15 Anime To Watch If You Liked Monster (2024)

Naoki Urasawa's Monster is a psychological mystery series that focuses on a doctor who's tormented by a life choice he made to save a boy's life instead of his town's mayor. This boy, known as the series's villain, Johan Liebert, would become a criminal mastermind who would make Dr. Tenma regret ever saving his life. Tenma spared Johan from certain death years ago, but now he is paying for it, and it's up to him to stop the monster he unleashed.

Monster is a well-loved classic with iconic characters and a rich story. Many argue it is one of the best murder-mystery anime out there, and it also has psychological thriller and crime thriller aspects to it too, which may remind anime fans of similar series. Even if those other anime have a totally different plot, their general vibe or certain character arcs in them clearly mark them as anime like Monster in some shape or form.

Update on April 24th, 2024 by Louis Kemner: This list of the best anime like Monster has been updated to adhere to CBR's current publication standards. It also features five more anime similar to Monster in some shape or form, such as dark themes of humanity's brutal side or mystery and crime thrillers.

15 Death Note is the Ultimate Supernatural Crime Thriller With a Twisted Antihero

Death Note is about a shinigami named Ryuk who leaves a murderous notebook in the human world that gets discovered by a boy named Light Yagami. After getting intel from Ryuk, Light decides to use the notebook to kill off notorious criminals under his hero alias Kira. Not loving Light's actions, the police require the help of a detective named L Lawliet who's goal is to end Kira's tirade.

Death Note Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.62
• IMDb: 8.9
• AnimePlanet: 4.3/5

Like Monster, Death Note follows a character who believes their actions are in the right and are what's best for humanity. Both anime are also mainstays in the psychological and thriller genre, with Death Note putting more emphasis on the supernatural and some intriguing questions about the ambiguous nature of justice itself. Death Note may be a shonen manga/anime series, but it also has a strong seinen vibe that Monster fans should enjoy.

Death Note (2006)

TV-14

Animation

Crime

Drama

Original title: Death Note: Desu nôto.
An intelligent high school student goes on a secret crusade to eliminate criminals from the world after discovering a notebook capable of killing anyone whose name is written into it.

Release Date

October 21, 2007

Cast

Mamoru Miyano , Brad Swaile , Vincent Tong , Ryō Naitō , Trevor Devall

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1

Studio

Madhouse

Production Company

D.N. Dream Partners, Madhouse, Nippon Television Network (NTV), Shueisha, Video Audio Project (VAP)

Number of Episodes

37

Streaming Service(s)

14 Gankutsuo: The Count of Monte Cristo Is About Two French Men and the Noble Count Himself

Gankutsuo: The Conte of Monte Cristo is about two French aristocrats named Viscount Albert D. Morcerf and Baron Franz d'Epinay who are attending a festival while looking for something to appease themselves. Furthermore, Albert meets and befriends a nobleman named The Count of Monte Cristo who's secretly plotting revenge against people who exploited him. Thus the anime follows these men and highlights the negatives of enacting revenge.

Gankutsuo: The Count of Monte Cristo Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.13
• IMDb: 7.9
• AnimePlanet: 3.9/5

Gankutsuo: The Conte of Monte Cristo is an anime that'll keep viewers guessing on what will happen next and has a character-driven narrative. Gankutsuo: The Conte of Monte Cristo is also known as one of the best drama anime to air during the early 2000s, according to IMDb in particular.

13 Psycho-Pass is Set in a Grim Future Where Crime is Punished Before it Happens

Psycho-Pass is about a policewoman named Akane Tsunemori who wishes to uphold justice in Japan based on the merits of her nation's Sibyl System, which detects the threat level of citizens by analyzing their minds for unlawful plans. However, Akane will question her morals when she discovers the truth of her nation's corrupt system.

Psycho-Pass Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.33
• IMDb: 8.1
• AnimePlanet: 4.17/5

Like Monster, Psycho-Pass is a psychological mystery thriller anime that follows investigators trying to catch a mysterious murderer who acts from afar. Psycho-Pass also features realistically grounded characters and will leave viewers questioning their morals, all in a fascinating yet grim cyberpunk setting a few decades into the future.

