Best Suspense Anime of 2018

Humanity remains trapped behind the two surviving walls, still endangered by the Titans that steal their freedom. The fight to eliminate these monsters continues, but dangers come not only from the Titans outside the walls but also from the people inside them. Following his rescue from the Colossal Titan and Armored Titan, Eren Yaeger focuses on mastering his Titan shifting ability. Krista Lenz deals with the pain of losing a comrade, Captain Levi selects Eren along with his friends to be part of his new personal squad, and Commander Erwin Smith recovers from wounds he received. For a time, the soldiers seem to be doing well—until the government suddenly demands that Eren and Krista be handed over. The Survey Corps' recent victories have attracted unwanted notice, and a figure from Levi's past is dispatched to retrieve the two wanted individuals. Hunted by the authorities, Levi and his squad must avoid their enemies to protect Eren and Krista. Eren and his comrades fight not only for survival against the fearsome Titans but also against the menace of a far more cunning adversary: other humans.

Two years have elapsed since the CCG's assault on Anteiku. While the atmosphere in Tokyo has shifted considerably with the CCG's heightened presence, ghouls remain a persistent issue as they have grown more cautious, particularly the terrorist syndicate Aogiri Tree, which recognizes the CCG's escalating danger to their survival. The formation of a specialized unit called the Quinx Squad could give the CCG the advantage needed to eliminate Tokyo's unwanted inhabitants. These are humans who have undergone surgery to harness the unique abilities of ghouls, and they take part in missions to eradicate these perilous creatures. The squad's leader, Haise Sasaki, is a half-ghoul, half-human trained by the renowned special class investigator Kishou Arima. Yet there is more to this young man than appears, as buried memories claw at his mind, gradually recalling the person he once was.

Following the Tsukiyama Family Extermination Operation, the Commission of Counter Ghouls (CCG) has become significantly stronger and continues its mission to wipe out all ghouls in Japan. Having left the Quinx Squad, the now apparently emotionless Haise Sasaki takes on increasingly difficult assignments from the CCG without concern for their danger. Despite his blank expression, Ken Kaneki's memories are slowly resurfacing within Haise, causing him inner turmoil. At the same time, his newly cold demeanor affects those around him. The Quinx Squad is left in disarray, struggling to cope with the loss of one of their members while lacking their former mentor's support. Amid this chaos, both the Quinx Squad and Haise must continue carrying out their duties for the CCG, whether they want to or not. However, Haise has become aware of a mysterious group operating behind the CCG, and the Quinx Squad has also caught wind of certain whispers about corruption.

Orphaned and taken in by the notorious mafia don Dino Golzine, seventeen-year-old Aslan Jade Callenreese, better known as Ash Lynx, now leads his own criminal organization. Driven by the cryptic final words of his deceased brother Griffin, who repeated "Banana Fish" after returning from the Iraq War, Ash delves into a dangerous investigation. His search is abruptly interrupted when Dino’s enforcers raid his secret hideout at an underground bar. There, Ash’s friend Skip has just introduced him to Shunichi Ibe and his assistant Eiji Okumura, Japanese photojournalists documenting street gangs. Amidst the chaos of the attack, Shorter Wong alerts Ash to the danger, but Dino’s men manage to abduct Skip and Eiji. Forced into action, Ash must navigate his violent past with the mafia to rescue the kidnapped photographers and uncover the truth behind the elusive Banana Fish.

Rintarou Okabe, the eccentric self-proclaimed mad scientist, has been reduced to a hollow shell following the trauma of failing to save Makise Kurisu. Overcome by depression, he abandons his scientist persona to live as an ordinary college student, attempting to bury the horrors of his time travel experiences while surrounded by friends who remain unaware of his past. While working as a receptionist at a technology forum, Okabe encounters Maho Hiyajo, a spirited young woman who later serves as the interpreter for a presentation by Professor Alexis Leskinen. During the event, Alexis and Maho unveil Amadeus, a groundbreaking AI capable of simulating a person’s memories, personality, and quirks with perfect fidelity. After the presentation, Okabe discovers that Maho and Alexis were Kurisu’s university colleagues and have created a digital simulation of her. Tasked by Alexis with researching the AI’s behavior, Okabe gains the opportunity to interact with the digital echo of his lost friend. Caught in a dangerous entanglement with the past, he must confront harsh realities and navigate the perilous consequences of altering the natural flow of time.

Rachel Gardner, her eyes hollow and empty, wishes only for death. She regains consciousness in the basement of a building with no recollection of how she got there. There, she meets Zack, a killer wrapped in bandages who is trying to escape. He vows to end her life once he obtains his freedom, and the two form an agreement to ascend the building floor by floor in search of an exit. As they climb higher, they face increasingly unhinged individuals who all appear to recognize Rachel. The puzzle deepens around her link to the facility and why she is held captive. Facing a new boss on every level, Rachel and Zack must figure out whether both of them can achieve their respective goals.

