In a world with a plethora of anime, we find some just made to rule our hearts. Steins;Gate is indeed one of those anime. It is only one of its own kind, involving every damn genre/theme you might yearn for. And hence, it justifies the reason for it always being on the top anime list on MAL.
Steins;Gate is a widely popular anime among fans for its good humor, amazing time-traveling plot, and well-written and likable characters.
Not to mention, the main character, Rintarou (Mad Scientist), is the soul of the show. Owing to its popularity, Steins;Gate has also been adapted into various Games, Live action plays, and TV series.
Synopsis: The narrative centers on Okabe Rintarou, a young man with great love for gadgets who calls himself a Mad Scientist. With the help of his friends, Mayuri and Hashida, he establishes a Laboratory at his home.
One fine day, they find their phone microwave can send messages into any past timeline. Therefore, they unknowingly invented the time-travel machine.
Unfortunately, this invention also put their life at risk and caused Rintarou to disrupt the timeline several times. Currently, he is trying to reverse the situation to protect his loved ones.
We have handpicked the 11 best anime like Steins;Gate, having similar themes and genres. Therefore, without further ado, let’s get started.
11 Similar Anime Like Steins;Gate
List of 11 Anime Similar To Steins;Gate
11. Welcome to NHK!
- Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Psychological
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Funimation, Amazon Prime Video
- No. of Episodes: 24
- No. of Seasons: Season 1 only
- MAL Rating: 8.31
Welcome to NHK! is an outstanding anime series that focuses on the life of a young man who rarely leaves his flat. You might often compare yourself with the main character and find several similarities.
Synopsis: It centers on Tatsuhiro Satoru, a college dropout aged 22 who is currently a hikikomori for over four years.
He has developed a variety of conspiracy theories in his solitude. One of them is the existence of an NHK organization promoting Hikikomori culture.
NHK no Youkoso! follows Tatsuhiro’s struggles to leave his self-caused isolation, all while trying to avoid the NHK’s evil plans.
Similarities:-
- Both the main characters believe in a secret organization that is conspiring against them.
- The female leads of both shows are similar in terms of their personality and helping nature.
- Both shows have serious overtones and humor interspersed with bits of pervy remarks.
10. Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica
- Genres: Seinen, Drama, Fantasy
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Funimation
- No. of Episodes: 12
- No. of Seasons: Season 1 only + Movies
- MAL Rating: 8.36
Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica is another fantasy-based anime. It is an adaptation of a Light novel and manga of the same name.
It involves a fantasy element accompanied by a rollercoaster ride of plot twists.
Synopsis: It focuses on Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki, two middle schoolers who get along together very well.
However, things start shifting after the entry of Homura Akemi, a new transfer student, and kyuubey, a magical girl recruiter.
Kyuubey, who resembles a cat, proposes to them a deal to become magical girls in exchange for granting their one wish.
Homura warns them not to accept the offer since she is a magical girl and knows the drill.
Similarities:-
- Both series start with light-hearted content and proceed to something complex.
- Unlike Steins;Gate, it does not have a science fiction genre, yet both are quite similar.
- Both anime series deal with a multitude of plot twists and surprising factors.
9. Serial Experiments Lain
- Genres: Action, Drama, Mystery, Supernatural, Sci-fi, Psychological
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Funimation, Amazon Prime Video
- No. of Episodes: 13
- No. of Seasons: Season 1 only
- MAL Rating: 8.07
Serial Experiments Lain is a science fiction anime that majorly deals with technology. The series’ main focus is on the digital world and the disconnection from reality.
Synopsis: It narrates the story of Lain Iwakura, who receives an unsettling email from Chisa Yomoda, her classmate.
The catch is that Chisa is dead, and Lain does not know the ABCs of using technology.
However, the moment she reads the email, it sends her into a digital world.
She keeps running into more cryptic puzzles following one another. The digital world brings a ruckus into her life, and the lining of reality begins to fade.
Similarities:-
- Both series have complex storylines and intriguing plots.
- Unlike Steins;Gate, Serial Experiments Lain has a much darker and eerie atmosphere. However, have some remarkable similarities as well.
- Both anime display sci-fi elements with similar philosophical aspects.
8. Robotics;Notes
- Genres: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Funimation
- No. of Episodes: 22
- No. of Seasons: Season 1 only
- MAL Rating: 7.32
Robotics Notes is an amazing anime series that includes Sci-fi elements, mystery, and plot twists like Steins;Gate.
