Erased (Boku dake ga Inai Machi) stands out for its gripping blend of time travel, suspense, and deeply human drama, following underdog Satoru Fujinuma as he rewrites the past to save lives.
Its core themes—powerful supernatural systems, underdog perseverance, and the subversion of expectations—resonate with viewers seeking more than a typical mystery.
Yet, many anime with similar emotional depth and narrative style remain overlooked.
Here are 15 underrated series that fans of Erased shouldn’t miss.
1. Summer Time Rendering (2022)
- Streaming: Hulu, Disney+
- Episodes: 25
- MAL Rating: 8.24
- Studio: OLM (Director: Ayumu Watanabe)
- Awards: Nominated for Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2023
- Summary: Shinpei returns to his island hometown for a funeral, only to be caught in a deadly time loop unraveling supernatural mysteries.
- Similarities: Time-loop suspense, high emotional stakes, protagonist racing to prevent murders, and a dark, atmospheric tone.
2. Orange (2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 7.63
- Studio: Telecom Animation Film
- Summary: Naho receives letters from her future self urging her to save a classmate from tragedy.
- Similarities: Time-travel as a tool for redemption, focus on regret, friendship, and saving someone from a tragic fate.
3. Heaven’s Memo Pad (2011)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.49
- Studio: J.C.Staff (Director: Katsushi Sakurabi)
- Summary: NEET detective Alice and her assistant Narumi solve dark mysteries involving missing people and crime.
- Similarities: Young protagonists, emotional mysteries, and an exploration of trauma and healing.
4. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)
- Streaming: Funimation, Amazon Prime Video
- Episodes: 1 (Movie)
- MAL Rating: 8.66
- Studio: Madhouse (Director: Mamoru Hosoda)
- Awards: Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year
- Summary: Makoto discovers she can leap through time, but learns the cost of changing fate.
- Similarities: Time-travel mechanics, bittersweet coming-of-age, and the consequences of altering the past.
5. Mononoke (2007)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime Video
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 8.44
- Studio: Toei Animation (Director: Kenji Nakamura)
- Summary: A mysterious medicine seller investigates supernatural phenomena, seeking the truth behind each case.
- Similarities: Unique visual storytelling, psychological suspense, and unraveling hidden traumas.
6. Beautiful Bones: Sakurako’s Investigation (2015)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 12
- MAL Rating: 7.44
- Studio: TROYCA
- Summary: A bone-loving osteologist and her assistant solve emotionally charged mysteries involving death.
- Similarities: Human drama, intricate mysteries, and protagonists confronting the past.
7. Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace (2015)
- Streaming: Funimation
- Episodes: 11
- MAL Rating: 6.69
- Studio: Lerche
- Summary: Inspired by Edogawa Ranpo’s works, a boy and a genius detective tackle bizarre murder cases.
- Similarities: Dark atmosphere, young sleuths, and psychological twists.
8. Parasyte: The Maxim (2014)
- Streaming: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 8.32
- Studio: Madhouse
- Summary: A high schooler’s hand is taken over by a sentient parasite, forcing him to fight for survival.
- Similarities: Ordinary protagonist facing extraordinary danger, moral ambiguity, and character growth under pressure.
9. Tokyo Revengers (2021)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Muse Asia YouTube
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 8.03
- Studio: Liden Films
- Summary: Takemichi leaps back to his teenage years to save his ex-girlfriend from a tragic fate.
- Similarities: Time-travel to prevent tragedy, underdog hero, and themes of redemption and friendship.
10. Steins;Gate (2011)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu
- Episodes: 24
- MAL Rating: 9.07
- Studio: White Fox (Director: Hiroshi Hamasaki, Takuya Satō)
- Awards: Multiple “Best Anime” accolades
- Summary: A group of friends discovers time travel, facing dire consequences as they try to fix the past.
- Similarities: Time manipulation, suspense, and the psychological toll of changing fate.
11. Oshi no Ko (2023)
- Streaming: HIDIVE, Ani-One Asia YouTube
- Episodes: 11 (Season 1)
- MAL Rating: 8.55
- Studio: Doga Kobo
- Summary: A reincarnated doctor investigates the dark secrets of the idol industry after a shocking murder.
- Similarities: Murder mystery, hidden identities, and a protagonist driven by personal loss.
12. Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World (2016)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Episodes: 25 (Season 1)
- MAL Rating: 8.25
- Studio: White Fox
- Summary: Subaru relives traumatic events in a fantasy world, using his “Return by Death” to save friends.
- Similarities: Time-loop mechanics, psychological struggle, and the burden of repeated failure.
13. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (2011)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Netflix
- Episodes: 11
- MAL Rating: 8.34
- Studio: A-1 Pictures
- Awards: Tokyo Anime Award Festival Winner
- Summary: Childhood friends reunite to help the ghost of a lost friend find peace.
- Similarities: Trauma from the past, healing, and the power of friendship.
14. A Place Further Than the Universe (2018)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll
- Episodes: 13
- MAL Rating: 8.54
- Studio: Madhouse
- Awards: Crunchyroll Anime Awards Winner
- Summary: Four girls embark on a life-changing journey to Antarctica, confronting personal fears.
- Similarities: Underdog story, emotional growth, and overcoming adversity through friendship.
15. Full Metal Panic! (2002)
- Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- Episodes: 24 (Season 1)
- MAL Rating: 7.67
- Studio: Gonzo Digimation
- Summary: A teenage soldier protects a classmate with mysterious powers, blending action, drama, and humor.
- Similarities: Ordinary lives disrupted by danger, character growth under stress, and strong emotional core.
Why These Anime Work for Erased Fans
These series echo Erased’s strengths: emotionally driven mysteries, time travel or fate-altering powers, and protagonists who must confront their regrets to save others.
Whether through supernatural twists, deep character studies, or suspenseful storytelling, each anime offers a fresh perspective on the themes that made Erased memorable—making them essential viewing for fans seeking more than just surface-level thrills.
