Psychological anime typically deals with testing human nature and tricks of the mind and can sometimes mess with your mind.
Psychological horror or thriller anime picks and borrows archetypes from other genres, ranging from suspense, and mystery to horror. But, psychological anime series focuses more on the mental state of the characters and less on the physical trauma. For the fans of anime, we have carefully curated a list of five mind-boggling psychological anime that will certainly mess with your mind.
Ergo Proxy
Ergo Proxy is a psychological and cyberpunk anime that aired in 2006. The story is set in a futuristic world where androids called AutoReiv to co-exist with humans peacefully, but suddenly a virus spreads and makes the former self-aware, compelling them to commit murders.
An inspector named Re-l Mayer is assigned to solve the case, and she quickly discovers that there is an involvement of a strange species known as Proxy, created as a part of a confidential government experiment.
Alice in Borderland
This series revolves around Ryōhei Arisu, a high school student with no aspirations and desperately wanting to escape from his life. But, one day, a giant firework explosion knocks him and two of his friends out. After regaining their senses, Arisu realizes that they are in an unfamiliar place with no one around. The three friends are soon forced to participate in survival games or die. Alice in Borderland cleverly explores the ways people transform when unexpected situations push an individual to their limit.
Paranoia Agent
This psychological thriller aired in 2004. Paranoia Agent revolves around Lil' Slugger, a serial assailant in Musashino, Tokyo. As the viewpoint of the series changes depending on the character, you will realize how small details become revelations and unveil the truth behind the actions of the assailant. This series is a unique choice because it is partly a satire and partly a psychological thriller.
Future Diary
The future diary follows the story of a high school student named Yukiteru Amano, who is thrown into a royal battle to become the new God of Space and Time. There is a diary that foretells the future. But Amano is not the only participant - there are 11 other players - each with their own future diary. One participant named Yuno Gasai becomes obsessed with Amano, leading her to kill everyone else standing in her way. Let the twisted and sinister game of psychological torture and survival begin!
Speed Grapher
It is a psychological and supernatural series that follows the story of Tatsumi Saiga, a former war photographer who investigates a club. Just when Saiga is about to die from saving Kagura, a 15-year-old from the club, the latter kisses him and gifts him with the supernatural ability to destroy anything he photographs.
Show some love to these fantastic psychological anime, and we promise you will not regret it.
