15 Mystery Anime with Endings That Make You Rewatch Episode One

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Steins;Gate

Steins;Gate takes viewers on a thrilling ride through time travel and mind-bending paradoxes. The protagonist, Rintarou Okabe, a self-proclaimed mad scientist, accidentally discovers a way to send messages into the past using a microwave. This revelation sets off a chain of events that leads to altering the fabric of reality itself. The anime explores the consequences of time travel in a world filled with secret organizations and high-stakes drama.

As the story unravels, the ending will make you look back on earlier episodes, realizing just how cleverly everything ties together. You may find yourself rewatching it to catch the subtle hints and foreshadowing you missed. The characters are deeply developed, and their complex relationships add an emotional layer to the intrigue. Steins;Gate remains a standout in the genre due to its brilliant writing and unexpected twists.

Erased (Boku Dake ga Inai Machi)

Erased is a gripping blend of time travel and mystery. Satoru Fujinuma, a failed manga artist, finds himself transported back to his childhood after witnessing a murder. With the ability to go back in time, he must solve a series of kidnappings that happened when he was a child in order to prevent a tragic future. The slow build-up and the deep connection between Satoru and the other characters make it an emotional journey as much as it is a mystery. As the story progresses, the audience is left questioning what is real and who they can trust.

The twists in the plot are not only shocking but will make you want to rewatch the first few episodes to see the clues hidden in plain sight. The chilling atmosphere and the well-crafted suspense contribute to Erased being a standout anime in the mystery genre. The unexpected revelations at the end make it a rewarding experience to revisit.

The Promised Neverland

At the beginning of The Promised Neverland, you are introduced to a seemingly perfect orphanage. However, when the children discover the horrifying truth about their fate, the stakes rise dramatically. Emma, Norman, and Ray, the three protagonists, must use their wits and courage to escape from an unthinkable future. The story builds up slowly but keeps you engaged with its subtle psychological suspense.

The twists towards the end of the season are so impactful that you will want to rewatch the episodes to catch the early signs of foreshadowing. The anime is a perfect mix of horror and mystery with moments of pure genius. The sharp character development and intricate plot make it an unforgettable experience. The Promised Neverland encourages you to dive back into the story, searching for hidden meanings and clues that lead to the shocking conclusion.

Paranoia Agent

Paranoia Agent is a psychological mystery that blurs the line between reality and imagination. The series follows a mysterious figure known as “Lil’ Slugger,” who attacks people with a golden baseball bat. The show delves into the minds of the victims, exploring their fears and inner turmoil. What begins as a simple investigation soon turns into a complex, surreal story, full of unexpected turns. The ending leaves you with many questions, compelling you to revisit the first episode to uncover the deeper layers of the narrative.

The animation and storytelling techniques used in Paranoia Agent are thought-provoking, creating a sense of unease throughout. It challenges your perception of reality, forcing you to question everything you thought you knew. The brilliance of the show lies in how it plays with your mind, and rewatching it only adds to the mystery.

Memento Mori (Noein: To Your Other Self)

Noein: To Your Other Self is a mind-bending anime that revolves around alternate realities and the quest for answers. The main character, Haruka, discovers that her future self is connected to a parallel world in which the fate of humanity hangs in the balance. The anime incorporates elements of science fiction and mystery, creating a compelling narrative. As the story unfolds, the twists and turns keep you at the edge of your seat.

The ending is so powerful that it urges you to go back to the beginning to re-evaluate the clues and how they were presented. The themes of fate, time, and the consequences of choices make it an intricate series to rewatch. The emotional depth of the characters and the layers of mystery make Noein a true gem in the mystery anime genre.

Shinsekai Yori (From the New World)

Shinsekai Yori is a dystopian mystery that takes place in a world where humans live alongside powerful psychic abilities. The story is set in a distant future where society is divided by a rigid caste system. The main characters are tasked with uncovering the dark secrets of their world while grappling with the consequences of their powers. The show is a slow burn, but the payoff is worth it as the mystery deepens.

The twist in the later episodes will make you rethink everything you’ve seen. The anime’s world-building and intricate plot weave together to create an engaging experience. The plot is full of subtle foreshadowing, and revisiting earlier episodes helps make sense of the complex story. Shinsekai Yori is a thought-provoking and chilling exploration of human nature and society, making it worth rewatching.

Higurashi When They Cry

Higurashi When They Cry is a disturbing mystery that revolves around a series of brutal murders in a rural village. Each arc presents the same events from different perspectives, making it difficult to discern the truth. The unsettling atmosphere and the sense of dread build throughout the series, keeping you hooked from start to finish. As the series progresses, the mysteries unfold in ways that you never expect, leaving you questioning who is behind the killings.

The ending is so shocking that it makes you want to revisit the entire series to figure out what went wrong. Higurashi is a perfect blend of horror and mystery, with a narrative that constantly keeps you guessing. The unique structure and its ability to manipulate time and perspectives create an anime that is both gripping and unpredictable. If you enjoy mind-bending plots, Higurashi When They Cry is sure to leave you thinking long after the credits roll.

Durarara!!

Durarara!! is a multi-layered mystery that explores the lives of various characters in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. The series intertwines the stories of gang members, supernatural creatures, and regular citizens, all trying to navigate a city filled with chaos. The show is packed with plot twists and reveals that make it hard to put down.

As the mystery surrounding the headless rider and other strange events unravels, you will be pulled deeper into the web of intrigue. The ending will make you rethink everything you’ve seen, as many of the characters’ motivations and actions are tied to larger, hidden forces. Durarara!! is a fast-paced, thrilling mystery with plenty of moments that encourage you to rewatch the earlier episodes. Its complex storytelling and intricate plotlines make it a standout in the mystery genre.

Another

Another is a mystery that mixes horror with suspense as it follows a high school class cursed by a string of deaths. The students must uncover the truth behind the mysterious curse that haunts them while dealing with the unsettling presence of a girl named Mei Misaki. The atmosphere is eerie, with tension building as the mystery deepens.

The story’s conclusion will leave you reeling, wanting to rewatch the entire series to catch every subtle clue. The anime’s sense of dread and the unknown creates a captivating mystery that pulls you in from the very beginning. The mystery is so well-crafted that you’ll find yourself revisiting the show to better understand the shocking revelations. The twists and turns in Another make it a highly rewatchable series for those who love a good thriller.

The Future Diary (Mirai Nikki)

The Future Diary follows a high-stakes survival game where participants use diaries that predict the future to outlast one another. The main character, Yukiteru Amano, is thrust into a deadly battle against other diary holders, including the unstable and obsessive Yuno Gasai. The story is filled with twists, as alliances shift and the lines between friend and foe blur.

The shocking ending will make you rethink the motivations behind the characters’ actions, leading you to revisit the first few episodes for hidden clues. The way the characters evolve and how their pasts are intertwined with the present adds to the complexity of the story. The intense suspense and thrilling plot twists make Mirai Nikki an anime that rewards multiple viewings. Its gripping mystery and unpredictable nature make it a standout in the genre.

Psycho-Pass

Psycho-Pass is set in a dystopian future where the government controls society with a system that measures the mental state of its citizens, determining their potential for criminal behavior. The main character, Akane Tsunemori, is a new inspector in the Public Safety Bureau, tasked with tracking down criminals using the system’s judgment. As Akane delves deeper into her work, she begins to question the morality of a society governed by such an oppressive system.

The mystery deepens as the true intentions of the mysterious criminal mastermind, Makishima Shogo, are revealed. The ending raises profound questions about the nature of justice, leaving you compelled to rewatch the series to catch earlier hints about the system’s flaws. Psycho-Pass weaves complex themes with action and mystery, making it a compelling experience that encourages viewers to dig deeper. The plot’s twists and the characters’ moral dilemmas make the anime highly rewatchable.

Monogatari Series

The Monogatari series is a unique blend of supernatural mystery and psychological drama. The protagonist, Koyomi Araragi, finds himself surrounded by various oddities, supernatural beings that bring strange and often dangerous circumstances into his life. As he encounters each oddity, he must unravel its mystery and help those affected by it.

The series is known for its rapid dialogue, deep character development, and the philosophical questions it poses. The twists at the end of each arc often make you reexamine previous episodes, finding new meanings in the characters’ interactions. The combination of mystery and the supernatural creates an atmosphere that feels both surreal and thought-provoking. Monogatari offers a fresh take on the mystery genre, making it worth revisiting to catch the subtle foreshadowing.

The Tatami Galaxy

The Tatami Galaxy is a thought-provoking anime that explores the life of an unnamed university student as he navigates through different possibilities and timelines. The story delves into his attempts to live the perfect college life, only for him to repeatedly find himself in different, often disastrous, scenarios. Each episode follows a “what if” scenario, allowing the protagonist to relive his experiences in search of meaning. The mystery revolves around his search for happiness, and the series’ clever use of time loops and alternate realities adds an intriguing layer.

As the final episodes unfold, the protagonist’s journey takes an unexpected and deeply satisfying turn. Watching the anime from start to finish will leave you with questions about fate and free will, compelling you to rewatch the series to understand the nuances you missed. Its unique narrative structure makes The Tatami Galaxy an excellent choice for those who enjoy mystery and philosophical exploration.

Kara no Kyoukai (The Garden of Sinners)

The Garden of Sinners is a dark and captivating mystery that centers around Shiki Ryougi, a girl with the ability to see the “lines of death” and kill anything by severing those lines. She becomes involved in a series of disturbing events, each one connected to mysterious deaths and supernatural occurrences. The anime’s exploration of life, death, and the human psyche is both thrilling and unsettling.

The mysteries surrounding Shiki’s past and her unique powers unfold throughout the series, with twists that will make you rethink everything you thought you understood. The visually striking animation and complex storytelling keep you engaged, and the chilling atmosphere adds to the intrigue. Kara no Kyoukai offers an intricate blend of psychological horror and mystery, encouraging multiple viewings to fully grasp the connections between each arc.

Gosick

Gosick is a mystery anime set in a fictional European country in the 1920s, where the brilliant, eccentric Victorique de Blois solves complex cases using her sharp intellect. She is joined by Kazuya Kujo, a young man who helps her navigate the world and unravel the mysteries that come their way. The duo investigates a wide range of cases, each more puzzling than the last, all while uncovering secrets about Victorique’s past and the true nature of the mysterious events around them.

The anime’s intriguing plot twists and suspenseful reveals keep you hooked from beginning to end. The chemistry between the main characters and their deepening relationship adds emotional depth to the mystery. Gosick is a mix of clever detective work and thrilling suspense, with a plot that’s rich with details you will want to revisit after watching the final episode. The unexpected turns at the end compel you to look back and reassess the clues presented throughout the series.

This article originally appeared on Avocadu.