If you enjoy shows like Bones due to its clever blend of crime-solving, forensics, and cooperation, you're not alone. It is estimated that many of the viewers sought the same kinds of programs at the end of the show.
This list of the top 10 shows like Bones, based on IMDb ratings, examines what made each show special and how it mirrored the consuming formula that Bones created.
Disclaimer: This article is solely the writer's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.
Here is the list of the top 10 shows like Bones (ranked by IMDb scores):
10. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (IMDb: 7.7)

CSI is a show about a team of forensic investigators located in Las Vegas. The forensic team uses science to facilitate the identification of murderers. Gil Grissom (played by Bill Petersen) is one of the lead investigators who adores the lab, just as Bones adores science and Temperance. Forensics is used in both programs to solve cases one step at a time, with a focus on laboratory work.
For example, Brennan and Booth discover something hidden in a piece of bone in Bones when it is exposed to ultraviolet light. This is reminiscent of CSI, where Grissom sprays UV on a fiber or piece of hair to bring out the evidence. The purpose of this useful lab is to allow viewers to share in the joy of discovery through both shows.
The two series intersect both the science and intuition of a detective. Therefore, CSI shows like Bones seem so familiar for a reason.
9. NCIS (IMDb: 7.8)

NCIS is a series about a fleet of crime investigators in the Navy headed by Gibbs (Mark Harmon). They handle cases related to the Marine Corps or the Navy. The relationship between the team members and the laboratory scenes makes NCIS a crime procedural analogue of Bones.
The entire Detour episode of NCIS features a remarkable scene in which Ducky and Palmer are stranded and compelled to perform an autopsy while being held captive. This will resemble Bones scenes where an intense on-location autopsy yields important clues, like the scene in Brennan's lab van.
The two shows employ forensic autopsies and close collaboration to deliver tension and insight. NCIS caters to viewers who like the style of show that Bones offers, while still finding a sweet spot with forensics and the team.
8. The Blacklist (IMDb: 7.9)

The Blacklist tells the story of Raymonde Red Reddington, a former government agent who was a criminal mastermind before turning himself in to the FBI. The only thing he will agree to is to help them apprehend other murderers on the condition that he be allowed to work with rookie profiler Elizabeth Keen. It's a good combination of intelligent crimes and uneasy trust, similar to shows like Bones.
In one of the episodes, Red and Keen go on the hunt for a human trafficker. Red recognizes, by a small tattoo on the shoulder of one of the victims, that the tattoo took place in his previous cases. He makes this point to Keen.
This is reminiscent of a scene from Bones in which Booth asks Brennan to scan a tiny tattoo on a bone fragment. Brennan immediately identifies it as some form of culture. Both scenes reveal minor forensic facts. The moment allows science and intuition to play their roles simultaneously. It grants the same excitement that fans get to experience on shows like Bones.
7. Elementary (IMDb: 7.9)

Elementary puts Sherlock Holmes in contemporary New York. Holmes is a retired addict who became a private detective. He shares work with Dr. Joan Watson, who happens to be a sober companion who becomes his crime-solving partner. Their detective team is comparable to Booth and Brennan. Thus, it makes it one of the best shows like Bones.
In the pilot episode of Season 1, Holmes and Watson track down a murderer after investigating the broken fingernail of a woman in her flat. Holmes connects the clue to the offender after noticing a piece of wood embedded on the nail and connecting it to a cheap desk.
This is similar to what happens in the case-solving episode of Bones, where Booth and Brennan determine, after the discovery of splinters in the bone of a murder victim, that they can be traced to a particular kind of hardwood flooring. The effectiveness of forensic detail is shown in these two scenes. Examples of their work include Bones, and they place a strong emphasis on science and teamwork.
6. Criminal Minds (IMDb: 8.1)

