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10 Best Anime Like Classroom Of The Elite You Should Be Watching Right Now

November 29, 2022
anime like classroom of the elite

It came as no surprise when Classroom of the Elite became one of the biggest psychological thrillers in 2017. Based on an award-winning light novel series by Shougo Kinugasa, this series garnered huge popularity right off the bat due to its unique premise and amazing storyline. If you are looking for similar anime like Classroom of the Elite, check out our list of recommendations below. The anime gave us awesome characters like Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, the protagonist who is voiced by Shoya Chiba who we’ve previously heard in popular anime like Haikyuu!!, Banana Fish, Horimiya and 86. Classroom of the Elite came across to the general audience as just another quirky high school drama, but the way the twists were laid out was incredible and the characters felt genuine in their designs, and the school setting made it relatable to a much wider audience that left them wanting more.

List Of Anime Like Classroom Of The Elite

  1. Assassination Classroom
  2. Kakegurui
  3. Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
  4. Danganronpa
  5. Hyouka
  6. Tomodachi Game
  7. The Irregular at Magic High School
  8. Charlotte
  9. Kiznaiver
  10.  My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU

1. Assassination Classroom (2015)

This Shounen anime is by far one of the most unique stories out there. An action-packed story that follows a class of misfits who are tasked with assassinating their new teacher, a tentacled alien with superpowers that makes him nearly invincible, within the school year. What makes it even worse is that he turns out to be the best, most supportive teacher they have ever had. 

While this anime is not nearly as dark as Classroom of the Elite, there is the psychological warfare that the seemingly weak students have to go through in both anime, while navigating new trials and friendships. If you’re interested in shounen psychological anime like Classroom of the Elite, then Assassination Classroom is the perfect pick for you.

2. Kakegurui (2017)

Kakegurui is one of the most thrilling anime that takes place in a high school setting. In Hyakkaou Private Academy, the school’s hierarchy is decided not by book smarts, nor athleticism but by how well you can play your cards as well as your opponent’s mind at gambling. Yumeko Jabami, the seemingly newest goat for slaughter, suddenly brings in a storm as she shows them who really rules the gambling table.

The characters in both anime are an elite group of people until the MCs turn the tables. If it is the mind games and psychological tension that had you intrigued in anime like Classroom of the Elite, then Kakegurui will have you hooked. 

Also Read: Anime like Darker Than Black

3. Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai (2019)

The title of this anime has either found people intrigued or weirded out, and I am the former, because it’s always the anime you least expect anything from that turns out best. This seinen anime follows Sakuta Azusagawa as his life takes a turn when he meets an actress, Mai Sakurajima dressed as a bunny girl wandering through the library. But what really spins the story is that nobody else can see her, so how can Sakuta? 

While this anime may not resemble the atmosphere in Classroom of the Elite, it does have very similar main characters. Sakuta is a lot like Ayanokoji in that he is laid back and has a low-key personality, and Horikita and Mai also share some personality traits. If it is the characters in anime like Classroom of the Elite that you miss, you should check out Bunny Girl Senpai.

4. Danganronpa (2013)

This 13-episode murder mystery takes place at Hope’s Peak private Academy where protagonist Makoto Naegi ends up trapped inside with 15 other students. They quickly find out through a cruel anthropomorphic bear, called Monokuma, that the only way to graduate in this school is to murder a fellow student, but you cannot get caught as that could decide your life or death.

This anime perfectly captured the tension and fear in high stakes that the school setting brings in, much like Classroom of the Elite. If you love anime like Classroom of the Elite for its high stakes and dark setting, Danganronpa is definitely for you.

5. Hyouka (2012)

This mystery/slice-of-life anime centres around Houtarou Oreki who essentially lives by his motto of ‘energy conservatism’ which is disrupted when he joins the Classic Literature Club. Houtarou, along with fellow members Chitanda, Satoshi and Ibara then tackle several mystery cases.

It is extremely fascinating how interesting the main characters in both anime are in spite of keeping them low-key and supposedly lazy. The only difference in the anime is that Hyouka is not as technologically advanced as Classroom of the Elite. Regardless, if you liked the feel of anime similar to Classroom of the Elite, you are bound to like Hyouka as well.

6. Tomodachi Game (2022)

School teen Katagiri Yuichi finds himself trapped inside a debt repayment game along with his best friends in this shounen psychological thriller, after all the money collected for a school trip mysteriously disappears. The only way to beat the “Tomodachi Game” is to not doubt your friends, but that proves harder than they expected as they are forced to make a choice between friendship and money.

Tomodachi Game presents much of the same psyche as in Classroom of the Elite as loyalties are tested and secrets are revealed. The protagonists, Ayanokoji and Yuichi have very similar character designs, and they are also both shown to be very tactical characters as they go about solving tasks and issues. If you are looking for more anime similar to Classroom of the Elite, then you can watch Tomodachi Game.

