There are few shows that hold the cultural pull thatLostdoes, amysteryseries filled with intrigue that once captivated viewers week after week.The show’s ability to provide viewers with great storytelling and mind-bendingsci-fitwists is something many fans still search for fromseriestoday.Animeboundaries are nearly endless, and quite a few great series are bold reminders of the greatness thatLostbrought to screens.
Animes likeAstra Lost in Spacewhich captivesaudiences with its unique twists, and shows likeSteins;Gatewhich explores sci-fi themes like time travel. Both anime feature captivating elements that fans of the seriesLostso expressly enjoyed.This list consists of anime that can help fill the void thatLostleft behind after its epic conclusion.
10’Btooom!' (2012)
Created by: Junya Inoue
Fans adore this anime for itsstriking tension and high-stakes survival aspects.Btooom!Is an action-packed thriller that centers around Ryouta Sakamoto (Kanata Hongō) as he wakes up on an island with no recollection of how he came to be there. In the midst of the confusion, Ryouta realizes that he must partake in a game that requires him to kill his opponents with bombs. With his only chance of escape being to play the game, he finds help from a mysterious girl named Himiko. Both are desperate to survive and uncover the secrets that brought them into a game of survival.
Btooom!is often regarded by viewers as an underrated thriller.Much like the core story of the seriesLost,the anime focuses on individuals who have no memory of how they ended up in such a deadly situation.Btooom!centers heavily on themes of survival, self-preservation, and moral dilemmas– all themes central toLost.This anime series may be underrated, but it is one fans of the hit seriesLostare sure to love.
9'7 Seeds' (2019–2020)
Created by: Yumi Tamura
7 Seedsis a post-apocalyptic sci-fi anime that features a diverse cast and high psychological tension.The series follows groups of cryogenically frozen people who exist to preserve humanity after a meteor destroys Earth. When they awaken, they find themselves surrounded by all things deadly, in a new and mutated world. The story focuses on each team—named after the seasons—as they navigate the unknown.
Thepost-apocalyptic drama is praised for its emotional realismas characters go through extreme and traumatic situations.Much like the 2004 series,Lost,7 Seedsintroduces a cast of characters that wake up in an unfamiliar and deadly setting with no idea how they landed themselves there. There are even individuals that resembleLostcharacters, including the quiet leader Natsu (Nao Tōyama) and the hot-headed rebels like Arashi (Jun Fukuyama), who are much like the Jack-Kate-Sawyer dynamic. The mystery within7 Seedsas well as the ensemble of chaos under the pressure of survival, makes it a perfect addition to this list.
8’Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku' (2023)
Created by: Yuji Kaku
Thisdark fantasy anime series, known asHell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku, follows a deadly ninja sentenced to death, Gabimaru’s (Chiaki Kobayashi), second chance at life, only if he can obtain the elixir of life on a mysterious island.Sent with other criminals to the lethal island, with a stoic executioner at his side, they must all face supernatural traps, horrifying monsters, and secrets.
Hell’s Paradise: Jigokurakuis a host of action and deep emotional moments. The series displays the cast of characters on an uncharted island full of killer—quite literally—secrets.While that is an obvious aspect of theLostseries,Hell’s Paradise: Jigokurakuholds another similar feature: it also features tons of characters who have morally gray backstories, all while they’re consistently manipulated by a higher power and forced to stumble around in the dark. Fans of theLostseries are sure to love this unique blend of action and mystery.
Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku
7’Steins;Gate' (2011)
Created by: Chiyomaru Shikura
Steins;Gateis asci-fi thriller animethat is capable of moving its audience with emotional depth and cunning twists.The series centers around a self-proclaimed mad scientist, Rintarou Okabe (Mamoru Miyano),who, through sheer luck, finds a way to send messages to the past. With the help of friends, Rintarou experiments with time and unveils menacing conspiracies.
Steins;Gateexplores themes of friendship, the cost of knowledge and cause-and-effect. BothLostandSteins;Gateproduce great storytelling that plays heavily with time and the effects the past has on the present.Much likeLost’slater seasons, the sci-fi anime deals in flashbacks and alternate timelines that reveal that all choices are significant.Fans of theLostseries are sure to appreciate Steins;Gate, which features slow-burning conspiracies and puzzles that fall into place intriguingly.
Steins;Gate (2011)
6’Made in Abyss' (2017–Present)
Created by: Akihito Tsukushi
This dark fantasyadventure anime features a rather deceptively cute appearancethat contrasts with its gut-wrenching moments and brutal themes.Made in Abyssfollows a young girl who desires to explore the deadly Abyss, Riko (Miyu Tomita). Joined by a robot boy named Reg (Mariya Ise), who knows nothing of his past, they must face bizarre and dangerous challenges as they traverse the Abyss. The deeper they go, the more is revealed, and the more difficult it is for them to turn back.
