10 Books/Manga Like Another
Another is often referred to as the Japanese equivalent of the Final Destination franchise. It’s spawned several different adaptations from manga to light novels and anime. However, many gravitate toward the novel written by Yukito Ayatsuji. The story follows Koichi, a male transfer student who meets a mysterious girl named Mei. Their meeting results in a never-ending mystery and brutal deaths. This novel will keep you on the edge of your seat and will be enjoyed by those who love unexpected twists and mind-numbing imagery.
If you’re in the mood for more psychological or horror books/manga that offer a similar vibe, fear not! We’ve gathered together 10 books/manga to check out when you’ve caught up with Another. Of course, if you feel we’ve missed any of your favorites, comment below and let us know!
Higurashi When They Cry – Ryukishi07
Similarities – Horror & Thriller
Higurashi When They Cry is another spooky tale that loves to toy with readers’ heads. It contains chilling imagery, and memorable characters, and knows how to build tension. Our story revolves around Keiichi, a boy who moves to the mysterious Hinamizawa village. After participating in one of the village’s festivals, strange things happen. It’s up to Keiichi and his friends to solve the problem.
Like Yukito Ayatsuji, Ryukishi07 knows how to balance his tale’s horror and mystery components well. Each character from Keiichi to the female companions he meets has a story arc dedicated to them. This allows Ryukishi07 to explore his characters individually and showcase the dark layers of their pasts.
However, Koichi and Keiichi are two sides of the same coin. Both characters reside in locations they’re unfamiliar with at first. However, over time, they’ll slowly unravel the mysteries and intricacies behind their respective areas and the people who inhabit them. Therefore, if you’re looking for a tale with great thrills, spooks, and intrigue, check out Higurashi When They Cry.
The Empty Box and Zeroth Maria – Eiji Mikage
Similarities – Supernatural, Thriller, Mystery
The Empty Box and Zeroth Maria is another mystery series that uses its supernatural aspects to drive its plot. In it, we follow Kazuyki, who finds himself in a time loop orchestrated by the mysterious Maria. The manga delves into the supernatural powers Maria has and displays the consequences that lie from her manipulating time and events.
Essentially, Mikage uses supernatural elements to keep readers invested in his tale’s mystery components. This is identical to how Akatsuji utilizes the curse found in Another’s narrative. On that note, both stories excel at building tension and suspense. If you thought Another kept you at the edge of your seat, you’ll be interested in the puzzles and mind games Kazumi endures in Zeroth Maria.
If you seek a manga with great mystery and supernatural aspects, check out The Empty Box and Zeroth Maria.
Hell Girl –Hiyoko Hatano, Nao Kodaka, Miyuki Etoo
Similarities – Characters, Gore, Themes
Hell Girl is another tale that’ll intrigue you and creep you out. It delves into the dark sides of human nature and includes a riveting plot structure that’s worth your time. Like Another, this manga knows how to balance its horror and mystery aspects well. The story follows the twisted life of Ai Enma and her colleagues. They work for an esteemed website and must send people’s souls to hell.
It’s as terrifying as it sounds. However, Ai isn’t afraid to dish out the deed. On that note, the manga excels at showing readers what happens inside a killer’s mind. You’ll get to see how murderers and victims perceive death, which adds depth and intrigue to Hell Girl’s plot. Considering this work’s based on a manga, you’ll have the benefit of seeing the people perish before your eyes too.
If you’re looking for a stellar horror-themed work that’ll give you the chills, Hell Girl should do the trick.
The Promised Neverland – Kaiu Shirai
Similarities – Thriller, Horror, Mystery
The Promised Neverland is a captivating thriller series from Shonen Jump’s catalog. It contains a riveting tale about orphans who must navigate and survive in a world that’s bone-chilling at its core. Like Another, this story excels at giving readers spooky imagery, puzzling situations, and interesting characters. Furthermore, both stories have a suspenseful atmosphere that’ll keep readers itching for more.
In The Promised Neverland, the orphans encounter terrifying creatures and menacing humans who’d rather harm them than assist them. At the same time, these children aren’t pushovers. They’ll develop solid strategies and learn proper hunting skills that will aid them on their journey.
For those looking for another story with great spooks, themes, and characters, check this one out.
Ghost Hunt – Shiho Inada & Fuyumi Ono
Similarities – Horror & Mystery
If you enjoyed following the high schoolers’ endeavors in Another, you’ll adore examining Ghost Hunt’s students’ ghostly adventures. As its title suggests, Ghost Hunt is about a group of students hunting supernatural entities. Our students will visit many spooky locales from haunted schools to cursed mansions.
Each location they visit has a rich design and historical background. The manga’s cast will encounter various challenges during their paranormal investigations, some of which will put their lives in jeopardy. This mirrors the situations Koichi and his pals deal with in Another concerning the curse that plagues their mysterious town.
