5 Anime Similar to Detective Conan that are Detective-themed and Full of Criminal Puzzle Mysteries

Kapanlagi.com - For anime fans and the mystery genre, you must be familiar with the adventures of Shinichi Kudo, also known as Conan Edogawa, in solving complicated cases. If you've watched all the episodes of Detective Conan and are looking for similar shows that will make you think, you've come to the right place!

Detective and mystery genre anime always have their own appeal, especially when the stories are filled with hard-to-guess puzzles. Now, we will discuss several recommendations for anime that have a similar vibe to Detective Conan, complete with synopses and details.

Get ready to be amazed by the intelligence of the detectives and the intriguing plotlines!

1. Detective School Q (Tantei Gakuen Q)

Detective School Q follows the story of Kyuu Renjo, a teenager who aspires to become a detective. He is accepted into DDS (Dan Detective School), a prestigious detective school founded by Morihiko Dan, a legendary detective. Along with his friends, Megu who has photographic memory, Kazuma the computer genius, Ryu who is mysterious, and Kinta the physics expert, Kyuu solves many cases that increasingly connect to a dark criminal organization called Pluto.

This anime is similar to Detective Conan as it features serious criminal puzzles, logical case revelations, and the presence of a mysterious organization that serves as a major antagonist, much like the Black Organization in Conan. The school atmosphere, team investigations, and complex puzzles make it feel like a version of 'Conan without downsizing'.

Aired from April 15, 2003 – March 20, 2004, with a total of 45 episodes.

2. The Kindaichi Case Files (Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo)

This anime tells the story of Hajime Kindaichi, the grandson of the legendary detective Kindaichi Kosuke. Although he appears lazy and somewhat foolish, Hajime is actually a genius at solving cases, especially murder cases that are laden with psychological motives. Accompanied by his friend Miyuki and Inspector Kenmochi, he faces cases full of complex tricks, often occurring in remote locations or in situations that trap the victims.

Similar to Detective Conan due to its focus on mystery-of-the-week, many cases involve closed room murders and very technical murder tricks. Even the style of the 'masked villain' and its controversial atmosphere feel like a darker version of Conan. Many fans even refer to Kindaichi as 'Conan's upperclassman' in the world of detective anime.

The first season aired from April 7, 1997 – September 15, 2000, with a total of 148 episodes.

3. Magic Kaito

Magic Kaito tells the story of Kaito Kuroba, a teenage magician who discovers that his father is the legendary thief Kaito Kid. To uncover the mystery of his father's death, Kaito takes on the identity of 'Phantom Thief Kid' and carries out thefts filled with magic tricks and chases with the police.

This anime is similar to Detective Conan because Kaito Kid and Conan exist in the same world, often crossing over. The mystery atmosphere is not as heavy as Conan, but the use of magic tricks, disguises, and clever duels makes its vibe very familiar. Kid is also one of the most popular characters in Conan, making this anime feel like a side part but still within the same universe.

Aired from October 4, 2014 – March 28, 2015, with a total of 24 episodes.

4. Gosick

Set in Europe in the 1920s, Gosick follows Kazuya Kujo, a Japanese student studying in the fictional country of Saubure. In the school library, he meets Victorique, a genius girl with extraordinary deductive abilities. Together, they solve murder cases, supernatural mysteries, and major political intrigues that eventually drag them into national-level conflicts.

Gosick is similar to Detective Conan because it features sharp deductive reasoning, an episodic case structure that develops into a larger plot, and the relationship between the main duo resembles the chemistry of Conan and Ran but is more elegant. The difference is that Gosick has a stronger touch of historical drama.

Aired from January 8, 2011 – July 2, 2011, with a total of 24 episodes.

5. Hyouka

Hyouka tells the story of Oreki Houtarou, an anti-bothersome high school student who joins the Classic Literature Club. Together with the super-curious Chitanda Eru, along with Satoshi and Mayaka, they solve various small mysteries at school, from club secrets, strange occurrences, to old cases involving Chitanda's family.

Although not as dark as Conan, Hyouka is similar because it focuses on logical reasoning, detailed deduction, sharp observation, and Houtarou's way of solving mysteries that often feels like a more realistic version of Conan's style. The elegant animation from Kyoto Animation also makes the small investigations feel classy.

The anime aired from April 23, 2012 – September 17, 2012, with a total of 22 episodes.

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