10 Best Death Game Anime Similar To Squid Game

Part of the reason that anime has become such a versatile medium of entertainment is that it seems like there is a limitless amount of series that can get explored. Anime has a number of genres that are specific to itself, and it continues to push storytelling forward in inventive ways that have been able to trigger major trends in some cases. Netflix’s Squid Gameis one of the biggest shows in the entire world, and while its praise is deserved, it’s fascinating to consider that anime has been turning out comparable content for years.

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In fact, this playfully grim subject matter is so prevalent in anime that there’s a whole sub-genre of “death game” content. Accordingly, there are a number of anime series that should satisfy Squid Game fans.

10 Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor Highlights The Cutthroat Nature Of Gambling

There's a natural level of suspense that's built into anime that revolve around gambling, but the medium often finds ways to emphasize this tension. Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor begins with an unassuming entry into an underground gambling match on a cruise ship, but this quickly turns into a way of life for Kaiji before he knows what's going on. Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor works so well because the titular Kaiji often feels so out of his element but is powered by such undeniable enthusiasm. The games that Kaiji is forced to play aren’t special, but he's stuck in competition with tough customers.

9 Gantz Features Dark Games Against Aliens That Begin At Death

Gantz is a death game-based survival series that's built an increasingly complex universe through various extensions, but just its central premise has an engaging hook to it. In a Matrix-like setup complete with heavy cyberpunk and techno influences, when individuals die in Gantz, their reality is shattered as they encounter a foreboding black ball and enter obtuse games against a terrifying breed of aliens. Gantz is impossible to predict, and the unique rules that govern each of its games make it one of the most creative examinations of this variety.

8 The Future Diary Searches For A New God In An Unlikely Manner

The Future Diary is like if Death Note and Highlander had a baby and then told it to go play with Squid Game.

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A series of individuals find themselves privileged with supernatural cell phones that can predict the future and give them all the power of Gods, but the problem is that only one of them is allowed to survive. The Future Diary becomes a fascinating deconstruction of power and empathy. Everyone reacts to Deus Ex Machina differently, and the audience is left unsure who deserves to win this bloody game.

7 Eden Of The East Weaves An Addictive Mystery With Wealth And Death At Its Center

Eden of the East is another example of a death game series that benefits from putting the audience in a place of confused obliviousness that mirrors that of the protagonist. Akira has no idea why or how he got an app on his phone that says that he suddenly has lots of expendable wealth. The plot thickens when Akira meets a series of people who have experienced the same bizarre circumstances and are being forced to fight to the death. Eden of the East doesn't overstay its welcome, and every episode introduces an engrossing wrinkle to this dangerous mystery.

6 Magical Girl Raising Project Turns The Joy Magical Girl Genre Into A Bloodbath

Sometimes death game series succeed because of how grounded they are in reality, minus the murderous mind games. However, anime has found ways to combine the death game concept with other genres in inspired ways. Magical Girl Raising Project dresses itself up like a cute magical girl series and Koyuki Himekawa optimistically enters a competition to become the latest fantasy idol. This dream gradually morphs into a nightmare when Koyuki learns that anyone who fails these social games are permanently "deleted," and that there's a long list of girls who are set to be on the chopping block.

5 Deadman Wonderland Turns Prison Into A Survivor Sport

Prisons are typically stressful environments, but the institution of incarceration in Deadman Wonderland is like if a prison were turned into a disturbing big box chain. Ganta Igarashi finds himself the lone survivor of his class' massacre and in hot water over a crime that he hasn't committed.

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Deadman Wonderland does excellent work with how it accentuates the nihilistic hopelessness of Ganta's predicament, but his ability to find his footing, gain allies, and awaken incredible powers helps the anime take many radical turns. At only 12 episodes, Deadman Wonderland wastes no time.

4 Darwin's Game Uses Video Game Archetypes To Fuel Its Death Exercises

There's always been a strong relationship between anime series and video games, whether they're directly adapting a title or just turning to the medium for story inspiration. Darwin's Game is a tightly-paced cat and mouse game that plays out across 11 episodes. Teenager Kaname Sudou innocently begins a new mobile game, only to experience bizarre effects and learn that reality and the game have blended together. Kaname's opponents in the mobile app advance on him in real life, and he's forced to fight for his survival and prove just how much he wants to exist.

3 Kakegurui Literally Has Characters Gambling For Their Lives

There are lots of anime that use simple games of chance and gambling as the fuel that drives forward the exaggerated death game antics. Kakegurui is one of the most unhinged examples due to the ecstatic pleasure that Yumeko Jabami derives from the thrill of gambling. Admittedly, characters aren't meeting physical deaths in Kakegurui, but the social hierarchy system that exists at Hyakkaou Private Academy teases a fate that's worse than death for many of these status-driven characters. Reputation and wealth are everything here, and Kakegurui has fun with how one bet can change all of that in an instant.

2 Death Parade Turns Purgatory Into A Morbid Game Of Sport

Death Parade is such a unique anime series, and even as a “death game” show, it takes some serious detours from the norm. There’s a surprisingly calm tone that can take over Death Parade, a series that looks at two deceased individuals who need to engage in benign recreational activities like billiards, darts, or air hockey for the eternal salvation of their souls. Death Parade excels with its morbid and high stakes spins on everyday games, but each episode functions as an enlightening character study that turns the show into a character-driven anthology of sorts.

1 Alice In Borderland Turns Isekai Magic Into Murderous Madness

There are some brilliant anime series that use Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland as artistic inspiration for some twisted fish out of water stories. Alice in Borderland whisks away three friends to a world where they’re tested on a physical, emotional, and psychological level through eccentric games. Alice in Borderland’s premise doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but its dark mystery and tight character bonds make it a winner. Alice in Borderland has grown into a major hit, and there’s also a live-action version to check out on Netflix, which conjures an even more comparable feeling to Squid Game.

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