10 Other Spooky Anime Await You
Higurashi When They Cry is one of the most mysterious and nerve-wracking horror anime. It not only places humans of all ages in mind-numbing scenarios, but it also has a unique way of telling its story. This anime is known for its dark and suspenseful scenes, as well as its ability to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. ..
The story follows Keiichi Maebara, a young boy who moves to a small town in Japan. Although the residents seem sincere and compassionate, Keiichi will realize firsthand the darker truths hidden within the village’s history. The story follows Keiichi as he investigates the village’s dark past, and learns about its true intentions.
If you’re looking for anime that is similar to Higurashi When They Cry, don’t worry! We’ve found 10 alternate shows that will give you the same experience. For your reading pleasure, we’ve included the similarities they all share. ..
- Higurashi When They Cry
- Attack on Titan
- Death Note
- Naruto
- One Piece
- Sword Art Online
- Aldnoah Zero
- Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure 9. Fullmetal Alchemist 10. Death Note
Another
Similarities – Mystery & Gore
Another is one of the most creative death scenes in anime. With its dark atmosphere and gloomy background, it has plenty of content for those who enjoy a good scare.
Kouichi Sakakibara, a high school student, decides to befriend a girl named Misaki Mei. Although his classmates warn him not to get close to Misaki, Kouichi refuses to listen to their plea. However, after many deaths pop up around town, Kouichi becomes more enthralled by Misaki’s connection to the town’s unstoppable curse.
The town in Another is full of death, and the mystery surrounding it will keep viewers on their toes. The gore in this anime is intense, and some viewers may find it too much to watch.
Shiki
Similarities – Setting & Tone
Higurashi When They Cry is a dark and suspenseful anime that takes place in a small village rich in lore and dread. It also explores supernatural concepts, such as the fear of the dark. Shiki, on the other hand, feels like a distant relative to Higurashi. Both anime are set in villages with rich lore and dread, and both explore supernatural concepts.
As the village starts to fall apart, Shiki begins to piece together the mystery of why Megumi was killed. She soon realizes that her death was not an accident, and that someone is trying to cover up the truth.
While most villagers argue influenza is the reasoning behind the deaths, a doctor named Toshio Ozaki feels the strange family is at play. To prove his theory, Ozaki teams up with a village boy to uncover the horrid truth behind his village’s many deaths.
The Higurashi and Shiki anime are set in villages that are in pain and angst. Both anime also have supernatural concepts which play a big role. However, the tone of Shiki never changes, choosing to keep its horror tones throughout the entire runtime.
Summer Time Rendering
Similarities – Murder Mystery With Some Time-Looping Elements
Shinpei Ajiro returns to his home island after studying in Japan. Upon his return, he discovers that his stepsister Ushio drowned. However, Ajiro is doubtful when he notices bruises on her neck. He begins to question the events leading up to her death and whether or not he was responsible for it.
Ajiro, the last of the Kamen Riders, learns a old folktale about his Shadows and how they can predict the demise of their hosts. Unknown to him, his home has been having strange occurrences that he can’t explain. To protect Mio from harm, Ajiro must find out the truth behind his home’s strange occurrences.
As of this writing, Summer Time Rendering is still airing to the delight of many mystery fans. While it hasn’t grabbed the attention of many viewers, it’s introduced a few neat storytelling techniques that help it stand out. ..
Summer Time Rendering is a unique and mesmerizing story that uses first-person storytelling tricks to set the stage for its viewers. This technique allows many fans to digest the information and immerse themselves in the mesmerizing scenery. Although Higurashi never applies this technique, it also tells its story differently with its question-and-answer arc format.
Higurashi and Summer Time Rendering explore concepts like time-looping, murder, and survival. The folklore behind the Shadows is highly reminiscent of the curses spread by Higurashi’s Oyashiro-sama. If you’re looking for another anime filled with conspiracies and an engaging overarching mystery, it’s not too late to binge Summer Time Rendering.
Tokyo Ghoul
Similarities – Brutality & Psychological Breakdowns
But as much as Tokyo Ghoul has been loved by fans, it’s also been hated by some. The show has been met with critical acclaim but also a number of controversies, including its graphic violence and its use of the death penalty. So what does Tokyo Ghoul have in common with Attack On Titan? It’s both a popular series and one that has generated a large following on social media.
Kaneki wakes up in a hospital bed after a terrifying confrontation with someone in an alley. When discharged, Kaneki leaves the areas feeling changed. He later discovers that he’s become a vampire-like creature called a Ghoul. Having to balance two different livelihoods, Kaneki must do whatever it takes to survive.
Tokyo Ghoul is a dark and twisted series that features endless gore and places its main character in situations that make viewers cringe. Furthermore, both series delve into the psychological aspects of horror by showcasing their characters breaking down in the most bizarre ways possible. While the mysterious aspects of Tokyo Ghoul are not as prevalent as Higurashi’s, the plot leaves some room for speculation and theory crafting.
