The Millionaire Detective – Balance: UNLIMITED blends wealth as a power system, sharp character contrasts, and stylish procedural storytelling into something far more thoughtful than it first appears. Beneath the flashy tech and limitless money lies an underdog narrative, moral tension, and a deliberate subversion of the traditional detective genre.
1. ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept. (2017)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Rating: MAL 7.66
Episodes: 12
Studio: Madhouse
Notable Staff: Natsume Ono (original creator)
Plot Summary:
A mild-mannered government inspector uncovers political conspiracies hidden beneath a calm bureaucratic system. Power here isn’t flashy—it’s administrative, subtle, and dangerous.
Similarities:
Like The Millionaire Detective, ACCA explores power through systems rather than brute force, pairing cool aesthetics with quiet, cerebral storytelling.
2. Babylon (2019)
Streaming: Prime Video
Rating: MAL 6.79
Episodes: 12
Studio: Revoroot
Awards: Tokyo Anime Award Festival nominee
Plot Summary:
A prosecutor investigates a city where suicide has been legalized, spiraling into a chilling philosophical battle. The series weaponizes intellect and ideology instead of money.
Similarities:
Both shows feature morally complex antagonists and protagonists overwhelmed by systems far bigger than themselves.
3. C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control (2011)
Streaming: Funimation
Rating: MAL 7.15
Episodes: 11
Studio: Tatsunoko Production
Plot Summary:
Japan’s economy becomes a literal battleground where personal futures are traded as currency. Financial power directly translates into combat ability.
Similarities:
This is the closest thematic cousin—wealth as power, economic disparity, and the cost of unlimited resources.
4. Pet (2020)
Streaming: Prime Video
Rating: MAL 6.42
Episodes: 13
Studio: Geno Studio
Plot Summary:
Individuals with the power to manipulate memories are exploited by criminal organizations. Psychological dominance replaces physical force.
Similarities:
Both series highlight invisible power structures and characters trapped by their own abilities.
5. In/Spectre (2020)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Rating: MAL 7.14
Episodes: 12
Studio: Brain’s Base
Plot Summary:
A girl whóule-din-like figure mediates between humans and spirits using logic rather than combat. Mysteries are solved through narrative manipulation.
Similarities:
Like Daisuke Kambe, the protagonist bends the rules of her world in unconventional ways.
6. Boogiepop and Others (2019)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Rating: MAL 7.11
Episodes: 18
Studio: Madhouse
Plot Summary:
Fragmented stories reveal supernatural threats lurking beneath everyday life. The narrative demands patience and attention.
Similarities:
Stylish presentation and nontraditional storytelling mirror The Millionaire Detective’s confidence in audience intelligence.
7. Moriarty the Patriot (2020)
Streaming: Funimation
Rating: MAL 8.17
Episodes: 24
Studio: Production I.G
Plot Summary:
A reimagining of Sherlock Holmes from the villain’s perspective, focusing on class warfare and engineered justice.
Similarities:
Elite intellect, moral ambiguity, and wealth as a weapon align strongly with Kambe’s worldview.
8. Subete ga F ni Naru (2015)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Rating: MAL 6.93
Episodes: 11
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Plot Summary:
A locked-room murder mystery unfolds through philosophy and mathematics rather than action.
Similarities:
Procedural pacing and cerebral problem-solving echo The Millionaire Detective’s investigative core.
9. Ikebukuro West Gate Park (2020)
Streaming: Funimation
Rating: MAL 7.07
Episodes: 12
Studio: Doga Kobo
Plot Summary:
A street-smart fixer mediates between gangs in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district. Power comes from social intelligence.
Similarities:
Both focus on navigating social hierarchies rather than overpowering them.
10. Balance Unlimited: Fugou Keiji – Another Side (Specials)
Streaming: Fuji TV
Rating: MAL 7.30
Episodes: 2
Studio: CloverWorks
Plot Summary:
Side stories expand on the main cast’s motivations and internal conflicts.
Similarities:
Deepens character dynamics that fans of the original series appreciate.
11. Zankyou no Terror (2014)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Rating: MAL 8.08
Episodes: 11
Studio: MAPPA
Director: Shinichirō Watanabe
Plot Summary:
Two teenage terrorists orchestrate intellectual games against the state. Style and symbolism drive the narrative.
Similarities:
High-production flair combined with ideological conflict and detached protagonists.
12. Concrete Revolutio (2015)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Rating: MAL 6.84
Episodes: 24
Studio: Bones
Plot Summary:
Superheroes are regulated by the government in a fractured timeline narrative.
Similarities:
Explores authority, legality, and systemic control beneath vibrant visuals.
13. Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens (2018)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Rating: MAL 7.37
Episodes: 12
Studio: Satelight
Plot Summary:
Hitmen, hackers, and detectives coexist in a city where crime is routine.
Similarities:
Stylish ensemble cast and morally flexible justice systems.
14. Night Head 2041 (2021)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Rating: MAL 6.55
Episodes: 12
Studio: Shirogumi
Plot Summary:
Psychic brothers are hunted by a government fearful of supernatural evolution.
Similarities:
Underdogs facing institutional power and societal fear.
15. Id: Invaded (2020)
Streaming: Funimation
Rating: MAL 8.01
Episodes: 13
Studio: NAZ
Plot Summary:
Detectives enter the subconscious of killers to solve crimes.
Similarities:
Procedural structure fused with experimental storytelling and character trauma.
Why These Anime Work for The Millionaire Detective Fans
These series thrive on unconventional power systems, sharp contrasts between privilege and vulnerability, and protagonists who break genre norms. Whether through wealth, intellect, bureaucracy, or ideology, each anime reframes what “strength” really means—just as The Millionaire Detective does beneath its glossy surface.
