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With there being a lot to unpack from the show itself, fans were left with a sense of dread when the series wrapped up. It left a hankering for anime that kept people on their toes and made them question life itself. Fortunately, even though there can’t be another Death Note, there are a few shows that maintain a high standard of both visuals and storytelling.
Update January 12, 2023 by Mark Sammut: Death Note is an all-time classic that still regularly acts as a gateway anime. Light and L are equally iconic, and their cat-and-mouse dynamic is arguably the most well-known in manga and anime. Madhouse’s series is one-of-a-kind, but there are a few great anime like Death Note for fans of the show to check out.
15 Code Geass
Veteran watchers of anime will stand by the visual storytelling that Code Geass offers. Alternate timelines come into play as fans follow the exploits of Lelouch Lamperouge. Lelouch is a student of the Holy Britannian Empire, which has taken over Japan. Lelouch is handed Geass, also known as the “Power of Kings”.
This power forces anyone who speaks to Lelouch to obey his command, no matter how problematic or silly it may be. This, of course, brings in the issue of life or death. A student that is given a power of this enormity may not have the maturity to wield it properly, or could wield it to inadvertently bring about the destruction of the world.
14 Death Parade
Another awesome anime for anime beginners to delve into, Death Parade brings a lot to the table. It deals with the philosophical questions that follow the concept of death. In this show’s world, after people die, they do not go into heaven or hell. In fact, they go to a bar that is managed by Decim, a bartender.
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The bar acts as a sort of purgatory as Decim plays against the person (or their soul?) in a random game. If the person manages to win, they will get reincarnated. However, if the person loses, their soul will head straight to a void of nothingness, and cease to exist. This is a fascinating concept, and it’s quite intriguing to watch the intricacies of the story play out.
13 Kaiji
Another Madhouse production, Kaiji is in some ways the inverse of Death Note. While the latter focuses on extraordinary people engaging in battles of wit, the former takes an average joe and places him in high-stakes gambling situations. Kaiji is intense and unpredictable. The eponymous character finds himself in debt and accepts an invitation to take part in a series of gambles to try and wipe the slate. Freedom is not guaranteed.
While on a smaller scale, Kaiji is just as much about mind games as Death Note. Both shows are psychological thrillers overflowing with suspense, memorable characters, and crowd-pleasing (or angering) moments.
12 Classroom Of The Elite
Classroom of the Elite centers around an academy filled with Japan’s finest students, all of whom are split up depending on their potential. Assigned to Class D with the other underperformers and misfits, the unassuming Ayanokouji largely wants to be left alone, which is easier said than done considering the students are expected to take part in grueling physical and mental tests.
Classroom of the Elite is all about characters trying to outwit each other, while the protagonist pulls the strings from behind the curtain. While the show’s mind games are nowhere near as deadly as Light’s battles in Death Note, Classroom of the Elite can get quite intense at times.
11 Monster
Monster is another anime that plays around with multiple heavy themes. It’s based on a manga by Naoki Urasawa and follows the life of Dr. Kenzo Tenma. Tenma is a neurosurgeon – a genius in his field, and quite successful.
After saving the life of a young boy, Tenma finds out nine years later that the serial killer that has been rampaging the city is actually the boy that he had saved all those years ago. What follows are the ups and downs of Tenma as he tries to make amends for what he considers to be a mistake. It brings in questions of ethics, morality, life, death, and consequences.
10 Tomodachi Game
Can you put a price on friendship? Tomodachi Game seeks to answer this question when five school friends are brought together to compete in an array of games to clear a shared debt. In the open, they agree to work together; however, if someone is willing to betray their companions, they could clear their slate and leave everyone else to the wolves.
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Yuuichi Katagiri just wants to do right by his friends, but the teenager might not be as innocent as he pretends to be. The same could be said for everyone else forced to take part in this game.
9 The Future Diary
Another anime about a teenager who is granted an extremely powerful book, The Future Diary follows Yukiteru Amano as he enters a battle royale to determine a new god. Also taking part in this contest are various other intelligent and dangerous individuals, including a girl who has a rather unsettling fixation on Yuki.
The Future Diary is a thrill ride from beginning to end, all centered around a twisted relationship that is definitely not as one-sided as Light and Misa’s dynamic in Death Note. Yuki’s personality is far removed from Light’s, with the former teenager being far more insecure and hesitant to indulge in morally grey acts.
