If you loved Queen Mantis, you should definitely add these 3 K-drama crime thrillers to your watchlist

SBS’s crime thriller Queen Mantis concluded on September 27, 2025. The series followed an investigation into a copycat serial killer who replicated the methods used by Mantis, a notorious female killer from nearly 20 years ago.

The drama was praised by viewers for maintaining suspense until the very end, when it finally revealed why Jeong Yi-shin, the original Mantis, became a serial killer. The revelation that she had been abused by her own father explained the trauma that drove her to become a formidable criminal.

The show featured complex characters and a turbulent investigation, as the team struggled to trust their new captain, Su-yeol, who was secretly hiding his own past. However, this secrecy and mistrust deepened the mystery, making the narrative feel raw and even more suspenseful. If you loved watching Queen Mantis and want to delve into K-dramas that share the same type of theme and depict a gritty tale, you should check out the 3 K-dramas shared in this list.

Disclaimer: This entire article is based on the writer's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.

3 K-dramas like Queen Mantis

3) Beyond Evil

Beyond Evil is an acclaimed crime thriller K-drama that deals with the same themes as Queen Mantis. Like the SBS drama, the narrative of Beyond Evil also deals with the investigation to catch a serial killer after a murder of a woman is encountered in the small town of Gyeonggi Province. The recent murder resembles the previous serial killings that happened in the town, and Lee Dong-sik, now a sergeant, was the prime suspect.

As the killings begin, a new detective, Han Joo-won, comes to the town to investigate the murders and catch the killer. As the series unfolds, hidden secrets surface, causing the characters to suspect one another of being the killer and straining even the closest friendships and alliances.

If you loved Queen Mantis, you should definitely binge-watch this psychological thriller K-drama.

2) Nine Puzzles

Nine Puzzles premiered earlier this year on May 21, 2025, on Disney+. The crime thriller K-drama follows the story of Yoon E-na, who has been traumatized by her uncle's murder and was made a prime suspect in the case. After 10 years, E-na is now a criminal profiler and gets entangled in investigating a series of murders that are similar to her uncle's due to the discovery of identical puzzle pieces found with the bodies.

Like Queen Mantis, Nine Puzzles offers a suspenseful story that keeps viewers guessing about the killer’s true identity. Furthermore, like Queen Mantis, the Disney+ show also delves into human psychology with a story that is gritty and intriguing.

1) Mouse

When we discuss crime thriller K-dramas with a serial killer trope, Mouse would always rank number 1 in all the lists. The K-drama follows the story of detective Ko Moo-chi, who lost his family after a serial killer murdered them all. As an adult, he tries to investigate and catch these types of killers even if it means bending certain laws.

As new killings begin to happen, Moo-chi, Ba-reum, a rookie police officer, and Yo-han, a genius medical resident, get entangled as they try to find the killer. The drama explores the psychology of serial killers, examining how they differ from ordinary people and questioning whether psychopaths are capable of emotions such as guilt or remorse.

If you loved Queen Mantis, Mouse should be your next watch, as it also presents a psychological thriller K-drama where identifying the serial killer is as difficult as in the K-dramas mentioned in the list.

Trending

Keep reading Soap Central for more such stories.

Also Read: 5 K-drama crossover cameos that will leave you longing for more

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback