17+ Best Sci-fi Anime You Need To Watch

Sci-fi is one of the most popular genres whether be it anime, manga, or movies. Whether it’s AI gone rogue, Alien Invasion, Time Travel, or an Adventure in Space, Sci-fi has got it all presented in the most captivating of ways. So, here is our list of the 17+ Best Sci-fi Anime that’ll surely pique your curiosity!

17. World Trigger

Mikado City is invaded by strange creatures known as “Neighbors,” malicious beings impervious to traditional weaponry when a portal to another world suddenly opens on Earth. In response to their arrival, the Border Defense Agency was formed to combat the Neighbor threat using special weapons known as “Triggers.” Even after several years have passed since the gate first opened, Neighbors, remain a threat, and Border members remain vigilant to ensure the planet’s safety.

Despite this delicate situation, members-in-training like Osamu Mikumo is not allowed to use their Triggers outside of headquarters. However, when a mysterious new student in his class is dragged into a forbidden area by bullies, they are attacked by Neighbors, and Osamu is forced to do what he believes is right. To his surprise, transfer student Yuuma Kuga easily dispatches the aliens, revealing himself to be a humanoid Neighbor in disguise.

16. A Certain Scientific Railgun

Academy City, teeming with students, is at the forefront of scientific advancement and home to the esper development program. The seven “Level 5” espers are the most powerful in Academy City, and Mikoto Misaka, an electricity manipulator known as “The Railgun,” is ranked third among them.

When strange occurrences begin to occur throughout the city, she discovers that each crime is linked to the enigmatic “Level Upper,” a legendary device that allegedly increases the esper level of its user. As the situation worsens, it becomes clear that Level Upper is more than meets the eye, and that Academy City may be a far more twisted place than the glamorous utopia it appears to be.

A Certain Scientific Railgun focuses on Mikoto and her friends, as well as the dangerous situations they find themselves in while pursuing Level Upper. “There’s never a dull moment in this city,” Mikoto says.

15. Darker than Black

Heaven’s Gate appeared in South America ten years ago, and Hell’s Gate appeared in Japan ten years ago, obscuring the once familiar night sky with an oppressive skyscape. These Gates are spaces where the laws of physics are ignored for unknown reasons. Contractors emerged with the appearance of the Gates, who are granted supernatural abilities in exchange for their humanity.

Section 4 Chief Misaki Kirihara finds herself at odds with an infamous Contractor codenamed Hei in the Japanese city surrounding Hell’s Gate. In the underground world, Hei, like his colleagues, undertakes missions for the mysterious and ruthless Syndicate while slowly peeling back the dark layers covering a nefarious plot that threatens Contractors’ very existence.

Tensai Okamura’s sci-fi thriller takes the form of a subtle exposé on a war in which political positions and justice have no sway—a war fought solely in the shadows.

14. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

If a poll were taken to see if people believed in aliens, time travelers, or perhaps espers, the majority would say no; average high school student Kyon is one of them. On his first day of school, however, he meets a girl who quickly turns his world upside down.

During class introductions, the lovely Haruhi Suzumiya declares her dissatisfaction with “normal” people and her desire to meet supernatural beings. Dumbfounded, Kyon discovers her dissatisfaction with the lack of paranormal-focused clubs at their school and unwittingly inspires her to start her own. She forms the Haruhi Suzumiya Brigade, also known as the SOS Brigade, to spread joy throughout the world.

Haruhi manages to recruit Kyon and three other members after the SOS Brigade is founded: quiet bookworm Yuki Nagato, shy upperclassman Mikuru Asahina, and perpetually positive Itsuki Koizumi. Despite their outward appearance, the new members of the SOS Brigade each have their own Haruhi-related secrets. Caught up in the mystery surrounding the eccentric club leader, Haruhi and the SOS Brigade whisk Kyon away on a series of misadventures, each one bringing him closer to the truth about who and what she is.

