Anime is home to some of the greatest shows of all time, with titles like One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen being highlights. As the medium gets more and more popular, fans are beginning to realize the creativity and talent put into each episode. But while action shows are good, there is a whole world out there to enjoy, including the thriller genre, with plenty of masterpieces.
Anime thrillers will have viewers on the edge of their seats, on the border between fright and entertainment. That is why this list will feature ten anime thrillers that are perfect from start to finish based on aspects such as writing, animation, originality, quality, consistency, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall popularity. Some say there is no such thing as perfect, but these thrillers get as close as possible to it.
‘Link Click’ (2021-present)
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Image via LAN Studio</figure>
Anime is a medium from Japan, but other countries have animated-inspired works of their own, including China, which has produced the masterful thriller that is Link Click. Two friends have the ability to enter photographs and explore the time they were taken, which is why they run a detective agency to help solve their customers’ problems, but things can go wrong real fast.
Link Click is a hidden gem that doesn’t get as much recognition as it should, even though it is revered by fans as one of the best modern thrillers. With more seasons on the way, viewers get to experience more of this time-bending thriller. Link Click mixes its time-travel aspects with gritty detective work that becomes increasingly personal for the protagonists.
‘Steins;Gate’ (2011)
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Image via White Fox</figure>
The best thrillers aren’t necessarily the most perfect, with a leading example being Steins;Gate. After a self-proclaimed mad scientist accidentally invents a machine that can send texts into the past, he breaks the bridge between space and time, needing to correct his errors before everything in their timeline is lost.
Fans may be surprised that Steins;Gate is so low on this list, but despite its critical acclaim, it can feel a bit slow at the beginning. Still, the buildup is perfect in its own way, and the rest of the show is as good as it gets. It is arguably the best-written anime of all time, boasting a flawless narrative that handles time travel with extreme accuracy, especially since it has little to no flaws, which is difficult for an anime with no plot armor.
‘Death Parade’ (2015)
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Image via Madhouse</figure>
The thriller genre is among the best in anime, but it houses some underrated hits, such as Death Parade. After a woman wakes up in a strange bar with different bartenders and games, she quickly learns what it is for. Each episode follows two characters competing in a series of games, with the winner advancing to heaven and the loser going to hell.
The episodic structure may be different for a thriller, but each story builds toward a common theme and message that makes it such an engaging series. Death Parade has plenty to say, and it does so through the competitions that bring out the worst in its participants. It may not be traditional, but Death Parade is a magnificent thriller that has no bad episodes.
‘Paranoia Agent’ (2004)
Image via Crunchyroll- Image via Madhouse
- Image via Madhouse
- Image via Madhouse
- Image via Madhouse
Image via Crunchyroll
Image via Madhouse
Image via Madhouse
Image via Madhouse
Image via Madhouse- Image via Crunchyroll
- Image via Madhouse
- Image via Madhouse
- Image via Madhouse
- Image via Madhouse
Image via Crunchyroll
Image via Madhouse
Image via Madhouse
Image via Madhouse
Image via MadhouseSatoshi Kon is one of the most influential anime directors of all time, known for his magnum opus, Perfect Blue. However, he also has a few anime series, such as Paranoia Agent. When someone known as the Lil’ Slugger strikes down an overworked toy designer, residents begin to fear that they may be the next victim as the attacks keep rising, even if they aren’t lethal.
A lot of Kon’s works are incredibly relevant in today’s landscape, and Paranoia Agent is no different. Its themes of mascotification, overwork, and escaping reality have aged like fine wine. Outside its themes and motifs, this anime is also a thrilling story that gives fans a view of many lives and their struggles, relating them to Lil’ Slugger. With a powerful message and choking suspense, it is easily one of Kon’s best anime projects.
‘Parasyte: The Maxim’ (2014-2015)
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Image via Crunchyroll</figure>
There is a fine line between thriller and horror, and while most of these shows are on the side of the former, Parasyte: The Maxim finds the line in between. Alien parasites have come from space to invade Earth, searching for suitable hosts to take over the planet. But when one fails to take over the body, it only possesses the arm of the host, so now the duo must work together to stop the invasion.
Parasyte: The Maxim is a daring thriller with aspects of incredible suspense and drama, but at times it is also a frightful body horror with grotesque moments. The stakes are at an all-time high, with the battle royale between alien hosts getting increasingly tense. This creeping tension creates an ominous sense of dread, with the hard-hitting nature making it such a strong thriller.
‘Monster’ (2004-2005)
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Image via Madhouse</figure>
Naoki Urasawa is one of the greatest manga authors of all time, boasting some of the best thrillers, including his magnum opus, Monster. Dr. Tenma chooses to save the life of a child instead of the mayor, but when that kid grows up, he becomes a serial killer. Now, it is up to Tenma to kill Johan, but after learning of his dark and tragic past, will he be able to pull the trigger?
Like Steins;Gate, fans may be surprised that Monster isn’t higher on this list, but while it is arguably the greatest anime thriller, there are plenty of slow episodes. Still, it is the pinnacle of the genre because of its uncompromising consistency. The intricate pacing is slow at times, but entirely deliberate, showcasing a clash of ideological principles through suspense, intrigue, and excitement, proving why it is an anime that should be on everyone’s bucket list.
‘Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex’ (2002-2005)
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Image via Netflix</figure>
Ghost in the Shell is one of the most popular anime films of all time, but the show, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, is the better thriller. Major Motoko Kusanagi leads an elite team that deals with cyberterrorist threats, with each episode handling a new case. However, while they may seem unconnected, they slowly build towards a massive conspiracy.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is becoming increasingly relevant in this day and age, a sign of how good a thriller it is. With a fascinating premise and thought-provoking philosophical questions, it blends a cerebral narrative with thrilling action and politically charged espionage. Not to mention, the worldbuilding is fantastic throughout every episode, with each theme adding to the intensity.
‘Banana Fish’ (2018)
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Image via MAPPA</figure>
Most anime naturally take place in Japan, but there are a few series set in America, including Banana Fish. A Japanese reporter comes to America to interview gangs in New York, but after he accidentally gets involved in a drug conspiracy, he must team up with the young gang leader to uncover the truth of the matter and reveal it to the world.
Banana Fish is one of the best delinquent anime series, but more than that, it is also a flawless thriller that feels more like a prestige HBO series rather than an anime. It can get grotesque at times because of all the mature themes, but it is hauntingly realistic in its depiction. More than that, the growing plot gets increasingly tense, with higher stakes making Banana Fish a non-stop thrill ride viewers can never predict.
‘Kaiji’ (2007-2011)
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Image via Madhouse</figure>
Thrillers can come in all shapes and sizes, and that is the beauty of it, because a show such as Parasyte: The Maxim can be in the same genre as Kaiji, and both be just as good. The titular character is badly in debt, but a mysterious man offers him a chance to wipe his slate clean. Eagerly agreeing, he doesn’t realize that he needs to compete in a series of death games to survive.
If it seems familiar, it may be because Kaiji helped inspire Squid Game, so fans should understand just how incredible this anime is. If you love the thriller genre for its suspense and tension, then Kaiji is the anime for you. It is heart-pounding to the point that viewers might get a heart attack from the constant stress. Even with this, it is a roller-coaster of happiness, dread, and the constant unknown.
‘Odd Taxi’ (2021)
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It is easier for shorter thriller anime to be perfect, but that doesn’t take anything away from them, and Odd Taxi proves it. It follows Odokawa, a cab driver who doesn’t want to stick his nose in his customers’ business. However, when all of his passengers seem to be connected to a gruesome crime, he is the last piece of the puzzle to solve the case.
All the thrillers on this list are fantastic, but few maintain such a consistent quality as Odd Taxi. It starts with a slow pace that is still intriguing with its setup, and as the plot builds, it results in a dramatic finish that is the perfect end to this thrill ride. It is an anime with no weak episodes, ramping up to what is arguably the greatest ending in anime history. Every major aspect highlights just how flawless Odd Taxi is at every step.
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