Best Anime Like Death Note

Anime like Death Note do not come around often; if they did, Madhouse's adaptation of Tsugumi Ohba's manga might have faded out of the public consciousness a long time ago. Yet, Death Note has persevered as a definitive gateway anime, one that is still as beloved today as it was in the mid-2000s.

While the anime is the most well-known version, Light and L have graced a few mediums, to mixed results. 2006's two Japanese live-action movies are quite good and well worth a watch for fans of either the manga or anime. 2008's L: Change the World is an unnecessary continuation that falls fairly flat but holds some appeal. The 2015 J-drama takes plenty of creative liberties, which helps justify its existence as an alternate reality version that takes Light and L in different directions. 2016's Death Note: Light Up the New World is a decent belated sequel to the original live-action duology. Meanwhile, 2017's American Death Note is a glorious mess that should inspire rage, confusion, and hilarity in equal measure.

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Basically, there is plenty of Death Note media to check out, and that is without going into any supplementary manga or games. However, the franchise is far from limitless, and, eventually, fans will need to look elsewhere to get their fill of mind games and global terrorism. Let's highlight a few anime similar to Death Note.

Updated on January 17, 2024 by Mark Sammut: The Winter 2025 anime season is underway, and the lineup does not particularly contain any shows like Death Note. Still, anyone craving stories that might scratch a similar itch should check out the following anime:

• Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective - This medical drama follows a genius doctor who solves strange cases, sort of like House. Ameku is also quite arrogant, although she is a bit more noble than Light.
• Dr. Stone: Science Future – In its fourth season, Dr. Stone does not need an introduction at this point. Tonally, the anime is quite different from Death Note, but most arcs revolve around Senku trying to outsmart other characters.
• The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 – A fantastic anime with a great protagonist, Apothecary Diaries frequently throws out a medical dilemma for Maomao to solve. The series focuses more on the internal politics of the Imperial Palace, but the mystery aspect is decent too.

A 2024 isekai anime has also been added as a recommendation.

1 Code Geass

Protagonist Has Similar Ability To Light...Also, Mechs

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. 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 who is given a power of this enormity may not have the maturity to wield it properly or wisely.

Similar to Death Note, Code Geass is an all-time classic that touches upon themes of power and corruption, although the latter is far more political than the former. Code Geass is also a mecha anime that leans heavily into action, particularly during the second cour. While quite different in their execution, the two shows' core power will forever link them.

2 Death Parade

A Game Of Life & Death

Another awesome anime for beginners, 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.

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.

With a rotating cast of participants and an episodic feel, Death Parade is only loosely similar to Death Note. However, nearly every episode consists of a life-and-death struggle between two people who are desperate for salvation, all framed through the guide of games.

3 Kaiji

Gambling With Genuine Stakes

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.

4 Classroom Of The Elite

Stoic Protagonist Manipulates Everyone Around Him

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, even if sometimes it feels like the characters are making a big deal out of nothing.

5 Monster

Deliberate Thriller & Character study

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.

6 Tomodachi Game

Students Dragged Into Outlandish Games

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.

7 Bakuman

Tsugumi Ohba's Other Masterpiece

Death Note secured Tsugumi Ohba's legacy as an all-time great mangaka, but it is hardly his only project. While his resume is not huge, the author also worked on Bakuman and Platinum End, two series that lasted for years and produced 30+ volumes combined. Although not as popular as Death Note, they were success stories in their own right.

Now, in terms of pure content, Platinum End is a better pick for Death Note fans, with the story revolving around a battle royale to determine the next god. Candidates have special powers, and there is even a character (Kanade Uryu) who seems inspired by Light. However, both the manga and anime are divisive, to the point of being seen as a low point in Ohba's career. Still, Platinum End can be fun in a "turn off your brain and just don't think at all" kind of way – just do not go in expecting something on the level of Death Note.

Conversely, Bakuman is fantastic. Focusing on two guys who are striving to become mangaka, the story takes a realistic look at this career path, showing its challenges, frustrations, and triumphs. Even more than a decade following the show's conclusion, Bakuman is still the definitive series about manga, and the later seasons even dive into the anime adaptation process. This series is completely different from Death Note, but they both showcase Ohba's talent for fun characters, tension, and even comedy. Honestly, an argument could be made that Bakuman is Ohba's most consistent manga/anime.

8 My Home Hero

"Normal" Guy Pushed To Desperation

Death Note focuses on extraordinary people, crafting a battle of wits between two geniuses; conversely, My Home Hero puts an ordinary family in an extraordinary situation, challenging them to rise to the occasion. Tetsuo is a fairly typical father who has a strained relationship with his daughter. While he is somewhat seen as spineless, he proves to be anything but when he accidentally hears his daughter's boyfriend talk about abusing her. Tetsuo kills him, and the murder becomes even more complicated when it is revealed that the deceased is the son of a made man.

My Home Hero follows Tetsuo and his wife as they try to get out of a sticky situation. If they want to survive, they will need to outwit a few different characters who all have blood on their hands. Moving at a blistering pace and prioritizing cliffhangers and twists above everything else, My Home Hero is a fun one-cour show.

9 The Future Diary

Imagine A Battle Royale Among Death Note Users

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 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 gray acts.

10 Steins;Gate

Actions & Consequences

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.