13. The Irregular at Magic High School

Magic, long thought to be folklore and fairy tales, has become a systematized technology and is taught as a technical skill at the dawn of the twenty-first century. Students are divided into two groups at First High School, the institution for magicians, based on their entrance exam scores: “Blooms,” those with high scores, are assigned to the First Course, while “Weeds,” reserve students, are assigned to the Second Course.

Tatsuya and Miyuki Shiba, siblings enrolled in First High School, are the focus of Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei. Miyuki is placed in the First Course after taking the exam, while Tatsuya is relegated to the Second Course. Though his practical test scores and status as a “Weed” indicate that he is magically inept, Tatsuya possesses extraordinary technical knowledge, physical combat abilities, and unique magic techniques, making him the outlier at a magical high school.

12. Parasyte: The Maxim

They appeared out of nowhere: parasitic aliens who descended on Earth and quickly infiltrated humanity by burrowing into vulnerable targets’ brains. In order to feed on unsuspecting prey, these insatiable beings gain complete control of their host and can morph into a variety of forms.

Shinichi Izumi, a sixteen-year-old high school student, becomes infected with one of these parasites, but it does not take over his brain, instead landing in his right hand. Because it is unable to relocate, the parasite, now known as Migi, must rely on Shinichi to survive. As a result, the pair is forced to coexist in an uneasy manner and must defend themselves from hostile parasites hoping to eradicate this new threat to their species.

11. Neon Genesis Evangelion

Fifteen years after the Second Impact, the world faces a new threat: monstrous celestial beings known as “Angels” invade Tokyo-3 one by one. Despite using the most advanced munitions and military tactics, humanity is unable to defend itself against the Angels. NERV, a mysterious organization led by the cold Gendou Ikari, is the only hope for human salvation. NERV employs giant humanoid robots known as “Evangelions” to combat the Angels with cutting-edge advanced weaponry and Absolute Terror Fields.

Shinji Ikari, Gendou’s 14-year-old son, returns to Tokyo-3 after years of being abandoned by his father. Shinji fights a never-ending internal battle against the deeply buried trauma caused by his mother’s death and his father’s emotional neglect. Shinji’s life is forever changed after meeting 29-year-old Misato Katsuragi, a high-ranking NERV officer who shows him a free-spirited maternal kindness he has never experienced.

Shinji is forced into action after a devastating Angel attack, and Gendou reveals his true reason for inviting his son back to Tokyo-3: Shinji is the only child who can pilot Evangelion Unit-01, a new robot that syncs with his biometrics. Despite the brutal psychological trauma caused by piloting an Evangelion, Shinji defends Tokyo-3 against the angelic threat, completely unaware of his father’s dark schemes.

10. Gurren Lagann

Simon and Kamina grew up in a deep, underground village hidden beneath the fabled surface. Kamina is a free-spirited loose cannon determined to make a name for himself, whereas Simon is a timid young boy with few ambitions. Simon discovers a mysterious object while excavating the earth one day, which turns out to be the ignition key to an ancient artifact of war, which the duo names Lagann. Simon and Kamina use their new weapon to repel a surprise attack from the surface, with the assistance of Yoko Littner, a hot-blooded redhead with a massive gun that roams the world above.

Following the battle, the sky is now visible, prompting Simon and Kamina to embark on a journey with Yoko to explore the surface wastelands. Soon after, they join the fight against the “Beastmen,” humanoid creatures who terrorize the surviving humans in powerful robots known as “Gunmen.” Despite some difficulties and setbacks, the trio fights bravely alongside other survivors to reclaim the surface while slowly unraveling a galaxy-sized mystery.

9. 86 Eighty-Six

The Republic of San Magnolia claims that its ongoing war against the Giadian Empire has resulted in no casualties, but this is merely propaganda. While the Republic’s eighty-five sectors’ silver-haired Alba live safely behind protective walls, those of different appearances are interned in a secret eighty-sixth faction. They are known as the Eighty-Six in the military and are forced to fight against the Empire’s autonomous Legion under the command of the Republican “Handlers.”