7. The Irregular at Magic Highschool(2014)

The story in this sci-fi fantasy takes place in 2095, the world is living in an alternate history where magic is just another discipline. Siblings Miyuki Shiba and Tatsuya Shiba are about to begin their first years at the First Magic Highschool in Japan. Miyuki is enrolled in the first class as she is considered best, however, Tatsuya is taken to be inept and is enrolled on the second class which makes people view him as irregular when they witness his brilliance at combat and technical knowledge. 

Just like Classroom of the Elite, First Magic Highschool also has strict rules separating the “supposedly” high performing and the low-performing ones. This anime is the best recommendation for anyone who loves the dynamics in a cutthroat high school setting in anime similar to Classroom of the Elite.

8. Charlotte (2015)

Charlotte is a supernatural drama that takes place in an alternate reality where a percentage of the population can manifest superpowers upon reaching puberty. We follow Yuu Otosaka who has the power to possess someone’s mind and body for 5 seconds which he uses to cheat through exams and life in general. Soon he joins a group of fellow superhumans and must change his ways to use his powers for the greater good.

Apart from the obvious high school setting, both Yuu and Ayanokoji are similar in that they are both indifferent and selfish characters who go through major transformative experiences. If anime like Classroom of the Elite kept you hooked, you are gonna love Charlotte as well.

Also Read: Anime like Noragami

9. Kiznaiver (2016)

Kiznaiver is an anime that combines sci-fi and action genres in a most intriguing setting.  The story follows six students who are chosen to be a part of an experiment that promotes world peace by creating bonds that force people to share each other’s pain. The title is a combination of the Japanese words “kizu” meaning wound or scar and “kizuna” meaning connection. 

One thing Classroom of the Elite does well is the focus on the psychology behind the actions and characters that drive the story forward. Kiznaiver shares this similar point, and also allows the protagonists to feel the changes through their respective transformative journeys. If it is this psychology elements that you like in animes similar to Classroom of the Elite, then Kiznaiver is your best bet.

10. My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU(2013)

This slice-of-life drama follows yet another unsocial, indifferent MC Hachiman Hikigaya, who has a rather pessimistic view of the world around him. When he puts his views in his essay, he finds himself a part of the Volunteer Service Club at his school. This derails him from his noble task of chastising society and forces him to actually live out every introvert’s nightmare – socialise and make friends. 

This anime lacks the dark and heavy tension that is prominent in Classroom of the Elite. However, the main characters and their personalities are very similar and so are their teen issues that feature in several anime similar to Classroom of the Elite.

Honourable Mentions

Here are a few anime like Classroom of the Elite that didn’t make the list, but you can check them out nonetheless: 

  1. Baka and Test
  2. No Game No Life
  3. Kaguya-sama – Love is War
  4. The Fruit of Grisaia
  5. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.
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When Lost aired over a decade ago, its successful narrative created a pop culture impact and changed the landscape of television. If you are a fan and want to watch shows like Lost then you can have a look at this list we made just for you.

Lost

The hugely successful television series Lost aired in 2004. The premise, as we know, deals with a group of people surviving a commercial passenger plane crash on a remote island. The show masterfully explores supernatural and sci-fi elements on this mysterious south Pacific island. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTu8iDynwNc

The use of cliffhangers at the end of each episode of Lost kept the viewers on the edge of their seats, desperately craving for the next episode to come. Even though it's a large ensemble cast, most of the characters receive a justifiable personal arch. Lost was inspired by the movie Castaway and became one of the most expensive pilots to be shot at the time! Lost continues to be appreciated for its originality in storytelling and dynamic character arcs. 

List of TV Shows Like Lost

  1. The Leftovers
  2. Manifest
  3. Lost Room
  4. Twin Peaks
  5. The Prisoners
  6. Battlestar Galactica
  7. The New People
  8. Flight 29 Down
  9. Fringe
  10. Alcatraz
  11. Under the Dome
  12. Dark

1. The Leftovers (2014)

IMDB ratings: 8.3/10

Cast: Carrie Coon, Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman and Margaret Qualley

Creator: Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta

The director of Lost, Damon Lindel also created a supernatural drama series called The Leftovers. The show begins 3 years after an unexplainable global event called ‘Sudden Departure’  where almost 2 per cent of the population, nearly 140 million people, disappear. The Leftovers isn't about WHY people are gone, it's about how the ones who remain dealt with their loss, people often try to comfort themselves with dreams, angels, gods, or even death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLT3YUALJno&t=8s

The Leftovers will leave you with so many questions but beyond words, you have to feel it and savour its unanswered questions to find peace. The Leftovers is an incredible television series that starts incredibly well but loses its way by the series's end. I have to say though, Carrie Coon has brilliant moments in the end. The Leftovers is so weird, fragmented and nonsensical at times that it reminds me of Lost. If you are looking for shows like Lost, I recommend that you give The Leftovers a try.

