12 best anime like Spy x Family to check out after Code: White

Spy x Family has been a fan-favorite since debuting in 2022, and if you want similar thrillers or comedies, we have the best shows to check out next.

Spy x Family offers a distinct premise, following a spy, Loid, and the adopted family he creates in order to complete a long mission. Little does her know, his wife, Yor, is an assassin, and their daughter, Anya, can read minds. Oh, and the dog can tell the future.

It’s a delightful anime show, taken to glorious heights by Spy x Family Code: White, the anime movie. (You can read our Spy x Family Code: White review for why you should check that out.)

If you’ve finished watching the series, and are on the search for something with similar charm, then look no further. These are the perfect shows to watch if you loved Spy x Family, and want a few more thrillers in your viewing options.

12. Golgo 13 (2008)

Led by a mysterious assassin, Golgo 13 has been running since the late ’60s. That’s a long time to evade the law and the numerous criminal organizations he’s pissed off, but that’s what makes him the best.

The 2008 reboot is the strongest place to start; a seedy, violent crawl through his world of misery and death. There are 50 episodes, and by the end he seems a bit like anime’s Frank Castle – murderous, but you like him nonetheless.

Available to stream: Crunchyroll

11. Spy Classroom (2023)

A Suicide Squad-esque espionage show, featuring a group of girls drafted in to seal up massive security risks during a modern war of information. The cast might not be the best choices, but they’re the only ones available, organizaed by a handler who needs them to followup missions that have alreayd been compromsied.

It’s comedic, but tense, too. The inversion of war as a conflict based on silence is riveting, and it’s a highlight from lesser-kown studio Feel.

Available to stream: Crunchyroll

10. Joker Game (2016)

For those seeking a more mature spy experience, Joker Game is the perfect choice.

Set in the years before World War II, this 2016 series follows Lt. Colonel Yuuki and spies of D Agency – a special intelligence service dedicated to espionage.

Based on the novel series by Koji Yanagi of the same name, it also has several manga adaptations and a live-action film to keep you entertained for hours and hours. With its attention to detail, character development, and anthology-style storytelling, Joker Game offers a compelling spy story we’re sure you’ll love.

Available to stream: Crunchyroll

9. Hinamatsuri (2018)

Hinamatsuri is essentially an anime about a yakuza member, Yoshifumi, who unexpectedly has to take care of a young girl with supernatural powers (a little like Anya). Together they form a strange, yet somehow mutually beneficial partnership.

Just like Spy x Family, this 2018 anime explores the dynamics of an unconventional family that’s been thrust together. However, it also has some significant differences in tone. As Yoshifumi learns to become a father figure, he also has to deal with other supernatural girls whose only mission is to terminate her.

However, filled with humor and heart-warming moments, Hinamatsuri is an entertaining watch that’s possibly the most similar to Spy x Family.

Available to stream: Crunchyroll

8. Full Metal Panic (2002-2018)

Spy x Family offers a comedic, yet relatable, look at life as an undercover spy. Full Metal Panic, however, offers an even more accurate depiction with plenty of action and suspense.

The story follows main character Sousuke Sagara, a super spy focused on stopping the next terrorist attack. However, his mission has an unexpected twist. He’s enrolled in a high school to protect a student called Kaname Chidori from harm.

Combining a slice-of-life anime with high-stakes adventure, this genius series is perfect for you if your favourite Spy x Family character is Loid Forger.

Available to stream: Crunchyroll and Hulu

7. Kakushigoto (2020)

Although Kakushigoto isn’t about spies, its unique portrayal of a father-daughter relationship landed it a spot on this list.

In this series, viewers are immersed in the lives of Kakushi Gotou and his daughter Hime. And like Spy x Family, both have aspects of their lives that they’d rather keep from one another.

However, unlike Spy x Family, Kakushi isn’t a spy. Instead he’s an erotic manga artist. But regardless of his profession, hilarious moment ensue. So, if you enjoyed this type of family dynamic, then this anime could be the one for you.

Available to stream: Crunchyroll

6. Bunny Drop (2011)

One of the most entertaining aspects of Spy x Family is the antics of the Forger family together. While initially thrust together by circumstances out of their control, they grow to love and care for one another in a way families are supposed to. So if you loved this part of the show, then Bunny Drop is for you.

This touching series is all about the bond that develops between a father and his daughter. The story revolves around Daikichi Kawachi, who takes in the illegitimate daughter of his grandfather.