If you’re looking for another tale that features students attempting to solve mysteries in tense locales, Ghost Hunt should appeal to you.
Parasyte – Hitoshi Iwaaki
Similarities – Horror & Psychological
Parayste is a fantastic sci-fi manga with great psychological and horror aspects. It revolves around Shinichi, a high school student who wakes up to discover that an alien named Migi has inhabited his hand. Migi warns Shinichi that his species plans to take over the planet. Shinichi must team up with Migi to prevent Migi’s species from doing so.
Like Another, this story centers around survival. In Parasyte’s case, Shinichi and Migi must fight off several parasytes that end up murdering and taking over human bodies. As for Another, Koichi, Mei, and the others must discover a way to end the curse that plagues their town. Otherwise, more strange deaths and situations will continue happening to innocent people.
Both stories depict the characters’ struggles against the overwhelming odds set in their universes. Moreover, both tales explore the psychological impact each dangerous situation has on its lead characters. Shinichi and Migi experience significant growth throughout the series. In Shinichi’s case, he’ll become more mature and stronger than he was at the start of the series.
Therefore, if you’re looking for a series with a bit more action, check out Parasyte.
Death Note – Tsugumi Ooba
Similarities – Thriller & Psychological
Death Note is a masterclass crime series with great mind games and intelligent characters. Like Another, this series will have you at the edge of your seat with the content it contains. It follows Light Yagami, a high school student who wants to rid his world of crime. He stumbles upon the Death Note, a book that allows people to murder anyone they want as long as they write their name inside it.
After going on a killing spree as his alias, Kira, and meeting the book’s creator, Ryuk, Light becomes famous. Unfortunately, Light runs into trouble with a prestigious young detective named L, resulting in epic mind battles between the two. As one can tell, both stories delve into the theme of death and explore the concept in unique instances.
Moreover, both stories present readers with exhilarating scenarios that will keep them invested. From Light’s cat-and-mouse battles with L to shocking deaths in Another, you’ll find it difficult to turn away from either tale.
If you’re after something with more of a crime-centric plot, check out Death Note.
Elfen Lied – Lynn Okamoto
Similarities – Horror, Psychological, Supernatural
Elfen Lied’s notorious for being a brutal work. It contains explicit imagery, tragic characters, and glorious supernatural elements. It follows Lucy, a girl with telekinetic abilities who lives inside a government facility. Lucy flees the facility after going on a murderous rampage but gets into an accident, resulting in her developing an alternate personality.
After washing up on a beach and meeting two college students, Lucy must find a way to protect them while avoiding the government’s detection. Like Another, Elfen Lied utilizes its supernatural aspects well and showcases how it affects its protagonist and their allies’ lives. The government will do everything in its power to get Lucy back, even sending in other beings like her to fight and capture her.
The fights Lucy has with these fellow warriors are gruesome and hard to sit through. You can expect our characters to lose several limbs in these battles and for their horrific backgrounds of abuse and ridicule to be brought to light.
With a dash of romance in the mix, Elfen Lied is a series worth reading after Another.
Shiki – Fuyumi Ono & Ryu Fujisaki
Similarities – Supernatural, Psychological, Horror
Shiki is an exceptional horror manga with a great depiction of human nature. Like Another, this story takes place in an isolated community plagued by supernatural occurrences. After a mysterious family moves into this community, strange disappearances and man-eating beings start cropping up. It’s up to the community’s hospital dean, Toshio Okazaki, to resolve the issues.
As with Another, Shiki uses its setting’s close-knit nature to create a sense of claustrophobia. This intensifies the story’s atmosphere and its mystery and horror elements. Furthermore, both stories feature characters dying in harsh situations. While Another’s cast dies in more unique ways, Shiki has its characters perish in different ways too.
If you’re looking for a tale that delves into the boundaries between good and evil regarding its human and supernatural creatures though, definitely give Shiki a shot.
Deadman Wonderland – Jinsei Kataoka
Similarities – Psychological, Horror, Themes
Deadman Wonderland is a bit more action-packed than Another. However, it offers many things in common with this story regarding its sinister setting, gruesome imagery, and theme of survival. In Deadman Wonderland, Ganta, our lead protagonist, gets sent to an amusement park-themed prison called Deadman Wonderland. He’s being blamed for murdering his classmates and must escape.
Like Another’s setting, Deadman Wonderland’s amusement park wreaks of intrigue and grit. It’s filled with grotesque attractions, creating a sense of unease and dread. This mirrors the intensity the curse causes Koichi and his friends in Another’s small town environment. Furthermore, both series can come off as violent with their graphical depictions of murder.
Moreover, the characters experience psychological tendencies due to their respective locales’ dreadful nature. Therefore, if you’re after a horror manga with thrilling fights, a corrupt environment, and an interesting cast, read Deadman Wonderland.
So there we have it, our 10 books/manga to read after you’re caught up with Another.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!