Psycho-Pass

TV-MA

Anime

Crime

Science Fiction

Thriller

Believing in humanity and order, policewoman Akane Tsunemori obeys the ruling, computerized, precognitive Sibyl System. But when she faces a criminal mastermind who can elude this perfect system, she questions both Sibyl and herself.

Release Date

October 12, 2012

Cast

Kana Hanazawa , Takahiro Sakurai

Studio

Production I.G

Creator

Tow Ubukata

12 Paranoia Agent Follows Two Investigators Searching For a Bat-Themed Villain

Paranoia Agent is about a weird assailant named Shounen Bat who's continuously attacking the residents in his area with a bat. Although two investigators are tasked with stopping him, they must hurry before everyone in there succumbs to anxiety at the hands of this cruel attacker.

Paranoia Agent Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 7.67
• IMDb: 8.0
• AnimePlanet: 3.69/5

Paranoia Agent features drama concerning humanity's mindset toward identity, human nature, and law enforcement. Paranoia Agent is a must-watch for most fans of detective anime to the point where some argue it's a mystery anime fans absolutely need to see.

Paranoia Agent

TV-PG

Drama

Seemingly unconnected citizens of Tokyo are targeted for bludgeoning by a boy with a golden baseball bat. As detectives try to link the victims, they discover that following the assaults, the victims' lives have improved in some way.

Release Date

April 14, 2011

Cast

Tara Sands , Griffin Burns , Xanthe Huynh , Erica Lindbeck , Michelle Ruff , Ray Chase , Erica Mendez

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1

Writers

Mari Okada

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll

Franchise(s)

Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

Directors

Tatsuyuki Nagai

See Also

10 Anime Shows like Monster you must watch6 anime like Monster [Recommendations]

11 Terror in Resonance Pits the Police Against Two Young Terrorists

Terror in Resonance is about a terrorist group run by two boys named Nine and Twelve who not only caused destruction to a Japanese nuclear facility, but also plan to cause more mayhem in Tokyo. After these boys upload a mysterious video on the internet declaring their other heinous plans, the police, along with detective Kenjirou Shibazaki, decide to take action. Thus the series follows the battle between these two forces.

Terror in Resonance Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.09
• IMDb: 7.8
• AnimePlanet: 4.12/5

Like Monster, Terror in Resonance is a thriller anime with complex characters and a plotline involving child experimentation to some degree. Terror in Resonance also makes sure to keep viewers at bay with each episode and their stellar story-telling.

Terror in Resonance

TV-14

Crime

Drama

Thriller

Tokyo has been decimated by a terrorist attack, the only clue to the culprit's identity is a bizarre internet video. Two mysterious children form Sphinx, a clandestine entity determined to pull the trigger on this world.

Release Date

July 10, 2014

Cast

Kaito Ishikawa , Soma Saito , Aaron Dismuke , Atsumi Tanezaki , Robert McCollum , Megumi Han

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Studio

MAPPA

Creator

Shinichirō Watanabe

Number of Episodes

11

10 Berserk is a Fantastic Tale of Revenge, Pain, and Love

Berserk is about a mercenary swordsman named Guts who hungers for battle and is taken in by a mercenary leader named Griffith for his dedication to the sport. Although Guts becomes a great ally to Griffith's army, he will soon discover his leader's evil ways that'll lead to nothing but pain and sorrow for him.

Berserk Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.58
• IMDb: 8.7
• AnimePlanet: 4.12/5

Berserk tackles human complexities and features an alluring, charismatic, yet manipulative antagonist who'll do anything it takes to reach their goals. Although Berserk can get more intense regarding the violence shown in the series, it also captures the same dark atmosphere one will attain from watching Monster. Either version of the Berserk anime is a fine introduction for the original manga, the definitive Berserk experience that will explore humanity's darkest side and most sincere hope in incredible detail.

Berserk

TV-MA

Anime

Action

Fantasy

Guts, a wandering mercenary, joins the Band of the Hawk after being defeated in a duel by Griffith, the group's leader and founder. Together, they dominate every battle, but something menacing lurks in the shadows.

