If Nine Puzzles had you hooked with its dark mysteries, intelligent storytelling, and psychological twists, you’re in for a thrill. Korean dramas have a long-standing reputation for delivering intense, emotionally charged thrillers—and we’ve gathered 10 must-watch shows that echo the same suspenseful brilliance. From brilliant profilers to morally grey heroes, these dramas will keep your heart racing till the final episode.
Here’s a Curated List of K-Dramas If You Loved Nine Puzzles:
1. Signal
Top 10 Korean Thriller Dramas Cast – Lee Je Hoon and Kim Hye Soo
If time-bending crime-solving sounds like your thing, Signal is a must. A mysterious walkie-talkie connects a modern-day profiler with a detective from the past. Together, they solve cold cases that were long forgotten—but every change in the timeline comes with a price. It’s smart, gripping, and deeply emotional—a gold standard in the thriller genre.
2. Flower of Evil
Top 10 Korean Thriller Dramas Cast – Lee Joon Gi and Moon Chae Won
What happens when the man you love might be a murderer? In Flower of Evil, a seemingly perfect husband hides a chilling past. As his detective wife starts investigating a series of brutal killings, secrets unravel — and so does their picture-perfect life. This drama isn’t just suspenseful; it’s heart-wrenching.
3. Stranger
Top 10 Korean Thriller Dramas Cast – Cho Seung Woo and Bae Doo Na
Critically acclaimed and layered with political intrigue, Stranger follows a stoic prosecutor who literally feels nothing and a sharp-witted detective. Together, they take on systemic corruption within the justice system. If you love thrillers with brains, this one’s unmissable.
4. Through the Darkness
Top 10 Korean Thriller Dramas Cast – Kim Nam Gil and Jin Seon Kyu
Inspired by real-life events, Through the Darkness dives into the birth of criminal profiling in South Korea. You’ll follow profiler Song Ha-youn as he interviews serial killers and stares into the darkest corners of the human mind. It’s a slow burn but deeply satisfying and psychologically rich.
5. Vagabond
Top 10 Korean Thriller Dramas Cast – Lee Seung Gi and Bae Suzy
Vagabond is action-packed from the first scene. When a mysterious plane crash kills his nephew, stuntman Cha Dal-gun sets out for answers — and finds himself tangled in a high-level conspiracy. Alongside an NIS agent, he uncovers a cover-up that goes deeper than anyone imagined.
6. Memorist
Cast – Yoo Seung Ho and Lee Se Young
If you love supernaturally-tinged thrillers, Memorist will be your next obsession. Detective Dong Baek can read people’s memories just by touching them. But when he crosses paths with a serial killer who’s always one step ahead, his powers might not be enough to survive the case.
7. City Hunter
Top 10 Korean Thriller Dramas Cast – Lee Min Ho and Park Min Young
This one’s classic. City Hunter is a stylish action-thriller about a man trained to take down corrupt government officials responsible for his father’s death. With secret identities, intense action, and a smouldering romance — it’s the kind of drama that’ll keep you bingeing all night.
8. Voice
Top 10 Korean Thriller Dramas Cast – Jang Hyuk and Lee Ha Na
Fast-paced and nerve-wracking, Voice centers on a police team racing against time to save lives. With the help of a voice profiler who can pick up the smallest sound cues, they track down a ruthless serial killer. If you love edge-of-your-seat urgency, this one’s for you.
9. Tell Me What You Saw
Top 10 Korean Thriller Dramas Cast – Jang Hyuk and Choi Soo Young
Grief, genius, and obsession collide in Tell Me What You Saw. A reclusive profiler comes out of hiding to catch a killer who took everything from him. He teams up with a young detective with a photographic memory—and together, they unravel a chilling trail of murders”.
10. High Cookie
Top 10 Korean Thriller Dramas Cast – Nam Ji Hyun and Choi Hyun Wook
This psychological high school thriller brings a fresh twist. When a mysterious cookie that grants wishes spreads through an elite school — causing students to spiral into chaos — one woman infiltrates the school to save her sister. Dark, eerie, and addictive, High Cookie is a sleeper hit you shouldn’t miss.
Final Thoughts
If Nine Puzzles awakened your love for dark thrillers and cerebral storytelling, these K-dramas are your next obsession. Each one offers its flavour of suspense—-from mind-bending timelines and serial killers to personal vendettas and corrupt systems. Don’t just stop at Nine Puzzles — the world of K-thrillers is just getting started.