2. Manifest  (2018) 

IMDB ratings: 7.1/10

Cast: Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas and J.R. Ramirez 

Creator: Jeff Rake


The Manifest is a supernatural drama show about a bunch of people who discover that they lost 5 years of their lives when they landed in New York after their aeroplane faced severe turbulence. All the people on the plane were presumed to be dead. Now, these people have to find a way to adjust themselves to a new life around their loved ones. Mild spoiler! They learn their loved ones and the rest of society is not as they left it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1hNAIzkQWY

I found that the show’s premise was very intriguing and the actors give a very convincing performance. The narrative details of the show, however, in my opinion, are a bit sloppy and inconsistent. The writers surely have room for improvement but their concept is incredibly thrilling. Every episode of Manifest keeps you on your toes. Manifest has completed 3 seasons up until now and continues to be on air. Manifest is a pretty good choice if you want to watch TV shows like Lost.

3. Lost Room (2006)

IMDB ratings: 8.1/10

Cast: Peter Krause, Julianna Margulies and Peter Jacobson

Creator: Christopher Leone, Laura Harkcom

This lesser-known show The Lost Room is an American Sci-fi television miniseries which only had 3 episodes of 90 mins each and no follow-up seasons. The show was based on a very unique idea where the room in question (known as the ‘Lost Room’) and the objects in the said room had supernatural powers. This strange room is set in a 1960s motel along the iconic U.S. Route 66. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfWrECLnFYU

One day the protagonist (Peter Krause) Joe Miller’s daughter disappears inside the room. Joe, with the help of objects present in the room, tries to find his daughter Anna (Elle Fanning). The story of Lost Room was intensely engaging. I found the direction and the actor’s performances to be absolutely brilliant. It baffles me that the creators did not return to make another short season within the same concept. If you have been searching for TV series like Lost then I can assure you that Lost Room will be worth a watch.

4. Twins Peaks (1990) 

IMDB ratings: 8.8/10

Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Mädchen Amick, Sherilyn Fenn and David Lynch

Creator: David Lynch

David Lynch, the well-known director of weird and captivating films such as Eraserhead and Blue Velvet created an iconic show called Twin Peaks. It is a hauntingly eccentric show about the investigation of the mysterious murder of a small-town homecoming queen named Laura Palmer. Believe me, as odd as the show may seem at first, you will grow to love it, after all, it is considered to be one of the best mystery shows ever created. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwn9ou_nf-I

With the mysteries, the supernatural elements and the list of bizarre characters, Twin Peaks has it all. In my opinion, the cinematography of the show was truly ahead of its time. Kyle’s Dale Cooper was especially entertaining. Twin Peaks’ experimental formula of the satirical soap opera is extremely unsettling yet rewarding to watch, I must warn you, it’s not for the faint-hearted!  If you are in search of TV shows like Lost then Twin Peaks won’t disappoint you.

The Prisoners (1967)

IMDB ratings: 8.5/10

Cast: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat and Geroge Markstien

Creator: Patrick McGoohan


The Prisoner centres around an unnamed British agent (Patrick McGoohan) who tries to flee his country after abruptly quitting his high-ranking government job. He is abducted and held captive in a strange ‘sea-side’ village that is isolated from the rest of the world. This village is a highly secure and monitored place filled with weird technology. There are only 17 episodes to this late 60s show but it manages to bring up such surreal surprises, it's sure to leave a great impact on the viewer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JrNr85fPms

The Prisoner’s unique concept influenced many popular shows including Lost. The creators of Lost even cited the show. I was very impressed by how ahead of its time The Prisoners proves to be. If you want to watch more shows similar to Lost the Prisoners should definitely be on your list.

6. Battlestar Galactica (2004)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Katee Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos and Tricia Helfer 

Creator: Glen A. Larson

The 2004 Battlestar Galactica is a reboot of the original 1978 miniseries of the same name. Do not be mistaken by the title, the show is not related to Star Trek.  Battlestar Galactica is set in the 7th millennium AD and follows Cylons, the robot enemy of humanity that resurfaces to destroy the 12 colonies of Mankind. Only a few survive and are able to escape on ships led by a powerful warship called Battlestar Galactica. Mankind struggles to fight the Cylons and work their own political agendas and disputes while finding their long-lost 13th colony Earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnYsf2Yv8i8

The show is a dark, intense and gritty socio-political commentary with EPIC cinematic value. The script is especially clever and as a huge fan of sci-fi shows, this show ticks the boxes in all the right categories. When the show was released, it blew the viewers and critics away. As far as an obsessive and gripping story goes, Battlestar Galactica is one of the most similar to shows like Lost. 

7. The New People (1969)

IMDB ratings: 7.3/10

Cast: David Moses, Zooey hall and Tiffany Boiling

Creator: Larry Gordon Aaron Spelling

The New People is an American Tv series that aired only for 1 season and is focused on a couple of college students who survive a plane crash. The incident takes place while they were returning from a trip to Southeast Asia, their plane crashes on an island in the south of the Pacific ocean. 

By now this show must already be sounding a lot like Lost to you, and it surely is. The remaining group of people discover an unusual truth about the island: there’s an above-ground unused nuclear test site filled with supplies for the survivors. If you want to see more plane survival stories like Lost then The New People should definitely be on your list.

8. Flight 29 Down (2005)

IMDB ratings: 7.2/10

Cast: Allen Alvarado, Halle Hirsh and Corbin Bleu

Creator:  Stan Rowgow D. J. MacHale

The show Flight 29 Down is a drama series about a group of pre-teens/teens who are stranded on a South Pacific island after their plane crashes in a tropical storm while they were flying from an eco-adventure camping trip in Palau. The show is in many ways a younger version of the Adult-centred show Lost but sans the supernatural elements. I’d say that the show draws inspiration from the show The New People.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLeG0w3kL8k

Flight 29 Down uses the technique of a video diary as a plot device for the viewers to keep up with the story of these children. It was very engaging to watch young intelligent characters finding their way on the island. The first two seasons of the show are quite engaging but I seemed to lose interest in its 3rd and final season. Regardless, Flight 29 Down is a really good series to watch if you want to see TV shows like Lost.

9. Fringe (2008)

IMDB ratings: 8.4/10

Cast: Anna Torv, John Noble and Joshua Jackson

Creator: J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci

Fringe is a popular Sci-fi crime drama television series. It may seem like a standard procedural drama at first, but the show actually explores the parallel universe, alternate versions of people filled with crazy scientific experiments. I personally had a great time watching this show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29bSzbqZ3xE

Fringe is actually inspired by shows like Lost, The X-files and The Twilight Zone. The 3 main characters of the show work with a special division called Fringe. There are so many brilliant twists and turns in Fringe that in my opinion, the show is at the top of its category. If you are searching for TV series like Lost, I strongly recommend you watch Fringe. 

10. Alcatraz (2012)

IMDB ratings: 6.9/10

Cast: Sarah Jones, George Garcia and Jonny Coyne 

Creator: Elizabeth Sarnoff, Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt

This American fiction show is based on the infamous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary built on Alcatraz island in San Francisco Bay. The prison is now closed but once kept some of the most dangerous criminals of America. The show takes the liberty to make a show around the conspiracies of the place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V514ACIGp_k

In the interesting premise we see that under unknown circumstances, 256 inmates and 46 guards of the prison disappear without a trace. Later the disappeared ones start to appear one by one without ageing a day and resume their criminal activities with no realisation of disappearance. A special government unit is dedicated to finding and putting those criminals back in prison. If you are looking for mystery shows similar to Lost, try watching Alcatraz. 

11. Under the Dome (2013)

IMDB ratings: 6.5/10

Cast: Alexander Koch and Rachelle Lefevre

Creator: Stephen King

Based on a novel written by the sci-fi legend Stephen King, Under the Dome tells the story of the residents of the fictional small town called Chester's Mill, when a huge, transparent and indestructible dome suddenly cuts them off from the rest of the world. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Y5YeYrqUk

Now the trapped residents try to find a way to discover the truth, origin and purpose of these domes. This journey forces them into situations where they learn more about each other than they ever knew. Under the Dome may not be on the top of this list but it’s quite a decent watch if you’re looking for mystery shows similar to Lost. 

12. Dark (2017)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Louis Hofmann, Lisa Vicari and Gina Stiebitz

Creator: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese

The German-language Netflix series Dark is an interesting blend of Science fiction and Mystery. Truly a compelling and mind-bending story to watch. At the beginning of Dark, many children suspiciously start disappearing in the German town of Winden. The dark past of generational mysteries of 4 families living in the town namely, Kahnwald, Nielsen, Doppler, and Tiedemann is brought to light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrwycJ08PSA

After the discovery of a wormhole, the lives of the families intertwine more than one can imagine. I believe every element of the show is top-notch, especially Dark’s cinematography, which is a TRUE masterpiece. If you are looking for TV series similar to Lost then the intense and gripping story of Dark is sure to keep you engrossed.

Honourable Mentions

Here are a few TV shows like Lost that didn’t make the list, but you can check them out nonetheless: 

  1. Carnivale
  2. Yellowjackets
  3. Game of Thrones
  4. Black Mirror
  5. Flashforward
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