Made in Abysspresents a place filled with layered mysteries, that can be seen as an echo of a new level on theLostIsland. Viewers of the anime have found the series to be quite emotionally devastating, mirroringLostwith its backstory-rich world, and constant moral challenges. Fans of theLostseries are sure to be captivated by this deceptive anime, as it showcases environmental mysteries, and delves into its characters' deeper traumas.
Made in Abyss
5’The Promised Neverland' (2019–2021)
Created by: Kaiu Shirai
The Promised Neverland’sfirst season is a hit among many.The horror anime followsthose in an orphanage run by “Mama”—particularly Emma (Sumire Morohoshi), Norman (Maaya Uchida), and Ray (Mariya Ise).The children appear to live in an ideal world, but they soon discover something abominably terrifying. Together, they come up with a plan to escape and save others from a faith worse than a simple death.
The Promise Neverlandcame out with a bang. Similar to the 2004 series,Lost, this anime starts with a seemingly normal setting but is quickly revealed to be rife with deadly secrets. Fans of the anime have praised it continuously for its emotional and character-driven story, particularly during season 1. Also, likeLost,The Promise Neverlandfeatures characters that have some form of trauma or secret that drives them, along with someone else behind the scenes manipulating them, which makes it a great addition to this list.
The Promised Neverland
4’Dr. Stone' (2019–2023)
Created by: Riichiro Inagaki
Thispost-apocalyptic adventure animeis a blend of optimism, real chemistry, and tons of humor.Dr. Stonecenters around Senku Ishigami (Yūsuke Kobayashi), a boy genius who wakes up several millennia after all of humanity has been turned into stone. With his great mind and his love for science, Senku vows to rebuild society, perfectly, from scratch.
While it may lack some ofLost’sintensity,Dr. Stonedoes give you that thrill of the “starting over from nothing” trope thatLostbuilt beautifully during its first season. Equal to the lives of the cast of characters inLost, Senku and his allies form a makeshift society, designating roles and responsibilities to those they deem capable.WithinDr. Stone, there is the theme of discovery as they unveil parts of the world while surviving hardships and threats from people around them.Fans ofLostare sure to enjoy this epic tale as it displays its mystery-revealing nature, character growth, and heartfelt bonding.
3’Astra Lost in Space' (2019)
Created by: Kenta Shinohara
This underrated gem provides audienceswith a great time filled with heartfelt character moments and plot twists galore.Astra Lost in Spacefollows a group of teens who make their way into space to participate in a space camp. Unfortunately, things take a turn for the worse when the group is teleported across the galaxy. Now the teens must muster their strength and learn to rely on each other to make it home.
Astra Lost in Spaceis a host of twists and turns thatLostfans adore. The sci-fi anime has quite a few aspects of the seriesLost: various number of strangers lost in an unknown and terrifying setting rife with challenges and hidden backstories.There are themes of heart-aching betrayals, trust, and redemption, and most like the 2004 series,Astra Lost in Spaceoffers audiencesa puzzle that they can get absolutely lost in, leading this anime to be one of the best choices for those who love the seriesLost.
Astra: Lost in Space
2’Higurashi: When They Cry' (2006)
Created by: Ryukishi07
Higurashi: When They Cryis a captivating blendof horror, mystery, supernatural elements, and killer psychology.The story centers on Keiichi Maebara (Sōichirō Hoshi), who moves to the quiet village of Hinamizawa. As he settles in and grows closer to others, he discovers that the village holds horrible secrets. From strange time loops to murder, Keiichi gets closer and closer to the truth of it all.
Each episode of the horror series offers emotional twists and high tension. Equal toLost,Higurashi: When They Cryfollows the pattern of reveals through new perspectives and repetitions.The village’s curse and secret society resembleLost’s“Others” or Dharma mysteries, a hook that fans of the series are sure to adore.Higurashi: When They Cryclaims a high ranking on this list, as it delves into emotional trauma, time loops, the unveiling of hidden truths, and rewards viewers for their close attention to the captivating series.
Higurashi: When They Cry
1’Attack on Titan' (2013-Present)
Created by: Hajime Isayama
This brilliant work of fictionis known for its relentless twists and turns, as well as its deep moral dilemmas.Attack on Titanis set in a world overrun by gigantic beings who threaten humanity. Survivors are enclosed behind a wall, and among them are three children whose hopes and dreams are crushed and changed consistently: Eren Yeager (Yūki Kaji), Mikasa Ackerman (Yui Ishikawa), and Armin Arlert (Marina Inoue). Now sure about their task, they discover veiled truths about their home, world, and even themselves.
Attack on Titanis a mystery box hidden within another —both filled to the brim with secrets, much like the seriesLost. Within the anime there is the heavy use of flashbacks that shocks both characters and viewers alike, heavily resembling elements thatLostfans love.With deep themes of survival, free will, and who is truly the hero and who is the villain, this action-packed anime earns its high rank among the series on this list, perfect for fans who adore Lost.
Attack On Titan
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