Shinichi Kudo is followed as he helps police with their cases in Detective Conan, commonly known as Case Closed, one of the most popular television shows of all time.

The criminal organization known as the Black Organization attempts to murder him to get him out of the way. Still, they employ a risky experimental medicine that transforms him into a child instead.

He adopts the alias Conan Edogawa and keeps helping the police by residing with a friend whose father is a detective. When the detective needs to learn who committed the crime and how they did it, Edogawa then changes his voice and sedates him.

Despite numerous spinoffs, Detective Conan is still one of Japan's most-watched television series of all time. The Japanese government even used the series to promote crime prevention.

MAL Rated 8.25

Ranked #245

Aired Winter 1996

Produced by TMS Entertainment

Watch here: https://www.netflix.com/jp-en/title/80090370

It's impossible to have a detective anime list without Death Note, much like trying to race without an engine.

Light Yagami, a clever high school student who discovers a mystery book that turns out to be an object that offers the power to kill someone by writing their name in it, has an unusual name by Japanese norms that profoundly influences the plot.

Yagami, who purports to kill people for moral reasons, attracts the attention of the police, especially L, a brilliant detective with a sweet tooth. The two wind up cooperating as they attempt to out each other, which further exacerbates Yagami's issues.

MAL Rated 8.73

Ranked #36

Aired Fall 2006

Produced by Madhouse

Watch here: https://www.netflix.com/title/70204970

The plot revolves around the exploits of young Hajime Kindaichi, a high school student who claims to be the grandson of the famed private detective Kosuke Kindaichi.

Kindaichi is a dedicated investigator who will solve cases that no one else has ever solved.

It's basically like Detective Conan, but with more complicated logical problems, more brutal killings, and a more riveting ambiance that makes DC look like a joke.

This compensates for the lack of crime variation that its counterpart provides.

If you pay close attention to the scenes, you can figure out "who did what" rather quickly. Even after a long day, it's still a lot of fun to watch.

MAL Rated 7.96

Ranked #567

Aired Spring 1997

Produced by Toei Animation

Watch here: https://9animetv.to/watch/kindaichi-shounen-no-jikenbo-543?ep=66251

When Deux Ex and prosthetic technology were invented, everyone's life around the world was improved. The story is set in a near-future Japan.

However, it's not simply technology advancing; criminal activity is also.

The Japanese government created Section 9 in reaction to the escalating threat.

To deal with the mounting threat, this team of expert detectives and troops is present.

Maj. Motoko Kusanagi and Chief Daisuke Aramaki, who are in charge of the organization, will take out anyone who poses a threat to the safety of the populace while also taking on government corruption from all angles.

Once more, a classic or kino in the detective-like genre.

Unquestionably one of the legendary anime series that you must watch at some time. And undoubtedly a choice for any snobby anime lover who might wish to see this number rise even more.

MAL Rated 8.47

Ranked #113

Aired Fall 2002

Produced by Production I.G

Watch here: https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/ghost-in-the-shell-stand-alone-complex

Akane Tsunemori is tasked with solving crimes through Division One of the Public Safety Bureau's Criminal Investigation Division in a dystopian future teeming with criminals.

Criminal justice is mostly achieved by the Sibyl System, which employs a variety of biomechatronic techniques to continuously measure the biometrics of Japanese individuals' brains and mentalities.

This assessment, known as a Psycho-Pass, then exposes the individual to police targeting due to their proclivity to commit a crime or being suspected of committing a crime.

The series is strong in its investigation of these sociological and psychological issues, particularly dissent and thoughtcrime, in the manner of the film Minority Report.

MAL Rated 8.52

Ranked #94

Aired Fall 2012

Produced by Production I.G

Watch here: https://www.netflix.com/watch/80006146

Living in Chiba, close to Tokyo, is Satoru Fujinuma, who possesses the special talent known as resurrection. When a life is in jeopardy, this is set off, bringing the person back to the moment of their death.

When his mother is killed, the power takes him back a whole 18 years in time, allowing him to solve other crimes.

The show has received appreciation for addressing issues related to sorrow, bewilderment, self-loathing, and feelings of helplessness that can develop following a death.

There is a lot of nonlinearity in the time travel component, which adds to the suspense because you never know where the story is heading.

MAL Rated 8.74

Ranked #32

Aired Winter 2016

Produced by A-1 Pictures

Watch here: https://www.netflix.com/title/80114225

Dr. Kazou Tenma, a neurosurgeon, was performing surgery on an immigrant worker when he received a call to transfer patients.

When the previous patient he was working on died, the switch, which earned him a favorable opinion among his colleagues, made him feel a lot of remorse and touched into his moral choices and conscience.

When a similar situation arose, he opted to save the life of a small kid rather than the mayor of the town. However, even when it appears that he has made the correct decision, his history will haunt him.

In this anime, he will confront the monster of a person he once saved and must do everything in his power to rectify the wrongs of what he once felt was right, attacking moral and philosophical foundations of humanity... but also the psychological component of it.

It is written with zeal and delves into the limits of a person's moral code and morals within himself.

This is not an easy watch, so if you start it, you better belt up.

MAL Rated 8.74

Ranked #34

Aired Spring 2004

Produced by Madhouse

Watch here: https://www.netflix.com/title/81409869

Gosick, a stylized gothic, centers on a brilliant girl and her detective brother and is set in a hypothetical European nation in the early 1900s. He uses her insightful reasoning to unravel mysteries that at first appear insurmountable.

The intelligent Victorique de Blois becomes connected with Kazuya Kujo, a Japanese exchange student who falls short of her abilities.

The melancholy European landscape is characterized by a mysterious and opulent atmosphere, with a strong emphasis on dark and ominous hues. Gosick delivers on the desire of the majority of detective-themed anime viewers for a complex plot.

MAL Rated 8.24

Ranked #257

Aired Winter 2011

Produced by Bones

Watch here: https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/GYG5GW91Y/gosick

Hotaro Oreki is asked to join the Kamiyama High School's Classic Literature Club due to a dearth of members, and he demonstrates his ability for logical deduction and clear thinking.

He is later tasked with solving the mysteries that arise around the school, transforming this into a slice-of-life style series with major detective aspects.

Other members of the literature club contribute their insights and talents, resulting in incredibly complex puzzles solved through teamwork while also providing enough opportunity for explication.

MAL Rated 8.18

Ranked #319

Aired Spring 2012

Produced by Kyoto Animation

Watch here: https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/hyoka

A well-known detective from Japan named Morihiko Dan helped him with his cases and started a school to educate other detectives.

Kyu Renjo and his classmates attempt to unravel these nearly unsolvable, perfect crimes while facing out against the powerful organization Pluto.

To succeed Morihiko Dan, all of the students are vying for the position. They are all working to solve the trickiest cases. Even though the series closely follows the manga, its direction is a little mediocre, but it is still a lot of fun to watch.

MAL Rated 7.88

Ranked #708

Aired Spring 2003

Produced by Studio Pierrot

Watch here: https://yugenanime.tv/anime/5292/tantei-gakuen-q/

Narumi Fujishima, a reclusive high school student, joins NEET, a detective organization run by the enigmatic genius Alice.

The crew is led by Alice, who also provides most of the information required to solve cases thanks to her exceptional computer skills. She has not revealed her true identity, but it is assumed that she is a young girl who has fled her home and doesn't go to school.

The series' modest yet varied score is a highlight, and it is special for addressing societal themes specific to Japan, like bullying and hikkikomori.

MAL Rated 7.72

Ranked #990

Aired Summer 2011

Produced by J.C.Staff

Watch here: https://animehub.ac/detail/kamisama-no-memochou-dub.43221

The Armed Detective Agency, with its focus on Yokohama, is tasked with protecting the city, and its star is the weretiger Atsushi Nakajima.

The other team members all have supernatural abilities, which opens them to a variety of unusual approaches to solving the murders. Due to the presence of a book that, when used in conjunction with his abilities, can change reality, Nakajima is a target.

The squad faces several challenges from a multi-faceted foe while heavily fusing detective aspects with an action and adventure theme.

MAL Rated 7.62

Ranked #1197

Aired Spring 2016

Produced by Bones

Watch here: https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/GR5VXQ8PR/bungo-stray-dogs

After a string of terrorist incidents, Japan amends Article 9 of its constitution and builds an army to defend itself.

In order to aid in the prevention of new attacks, additional regulations are approved, granting tech business boss Rinroku Kaishou access to practically all data in Japan. To solve these crimes, he collaborates with Shinjujo Yuki and his paranormal partner Inga.

Inga needs souls to survive, and as part of a pact with Yuki, she agrees not to kill any people as long as Yuki gives her the souls she requires. Inga possesses the incredibly helpful ability to ask just one person and always receive the truth.

MAL Rated 7.55

Ranked #1397

Aired Fall 2011

Produced by Bones

Watch here: https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/un-go

Yakumo Saitou, the main character, with unique abilities that allow him to see ghosts and speak with them.

Haruka Ozawa typically steers clear of this eye, but now that she knows he can aid spirits, she is thrilled. She feels bad that she might have caused her twin's death. In an effort to save lost souls, they start to uncover puzzles as Saitou accepts Ozawa's request for assistance.

The show, like the Ghost Hunt described above, places a lot of emphasis on interpersonal connections and the difficulties they encounter, especially as Saitou's past comes to light.

MAL Rated 7.48

Ranked #1605

Aired Fall 2010

Produced by Bee Train

Watch here: https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/psychic-detective-yakumo

The series centers on a specialized team of spiritualists and other professionals entrusted with investigating the weird occurrences. It is a detective show that investigates the occult and other incomprehensible phenomena throughout Japan.

The main character, Mai Taniyama, is a first-year high school student who joins the Shibuya Psychic Research after damaging one of their cameras during an investigation. However, it soon becomes clear that Mai also possesses prophetic dreams, clairvoyance, and ESP.

The program has received appreciation for its distinctively Japanese interpretation of the ghost hunting and supernatural adventure genre, which prominently features Japanese mythology and folklore.

MAL Rated 7.76

Ranked #1026

Aired Fall 2006
Produced by J.C.Staff
Watch here: https://www.justwatch.com/uk/tv-series/ghost-hunt