Below are some of the great anime from the 2010s that are still worth watching in 2025, each with long, detailed descriptions so you can understand why they remain relevant and powerful today.
1. Steins;Gate (2011)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller, Drama, Time Travel
Why it’s still worth watching in 2025:
Steins;Gate remains one of the most brilliant time-travel stories ever animated — not just in anime, but in the entire sci-fi genre. What makes it special is how grounded its science feels, how emotionally involved you become with the characters, and how carefully crafted the cause-and-effect consequences are. Even in 2025, viewers still praise the show’s writing as “tight and timeless.”
The story follows Rintarou Okabe, a self-proclaimed mad scientist who accidentally discovers a way to send messages into the past. At first the experiments feel playful, almost comedic — but slowly, the worldline fractures into darker timelines, emotional trauma, irreversible consequences, and near-apocalyptic stakes.
The pacing is famous:
The first half builds characters, relationships, and scientific set-up.
The second half hits emotional and narrative intensity that still sets standards for modern shows.
The show’s emotional weight — particularly its depiction of sacrifice, fate, and the pain of choosing between equally devastating options — remains just as powerful in 2025 as it was in 2011. Newer time-travel anime still struggle to surpass it, and the fandom continues to recommend it to every new anime watcher.
2. Attack on Titan (2013–2023)
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Action, Political Thriller
Why it’s still worth watching in 2025:
Even though Attack on Titan finished only recently, the series started in 2013, and the decade of storytelling remains unmatched in scale. Watching it in 2025 gives you a complete experience — no waiting for new seasons — and the entire arc has secured its place as one of anime’s grand epics.
What makes it timeless even years later?
Evolution of tone: The story shifts from survival horror to military strategy to global political thriller.
Moral complexity: The series grows darker and more morally ambiguous with each season, offering the kind of thematic depth that people still debate everywhere online.
Historical allegories: Although fictional, its themes of war, nationalism, freedom, vengeance, and systemic cycles of hatred are universal and remain culturally relevant.
The animation (WIT Studio → MAPPA) continues to impress even as action standards rise. Its soundtrack is iconic, and several scenes are permanently etched into anime history.
In 2025, watching AOT is like watching the “Game of Thrones” of anime — but completed and satisfying.
3. Psycho-Pass (2012)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Cyberpunk, Thriller, Crime
Why it’s still worth watching in 2025:
Psycho-Pass debuted during a time when dystopian stories were booming, but even now it stands as one of the smartest cyberpunk anime ever created. Set in a future Japan where a system called the Sibyl System can measure your mental state (“Psycho-Pass”) and judge criminal intent before a crime happens, the show explores:
the ethics of predictive policing
the fragility of personal identity
the illusion of a peaceful society built on hidden corruption
Season 1, written by Gen Urobuchi (Fate/Zero, Madoka Magica), remains the gold standard — a tight, philosophical, atmospheric thriller that still rivals modern sci-fi storytelling in 2025.
It’s endlessly rewatchable because:
Its worldbuilding is layered.
Its moral dilemmas are still relevant in the age of AI-driven surveillance.
The villain, Makishima, remains one of anime’s most thought-provoking antagonists.
If you like shows that make you think deeply about society, free will, and the power structures that govern us, Psycho-Pass is a must-watch even today.
4. Mob Psycho 100 (2016–2019)
Genre: Action, Psychic, Comedy, Coming-of-Age
Why it’s still worth watching in 2025:
In a world filled with increasingly high-budget action anime, Mob Psycho 100 stands out not because of spectacle (though it has incredible battles), but because of its heart and humanity.
The series follows Mob, an extremely powerful esper who could level cities — yet he’s humble, shy, and more concerned about becoming a better person than using his powers.
Why people still love it in 2025:
Gorgeous animation: Studio Bones pushed visual creativity to new heights with surreal, fluid, experimental scenes that still look fresh.
Healthy themes: Instead of typical shonen messages like “get stronger,” Mob’s lesson is:
Emotional growth > power growth.
Reigen: One of anime’s most beloved comedic mentor characters, a “fraud” who ironically gives some of the best life advice in anime.
Wholesome yet intense: The balance of humor, philosophy, psychological depth, and action still feels unique.
It’s a rare anime where every season is consistently excellent, and its final season delivers a near-perfect emotional conclusion — making it ideal for new viewers in 2025.
5. Your Lie in April (2014–2015)
Genre: Drama, Romance, Music
Why it’s still worth watching in 2025:
Your Lie in April remains one of the most emotionally powerful anime of the 2010s. Its music-driven storytelling continues to resonate deeply with new viewers every year.
The plot follows Kousei Arima, a piano prodigy who develops trauma that prevents him from playing. Everything changes when he meets violinist Kaori Miyazono — a vibrant, unpredictable girl who pulls him back into the world of music and emotional expression.
Why it’s timeless:
Gorgeous animation & music: The musical performances are still considered some of the best animated classical music scenes in anime history.
Emotional storytelling: The show explores grief, healing, artistic expression, trauma, and love with raw honesty.
Universal themes: Even non-anime watchers consider it a masterpiece of emotional drama.
A complete story: No filler, no sequel dependency — a perfect entry for people wanting a strong emotional narrative.
Even in 2025, thousands of viewers discover the series just to cry their hearts out (and they do).
6. Made in Abyss (2017–)
Genre: Dark Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery
Even though the series continued into the 2020s, the original 2017 season remains one of the best pieces of dark fantasy anime ever created.
Why it still shines in 2025:
Striking contrast: Childlike art style + unbelievably dark themes = unforgettable worldbuilding.
Atmospheric exploration: Every layer of the Abyss feels like stepping into an alien ecosystem, filled with beauty and horror.
Soundtrack: Kevin Penkin’s music is still legendary and heavily shared online.
Mature storytelling: The show treats adventure not as excitement but as survival — filled with trauma, moral dilemmas, and emotional devastation.
Its first season alone is worth watching, and its later films/season expand a brutally fascinating world.
7. Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World (2016–)
Genre: Isekai, Psychological, Fantasy, Drama
Why it’s still worth watching:
Unlike typical isekai stories focused on power fantasies, Re:Zero dives head-first into trauma, failure, and the psychological consequences of dying over and over.
It stands out even in 2025 because:
Subaru is a flawed protagonist who grows through pain, not power-ups.
The plot twists remain some of the most shocking in the genre.
Emilia, Rem, and the supporting cast have lasting character arcs across loops.
The emotional stakes feel real because every death leaves mental scars.
Even in 2025, it’s considered one of the best-written psychological isekai ever.
