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The 10 Best Suspense Anime You Should Watch in 2022


Best Suspense Anime You Should Watch

Are you looking for anime shows that will take you on a roller coaster ride? Is there a gap in your watchlist for some exciting and thrilling anime? Look no further, because we've compiled a list of the best suspense anime you should watch to keep you on the edge of your seat and glued to your screens.

Aside from huge anime shows like Attack on Titan, Tokyo Ghoul, Jujutsu Kaisen, and other insanely popular series, we've compiled a list of 10 suspense anime shows that are noteworthy and will give you a rush! In case you missed it, we've also covered the best adventure anime shows, the funniest comedy shows, and a list of sci-fi anime series to satisfy your anime cravings.

Related: The Best Wholesome Anime You Should Watch

  1. Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo

    Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo, based on Alexandre Dumas' magnum opus, is an underrated anime series with a diverse cast of well-developed and matured characters, a distinct art style, a large-scale plot, political betrayals, and a suspenseful plot narrative.

    Although it is not widely known, this suspense anime is so iconic that you will be sorry if you haven't seen even a single episode of this incredible adaptation. It's a very solid show that will hook you in an instant thanks to its interesting depiction of the source material. Some fans even regard Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo as a drug that they must continue to consume.

    The anime follows the intertwined fates of a French aristocrat named Baron Franz d'Epinay and the enigmatic Count of Monte Cristo in an intriguing story of vengeance and its ramifications. What began as a simple friendship becomes a long and devious tale of vengeance laced with elements of love, betrayal, and, of course, redemption.

  2. Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories

    Come in and have a peek around the theater of darkness! Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories is a suspense animation that not only delves into the supernatural and avant-garde horror genres but also provides the audience with a sense of mystery and fright.

    Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories manages to properly showcase its tense atmosphere, intriguing narrative, and appealing visual despite its short run length of only four minutes per episode.

    Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories is a collection of ghost stories told by a mysterious masked man whose name and origin are unknown. The masked storyteller, however, is far from ordinary, as he also bears a traditional scrolling device known as Kamishibai, which he uses to further picture his insane storytelling. The animation is episodic in nature, which explains the 13 episodes' various sinister stories inspired by Japanese urban legends.

  3. Hell Girl

    Hell Girl, also known as Jigoku Shoujo, is a suspense anime that follows a mysterious young girl named Ai Enma and her strange group of followers as they offer sinister contracts for people who want to exact revenge on their enemies in exchange for their hated souls.

    Furthermore, Hell Girl is episodic in nature, which explains the anime's pattern in which a specific character agrees to Ai Enma's hellish contract in order to gain redemption in each episode.

    While the anime's premise is fairly repetitive, it is still worth a watch if you enjoy short stories packaged into episodic anime. If you enjoy seeing karmic justice meted out to bad people and are interested in discussing the duality of sin in anime, this is a must-see.

    While the first season of Hell Girl focuses solely on the anime's repetitive pattern, the second and third seasons depart from the premise and delve deeper into the lives of Ai Enma and the rest of the Hell Girl crew. It becomes increasingly interesting as viewers get a glimpse into the soul escort's upbringing.

  4. Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song

    To be clear, Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song is neither a mecha nor a musical anime, though the latter does play a significant role in the series thanks to its incredible soundtrack. In any case, anime viewers should understand that mecha is not the same as the anime's premise, which is about artificial intelligence, or AI.

    The plot of this suspenseful anime revolves around the rise of AI. As the characters attempt to undo a massive disaster, they encounter robots and other social changes. In a nutshell, if you enjoyed the films "Terminator" and "I, Robot," this show is for you. It's a worthwhile anime with a plot narrative written by the same man who wrote Re: Zero.

    Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song's premise, while initially perplexing, follows the first autonomous AI known as DIVA, whose mission is to make everyone happy through her singing. Her peaceful days are cut short when an unknown program from the future invites her to join him in his mission to destroy the rest of the AIs.

  5. Japan Sinks 2020

    Japan Sinks 2020 is a disaster film that relies on the shock factor to keep the viewers watching. It is one of the most depressing animes yet, full of suspense, twists, and turns. While the anime starts off strong with an intriguing story, the tone deteriorates towards the end, which is a huge letdown.

    In any case, Japan Sinks 2020 is a suspense anime that has divided fans yet again. Some viewers regard the anime as a masterpiece, while others regard it as a complete waste of time, making it a rather interesting show. Despite its flaws, Japan Sinks 2020 earns a 6.44 rating from MAL and a solid 6.4 from IMDB.

