9 Anime Like Stranger Things to Survive the Upside Down

Stranger Things season one was released back in 2016 and quickly became a pop culture phenomenon. After multiple seasons of dynamic main characters, memorable supernatural creatures (like the Demogorgon), and plenty of suspenseful moments, the finale is now coming our way. Since this is Crunchyroll and all, that probably means you’re looking for the best anime that captures the same vibes. Take a look at these anime series if you love Stranger Things ; they might hold you over as the series comes to an end. NOTE: This article was originally written on July 1, 2022. The introduction has been updated to celebrate the final season of Stranger Things . THE PROMISED NEVERLAND RELATED: Your Halloween Anime Watchlist, From Kooky to Spooky Stranger Things follows a group of kids against the world, planning in secret, and learning about the dark monsters that exist on the other side. THE PROMISED NEVERLAND hits very similar beats. The series follows Emma, Norman and Ray, orphans at Grace Field House, an orphanage that houses a dark secret that leads them to plot an escape. If you love the “kids against a supernatural threat” aspect of Stranger Things , THE PROMISED NEVERLAND is perfect for you. ERASED RELATED: Can You Identify These Time Travel Anime by Their Timelines? ERASED is another anime with a “kids solving a mystery and preventing disaster” setup that is sure to catch the interest of Stranger Things fans. ERASED is about Satoru Fujinuma, whose power sends him back in time to before a tragic incident can occur, allowing him to stop it. One day, his power sends him all the way back to his childhood, giving him the chance to prevent the incident that claimed the lives of three of his friends. The bulk of the series takes place in Satoru’s childhood, which sees him and his friends outsmarting the murderer in a thriller that evokes similar vibes to Stranger Things . JUJUTSU KAISEN RELATED: Which JUJUTSU KAISEN Character Are You? Supernatural kids fighting supernatural threats is a staple in shonen anime and manga. JUJUTSU KAISEN follows Yuji Itadori, who becomes host to a powerful curse known as Ryomen Sukuna after swallowing a cursed finger. Instead of being sentenced to death, he is inducted into the Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School due to his ability to control the cursed power of Sukuna. Alongside his Jujutsu high classmates, Yuji is pitted against cursed spirits of all shapes and sizes that feel similar to the monsters of the Upside Down. Digimon franchise RELATED: Digimon Series Watch Order (Including Movies) Stranger Things takes a lot of cues from E.T. , and Digimon Adventure: (and Digimon in general) is kind of like if every kid got their own E.T. In place of fighting monsters from the Upside Down, the Digi-destined are fighting other, more evil E.T.s in the Digital World. If you want things to be a bit more horror-y and spooky, Digimon Ghost Game fits the Stranger Things bill even closer. The series follows a group of kids investigating strange happenings known as “hologram ghosts,” following them into the digital world for a supernatural adventure perfect for fans of the Netflix series. Yu Yu Hakusho RELATED: How to Watch Yu Yu Hakusho in Order Yu Yu Hakusho is a great series if you’re looking for a classic anime to scratch the supernatural itch of Stranger Things ’ psychic powers and Dungeons & Dragons -esque monsters. After saving someone from a car crash leaves him dead, Yusuke Urameshi is given a second chance at life by being a detective for the Spirit World. Yusuke’s adventures see him reclaim lost treasures, travel to demon realms and compete in dark tournaments, all of which are a great expansion and amalgamation of the genres on display in Stranger Things . PERSONA5 the Animation RELATED: Metaphor: ReFantazio Director Katsura Hashino Talks Creating a Fantasy RPG for a Modern World The common theme for these anime recommendations is the “kids undertaking a supernatural secret mission,” and PERSONA5 The Animation is no different. Based on the video game of the same name, PERSONA5 The Animation is about the Phantom Thieves of Heart, teenagers with the power to enter a person’s mind palace and change the nature of their heart by battling their literal inner evils using their personas (avatars tied to them with great power). Fans of Stranger Things will find a lot to love about watching this ragtag group of teens trying to face adults with nefarious intentions, the stakes always increasing to the point that their superpowers don’t always feel like they’ll be enough. Much like the kids in Stranger Things , the Phantom Thieves keep fighting to find a way. Puella Magi Madoka Magica RELATED: 15 Pink-Haired Anime Characters to Brighten Your Day Puella Magi Madoka Magica is a good series for people who were intrigued by how Stranger Things twists the classic kids-on-bikes setup into a dark, terrifying horror series. Without spoiling too much, the series starts as a normal magical girl anime, only for what seems like the perfect fantasy to turn into a nightmare. It’s hard to sell it without spoiling more, but Stranger Things fans should definitely check out what Puella Magi Madoka Magica has to offer. Akira Akira is a must-watch if Eleven is your favorite part of Stranger Things . One of the most iconic and acclaimed anime of all time, Akira follows biker gang leader Kaneda as he attempts to rescue his friend Tetsuo from the government facility testing his out-of-control psychic abilities. From the psychic rage to the government testing and even the neon synthesizer vibes, Stranger Things fans will likely find a new favorite in Akira . Mob Psycho 100 RELATED: 10 Supernatural Anime That Highlight How Unique the Genre Is A psychic kid trying to better themself while combating supernatural beings and making new friends is something both the middle seasons of Stranger Things and Mob Psycho 100 have in common. If you love Eleven’s character arc, you’ll definitely love Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama’s journey to try his best while dealing with the burden of his immensely powerful psychic abilities. Like Eleven, Mob has great power that can go very wrong depending on his mental state. Fans of Stranger Things will come to care for Mob as much as they do Eleven as they watch him struggle, succeed and deal with the supernatural. 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