Release Date

October 7, 1997

Cast

Marc Diraison , Kevin T. Collins , Carrie Keranen , Michelle Newman , Christopher Kromer , Jeff Ward , Mark Sebastian , J , David Brimmer , Sean Schemmel

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Writers

Yasuhiro Imagawa

Franchise(s)

Berserk

Directors

Naohito Takahashi

9 Erased Sends Satoru on a Quest to the Future

Erased is about a boy named Satoru Fujinuma who must clear his name from a murderous crime by time-traveling to his childhood because he discovers a connection between this murder and an old classmate's disappearance. The story follows Satoru's quest to solve these two mysteries while protecting everyone he cares about in the past and present.

Erased Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.3
• IMDb: 8.5
• AnimePlanet: 4.34/5

Erased is a psychological seinen series that's suspenseful, centers around death, and highlights themes concerning child abuse, false accusations, and close relationships. This series will keep viewers at the edge-of-their-seat in anticipation of each new episode.

Erased

TV-14

Crime

Drama

29-year-old Satoru Fujinuma is sent back in time 18 years to prevent the events leading to his mother's death, which began with a series of kidnappings while he was in 5th grade.

Release Date

January 8, 2016

Cast

Minami Takayama , Tao Tsuchiya

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Creator

Kei Sanbe

Number of Episodes

12

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Hulu

8 Parasyte: The Maxim is All About Aliens and Body Horror

Parasyte: The Maxim is about a boy named Shinichi Izumi who one morning discovers an alien has occupied one of his hands. Shinichi later learns of an alien threat related to this hand creature that's arrived at the earth and must destroy all of them before it's too late.

Parasyte: The Maxim Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.33
• IMDb: 8.3
• AnimePlanet: 4.27/5

Like Monster, Parayste: The Maxim incorporates mature and dark themes surrounded by crime, mystery, and violence. Both series feature main protagonists trying to deal with societal change and moral responsibility. Parasyte: The Maxim, is well-beloved by many, as MyAnimeList argues, it's one of the best horror anime of all time.

Parasyte: The Maxim

TV-MA

Action

Horror

Science Fiction

Animation

Original title: Kiseijû: Sei no kakuritsu.
17-year-old Shinichi Izumi is partially infected by a Parasyte, monsters that butcher and consume humans. He must learn to co-exist with the creature if he is to survive both the life of a Parasyte and a human as part monster, part person.

Release Date

October 9, 2014

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Studio

Madhouse

Creator

Hitoshi Iwaaki

Production Company

Forecast Communications, Madhouse, Nippon Television Network (NTV), Video Audio Project (VAP)

Number of Episodes

21

Main Cast

Nobunaga Shimazaki, Aya Hirano, Rinka H.B.B., Atsuka Tanaka, Brittney Karbowski, Adam Gibbs and Joanne Bonasso

7 Higurashi When They Cry Entices Viewers With Mysteries and Twisted Characters

Higurashi When They Cry is about a boy named Keiichi Maebara who is a new Hinamizawa village resident that later discovers the darkness and mystery surrounding the village during their sacred festival. An anime told through different story arcs, Higurashi When They Cry encourages viewers to solve the series's questions alongside its character cast.

Higurashi When They Cry Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 7.88
• IMDb: 7.8
• AnimePlanet: 3.99/5

Like Monster, Higurashi When They Cry is a series surrounded by mystery, chilling and intriguing characters, and suspense. Higurashi When They Cry's spooky and intriguing storytelling has captured the love of many fans, to the point where MyAnimeList declares it's one of the best thriller anime.

Higurashi: When They Cry

TV-MA

Drama

Mystery

Horror

The story of a group of young friends and the mysterious events that occur in the rural village of Hinamizawa.

Release Date

April 4, 2006

Cast

Grant George , Rebecca Forstadt , Mela Lee , Megan Hollingshead , Michelle Rojas , Jennie Kwan

Main Genre

Horror

Seasons

2

Streaming Service(s)

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood tells the tale of the two Elric brothers who failed at resurrecting their mother because they utilized alchemy. This failed ritual causes both brothers to lose their bodies, which ultimately is the focus of their quest -- to return their bodies to normal via the legendary Philosopher's Stone.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 9.09
• IMDb: 9.1
• AnimePlanet: 4.56/5

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood features plotlines concerning revenge, human tests, manipulative and powerful antagonists, and deeply interconnected characters. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is also known for being a well-loved anime with each episode unraveling mysteries and secrets that'll keep fans engaged. If one loved Monster's plot and characters, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood will satisfy them.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

TV-14

Action

Adventure

Drama

Fantasy

Original title: Hagane no renkinjutsushi.
When a failed alchemical ritual leaves brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric with severely damaged bodies, they begin searching for the one thing that can save them: the fabled philosopher's stone.

Release Date

April 9, 2009

Cast

Romi Pak , Rie Kugimiya , Shinichirô Miki , Fumiko Orikasa

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Production Company

Bones

Number of Episodes

64

5 Oshi no Ko Has a Sorrowful Revenge Story Built Into It

At a glance, the colorful Oshi no Ko anime looks like a festive musical series about stardom, but looks are deceiving. At heart, Oshi no Ko has plenty in common with seinen crime thrillers like Monster, since they are both dramatic, heart-wrenching stories about troubled people and the brutal things that happen to or because of them.

Oshi no Ko Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.67
• IMDb: 8.4
• AnimePlanet: 4.4/5

In Oshi no Ko, the ultra-popular idol Ai Hoshino will have a twin son and daughter who are the reincarnations of two strangers, and as Aqua and Ruby grow up, they will struggle to find their place in the world and achieve true happiness. Aqua has revenge on his mind, while Ruby can't let go of her mother's stardom, all while youths like Akane Kurokawa and Kana Arima face hardships like cyberbullying and fading stardom.

Oshi No Ko

TV-14

Animation

Mystery

Supernatural

A doctor and his recently-deceased patient are reborn as twins to a famous Japanese musical idol and navigate the highs and lows of the Japanese entertainment industry as they grow up together through their lives.

Release Date

April 12, 2023

Cast

Manaka Iwami , Jeremy Gee , Jack Stansbury , Alyssa Marek , Savanna Menzel , Natalie Rial

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1

Creator

Aka Akasaka

Production Company

CyberAgent, Dogakobo, Kadokawa, Sentai Studios, Shueisha

Number of Episodes

12 Episodes

4 Chainsaw Man Features a Subversive, Miserable Antihero, Denji

The hit shonen anime Chainsaw Man has more action and monsters than grounded like crime thrillers like Monster, but even so, fans of either one may find plenty to like in the other. Both series are gritty, dark stories with twisted characters who show the worst side of humanity, and in Chainsaw Man's case, it's a highly subversive anime experience as well.

Chainsaw Man Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.51
• IMDb: 8.4
• AnimePlanet: 4.35/5

Protagonist Denji is a troubled teenager who just became Chainsaw Man, a human/devil hybrid with chainsaw powers and a monster-hunting job to keep him busy. And, like Monster, the Chainsaw Man anime features characters who may seem innocent and likable at first, but true monsters are just beneath the surface, creating all kinds of tension for the viewer.

Chainsaw Man

TV-MA

Anime

Action

Adventure

Following a betrayal, a young man left for dead is reborn as a powerful devil-human hybrid after merging with his pet devil and is soon enlisted into an organization dedicated to hunting devils. When his father died, Denji was stuck with a huge debt and no way to pay it back.

Release Date

October 11, 2022

Cast

Kikunosuke Toya , Ryan Colt Levy , Tomori Kusunoki , Suzie Yeung

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Studio

MAPPA

Creator

Tatsuki Fujimoto

Main Characters

Denji, Makima, Pochita, Power, Himeno, Kishibe

Number of Episodes

12

Network

Crunchyroll

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Hulu

3 Elfen Lied Shows the Dark Side of Humanity and Diclonius Alike

The infamous Elfen Lied anime is a violent and grim affair from start to finish, though it does have a glimmer of hope as well. In this sci-fi series, there are horned humanoids called Diclonius who can use telekinesis, but even with those powers, they don't have a place in the world. The main example is Nyu, whose vicious true self is known as Lucy.

