49

Tower of gods is interesting watch that too

ConfusedLilMuffin2026-01-19 04:57

Thank you!

EbbAccomplished15462026-01-19 04:49

サイコスリラーかはわからないけど東京喰種がオススメだよ。

ConfusedLilMuffin2026-01-19 04:57

Thank you!

Ved_Raj2026-01-19 04:49

Steins gate. If she is a science student

ConfusedLilMuffin2026-01-19 04:58

Do you think shed like it even if she isnt?

Ved_Raj2026-01-19 05:02

Idk bro it's a science fiction that's why I wrote that

ConfusedLilMuffin2026-01-19 05:05

Oh got ya haha

MisterPeteArt2026-01-19 04:51

Monster

Pluto

ConfusedLilMuffin2026-01-19 04:59

Hearing a lot of love for monster :)

Havent heard of Pluto tbh

Lower-Tour-18542026-01-19 05:02

Both are from the same author, actually. You can start with Pluto, it's just 8 episodes, each an hour long.

ConfusedLilMuffin2026-01-19 05:07

Awesome, that seems like an easy one to get her to give a go :)

MisterPeteArt2026-01-19 05:06

I almost want to recommend Black Lagoon it’s got a similar dark vibe but it’s also a crime show with a lot of action and shooting and I dunno if that’s what you mean by “no action”

Ved_Raj2026-01-19 04:52

Code Geass: Lelouch vi Britannia (Zero) this one is also good

ConfusedLilMuffin2026-01-19 04:59

Thanks!

Lower-Tour-18542026-01-19 04:52

Try Kaiji

ConfusedLilMuffin2026-01-19 04:59

Thank you :)

Lower-Tour-18542026-01-19 05:04

No need to thank me. I hope you enjoy whatever you watch next😁

Tzekel_Khan2026-01-19 04:54

* Code Geass
* Monster
* Steins;Gate

ConfusedLilMuffin2026-01-19 05:05

Thanks!

Fit_Edge_98382026-01-19 04:56

Paranoia Agent definitely fits the psychological thriller vibe

ConfusedLilMuffin2026-01-19 05:07

Havent heard of that one, Ill give it a look :) thanks!

Fit_Edge_98382026-01-19 05:11

You’re welcome! :)

MonkMew2026-01-19 04:56

Future diary

ConfusedLilMuffin2026-01-19 05:07

Ive heard good things about that one before

Herson1002026-01-19 12:22

All lies

LawEnvironmental38942026-01-19 04:57

Pluto

Psycho-Pass

ConfusedLilMuffin2026-01-19 05:08

Thanks!

LawEnvironmental38942026-01-19 05:22

Np. I also should’ve mentioned Odd Taxi, Link Click, and Terror In Resonance. Some other psychological thrillers that r less like Death Note, but imo worth checking out r Welcome To the NHK, Summertime Rendering, Death Parade, Serial Experiments Lain, and Kaiji. Sorry if I overwhelmed w the recs, but pls consider them.

GonnaChiefYourNan2026-01-19 14:51

Man I wish more people mentioned psycho pass these days.

LawEnvironmental38942026-01-19 16:16

It’s peak fr

Emi_Ibarazakiii2026-01-19 05:01

Maybe give Talentless Nana a shot! (Check out the full first episode even if it seems like a weird recommendation)

And if you want a different genre: Kaguya has been called the 'Death Note of romcoms'! The stakes aren't as high as Death Note, but it's full of 'mind battles' just like in DN.

ConfusedLilMuffin2026-01-19 05:09

Thanks so much!

Ps I appreciate the out of the box answer of Kaguya btw, could be a great way to show her different genres while keeping with what she likes!

Parker_Chess2026-01-19 05:05

Future Diary is what you should show her. Future Diary is about a girl who uses a cell phone to track her "boyfriend". It's comical and psychological she'll love it.

Other recommendations that get a no from me

Monster is long and a very serious show. I don't think she'll have much fun with it even if it's a well-written thriller.

Code Geass is a mecha anime where the protagonist has the power to take control over somebody but can only use it once. He ends up forming a rebellion against the empire. I like the show but Mecha is an entirely different genre to Death Note. Maybe show her this after watching Future Diary if she wants more.

japanimater72026-01-19 05:06

Platinum End.

It was also made by the creators of Death Note.

A lot of people don't like the ending, but it is an absolute ending and covers all of the manga.

rook1192026-01-19 05:11

I won't say Monster is bad, because its not. However its slow AF and not to mention long.

Just watch Erased, its not groundbreaking or anything but its very good. Everyone likes Erased, and the ones who say they don't like Erased are just lying.

Psycho-pass is a good newbie anime as well.

hayashikin2026-01-19 05:38

Seconding Erased.

Weird they never animated 20th Century Boys

SleepBringsRelease2026-01-19 06:22

Agreed, monster is good but as slow as watching paint dry.

enesup2026-01-19 05:25

The Summer Hikaru Died

Banana Fish

Parasyte the Maxim

Boogiepop and Others

Devilman Crybaby

Monster

91 Days

Stein's Gate

Anohana

All of these are way better than Death Note though.

scratchfury2026-01-19 05:29

Id: Invaded

aimglitchz2026-01-19 05:35

code geass. literally 1 of the high rated anime in existence

hayashikin2026-01-19 05:41

I'm going to suggest something that I haven't seen here yet: Eden of the East.

MaxTwer002026-01-19 05:47

Tangentially related, kaguya sama love is war has deathnote-like mind games but in a more funny/romantic setting

Zerogates2026-01-19 05:48

Psycho Pass season 1 is the best choice as it is shorter, it is a very mature theme, and serious writing without a bunch of anime tropes. It will feel similar to any other science fiction drama under a different medium.