    This Netflix original anime follows the Mutou family as they embark on a survival journey after the country has been shaken by a series of devastating earthquakes that have resulted in the country sinking into the Pacific.

  6. Kokkoku

    Kokkoku is a suspense anime that is so underrated despite its pretty intriguing concept, phenomenal soundtrack, and well-written characters. It has a Mezzo Forte art style and a show that doesn't exactly feel like anime because of its pacing, lack of usual tropes, and over-the-top nature. Kokkoku is an anime that you will either love or despise. There is no in-between, believe me! But one thing is certain: Kokkoku's opening theme is flawless!

    This suspense anime follows Juri Yukawa as she becomes involved in a strange situation involving her family, particularly her grandfather. Juri's younger siblings are kidnapped by a bunch of mysterious criminals who demand a ransom from her family one fateful day.

    Juri needs to deliver five million yen to the crooks in 30 minutes, not until her grandfather reveals a magical stone that can halt time. Juri and her grandfather enter the world of "Stasis", where time pauses for everyone but the users.

  7. 91 days

    With a historical setting, 91 Days is a mix of action, suspense, and drama. The show's strength is based on its devious characters, revenge plot, and strong action sequences, despite the fact that it only has 12 episodes on the season. This is a stressful anime with a lot of cliffhangers, so keep your feet on the ground and remember to breathe while viewing it. Regardless of budget constraints, 91 Days is a must-see for all suspense fans!

    Avilio Bruno, formerly known as Angelo Lagusa, is the protagonist of the anime, whose family is murdered by the powerful Vanetti mafia clan. After seven years, Avilio returns to Lawless, determined to carry out his pledge of vengeance against the Vanetti mafia family, which murdered his entire family. As a result, he becomes friends with Vanetti Don's son, "Nero," as he walks down the path of retribution.

  8. Terror in Resonance

    Terror in Resonance is a tense anime with an amazing aesthetic and good music that is worth watching despite some negative feedback from some fans. Perhaps the animosity sprang from fans' great hopes for Terror in Resonance, who dubbed it the next Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo.

    In any case, this suspense anime is comparable to Ghost in the Shell in that it tackles philosophical and mythical concepts while entertaining the audience. The anime follows two teenage guys named Nine and Twelve as they steal a prototype atomic bomb during a terrorist strike.

    Apparently, Nine and Twelve are Rising Peace Academy test subjects for the development of orphaned infants with Savant syndrome into human weapons. In case you didn't know, Savant syndrome is a rare illness in which people with a wide range of developmental abnormalities gain extraordinary strengths and expertise.

    As a result, Nine and Twelve have assumed the alias "Sphinx" and have posted a video on the internet threatening to attack Tokyo City unless the public solves a challenging riddle.

  9. Inuyashiki

    One of the most memorable animes from the 2017 fall anime season is Inuyashiki. It's a strong anime with a distinct protagonist and an unusual plot, as well as superb pacing. Inuyashiki is a decent film if you can look past the CGI, not to mention the intriguing sci-fi parts of the story. The animation also follows the source material closely, making it a successful anime adaptation.

    This suspense anime follows Inuyashiki Ichiro, a regular 58-year-old guy with a callous family until he is struck by a weird extraterrestrial explosion. As a result, his body becomes exceedingly powerful and mechanical, while still resembling his external human form. Inuyashiki evolves into a powerful mechanical entity with the sole intention of saving lives.

  10. Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress

    While some have compared Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress to Attack on Titan, this suspense anime has so much good action, fluid animation, and emotional build-ups that comparing it to Attack on Titan is completely unfair.

    The suspense anime is a mix of The Walking Dead and Snow Piercer, with a lot of steampunk angst set in the midst of an industrial revolution. Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress is a must-see anime, not to mention the anime's flawless fighting scenes!

    Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress follows Ikoma, a teenage steam smith, as he discovers a mysterious infection that causes the infected to attack humans in order to feed their insatiable appetite.

    To defeat the monsters known as Kabane, Ikoma creates the "Tsuranuki Zutsu," a weapon that pierces the monsters' steel hearts. They fight the Kabane in a series of battles with the enigmatic girl "Mumei" in order to reclaim their domain and track down the virus's origins.

    In case you missed it: The Best Upcoming Anime Coming out in 2022.

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