It has themes like Mecha, Sci-fi, and augmented reality, making it more interesting to watch.
Synopsis: It narrates the story of the High School Robot Research Club, where a giant robot named “GunPro1” is a dream.
Everybody in the club has put a lot of effort into completing it. However, the lack of funding and the uninterested Kaito Yashio makes the goal hard for Akiho Senomiya.
As the story goes, one day Kaito who likes to play “PokeCom,” receives a strange message from an AI, Airi Yukifune.
Afterward, his hands land on some odd report, and he realizes its severe future consequences.
Similarities:-
- Both anime series are based on the same visual novels narrated by 5 PB.
- Robotics Notes is set in the same universe, and during the series, you will find Steins;Gate characters’ references.
- Similar to Steins;Gate, Robotics Notes has a highly intriguing plot and twists that will keep you hooked throughout the show.
7. Sakurada Reset
- Genres: Supernatural, Mystery, Time Travel
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, Amazon Prime Video
- No. of Episodes: 24
- No. of Seasons: Season 1 only
- MAL Rating: 7.34
Sakurada Reset is a time travel anime like steins;gate based on a light novel by Yutaka Kouno. If you like Steins;Gate, give this anime a try as well.
Synopsis: It focuses on Sakurada- a town where people have unusual skills from birth. Kei Asai and Misora Haruka are two of such kinds.
Kei has a photographic memory; on the other hand, Misora can reset time for up to three days. They both join the Service Club to assist others in need.
However, the matter gets complex when an organization gets involved and starts controlling the Sakurada’s people for their purposes.
Similarities:-
- Both anime series include the idea of time traveling.
- Like Steins;Gate, Sakurada Reset portrays an organization that uses people for their own benefit.
- Both have a slow start; however, the highly engaging and gripping story makes them a great watch.
6. The Future Diary
- Genres: Action, Supernatural, Suspense, Psychological
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu
- No. of Episodes: 26
- No. of Seasons: Season 1 + 1 OVA
- MAL Rating: 7.44
The Future Diary, or Mirai Nikki, is another popular anime that involves the High Stakes Game theme. It is based on a light novel and manga of the same name.
Synopsis: It follows Yukiteru Amano, a middle schooler who has no friends to talk to. Therefore, he likes to maintain a record of his daily routine on his phone, the so-called “Dairy.”
However, one fine day, he finds that certain future incidents are mentioned on his phone. Earlier, he pays them no mind, but the matter becomes serious when all of them turn out real.
Later, he discovers that his classmate, Yuno Gasai, also possesses the same diary.
Afterward, they both find themselves in a middle of a survival game where they are not the only ones trying to survive.
The entire plot of the anime deals with tons of twists and turns throughout the story. Hence, give it a shot if that is what you are looking for.
Similarities:-
- Both anime series follows science fiction. However, you might consider Steins;Gate more toward reality than Future Diary.
- Both anime use cell phones as a connection with a different world.
- Similar to Steins;Gate, The Future Diary has a complicated and twisted plot.
5. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
- Genres: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi, Time Travel
- Where to Watch: Bilibili, Netflix, Funimation, Amazon Prime Video
- Type: Movie
- No. of Episodes: 1
- MAL Rating: 8.12
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a superb film animated by Madhouse Studios. It was the first anime adaptation of this series.
In contrast to Steins;Gate, it follows high school drama. However, it shows great character development like Steins;Gate.
Synopsis: The story revolves around Makoto Konno, a high schooler in her final year, struggling to make plans for her future.
However, her life abruptly turns when she unintentionally realizes her ability to leap through time.
She experiments and overuses her super ability. However, later she discovers how every decision has an impact and the value of time.
Similarities:-
- Both anime series deal with the same concept of time traveling and its consequences. Moreover, both anime explore the butterfly effect as well.
- Both the protagonists use their super ability countless times to save their people.
- Like Steins;Gate, this anime also has slow romance development between the main characters.
4. Orange
- Genres: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi, Time Travel
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Funimation, Amazon Prime Video
- No. of Episodes: 13
- No. of Seasons: Season 1 only + 1 movie
- MAL Rating: 7.62
Orange is another beautiful anime that involves similar themes to Steins;Gate. Both shows explore parallel universes theory.
Synopsis: The plot follows Naho Takamiya, a second-year high school student who receives a mysterious letter one day.
According to the letter, it is from her future, where her life is full of regrets.