8 Ghost In The Shell
Aside from ScarJo’s rendition of Ghost In The Shell, people may have heard of this anime before for its nuanced storytelling. Apart from hordes of suspense and the waiting games that are synonymous with a lot of anime, Ghost In The Shell also plays around with philosophical themes of transhumanism and what it means to be human.
Artificial implants are available aplenty and everyone has access to them, including criminals. The protagonists have to catch a hacker called The Laughing Man, as they deal with multiple crimes and other side issues. Of course, there is the question of “how “human” are humans if they have artificial implants?”.
7 Steins;Gate
In Steins; Gate, Rintaro Okabe is a college student whose favorite task is to discuss conspiracy theories. He’s a college student who also considers himself to be a genius. Okabe shares his main interest with a few others from his college, who love talking and discussing scientific theories such as time traveling and multiverses.
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This anime is also quite psychological and philosophical, as it delves deep into the curious nature of human beings, and the mysterious state of the universe itself. Watch this one for complex scientific theories and masterful writing.
6 Parasyte - The Maxim -
This is a different take on the “alien parasite takes over the body trope”. Alien parasites do invade the Earth and settle themselves inside the bodies of humans. However, there is one particular alien parasite that didn’t quite manage to do its job. It tries to burrow into the head of a student named Shinichi but is unable to complete the process.
It then finds out that its alien comrades hate it and want it killed. The parasite and Shinichi are forced to work together and save themselves from subsequent dangers. Along the way, both learn a little something about life and share their experiences as different beings. There’s an almost absurd comedic vibe to this anime, making it worth a watch!
5 Ergo Proxy
Ergo Proxy takes place in a future where the Earth has faced an ecological disaster. Due to this, it is no longer inhabitable as we know it. Humans have to create and occupy special domes that mimic habitable conditions. Since humans are still recovering from the disaster, androids by the name of AutoRevis are created to speed up the process.
However, the AutoRevis start to gain self-awareness with a virus called ‘cogito virus’. The main protagonist, Re-I Mayer, decides to find out what is causing the AutoRevis to behave this way. It is with this psychological and thrilling intrigue that the anime captures the viewer’s attention.
4 Terror In Resonance
Terror in Resonance shares a lot in common with Death Note. Both anime revolve around genius protagonists doing questionable acts in the name of a self-identified greater good. Their actions attract the attention of the police, with the detectives serving antagonistic but not necessarily villainous roles.
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Terror in Resonance is more of a mystery anime than Death Note, as audiences are not provided as free access to the leads as they are to Light. Terror in Resonance is also grounded in reality far more than Death Note; outside the over-the-top nature of the characters’ mind games, a lot of what happens in the anime could feasibly transpire in the real world.
3 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood takes a while to get going with its plot. In fact, it’s quite a slow start and may put off some viewers. However, sticking with the slow start will reward the viewer with one of the darkest and philosophically heavy stories in modern anime. The show is set in an alternate world, with alchemy being the prime scientific advancement of the time. It is used in inventing things, healthcare, and even the military.
Two brothers, namely Edward and Alphonse Elric, have damaged their bodies in trying to revive their dead mother. The story revolves around their trials and tribulations, as they search for the philosopher’s stone to heal their bodies. Fair warning: it differs quite a bit from the source manga.
2 The Promise Neverland
This dark and gritty anime is about Emma, an orphan who lives at the Grace Field House. Lady Mary takes care of the children in the house and all seems to be well. In reality, Lady Mary is responsible for kidnapping these children and selling them to demons who devour them.
Similar to Death Note in its approach to the narrative, The Promise Neverland likes to hold its viewers in bated breath. There’s very little predictability in how the story pans out, and multiple characters go through extensive arcs. Unfortunately, the season 2 is generally regarded as a step down from its fantastic predecessor, but season 1 is great enough to merit a watch on its own.
1 Psycho-Pass
Psycho-Pass talks about a future (the year 2113) where the Sibyl System has been set up to find out the probability of people committing crimes. The “Psycho-Pass” itself is the measuring system used for checking the probability. Two enforcers, Akane Tsunemori and Shinya Kougami work together to track down possible criminals based on the “Psycho-Pass” rating.
However, things change when they realize that the Sibyl System, like any other artificial system of profiling, is flawed in nature. In essence, this show brings up themes of utilitarianism and consequentialism. It also raises pertinent questions on morality, ethics, and law. Viewers will also enjoy the character development of the show’s protagonists.
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