Vladilena Milizé has been assigned to the Spearhead squadron as their new Handler. She continues to fight against their inhumane discrimination despite being shunned by her peers for being a fellow Eighty-Six supporter. The Spearhead squadron is led by Captain Shinei Nouzen. He is well-known for being the sole survivor of every squadron he has served in, and he insists on carrying the names and wishes of his fallen comrades. When the fates of these two young souls collide, will it ignite the spark that lights their path to salvation, or will they burn in the flames of despair?

8. Dr. Stone

After five years of suppressed feelings, Taiju Ooki, a high school student, is finally ready to confess his feelings for Yuzuriha Ogawa. However, just as Taiju begins his confession, a blinding green light strikes the Earth, terrifying everyone and turning everyone into stone.

Several millennia later, Taiju awakens to discover that the modern world has vanished, as nature has flourished in the years that humanity has stood still. Taiju comes across one other living human among a stone world of statues: his science-loving friend Senkuu, who has been active for a few months. Taiju learns that Senkuu has devised a grand plan to resurrect civilization through science. Taiju’s brawn and Senkuu’s brains combine to form a formidable alliance, and they soon discover a way to resurrect the petrified.

Senkuu’s master plan, however, is jeopardized when his ideologies are challenged by those who awaken. Meanwhile, the cause of mankind’s petrification remains unknown.

7. Psycho-Pass

Justice and its administration have evolved. Japan enforces the Sibyl System in the 22nd century, an objective method of determining each citizen’s threat level by examining their mental state for signs of criminal intent, known as their Psycho-Pass. Inspectors uphold the law by subjugating, often with lethal force, anyone harbouring the slightest ill-will; alongside them are Enforcers, jaded Inspectors who have turned into latent criminals and have been granted relative freedom in exchange for carrying out the Inspectors’ dirty work.

Akane Tsunemori, a young woman with a genuine desire to uphold justice, enters this world. However, as she works alongside veteran Enforcer Shinya Kougami, she quickly discovers that the Sibyl System’s judgments are not as perfect as her colleagues believe. With everything she’s ever known turned upside down, Akane questions what justice truly is and whether it can be upheld through the use of a corrupt system.

6. Made in Abyss

The Abyss is a gaping chasm stretching down into the earth’s depths, filled with mysterious creatures and relics from a long time ago. How did it happen? What is at the very bottom? Countless brave individuals known as Divers have attempted to unravel the mysteries of the Abyss by fearlessly plunging into its darkest depths. Those who remain on the surface revere the White Whistles, the best and bravest of the Divers.

Riko, the missing White Whistle Lyza the Annihilator’s daughter, aspires to be like her mother and explore the depths of the Abyss. However, as a new Red Whistle, she is only allowed to explore its uppermost layer. Despite this, Riko has a chance encounter with a mysterious robot dressed as a young boy. She names him Reg, and he has no recollection of the events that led up to his discovery. Certain that the technology used to create Reg must have come from deep within the Abyss, the two decide to venture into the chasm in order to recover his memories and see the bottom of the great pit for themselves. They are, however, unaware of the harsh reality that is the true existence of the Abyss.

5. Cowboy Bebop

Crime is eternal. By 2071, humanity has spread across the galaxy, colonizing the surfaces of other planets with settlements similar to those found on Earth. Murder, drug use, and theft plague these new societies, and intergalactic outlaws are pursued by an increasing number of tough bounty hunters.

To make a living, Spike Spiegel and Jet Black pursue criminals throughout space. Spike is haunted by the weight of his violent past beneath his goofy and aloof demeanor. Meanwhile, Jet deals with his own troubling memories while tending to Spike and their ship, the Bebop. Faye Valentine, a beautiful con artist, odd child Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky IV, and Ein, a bioengineered Welsh Corgi, join the duo.

The Bebop crew’s lives are disrupted by a threat from Spike’s past as they form bonds and work to apprehend a colorful cast of criminals. As a rival’s maniacal plot unfolds, Spike must choose between a life with his newfound family and vengeance for old wounds.