Criminal Minds is a show based on a team of profilers in the FBI. They analyze behavior to apprehend dangerous criminals. Every episode is a new case, which is typically psychologically intense. This combination of team-oriented and profile-driven characteristics elevates it to the top of the list of shows like Bones.
In Criminal Minds: Evolution, the team is forced to compete against a network of killers connected by a genius. This is similar to the Bones Gormogon storyline, in which Brennan and Booth pursue a secret cannibal cult.
Both series create suspense in the episodes. In Bones, there are hints in the form of ritual symbols and skeletons that resonate with how Criminal Minds uses secret ties with crime scenes. The sensation of hunting a dark net, complete with forensic and emotional beats, provides fans of shows like Bones with an exciting detective experience.
5. Castle (IMDb: 8.1)

Castle is a television series about Richard Castle, a well-known author who works with a New York Police Department detective named Kate Beckett. He assists her in creatively solving mysterious crimes.
In the third season of Castle (3XK), Castle is apprehended by a serial killer. In a chilling scene, he is bound up while the killer interrogates him. The Grave Digger arc includes the Bones episode where Brennan and Hodgins are buried. The two scenes compel the protagonists to think on their feet.
Fans are reminded of shows like Bones, where science and emotions clash in life-or-death situations, by its passion, forensics, and close bond between the characters.
4. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (IMDb: 8.1)

SVU is a television series that follows the investigations of sensitive crimes, such as sexual assaults, carried out by detectives Benson and Stabler. The show combines forensics, interviews, and police activity. It can be called after shows like Bones.
In the SVU episode of the Season 10 finale (Zebras), one of the forensics techs discovers a bloody fingerprint on a can of soda. The case is pursued by comparing it to a suspect. This is comparable to a scene in the television show Bones where the team must use a piece of bone exposed to UV light to highlight a fingerprint.
Fingerprints and ultraviolet light are examples of small pieces of evidence that are used in both scenes to shift the focus of the investigation. They illustrate how a minor lab detail can derail a large-scale investigation. Those who enjoy watching shows like Bones will appreciate the forensic "aha!" moment.
3. White Collar (IMDb: 8.2)

In White Collar, fraudster Neal Caffrey collaborates with FBI agent Peter Burke to solve financial and artistic crimes. Bones and other TV shows are fond of the smart and witty duo.
Neal and Elizabeth overhear a neighbor plotting a crime in the 3rd season episode, "Neighbor Watch." Neal analyzes details such as layout and behavior to help construct a case. In Bones, Brennan and Booth investigated bits of bone and used them to identify specific floorboards in a suspected criminal's home.
Obedience to mysteries and discreet details, such as splinters in the scene or gleaned hints, is used in both scenes to solve mysteries. This is why viewers find the show's sophisticated detective collaboration intriguing. They can enjoy watching forensics-related investigations and bright detectives.
2. The Mentalist (IMDb: 8.2)

The Mentalist tells the tale of Patrick Jane, a psychic who now works as an FBI consultant. He helps the crew catch crooks by utilizing his keen observation skills. Among the best crime-solving shows, it skillfully combines crime with the characters to produce shows like Bones.
In one episode, Jane identifies a suspect by noticing tiny behavioral tics, such as the suspect's fidgety hand movements while holding a drink. This scenario can be compared to an episode of "Bones," where Booth notices that Brennan's hand is trembling and questions her about it.
A human detail is used in two scenes to start extensive investigations. They show how paying attention to minor details can help the team solve crimes. The fans of shows like Bones will enjoy this touching detective story.
1. House (IMDb: 8.7)

Gregory House, a doctor with a challenging personality who is exceptionally intelligent in his diagnosis, is the main character of House, M.D. He leads a group that uses puzzles to solve medical issues. It is a fierce competitor to the television show Bones because of its poignant cases and sharp science.
In "Autopsy House," Season 2, Grant performs a near-death procedure on a critically ill patient. The tense live autopsy parallels the scenes in Bones, such as when Brennan drove a lab van to a crime scene for an on-site bone examination.
The shows have built tension in real-time science. They are forensic discoveries of high stakes. Fans of shows like Bones will enjoy this blend of science, intelligence, and drama.
The conclusion is that these shows, with their clever investigations, endearing relationships, and forensic surprises, had the same thrill that Bones did. All series had something in common, whether it was ingenious profiling, several lab works, or strong character dynamics. Positive reviews suggest that fans of Bones must have been thrilled, reassured, and kept on edge by these iconic crime shows.