'Monster' and 7 Other High-Rated Detective Anime Titles, Ranked by IMDb (No 'Death Note')

When we talk about detective anime, Death Note is the first title that comes to mind. However, there's a whole world of equally gripping and smart series that explore the nature of crime, investigation, and human psychology with mastery.

This genre offers an incredible variety of styles and plots, from gothic thrillers to sci-fi mysteries.

8. 'ID: Invaded', 2020

IMDb Score: 7.5/10

This anime will transport you to a world where the Mizuhanome system has taken crime detection to a new level. This technology allows you to delve into the depths of the unconscious.

It is here that clues are hidden that cannot be found in reality. Our guide through these dark labyrinths is Detective Narihisago, a brilliant but broken man.

Using the Mizuhanome, he attempts to solve a series of brutal murders, gradually getting closer to revealing the identity of John Walker, the man allegedly responsible for the rise of serial killers.

7. 'Undead Murder Farce', 2023

IMDb Score: 7.6/10

Although humans finally triumphed over the demons of the 19th century, they still have not learned to live without fear. The few nonhumans who survived thanks to their alliance with humans have become outcasts.

Amid this tense atmosphere, new conflicts and crimes arise, revealing not only human weaknesses, but also the shadows of the past.

That's when an unusual detective trio appears: the cynical Tsugaru Shinuchi, the insightful Aya Rindo, and the loyal Shizuku Hasei.

6. 'Kubikiri Cycle: Aoiro Savant to Zaregotozukai', 2016-2017

IMDb Score: 7.9/10

This is the story of a young man who conceals his identity and goes by the name I. By chance, he finds himself on the remote island of Wet Crow's Feather, where he is surrounded by geniuses.

The eccentric owner of the mansion is in exile and loves to keep the world's greatest talents close by.

The protagonist ends up there as an escort for his brilliant engineer childhood friend. However, on the fourth day, his vacation comes to an end when a decapitated corpse is found in one of the rooms.

5. 'Moriarty the Patriot', 2020-2022

IMDb Score: 8.0/10

In late 19th-century London, the center of the British Empire, wealth and power belong to the aristocracy while the lives of commoners are worthless.

In this world of class discrimination, the Moriarty brothers emerge, determined to challenge the corrupt system.

William Moriarty, a young genius, is at the helm. He transforms crime into a weapon of social revolution. However, his ideas and actions are met with controversy when the greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes, stands in his way.

4. 'Pluto', 2023

IMDb Score: 8.1/10

The plot centers on Gesicht, a robot detective who must investigate a series of mysterious murders.

However, the story gradually expands beyond the scope of a typical detective narrative, prompting viewers to consider fundamental questions about the nature of humanity, the significance of emotions, and the boundaries between humans and machines.

With each episode, viewers become immersed in a disturbing future where technology and moral dilemmas are intertwined.

3. 'Summer Time Rendering', 2022

IMDb Score: 8.2/10

Shinpei Ajiro left his native island and small-town life behind long ago, settling in Tokyo. However, the tragic death of his half-sister, Ushio, forces him to return.

Ushio died trying to save a child from drowning, and at first, it seemed like an accident. However, the islanders whisper of old legends about shadows – mysterious doppelgängers whose appearance foretells imminent death.

Mio, Shinpei's younger sister, claims that just a few days before the tragedy, she saw an exact replica of Ushio – alive, cold, and frightening.

2. 'Odd Taxi', 2021

IMDb Score: 8.4/10

The plot revolves around an ordinary Tokyo taxi and a mysterious disappearance. As the silent and sarcastic walrus taxi driver Odokawa drives his passengers, we meet a cast of characters whose fates are mysteriously intertwined.

Among them are idols locked in rigid contracts, corrupt police officers, gangsters, social media-obsessed students, and lonely individuals lost in the vast metropolis.

1. 'Monster', 2004-2005

IMDb Score: 8.7/10

Naoki Urasawa's timeless classic is about a talented Japanese neurosurgeon who is renowned for his skill and impeccable reputation.

His life in Düsseldorf seems calm and predictable until a series of mysterious events draws him into a dark story full of secrets and dangers.

Gradually, he finds himself on the brink where the past and present intertwine and where every life he saves raises the difficult question of the cost of his decisions.