4. The Promised Neverland

The Grace Field House, surrounded by a forest and with a gated entrance, is inhabited by orphans who happily live together as one big family, cared for by their “Mama,” Isabella. Although they must take tests every day, the children are free to spend their time as they see fit, usually playing outside, as long as they do not venture too far from the orphanage—a rule they are expected to follow at all times. However, all good things must come to an end, as a child is adopted and sent to live with their new family every few months, never to be heard from again.

The three oldest siblings, on the other hand, have their doubts about what is going on at the orphanage, and they are about to discover the cruel fate that awaits the children at Grace Field, including the twisted nature of their beloved Mama.

3. Gintama

Edo was the home of the vigor and ambition of samurai from all over the country. However, since feudal Japan’s surrender to powerful aliens known as the “Amanto,” those ambitions appear to be unattainable. With the once-powerful shogunate rebuilt as a puppet government, a new law is enacted that immediately prohibits the use of swords in public.

Enter Gintoki Sakata, an eccentric silver-haired man who always carries a wooden sword and, despite the ban, maintains his samurai status. Gintoki frequently embarks on endeavors to help others as the founder of Yorozuya, a small business for odd jobs—though usually in rather strange and unexpected ways.

The Yorozuya encounter everything from alien royalty to scuffles with local gangs in the ever-changing world of Edo, aided by Shinpachi Shimura, a boy with glasses supposedly learning the way of the samurai; Kagura, a tomboyish girl with superhuman strength and an endless appetite; and Sadaharu, their giant pet dog who loves biting on people’s heads.

2. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion

The Holy Empire of Britannia is establishing itself as a dominant military nation in 2010, beginning with the conquest of Japan. After being renamed Area 11 following its swift defeat, Japan has seen significant resistance against these tyrants in an attempt to regain independence.

Lelouch Lamperouge, a Britannian student, is caught in the crossfire between the Britannian and Area 11 rebel armed forces. He escapes, however, thanks to the timely appearance of a mysterious girl named C.C., who bestows Geass, the “Power of Kings,” on him. Recognizing the vast potential of his newfound “power of absolute obedience,” Lelouch embarks on a perilous journey as the masked vigilante Zero, leading a merciless onslaught against Britannia in order to exact final vengeance.

1. Steins;Gate

Rintarou Okabe, an eccentric scientist, has a never-ending thirst for scientific discovery. Rintarou establishes the Future Gadget Laboratory with his ditzy but well-meaning friend Mayuri Shiina and his roommate Itaru Hashida in the hopes of creating technological innovations that perplex the human psyche. Despite their lofty claims, the trio’s only notable “gadget” is a microwave with the mysterious ability to turn bananas into green goo.

However, when Rintarou decides to attend neuroscientist Kurisu Makise’s time travel conference, he encounters a series of strange events that lead him to believe that the “Phone Microwave” gadget is more than meets the eye. Rintarou, who appears to be able to send text messages into the past using the microwave, experiments with the “time machine,” attracting the ire and attention of the mysterious organization SERN.

Rintarou and his friends are in constant danger as a result of the novel discovery. He is fighting a battle not only to save his loved ones but also against his deteriorating sanity, as he works to mitigate the damage his invention has caused to the timeline.

BONUS: Vivy – Fluorite Eye’s Song

When highly evolved AIs decide to wipe out humanity, the ensuing carnage fills the air with the stench of fresh blood and burning bodies. In a desperate attempt to avert the disaster, a scientist stakes everything on a relic from the past.

Turning the clock back a century, AIs are already a part of human society, programmed with specific missions that must be completed throughout their lifespan. Vivy, the world’s first autonomous AI, is a singer tasked with spreading joy through her voice. She strives to pour her heart out into her performances in a theme park where she rarely gets a proper audience, bound to repeat it day after day—that is, until an advanced AI from the future appears before her and enlists her help in stopping a devastating war a hundred years in the making. Vivy is catapulted into a century-long journey to avert the violent history that awaits her, with no time to process the revelation that turns her world upside down.

Let us know what’s your favorite sci-fi anime in the comments below and as always, thanks for reading!

You might also like:

Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook for more fun Anime & Manga content!