I would not suggest Code Geass. Every anime fan suggests it completely ignoring that it is not an anime for people who aren't into anime and all the tropes. It has obnoxious and unnecessary fan service. The writing tries to combine high school drama with world war levels of serious issues. People like to claim the main character is intelligent as well but consider they have an absolutely overpowered, easy-win ability and still constantly screw up so how smart can they actually be?

Aesthete182026-01-19 06:16

Rokka no Yuusha

Chadzuma2026-01-19 06:26

Watch Zetsuen no Tempest, it's of similar levels of suspense, narrative tryharding, and ambiguous gayness. It's slightly classier than Death Note because it's got Kana Hanazawa and Miyuki Sawashiro spamming Shakespeare references at you the whole time

Turtlenumber132026-01-19 06:42

If you enjoy Death Note, Code Geass is a similar vibe but totally different story.

If you want another type of psychological anime, Ergo Proxy is pretty unique.

And if you want a bloody intense intro, check out Elfen Lied.

Korkez112026-01-19 07:56

Talentless Nana is Death Note + X-Men + [spoilers if you don't mind] >!Hitman game series!<

zenithfury2026-01-19 08:08

Perhaps if she enjoys supernatural mystery and doesn’t mind a bit of gore she might like Higurashi.

Kiriijou2026-01-19 09:41

As an important heads up, **for OP** and anyone else who might be interested in watching Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni (Higurashi When They Cry), make sure you start with either: the [2006 anime](https://myanimelist.net/anime/934/Higurashi_no_Naku_Koro_ni) (and it's [second half Kai](https://myanimelist.net/anime/1889/Higurashi_no_Naku_Koro_ni_Kai)), the original visual novel, or the manga adaptation.

The 2020 anime Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni: Gou (Higurashi When They Cry: New), is a sequel to the original story, not a remake. **Don't accidentally start with Gou**, as it's full of spoilers.

(_Note: in most (if not all) regions, the only Higurashi anime on Crunchyroll, is Gou. Also, the original Visual Novel is currently available on Steam, under the title"Higurashi When They Cry: Hou", with the first arc being free to download._).

simdis12026-01-19 08:54

I am not sure these counts but since it's not mentioned I would like to suggest one outs and promised Neverland

One outs is about a gambler that plays mind games in baseball. Just think of it as a psychological game with a baseball setting

Promised Neverland is hard to describe without spoiling too much but it's about kids trying to escape a place before something bad happens.

Both animes focus a lot on the psychological thriller aspect so I think it might be worth a shot

PixelmonMasterYT2026-01-19 09:09

I would recommend Psycho Pass. People have mixed feelings on the later seasons, but most people agree the 1st season is a really fun thriller. It’s not supernatural like death note, and it leans a little more thriller than psychological compared to death note, but still very worth the watch.

Chance-Ad-88222026-01-19 09:28

classroom of the elite, code geass, monster

merNavira2026-01-19 09:50

Memories (1995)

Metropolis (2001)

Paranoia Agent (2005)

Paprika (2006)

Bokurano (2007)

Dororo (2019)

Amon: Apocalypse of Devilman (2000)

A Wind Named Amnesia (1990)

Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (1999)

Perfect Blue (1997)

Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Casshern Sins (2008)

_Eltanin_2026-01-19 10:07

- Psycho Pass
- ID:Invaded

Both are basically anime versions of the Minority Report

irene_magase2026-01-19 10:40

Death note is one of my fav anime

Here's similar anime:

Monster(another fav)

Code geass

Psycho pass

Talentless nana

Babylon

Future dairy

Promised Neverland

anarion3212026-01-19 11:47

One Outs.

Evilbefalls2026-01-19 11:49

im gonna take a potato chip and eat it

trunkswuzhere2026-01-19 13:12

Stein's Gate. Thank me later.

Phyzm12026-01-19 13:37

psycho-pass

chescojoe2026-01-19 14:29

Big O, FLCL, Trigun

Commercial_Fix68122026-01-19 14:34

So sounds like more cerebral type anime, story-driven and a bit dark.

Steins Gate / Steins Gate 0 - my personal GOAT. For some other starts kinda slow but if you stick with it the pay-off is worth it. Ended up staying up till 4am on a work day because I had to finish it after I hit that episode.

Finding Neverland - only season 1. Season 2 ruined the series.

Orb

ReLife - just because its my romance GOAT, and isn't nearly talked about enough.

Made in Abyss - dont let the animation style fool you. Some of the darkest stuff out there.

To Your Eternity

sharwin_pro2026-01-19 16:29

To your eternity and steins gate has same vibes (i didn't watch rest of the anime)

Top-Aspect3522026-01-19 14:51

Monster

VastMaize4522026-01-19 17:02

Moriarty the Patriot

Similar to death note in the aspect of ‘perfect’ crimes orchestrated by the MC and a cat and mouse chase between the MC and Sherlock holmes (yes inspired by the actual Sherlock holmes)

Valens932026-01-19 17:52

There's already a lot of great suggestions here, especially Steins Gate.

So instead I'm gonna suggest something to avoid, "Platinum End". Same creator so you might be tempted but as someone typically easy to please with Anime...it's not worth it.

It almost has a similar vibe to Death Note but has a shaky plot and one of the worst most nonsensical unsatisfying endings I've ever experienced.

SaxLeo2026-01-19 19:23

Tomodachi games>COTE>Future Diary>Monster>Code Geass

Motor_Difference_8022026-01-20 01:19

Code Geass an Erased

Dependent_Day_62982026-01-20 15:06

moriarty the patriot

Gullible_Bat_54082026-01-21 16:24

Shinrei Tantei Yakumo