Those animes that leave you with a little destroyed brain, you can consider them as psychological issues. Generally they are deep animes, entangled, with dense content and that leave you thinking more time than you should.
They can also have a mysterious and even detective content. One of the most famous you surely know, is Death Note. It is a mystery and psychological anime classic with the perfect supernatural touch.
Top 10 best psychological anime
10. Neon Genesis Evangelion
Anyone who considers himself an otaku or anime fan, must have heard about Evangelion. It is one of the most controversial and interesting anime series ever created. Not to mention how strange it is. But we love the strange, so there's no problem.
This anime is more about character development and their flaws. Whether you love it or hate it, Evangelion makes references and allusions to psychology and the human psyche, and addresses the issues in a way that was unique to its time.
The story revolves around Shinji, a young man who is suddenly recruited by an organization that fights against the fearsome Angels that come down to Earth to destroy it. Shinji must pilot a giant robot, known as EVA, to fight these fearsome monsters, while trying to lead a student life and solve many of his personality problems, family, friendship, psychological, etc ...
9. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (When They Cry)
This anime uses suspense to get hooked, and morbid curiosity to keep you watching. The series is a great psychological anime not only for its mental games and unique stories, but also for its ability to make viewers crave more violence just so we can discover what happened.
It's a story about murders, mysteries, and the real faces of the people around you.
8. Psycho-Pass
In the future, humanity has found a way to measure the general state of being of a person through innovative technology and advanced science. With this technology at hand, the state of being called "Psycho-Pass" indicates that a person is good and sane.
The police force is the branch responsible for using this technology and making the most of it. And, in the dark world of Psycho-Pass, anyone who is considered a potential criminal is treated, usually in a lethal manner. But, what if the system made an error?
Psycho-Pass is really a psychotic anime, as it delves into the mood of the people. You're just standing there, and before you know it, they've already analyzed you. Whether the technology of Psycho-Pass is truly legitimate or simply a farce, this anime will present in full view the implications of judging and playing with the state of the human being.
This great psychological anime questions the line between right and wrong, and challenges viewers to change their perception of "justice".
7. Mahou Shoujo Madoka☆Magica (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)
We know, you're wondering why there is an anime with some magical girls in the list of the best psychological animes. This demonstrates that you have not seen the anime.
Mahou Shoujo Madoka☆Magica is a disturbing and profoundly psychological anime about friendship, dreams and the price you are willing to pay to save a life. You just have to see it and clarify your doubts ...
6. Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu (Parasyte)
Better known as Parasyte, this is one of the strangest and at the same time introspective anime that you will encounter.
The story is about parasitic aliens that have descended from space to feed on the brains of weak-willed humans. Somehow, Shinichi Izumi has avoided becoming an alien zombie by keeping a parasite from entering his brain, but the alien was not happy with this and decides to inhabit his arm. Now the two have to work together to survive.
This brutal horror series sounds like a typical thriller, but its focus on human nature about cheap emotions which catapults it into its position as one of the best psychological animes.
5. Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei (The Tatami Galaxy)
Men with eggplant face, friends worse than enemies and time jumps are just some of the things you'll find in this anime series. Underneath all the strangeness, however, is a story full of symbolism and life lessons.
Another gem of the Madhouse studio. This strange and surreal anime is one of the best psychological animes for its extravagant nature.
4. Death Note
A classic psychological anime and certainly one of the best psychological anime series, and in general, that have been created in the world of anime. Death Note has it all: Mind games, strategies, twists, brain shocks, etc.
After mysteriously falling from the sky and being noticed by the 17 years old student Light Yagami, the death notebook known as Death Note comes to his hands. While at first things were purely curiosity, Light soon realizes that the notebook is real and its power is truly fearsome. And so, without a moment to lose, Light begins to reform the world with his own version of justice by killing all the criminals he can.
This psychological anime shows what happens when someone with a genius intellect comes into contact with this kind of power.
3. Zetsuen no Tempest (Blast of Tempest)
The story is full of twists, the characters really use their mental abilities, and the coincidences are presented in an unexpected way: all this creates a stormy plot that throws all the elements in a vortex and releases them in an extravagant manner.
Inspired by Shakespeare's "The Tempest", Zetsuen no Tempest examines the human psyche and motivations. There is a lot of action, but the most important developments come from within, through well-developed and complex characters.
When the princess, Hakaze Kusaribe, who turns out to be the most powerful witch of the Kusaribe clan is banished to a desolate island where her powers become null, she summons help through the use of a sorcery message. On the other hand, a vengeful young man, Mahiro Fuwa, who recently found out about the murder of his sister, coincidentally stumbles upon Hakaze's message, which gives him the mission to help her and be helped by her too.
2. Monster
If you had the capability to save one life while losing another, what would you do? When Dr. Kenzou Tenma faces this decision, he chooses to save the life of a boy, while leaving an older man and the mayor of the city to die. This causes the beginning of the doctor's living nightmare.
Monster represents the true nature and psyche of humanity and society with extreme relevance. Based on the values and the dark truths of ourselves and our society, this anime shows the most unexplored but undeniable truth about us and our world.
1. Boku dake ga Inai Machi (Erased)
This is a psychological anime series with a really excellent mystery theme. One of the best I've seen if I may say. In addition, it is relatively new, the best that 2016 brought us in anime.
A deep story that plays with time, combined with elements of mystery and suspense. Despite high ratings, reactions to this seem to have mixed emotions. Watch it and decide for yourself if it really deserves a place among the best psychological anime.
It is a story about a young man, who returns to the past and his elementary school kid body, but retains all his memories of the future and his adolescent mind. He should keep one of his classmates friends off from being kidnapped and killed. It is a constant Russian roulette between present, past and future.
