Solving mysteries with superpowers
Bungo Stray Dogs is one of those anime that have taken years to cover its manga but somehow we still end up coming back for more because it is just that exciting. It starts with the young orphan Atsushi with a mysterious superpower finding a home with the Armed Detective Agency which is meant for detectives with similar abilities.
Well, season 4 took us on a wild ride as it gave us the origin story of the Agency followed by a conspiracy theory to frame them and destroy the world. So, if you have finished the first 4 seasons of Bungo Stray Dogs and are looking for more such thrilling anime, we’ve got you.
We have searched high and dry for some obscure as well as obvious matches — so here are 10 supernatural and crime-solving TV shows with a similar premise to watch if you liked Bungo Stray Dogs.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Similarities – solving crimes, superpowers, comedy, unconventional agency
Jujutsu Kaisen is an action comedy which follows Itadori, a teen who doesn’t have any purpose in life and joins his school’s occult club which happens to be a sham. However, they end up getting their hands on an actually cursed talisman – Sukuna the powerful cursed user’s finger.
It ends up attracting other curses and curse hunters like Megumi. Itadori helps him by accidentally swallowing the finger but now he has only two options – die or join Megumi’s Jujutsu academy of sorcerers and find all of Sukuna’s fingers to eradicate him for good.
Tokyo Ghoul
Similarities – solving mysteries, superpowers, unconventional agency
Kaneki is a simple high school student who loves books and thinks himself especially lucky when he scores a date with the beautiful Rize who also happens to be an avid reader. However, the date ends disastrously when she reveals herself to be a ghoul who preys on humans and tries to kill him.
An accident barely saves Kaneki’s life as he wakes up to find that he has become a half-ghoul with the now-dead Rize’s organs. He must now control his urge to eat humans, fight off corrupt ghoul investigators by joining other ghouls and try to get back to his normal life while being haunted by Rize.
Noragami
Similarities – solving mysteries, superpowers, comedy
Noragami is a hilarious fantasy anime which follows Hiyori and a god, Yato as he decides to answer her prayers and help her out. But there’s a catch, he is a minor god as there are no shrines dedicated to him and no one knows him. For him to be a powerful god who helps people, he needs to do something noteworthy and gain some followers. And so whether Hiyori likes it or not, Yato decides to help her and everyone out so he can achieve his goal.
Black Clover
Similarities – superpowers, fighting obstacles
In a world of magic, Asta is the only one who doesn’t seem to have any magic powers. However, his friend Yuno gets a rare grimoire which makes him the target of a disgraced knight. As they fight him off together, their friendship and need to win ends up materialising a mythical grimoire that is supposedly about black magic.
Asta uses the grimoire to fight off a thief and he and Yuno decide to be friends till one of them can become the next Wizard King. As they train and Yuno is vied by all the squads, Asta is accepted by the worst squad in the kingdom – the Black Bulls. However, they get together and fight through several obstacles as they help Asta become the next king.
Black Butler
Similarities – solving crimes, comedy, superpowers
Ciel is a 12-year-old boy who lives alone in a huge mansion managed by his staff and his strict butler Sebastian. But it turns out that his parents were Queen Victoria’s watchdogs who handled dangerous criminal cases that could threaten the nation.
After their death, Ciel takes over but while everyone wonders how he can possibly be of any use, he has some help. His butler is actually a demon and as they share a contract, Sebastian is tasked with doing all of Ciel’s bidding in exchange for his soul.
My Hero Academia
Similarities – comedy, solving crimes, superpowers
While My Hero Academia is more similar to Black Clover than Bungo Stray Dogs, all three anime have the concept of fighting evil with the help of superpowers. My Hero Academia is set in a world where some people have superpowers and are then trained by special academies to use them and become superheroes.
Midoriya too wants to become one but the only catch is that he has no powers. But when a powerful superhero who also happens to be his role model sees his potential, he decides to pass on his powers to Midoriya.
Banana Fish
Similarities – solving mysteries, mafia
Banana Fish is less supernatural and more realistic as it is set in 1980 New York City. Banana fish, a dangerous drug has started to do the rounds among criminals as it has the power to brainwash the user. Ash Lynx, a teen gang leader is suddenly roped into a huge mafia conspiracy after a dying man gives him the drug.
The thugs that targeted the mysterious man happen to be working under the orders of the mob boss Golzine who has an abusive history with Ash. When the young boy realises that even his brother fell under the spell of banana fish, he decides to enact revenge.
Psycho Pass
Similarities – solving crime, unconventional agency
In a dystopian world where human beings’ mental states can be measured and officers use dominators aka guns that only fire depending on the person’s motive, Tsunemori, a young inspector decides to take it upon herself to impose law and order. She joins Unit One which is led by Kogami who goes to extreme lengths to catch criminals.
The unit works together to catch Makishima, the crime overlord who can bypass the dominators since he is asymptomatic making it impossible for the guns to assess his actions.
Tokyo Revengers
Similarities – solving mysteries, strange powers, comedy
In this time-travelling anime, Takemichi is a freelancer who is unhappy with his simple life. One day he sees the news that his ex-girlfriend, Hinata and her brother Naoto have been killed after they got involved with a gang. That day, while returning home, someone pushes him in front of an oncoming train.
As he tries to save himself, he sees that he has travelled back in time to 12 years ago when Hinata and Naoto were alive. He finds Naoto but as they shake hands, he is sent into a new present where Naoto is alive and a detective. Surprised, Takemichi decides to use his new time-travelling powers to save the siblings.
Mob Psycho 100
Similarities – solving mysteries, superpowers, comedy
Mob Psycho 100 is a supernatural comedy that follows Mob, a high school student who moonlights as an exorcist as he has psychic powers. While he tries to regain some sense of normalcy and keep his powers under control, he keeps getting into some trouble or the other every time he thinks he can be happy. He decides to work with the fake shaman, Reigen to channel his powers while clashing with other psychics like him.
So there we have it, our 10 TV show alternatives to watch when you’re finished watching Bungo Stray Dogs season 4.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
I agree with Sasha!! Moriarty the Patriot & Vanitas No Carte are amazing. For anyone who agrees, do you have any other recommendations?
Don’t listent them. If you like BSD, match Moriarty the Patriot and Vanitas Ni Cartw