Satou Matsuzaka is a beautiful high school student known for being easygoing with guys. But a chance meeting with a young girl named Shio Koube makes Satou realize this is her first ever true feeling of love. While telling others she lives with her aunt, Satou secretly shares an apartment with Shio. Despite her innocent looks, Satou will do anything to protect her beloved, going to desperate lengths to keep their "happy sugar life" intact.

Every day, Aya Asagiri contemplates suicide. She faces relentless bullying at school, and at home, her older brother Kaname physically abuses her to vent the academic pressure their father places on him. One night, while lying awake wishing for death, a mysterious website named Magical Girl Site appears on her laptop, offering to grant her magical powers. Initially, she dismisses it as a creepy prank, but when she discovers a magical gun in her shoe locker the next day, she is uncertain what to believe. Deciding to take it with her, she soon encounters her bullies again. This time, desperate for anything to rescue her, she uses the gun—and her attackers are teleported to a nearby railroad crossing, where they are struck by a train. Aya's conscience cannot bear the fact that she killed two of her classmates with magic, and she frantically tries to make sense of the situation. However, when she finds herself in danger once more, she is rescued by Tsuyuno Yatsumura, a classmate who can stop time using magic. This duo has much to accomplish: not only must they fight alongside and against other magical girls, but they also need to uncover the truth behind the website and the impending apocalyptic event known as "The Tempest."

Both day and night, unexplainable horrors lurk in the darkest corners, waiting to strike. They cannot be escaped or defeated—only endured. Prepare yourself, or you might be their next victim. Settle in for a collection of chilling tales that will leave you horrified: a cursed jade figurine that bores holes into its victims' bodies; a nightmare that stretches across decades; a beautiful spirit at a foggy crossroads who offers cursed advice; and a slug that grows inside a girl's mouth. Tread with caution, for the supernatural terrors of the Junji Ito Collection are not meant for the faint-hearted.

After what seems like her nineteenth failed job interview in a single day, Juri Yukawa abandons any hope of leaving her family's cramped home. She lives with her mother Nobuko who works, her NEET brother Tsubasa, her recently unemployed father Takafumi, and her single mother sister Sanae. The only chance for the family to produce a functioning adult is her young nephew Makoto. But the family's already difficult situation worsens when Makoto and Tsubasa are abducted by a shadowy group and held for ransom. With a mere 30 minutes to come up with five million yen and deliver it to the kidnappers, Juri's grandfather confides in her and Takafumi a dangerously potent secret. By offering blood to his mystical stone, the three of them step into "Stasis," a dimension where time is frozen for everyone except the stone's users. Upon reaching their intended location, their rescue mission goes wrong as they are attacked by an unexpected band of individuals who can also move freely within Stasis. Just when despair sets in, a colossal monster called the Herald appears amid the turmoil, its purpose and motives as enigmatic as the timeless realm itself.

Determined to understand why her best friend’s boyfriend left her for another man, the stubborn Eiya Arakawa arranges a meeting with the couple. At a cafe, Yuuga Oota agrees to answer her inquiries only if she can deduce the nature of a couple seated nearby, a task she completes immediately. Impressed by her sharp intellect and intuition, Yuuga invites her to a private session where he reveals the Slave Control Method, or SCM, a device that can enslave people. When two SCM users engage in a duel, the devices heavily influence their minds, and upon its conclusion, the SCM intensifies the loser’s sense of duty, compelling them to obey the victor. Eager to test his own skills, Yuuga asks Eiya to serve as his contingency plan in case he becomes enslaved. Given ten million yen, Eiya must persuade Yuuga’s potential master to release him. Although initially reluctant, Yuuga’s appeal resonates with her own desire for a more meaningful existence, leading her to accept. However, as a secretive organization rapidly amasses slaves, Eiya finds herself caught in a perilous situation far beyond her expectations.

The chaos from the Selector battles seems to have dissipated, and those who survived them have moved on quickly. Yet Kiyoi Mizushima senses that the struggle is not truly over. Although Kou Satomi was defeated, his followers are secretly working to revive his schemes. Before long, Mizushima's concerns are proven accurate. The Selector battle system not only reappears but also introduces a new feature. Players are given a special key card that can be unlocked using gold coins, which then unleashes a hidden ability. Knowing the dangerous opponents ahead, Mizushima starts recruiting strong partners in her mission to ultimately shatter the endless cycle of darkness.