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5 Anime to Watch If You Loved the Stranger Things Vibe


A fan-to-fan guide to filling the Upside Down-shaped hole in your heart.

So, the Stranger Things Season 5 trailer just dropped… and yeah, I’m losing it too. The 80s nostalgia, the creepy monsters, the ride-or-die friendships—it hits in all the right places.

But now comes the hard part: waiting.

While we count down the days to the final season, I’ve got something for you—some incredible anime that give off the Stranger Things vibe in all the best ways. Whether it’s psychic powers, secret labs, or small-town secrets with world-ending consequences, these anime know exactly how to pull you in and keep you hooked.

Here are 5 underrated anime gems that’ll keep your supernatural heart beating while Hawkins takes a break. 


1. Erased (Boku dake ga Inai Machi)

🎭 Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Supernatural
📺 Episodes: 12

Imagine if Will Byers went back in time to stop the Upside Down before it even happened. That’s the energy Erasedbrings. It follows a struggling manga artist who’s suddenly thrown back 18 years to prevent a series of child kidnappings—including one that changed his life forever.

Why you’ll love it:
It’s emotional, suspenseful, and full of that bittersweet nostalgia that Stranger Things nails so well. Plus, the pacing is tight—you’ll binge this in one sitting.

2. Elfen Lied

🔪 Genre: Horror, Sci-fi, Psychological
📺 Episodes: 13

Think: Eleven’s backstory… if it were 10 times bloodier. Elfen Lied is about Lucy, a telekinetic girl who escapes a government facility and sets off a chain reaction of violence, trauma, and unexpected tenderness.

Why you’ll love it:
It's not for the faint of heart—but if you're into the dark side of psychic powers and twisted experiments, this anime delivers both brutality and heart.

3. The Promised Neverland (Season 1 only… trust me)

🎭 Genre: Thriller, Horror, Sci-fi
📺 Episodes: 12

A cozy orphanage. Happy kids. Then—boom—reality check. The kids discover their home is a front for something far more sinister, and they plan a great escape using only their brains and bonds.

Why you’ll love it:
It captures that exact same “innocent setting hiding horror” feeling as Stranger Things. And just like Hawkins, these kids don’t back down without a fight.

4. Mob Psycho 100

💥 Genre: Supernatural, Action, Comedy
📺 Episodes: 37 (3 seasons)

Mob is just a quiet middle schooler… who happens to be one of the most powerful espers on Earth. But instead of unleashing chaos, he’s trying to live a normal life while dealing with ghosts, conmen, and his own emotions.

Why you’ll love it:
If you’re obsessed with Eleven’s struggle to balance being normal with being a literal powerhouse, Mob Psycho gives you that—plus brilliant animation and a ton of heart.

5. Paranoia Agent

🌀 Genre: Mystery, Psychological, Supernatural
📺 Episodes: 13

What starts as a weird case about a boy with a golden bat turns into a surreal journey through Tokyo’s collective fears and traumas. It’s like Stranger Things if the Upside Down was in your mind.

Why you’ll love it:
It’s creepy, clever, and makes you question what’s real. A perfect watch when you want something thought-provoking and a little unsettling.

Final Thoughts from One Fan to Another

We all know Stranger Things is special. But what makes it truly great—the characters, the tension, the mystery—those elements exist in anime too, and sometimes in ways that go even deeper.

So if you’re feeling that post-trailer hype (or just deep in Hawkins withdrawal), give one of these anime a shot. They're not just filler—they're experiences.

And hey, if you end up crying, binge-watching, or texting your friends at 3 a.m. about how good it is... welcome to the club.

What About You?

💬 Seen any of these already? Got your own “Stranger Things but make it anime” recs?
Let’s geek out in the comments—I’m always down to trade favorites.

📌 And don’t forget to share this post with your anime or Stranger Things buddies. Let’s spread the love for these underrated gems.

Tags: #StrangerThingsSeason5 #AnimeForStrangerThingsFans #UnderratedAnime #AnimeRecommendations #PsychicAnime #SupernaturalAnime

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