Although this slice-of-life anime isn’t a comedy or action series, it is a must-watch for anyone who enjoyed the father-daughter dynamics that Spy x Family presented.

Available to stream: Amazon Prime Video

5. Darker Than Black (2007)

Don’t be fooled by Darker Than Black’s sinister world of super-powered characters – it’s really an espionage thriller at its core.

The story follows Hei, an incredibly successful “assassin for hire”. However, Hei is beginning to doubt the morality of his profession and agents who start to have second thoughts about their missions, are considered a liability by the organizations they work for. Can Hei find a way to survive?

Darker Than Black addresses the same issues Loid and Yor learn to deal with in Spy x Family. Namely, how far they are willing to take their missions at the expense of the people they care about. So why not give this anime a try? You might fall in love with it as hard as you fell for Spy x Family.

Available to stream: Crunchyroll

4. Night Raid 1931 (2010)

Do you prefer period pieces over dystopian thrillers? Then Night Raid 1931 might be more for you.

This historical anime explores the work of the small spy agency known as Sakurai Kikan, that’s tasked with keeping tensions between the East and the West from boiling over.

On the one hand, like Joker Game, this anime presents a more realistic and fascinating spy environment than some of the other picks on this list. On the other hand, the fact that many of its agents make use of supernatural powers adds a decidedly Spy x Family tweak, which makes it the perfect example of a superhero spy story.

Available to stream: Crunchyroll

3. Lycoris Recoil (2022)

What if Loid, Yor and Anya confessed their secrets from the get-go and decided to start their own firm? Well, you’d get Lycoris Recoil.

This fascinating anime follows the story of Takina Inoue, a master spy assassin belonging to a secret organization known as Direct Attack. However, one day, she makes a poor decision that leads to her losing her job with an elite group of all-girl spies called Lycoris. But, as she soon finds out, there’s more to life than working for a spy agency.

Lycoris Recoil explores the next chapter in an elite spy’s life when their original profession doesn’t work out – especially when there’s a lot of undercover work out there for people with the exact same skillset required to be a super spy.

Available to stream: Crunchyroll

2. Poco’s Udon World (2016)

Poco’s Udon World revolves around the life of Souta Tawara, a web designer living in Tokyo. Frustrated with his relatively normal and mundane life, Souta decides to visit his hometown and reconnect with his family.

However, nothing is as he expected. Souta finds out that his parents are no longer around, their restaurant has also gone out of business, and on top of all this, he also finds a strange young boy living in their close-downed business. And it doesn’t stop there. This boy turns out to be a shape-shifting tanuki that Souta adopts and names Poco.

Prepare to be entertained in this hilarious and heart-warming anime, with a unique father and adoptive son relationship, and character development that’s on par with Spy x Family.

Available to stream: Crunchyroll

1. The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting (2022)

Finally on our list is The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting.

Follow violent yakuza enforcer, Tooru Kirishima as he’s tasked with taking care of his boss’s daughter, Yaeka Sakuragi. At first glance, its a pairing just as mismatched as Loid and Anya, but the story quickly develops a wholesome dynamic.

This series combines the unlikely pairing of a yakuza member and a child, much like the unique dynamics in Spy x Family. And therefore is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys action, comedy and drama.

Available to stream: Crunchyroll

You can find plenty more choices in our list of the best anime on Crunchyroll and the best anime like Solo Leveling. Make sure to have our guides on Tower of God Season 2 and Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 handy, too.

How to watch Crunchyroll from outside your location in 2024

You can access Crunchyroll’s full library anywhere in the world thanks to ExpressVPN. The world’s best hub for streaming anime, whether it’s One Piece, Attack on Titan, or Jujutsu Kaisen, it’s the perfect platform for any anime fan.

If you’re abroad, here’s what you need to do to access Crunchyroll’s full selection – and it really is this simple: 

1. Sign up for ExpressVPN, which has ultra-fast servers and offers a secure, private connection wherever you are in the world.
2. Connect to a location anywhere in the US. Express VPN allows you to choose from 24 different spots, from New Jersey to Santa Monica.
3. Visit Crunchyroll online and start streaming all of your favorite animes – and perhaps some you’ve never watched.

Accessing Crunchyroll’s US roster makes a difference. For example, Hong Kong users only have access to less than 100 titles, while the US has nearly 1,000 movies and TV shows. 

You can also stream anime on Crunchyroll for free with an ad-supported plan. Or you can pay for a subscription – there’s even a 14-day free trial if you can’t quite make up your mind.

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