Deception, manipulation, tactics, and politics can be very frustrating in the real world, but, in an anime, they make for an addicting genre. Whether you enjoy devious plots to conquer the world, generals wielding sharp intellects to control the outcome of war, or numerous characters weaving webs of lies to gain power and influence, these ten anime selections are sure to thrill any fan of intrigue and strategy.
Though action-packed Shounen series or overly-cute slice-of-life anime often steal the spotlight, series which focus on political drama and intrigue shouldn't be discredited, and here are 10 anime franchises that'll definitely get viewers thinking.
Durarara!!
What do street gangs, dark plots, assassins, a headless being with strange powers, a cyber organization, an inhumanly strong man, a Russian sushi chef, and vampires have in common? They all reside in one crazy ticking time bomb of a city.
Welcome to Ikebukuro, a city abound with intrigue, mystery, and fantasy. Durarara!! follows a large assortment of interesting characters, as their storylines intersect in surprising ways to create a narrative that will more than please anime fans looking for a little deception and manipulation in their lives.
Death Note
Death Note is often held up as the epitome of intrigue anime, and it certainly deserves this reputation. Light Yagami, a high school kid with a genius-level intellect, despises the world as it is, rotten and lazy. As he ruminates on these feelings, he sees a black notebook drop from the sky with rules written in it. As it turns out, whenever he writes a name in this notebook that person dies.
Light then sets down a path to change the world by killing one criminal at a time. Yet, world leaders aren't about to let these murders go unanswered, and so the greatest detective in the world is called in to hunt him. This anime is filled with political and social intrigue as Light attempts to change an entire world while being doggedly pursued by a man who seems to be his intellectual equal.
Kingdom
Kingdom is an anime ruled by war and strategy as seven different kingdoms struggle for power. One young Emporer must rely on the strength of a country boy with dreams of becoming the greatest general in the world to wrestle back his own throne while setting down a path for world domination. This anime is full of increasingly complex and creative battle strategy and political intrigue as Shin, the main protagonist, learns what it means to be a general.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
History and ingenuity drive the prowess of two young battle strategists on opposing sides of an intergalactic war that has raged for 150 years. Yet, the war isn't as cut and dry as it seems, as separate internal organizations vie for power on either side.
Manipulation, nationalism, intrigue, and large-scale battle strategy rule this galactic conflict as these two young commanders slowly work their way up the ladder, one much more hesitant than the other, with an epic clash on the horizon. Legend of the Galactic Heroes is sure to satisfy any anime fan with a taste for conspiracy and tactics.
Code Geass
The world is slowly being conquered by Brittania, and there are very few powers left in the world that can resist them and their advanced technology. Lelouche seems to be just another Brittanian student attending school in the Japanese colonies, but, in reality, he is a Brittanian prince who has had everything taken from him and his sister.
One day, he stumbles upon an immortal witch—or so she says—that grants him the power of Geass. Armed with a power that allows him to order anyone to do anything, he sets down a path to liberate Japan, take down Brittania, and build the world anew. This mecha anime is a cornerstone in the strategy genre, with intrigue, comedy, and romance all packed into one twisting plot that will have you pulling your hair out as you attempt to predict what's going to happen next.
Alderamin on the Sky
Ikuta is an incredibly lazy young man who enjoys a simple life. Unfortunately for him, war looms on the horizon, and he has no choice but to join the military.
Little does he or anyone else know that he is destined to be a great general. Alderamin on the Sky focuses on battle strategy and the cruel reality of war as Ikuta and his comrades struggle to survive as new soldiers in a world just beginning to come into technological advancements.
No Game No Life
Sora and Shiro are brother and sister stuck in the normal world they claim is just a badly-made game. They spend their time locked away in their apartment schooling people in every genre of games imaginable until a God challenges them to a chess match. They win and are thus deemed worthy of being transported to an entirely new world where even the future of countries rests on the outcome of games.
This brother and sister pair quickly set themselves on a course to scheme and strategize their way to world domination with one goal in mind, challenging the game of Gods once again. This anime is fun and easy to watch while providing a wealth of strategy as each game they play becomes more and more complex.
Psycho-Pass
Psycho-Pass is an anime where human mental stability is closely monitored by advanced biotechnology which creates a baseline for the entire social structure of Japan. All citizens are subject to brain scans that can predict a person's likelihood of committing crimes.
This anime follows a police force that works closely with latent criminals to investigate crimes and those with the potential to commit crimes, yet, as this anime evolves, viewers quickly realize that not everything is at it appears.
Ghost in the Shell
Can a human soul still exist when your body and mind are made from metal? Ghost in the Shell is a cyberpunk anime that follows Public Security Section 9 as they wade through political intrigue and fight terrorism of all kinds in a world where the majority of humans are riddled with cybernetic upgrades.
This action-packed anime will quickly have you considering the philosophical ramifications of advanced technology while feeling the true effects of war on the human psyche as Section 9 attempts to safeguard human rights and freedom.
Bungo Stray Dogs
Atsushi is a young man with white hair who has a habit of turning into a white tiger in the light of the full moon. This power quickly lands him a place in the Armed Detective Agency, an organization with supernatural powers.
Unfortunately for him, all hell is about to break loose as the Port Mafia, an underground organization with supernatural powers, set their eyes on Atsushi and the unique power he holds. Fans of intrigue will quickly come to love this anime filled with dark mysteries, complicated crimes in need of solving, and secrets.