Earlier, she ignored it; however, she believed it when things started turning into reality, as mentioned in the letter.
The letter urges Naho to stay close to a newly transferred student, Kakeru Naruse. Since he would not be there in the future, Naho has to take her decisions cautiously and alter the future.
Similarities:-
- Both anime deal with the time-traveling concept of saving someone’s life.
- Like Steins;Gate, Orange has an excellent cast of characters portraying strong bonds of friendship.
- Unlike Steins;Gate, Orange has a more romantic aspect; however, both anime have heart-wrenching moments in similar.
3. Tokyo Revengers
- Genres: Shounen, Action, Drama, Supernatural, Time Travel
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Bilibili
- No. of Episodes: 24
- No. of Seasons: Season 2 announced (Not Aired Yet)
- MAL Rating: 8.36
Tokyo Revengers is another excellent anime having very similar themes to Steins;Gate.
Comparable to Steins;Gate, so much happens in the first episode that holds the viewers’ attention from the start.
Synopsis: The story begins with Takemichi Hanagaki, a hopeless part-time worker at a DVD shop.
A upheave starts in his life after learning about the murder of his ex-girlfriend and the existence of the Tokyo Manji Gang.
One day, someone tries to push him onto the train track, eventually leading him to time travel.
He was 12 years in the past when he was a middle school student.
After that incident, he realizes his ability to time travel and decides to alter the future to save Hinata Tachibana.
Similarities:-
- The main characters of both show time travel to prevent the death of their loved ones. Both of them keep switching between alternate timelines.
- Both are sci-fi series with good humor, action, and heartwarming moments.
- Similar to Steins;Gate, Tokyo Revengers anime has distinct and lovable characters.
2. Re:Zero- Starting Life in Another World
- Genres: Isekai, Time Travel, Fantasy, Psychological, Suspense
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Netflix
- No. of Episodes: 25 (Season 1)
- No. of Seasons: 2 Seasons (2nd Season in 2 parts) + 1 movie
- MAL Rating: 8.24
Re:Zero is illustrated by Shinichirou Ootsuka and written by Tappei Nadatsuki.
It is based on a light novel and is animated by White Fox Studio. It is well-recognized as one of the best Isekai anime ever.
Synopsis: It follows Subaru Natsuki, a young boy going through his daily routine and suddenly trips into a fantasy world.
Up to his arrival, he is ganged up by some thugs there who leave him in a half-dead state. That, too, after the interruption of an enigmatic beauty Satella.
Moreover, In return for saving his life, Subaru offers his help to Satella to find her insignia. However, the moment they are about to reach the insignia, mysteriously, they get murdered.
Once again, Subaru opens his eyes to find himself where he first met Satella. The familiar incidents occur again. As the plot goes further, the mystery deepens and gets more complex.
Similarities:-
- The same studio produces both anime series.
- Re:Zero and Steins;Gate have time traveling as the central theme.
- Both the main characters go through the same experiences over and over again while time traveling. Both use their ability to time leap to save their close ones.
1. Erased
- Genres: Seinen, Psychological, Time Travel, Supernatural, Mystery
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Funimation, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video
- No. of Episodes: 12
- No. of Seasons: Season 1 only
- MAL Rating: 8.31
Erased or Boku Dake ga Inai Machi is a perfect example of the combination of genres like Steins;Gate.
It is also known as one of the best psychological thriller anime.
Synopsis: The story begins with an enigmatic incident where the main protagonist, Satoru Fujinuma, unknowingly time travels a few minutes back.
Fortunately, owning to that mystical phenomenon, he saved countless people.
More to the story, when certain circumstances arise that point at him as a murderer, he time travels once again.
This time, he finds himself 18 years ago when his classmate Kayo Hinazuki was mysteriously killed.
Satoru, a 29-year-old manga artist, is re-living his elementary school life to unravel the mystery.
All while trying not to repeat his past mistakes that could add more adversity to his current timeline.
Similarities:-
- Both the anime’s main protagonists can go back in time in order to save their dear ones.
- Unlike Steins;gate, Erased does not involve science/science experiments, even though both involve anime tropes like psychology and time travel.
- Erased is also a great product of suspense, mystery, and sci-fi genres, parallel to Steins;Gate.
Other anime like Steins;Gate
- The Tatami Galaxy
- Mawaru Penguindrum
- Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song
- Dr. Stone
- The disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya
