10 Anime with Mystery, Horror, and Secrets Like Stranger Things

What makes Stranger Things so compelling is not just the supernatural, but the way the unknown seeps into the lives of ordinary people. Children and teenagers are forced to confront secrets that adults try to hide and experiments that went terribly wrong. That constant feeling that something is not quite right is what keeps viewers hooked until the very end.

This same atmosphere can be found in many anime. These are stories that begin in a simple, almost innocent way, and slowly reveal a darker, mystery-filled side, complete with unexpected dangers and supernatural elements.

If you are looking for anime that deliver the same curiosity and tension as Stranger Things, this list brings together titles that follow a similar path, each in its own unique way. Let’s dive in!

Darling in the FranXX

At first glance, the story appears to focus on battles against giant creatures. It quickly becomes clear, however, that the real conflict is happening behind the scenes. Young people are raised in isolation, denied freedom of choice, and used as tools in a system that hides crucial truths about the world.

The narrative explores themes of manipulation and control, echoing the atmosphere of government secrecy seen in Stranger Things. As the characters begin to question what they have been taught, the story gains deeper and more emotional layers.

The anime also stands out for its portrayal of relationships. Friendship, love, and a sense of belonging are not idealized, but shaped by conflict and insecurity. This vulnerability makes the characters feel more human and draws viewers into their choices and losses.

The Promised Neverland

The orphanage where the story takes place seems too perfect to be real, and that uneasy feeling is soon confirmed. When the children uncover the truth, the anime transforms into a psychological thriller.

As in Stranger Things, the focus is not only on the threat itself, but on how the characters respond to it. The story emphasizes intelligence, strategy, and unity, creating constant tension that grows with each episode.

Another major strength is the pacing. Every plan the children devise carries enormous risk, and even the smallest mistake can cost lives.

Elfen Lied

Here, the horror is born from human cruelty. Secret experiments create beings with dangerous powers who are deeply traumatized. The story does not soften the impact of these experiences, showing the emotional and physical consequences of treating people as objects.

Anyone familiar with Eleven’s journey will notice clear parallels, especially in how the anime explores isolation, fear, and violent outbursts caused by accumulated pain. The narrative is heavy, but carries strong emotional weight.

The contrast between brutality and moments of fragility is what makes Elfen Lied so unforgettable. Beneath the explicit violence lies a story about abandonment, the desire for acceptance, and the struggle to break a cycle of hatred when everything pushes toward destruction.

Another

Another builds its horror through silence and denial. Everyone knows something is wrong, yet no one wants to talk about it openly. This constant sense of unease recalls the early episodes of Stranger Things, when small clues hint that something terrible is about to happen.

The story unfolds slowly, increasing tension with each revelation. Fear does not come only from the deaths, but from the feeling of helplessness in the face of a curse that seems impossible to stop.

The anime also stands out for its use of atmosphere. Empty classrooms, suspicious glances, and fragmented information create a psychological horror that goes far beyond jump scares. It is unsettling precisely because it never offers a sense of safety.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

The attempt to defeat death sets the stage for a story filled with consequences. Throughout the journey, the anime reveals governments hiding secrets, unethical experiments, and forces far beyond human understanding.

These elements connect strongly with the scientific and conspiratorial side of Stranger Things. The narrative blends emotion, action, and deep reflection, creating a story that grows in complexity without losing its emotional impact.

Another standout is the exceptional character development. Each character carries their own pain, guilt, or ambition, enriching the story and making the world feel believable and alive.

Erased (Boku dake ga Inai Machi)

The mystery here does not involve monsters, but crimes that left deep scars. Traveling back to the past creates a tense narrative where every attempt to change events risks making things worse.

The story connects with the more human side of Stranger Things, focusing on trauma, childhood vulnerability, and the sense that adults failed to protect those who needed it most.

The greatest strength of the narrative lies in its ability to build empathy. Viewers follow not only the investigation, but also the silent suffering of the victims. It is a sad, sensitive, and unsettling story that lingers long after it ends.

Tokyo Ghoul

The horror in Tokyo Ghoul hides in everyday life. Creatures live among humans, and the line between victim and villain is constantly blurred. The protagonist, thrown into this world without a choice, must deal with a transformation that changes everything.

This feeling of being forced into a parallel reality, where the rules are different and dangerous, closely matches the discomfort Stranger Things creates when it reveals its darkest secrets.

The story delves deeply into the main character’s internal conflict, showing how fear, pain, and loneliness shape who he becomes. It is a story about survival, but also about the emotional cost of continuing to exist in a cruel world.

Deadman Wonderland

In this anime, horror is institutionalized. A prison turns suffering into entertainment, hiding experiments and dark interests behind a tourist-friendly façade.

The idea of an organization manipulating human lives mirrors the conspiratorial atmosphere present in Stranger Things. The narrative is direct and brutal, gradually revealing the true purpose of this twisted place.

Beyond the violence, the story relies heavily on psychological shock. Characters are constantly pushed into inhumane situations, forcing them to question how far it is worth fighting to survive when the entire system is corrupted.

The Summer Hikaru Died

The horror here is intimate and quiet. The story is built on a sense of strangeness, as a friend returns changed and no one can fully explain why.

This type of horror, rooted in loss and the breakdown of normal life, recalls the most unsettling moments of Stranger Things, when fear comes not from what is seen, but from what is felt.

The narrative leans into emotional discomfort and ambiguity. There are no clear answers or easy explanations, which makes the experience even more disturbing. It is an anime that treats the unknown as a constant presence.

Made in Abyss

Childlike curiosity drives the characters to explore an abyss filled with ancient and cruel secrets. Each descent reveals not only new dangers, but also truths that are painful to accept.

The contrast between young characters and an extremely hostile world creates an impact similar to Stranger Things. The story does not underestimate the audience and delivers a narrative that is emotionally heavy, beautiful, and disturbing.

The strength of the anime lies in showing that the desire to uncover the unknown can be just as fascinating as it is destructive. Each layer of the abyss demands a physical and emotional price, making it clear that some answers never come without pain.

These anime capture many of the same qualities that made Stranger Things stand out: growing mystery, carefully guarded secrets, young characters facing horrors no one should have to endure, and a constant sense of tension.

Each title approaches these elements in its own way, but all share the ability to engage, frighten, and move the audience. If you enjoy stories that start out simple and gradually reveal something much bigger and darker, you are sure to find something to love here.