Madoka Magica
Similarities – Deceptive Anime With Similar Themes
The School-Live! series has been a mainstay in the anime world for years, and its deceptive design style has helped it thrive. In Puella Magi Madoka Magica, however, the show took a different approach to its story. By using its cutesy character designs to subvert viewers’ expectations, it created an engaging experience that kept them engaged even after watching the entire series.
This anime is a great mix of lighthearted and mature themes. It’s not afraid to depict its characters performing cruel and unusual practices, and it also explores concepts like time travel and utilizes it in meaningful and unique ways. Although there is a small smidgen of hope for our characters to claim happiness, getting to that conclusion proves difficult for them.
Kyubey takes Madoka and Sayaka to a place where they can become magical girls. Kyubey says that it will also grant them one wish. However, the two middle school students quickly realize that they don’t want to become magical girls. Kyubey tells them that if they don’t want to be magical girls, then they can leave but if they keep following his orders, he’ll make them one too. The two students reluctantly agree and follow Kyubey back to his office.
Death Note
Similarities – Supernatural & Mystery
Death Note is a well-written, mind-numbing anime with enough mystery and suspense to satisfy the most intelligent fan. What it lacks in Higurashi’s raw action scenes, it makes up for it with cleverly written characters and their back-and-forth mind battles.
As Light Yagami begins his journey to become a hero, he quickly realizes that the world is full of criminals. He takes on the alias Kira in order to rid his world of them, but soon realizes that he’s not alone in this quest. A young detective named L Lawliet is also on a mission to rid the world of criminals, and they soon clash.
Death Note is an anime that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’ll present you with situations that’ll have you wondering what the series will follow up with next. Both series also dive into the supernatural by introducing god-like deities.
Erased
Similarities – Child-Like Protagonists & Murder Mystery
Since its release, Erased has been praised for its innovative and creative opening cinematic and murder mystery premise. While it doesn’t feature grotesque or violent scenes like Higurashi, it left fans with a compelling puzzle worth solving.
Satoru Fujinuma, a young boy with the ability to travel back in time, is wrongly accused of killing someone close to him and is sent to the past. In order to clear his name, Satoru travels back in time and alters history so that he is not falsely accused. This allows him to live a happy life and save the lives of those he loves.
Satoru is sent 18 years into the past to investigate a murder case that has ties to his own. He must find out the truth behind the death and prevent it from happening again. ..
Erased is a series that proposes a stellar mystery that fans can solve by piecing together the information shared in the anime. The series also tackles similar ideas regarding companionship. Be warned as the series isn’t for wholesome hearts, as the series also depicts forms of child abuse. However, if you can stick through with it, you’ll end up enjoying your time spent with the series.
Elfen Lied
Similarities – Horror & Supernatural
Higurashi When They Cry is a horror game that can be quite disturbing, while Elfen Lied is a much more graphic and disturbing game that features murder of all ages. ..
The series Elfen Lied is a dark and suspenseful story that is not afraid to explore taboo topics. It covers topics such as child abuse, animal cruelty, mental health issues, and depression. Although the series is similar in terms of its content, Elfen Lied offers a more interesting perspective on the world than most shows.
Lucy is a human who has telekinetic powers. She was experimented on by the government and her split personality is known as Elfen Lied. While on a beach, she meets two college students who take her in, but unbeknownst to them, they’re now in the middle of a giant government conspiracy.
Ghost Hound
Similarities – Chilling Setting
Ghost Hound is a horror series that features young adolescents investigating their homeland in search of answers to the mysterious phenomena happening around them. Like Higurashi, Ghost Hound aims to present viewers with scenarios that will boggle their minds. ..
Both anime explore the culture and superstition of a small, isolated village. Ghost Hound is more focused on the characters and their backstories, while Bakemonogatari focuses more on the events that take place in the village.
Anime fans who enjoy a good ghost story will love Ghost Hound. It has an eerie atmosphere that is perfect for those who love horror movies. The soundtrack is also very well done and fits the tone of the show perfectly. ..
Hell Girl
Similarities – Unique Story Stucture
Hell Girl is an anime that delivers short horror tales, creepy imagery, and portrays the dark side of humanity. This anime provides viewers with outrageous short horror tales that’ll make them question their sanity.
The anime follows the mysterious life of Ai Enma and her colleagues at the esteemed Hell Correspondence website. They receive occasional requests from individuals to send their rivals’ souls to hell in order to pay for these services. To do this, they must submit their entry into heaven. Thus, the anime explores the lives of Ai and her friends as they dispatch people one by one to hell. ..
This anime is a deep dive into the minds of killers and their perception of said horrific actions. It explores concepts about the afterlife and death. It also requests the viewers’ undivided attention because its ending won’t make any sense.
The show is full of mystery and leaves a lasting impression on viewers. It is definitely worth checking out. ..
- Attack on Titan
- Death Note
- Naruto
- One Piece
- Sword Art Online
- Fullmetal Alchemist
- Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
- Hunter x Hunter
- Bakemonogatari
- A Silent Voice
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