What anime similar to Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood would you recommend?

[TylerFL]

I’m trying to get a friend into anime, and I started them on Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood thinking it was the perfect gateway. They liked it, but now they’re asking for something with a similar vibe and I’m completely blanking on what to suggest next that balances that kind of character depth with tight plotting.

[Layla54]

Death Note is a tight moral maze with sharp plotting and compact episodes. It scratches that same mental itch without demanding a full season.

[Joseph7]

If you're trying to ease them into the broader anime landscape without losing that depth Steins Gate is a solid next step. It has strong character beats and plotting that feel practical rather than flashy.

[KevinR]

Cowboy Bebop lands differently but it carries a similar vibe. It has clear goals a world that feels lived in and characters you can actually root for.

[William54]

Maybe the real problem is pace or length not the pick you could try shorter runs like Erased or Mushishi and see what sticks or just pause and ask what scenes they keep thinking about.