Action is awesome, romance is sweet, but when it comes to making you think nothing beats psychological anime. These top psychological anime will turn your perception of anime upside down. Prepare to have your mind blown.

Best psychological anime to give your brain a workout

Death Note :

--produced by MadHouse--

What if you had the power to erase a life without getting your hands dirty? Death Note makes this imaginary scenario a reality through the little black book. Write a name inside, and you doom that person. This top psychological anime shows what happens when someone with a genius intellect comes into contact with this kind of power.

Psycho-Pass :

--Produced by Production I.G--

What if you could tell that a person was going to commit a crime based on their psychological state of mind? What would you do with that information? In the dark world of Psycho-Pass, anyone who is deemed a potential criminal is dealt with, usually in a lethal manner. But what if the system made a mistake? This great psychological anime questions the line between good and bad, and challenges viewers to change their perception of "justice."

Boku dake ga Inai machi :

--Produced by A-1 Picture--

Erased hasn't been out even a year, and already it's shot up to become one of the highest ranked and rated anime on MAL. What makes it so great? A deep story that plays with time, combined with elements of mystery and suspense. Despite the high ratings, reactions to this one seem divided right down the middle. Watch it and decide for yourself if it truly deserves a spot among the top psychological anime.

Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei :

--Produced by MadHouse--

This trippy, surreal anime is one of the best psychological anime for its sheer bizarre nature. Eggplant-faced men, friends worse than enemies, and time hopping are just some of the things you'll encounter in Tatami Galaxy. Underneath all the weirdness, though, is a story rife with symbolism and life lessons. Pay attention.

Mirai Nikki :

--Produced by Asread--

The basic premise of this great psychological anime is not unique: 12 people are pitted against each other in a battle for survival. The winner is the last one standing. In this battle royale-esque nightmare, each character is equipped with a "future diary" which gives them a special power. The power - and the characters' strengths - stem from their own personalities. Watching players use their own strengths and weaknesses to survive is part of the thrill.

Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni :

--Produced by Studio Deen--

Mystery and legends merge together in When They Cry, an anime that plunges you deeper down the rabbit hole the longer you keep watching. Told across a series of story arcs, When They Cry uses suspense to hook you, and morbid curiosity to keep you watching. The series is a great psychological anime not only for its mind games and unique storytelling, but for its ability to make the viewers crave more violence just so we can find out what happened. What's a mere life, in exchange for a satisfying answer to a mystery, right?

Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica :

--Produced by Shaft--

If you're wondering what a cute magical girl anime is doing on a list of the best psychological anime, you clearly haven't seen the anime. Those of you who have are nodding in agreement. Madoka is a disturbing and deeply psychological anime about friendship, dreams, and the price you're willing to pay in order to save a life.