Elfen Lied Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 7.47
• IMDb: 7.9
• AnimePlanet: 3.95/5

Lucy is bitter that she and her people are rejected by humanity, but she and her Nyu self can take comfort in Kouta's friendship, since Kouta is determined to givef Lucy/Nyu a place to call home. Along the way, Lucy/Nyu must deal with antagonistic scientists and gunmen like Bando, who see them either as tools to use or monsters to put down.

Elfen Lied

TV-MA

Sci-Fi

Two university students come across a seemingly harmless girl named Lucy, unaware that she's actually a mutant serial killer with a split personality.

Release Date

July 25, 2004

Creator(s)

Takao Yoshioka , Lynn Okamoto

Cast

Kira Vincent-Davis , Adam Conlon , Christine Auten , Nancy Novotny , Cynthia Martinez , Sasha Paysinger , Jay Hickman , Jason Douglas , Luci Christian

Main Genre

Action

Seasons

1

Studio

Arms, Studio Guts

Creator

Lynn Okamoto

Writers

Lynn Okamoto

Streaming Service(s)

Prime Video

Franchise(s)

Elfen Lied

Directors

Mamoru Kanbe

2 Attack on Titan Makes Humanity the Real Monster

The ultra-popular Attack on Titan anime has some overlap with the mecha and horror genres, though it also shares some common ground with Monster, since both series show humanity at its most monstrous and vicious. There may be man-eating Titans in the world of Attack on Titan, but time and again, the human race is the real monster, often in ways viewers won't expect.

Attack on Titan Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.54
• IMDb: 9.1
• AnimePlanet: 4.35/5

Protagonist Eren Yeager is a hotheaded shonen lead who's determined to avenge his mother and hometown after Titans trampled the place flat, but it's not so simple. There are dire mysteries waiting to be solved from beyond the mega-city's towering walls, and when humanity and Titans start to overlap in shocking ways, Eren will learn that Titans are the least of his concerns.

Attack On Titan

TV-MA

Action

Adventure

Original title: Shingeki no Kyojin.
After his hometown is destroyed and his mother is killed, young Eren Jaeger vows to cleanse the earth of the giant humanoid Titans that have brought humanity to the brink of extinction in Attack on Titan.

Release Date

September 28, 2013

Cast

Bryce Papenbrook , Yûki Kaji , Marina Inoue , Hiro Shimono , Takehito Koyasu , Jessie James Grelle

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

4 Seasons

Studio

Wit Studios, MAPPA

Creator

Hajime Isayama

Number of Episodes

98 Episodes

1 Vinland Saga Tells a Breathtaking Story of Vengeance and Loss

Vinland Saga is an unforgettable historical drama anime starring the rough antihero Thorfinn Karlsefni, who's about to learn some harsh yet vital lessons about life in the Viking Age. When he was just a kid, Thorfinn saw his beloved father Thors die in an ambush, and then Thorfinn vowed to get revenge by the blade.

Vinland Saga Scores:

• MyAnimeList: 8.75
• IMDb: 8.8
• AnimePlanet: 4.4/5

Thorfinn will spend years traveling with his father's killer Askeladd, seeing the latter as a monster to be slain. However, Thorfinn will eventually realize that war itself is the monster, a bloody creature that can be found in almost anyone, given the right provocation. But there is still hope, because people are also capable of wonderful acts of creation, and it may soon be Thorfinn's turn -- if he seizes his chance.

Vinland Saga

TV-MA

Anime

Action

Adventure

Following a tragedy, Thorfinn embarks on a journey with the man responsible for it to take his life in a duel as a true and honorable warrior to pay homage.

Release Date

July 6, 2019

Cast

Yûto Uemura , Mike Haimoto , Shinya Takahashi , Alejandro Saab , Hiroki Gotô , Aleks Le , Kaiji Tang , Michael C. Pizzuto

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

2

Studio

Wit Studio, Studio MAPPA

Creator

Makoto Yukimura

Production Company

Wit Studio, Mappa

Number of Episodes

48 Episodes

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix , Crunchyroll , Amazon Prime Video