11 Best Anime Like Death Note: Mind Games, Thrillers & Dark Mysteries

Why it feels like Death Note: Lelouch is a brilliant, morally complicated protagonist who uses a supernatural power to reshape the world around him. His plans, deception, and escalating consequences create the same strategic tension that makes Light Yagami so compelling.

Expect more action and larger-scale conflict than Death Note, but just as many twists, schemes, and difficult moral decisions.

Why it feels like Death Note: Monster is a darker, grounded story about a doctor drawn into a long pursuit of a terrifying criminal. It replaces supernatural rules with moral pressure, detective work, and one of anime’s most unsettling villains.

This is the best choice for viewers who enjoyed Death Note’s serious tone, ethical questions, and psychological battle between two intelligent men.

Why it feels like Death Note: The first season is packed with tense planning, hidden motives, and smart characters trying to outwit a powerful opponent. Every small mistake has consequences.

It has a very different setting, but its constant pressure and battle of intelligence will feel familiar to fans of Light and L’s rivalry.

Why it feels like Death Note: Psycho-Pass explores whether society can decide who deserves punishment before a crime is committed. Its world of surveillance, criminal intent, and flawed justice creates many of the same moral debates found in Death Note.

Watch it for a darker detective story with strong villains and serious questions about authority, fear, and free will.

Why it feels like Death Note: Erased is built around a gripping murder mystery, escalating suspense, and a protagonist racing to uncover the truth before it is too late.

With only 12 episodes, it is an excellent pick when you want a complete, emotional thriller without starting a long series.

Why it feels like Death Note: Steins;Gate begins as a strange science-fiction mystery before developing into a tense story about choices, consequences, and trying to stay ahead of disaster.

It is less focused on detective mind games, but rewards patient viewers with clever plotting, emotional stakes, and a satisfying payoff.

Why it feels like Death Note: This thriller follows a detective trying to understand and stop two brilliant young terrorists. Its clues, riddles, and chase between investigators and masterminds bring a similar feeling of tension.

It is a compact series with a serious tone, strong atmosphere, and an engaging mystery at its center.

Why it feels like Death Note: Death Parade is less about solving a case and more about examining human nature. Its characters are placed under extreme pressure, forcing viewers to question guilt, morality, and what people truly deserve.

Choose it for the darker themes and thought-provoking atmosphere that Death Note fans often enjoy.

Why it feels like Death Note: Attack on Titan has a much larger action focus, but its story is driven by secrets, shifting perspectives, difficult choices, and a growing sense that no side is completely right.

It is a strong option for viewers who liked how Death Note kept changing the meaning of its conflict as new information appeared.

Why it feels like Death Note: The tone is more adventurous, but the plot is full of hidden truths, political conspiracies, sacrifice, and questions about what people should be willing to give up for power.

Its layered story makes it ideal for viewers who want another complete anime with strong characters and meaningful themes.

Why it feels like Death Note: Perfect Blue is a mature psychological thriller that keeps viewers questioning what is real. It is unsettling, unpredictable, and built around paranoia rather than action.

As a film, it is the quickest recommendation on this list for anyone looking for a dark, intense experience in one sitting.