Tomodachi Gamewas an exciting and over-the-top addition toanime’s psychologicalgenre, and the adaptation was hopefully successful enough to encourage viewers to check the manga. Like most of the best stories of this type, this show tackles fairly dark themes, all the while dropping cliffhangers at the end of most episodes.
A popular theme within the psychological anime genre is that of a high-stakes game. These series get viewers on the edge of their seats while they watch their favorite characters compete against each other to survive whatever horror lurks around the corner.
Updated July 25, 2025 by Mark Sammut:With every month that passes without an announcement, season 2 grows more and more unlikely. Still, never say never, and the manga is always available for those who want to continue the story. Fortunately, there are quite a fewanime like Tomodachi Gameout there. Two more recommendations have been introduced, and they both revolve around mahjong.
Although nowhere near as dark asTomodachi Game,Liar, Liarhas a fairly similar core concept. Set on Academy Island, students compete in games to collect stars, with the goal being to amass seven. They engage in a wide range of competitions while using different buffs and tricks to try and claim victory. Even though the matches are not amplified by life-or-death stakes, the protagonist and his closest companions are constantly on edge since they must win to hide a few key secrets.
A mixed bag,Liar, Liarplays it a bit too safe at times, and its main characters' strengths and weaknesses can be hard to pin down. Still, the show is a fine watch for the most part, and it should be able to scratch someone’s itch for battles of wits presented through life-size games.
Tomodachi Game’s protagonist is a classic “wolf in sheep’s clothing” archetype, and a lot of the show’s entertainment value comes from learning more about Katagiri Yuichi’s background and cutthroat nature.Talentless Nanatakes a similar approach to its main character, even if everything else is relatively different. In a world where superpowers are a thing, talented children attend a special school, and they very much act like they are the chosen ones. However, they might not be as invulnerable as they think they are.
Similar toTomodachi Game, this show needs to be experienced blind. Otherwise,Talentless Nanais a fun thrill rideand a solid introduction to the manga. That said, the latter is far better since the adaptation ends before the source material hits its stride.
While somewhat coming across as a dime-storeAkagi,Touhaiis still an OK gambling anime that follows a genius teenage protagonist whose thirst for high-stakes mahjong drops him in a cutthroat underworld that could spell death for not only him but also a girl he saves and ends up taking care of.
Unfortunately,Touhaislipped somewhat unnoticed due to being one of the fewFall 2024 animeto not announce a Western release date, hurting its reach. This decision might have been because mahjong is not particularly practiced outside of Japan, and the show does expect viewers to have a general understanding of the game’s rules. Still, viewers who have no experience with the board game should still be able to followTouhai’s matches, all the while enjoying its more over-the-top crime-based story.
This recommendation comes with the disclaimer that Kaiji and Yuichi arenothingalike. If a viewer is specifically craving a mastermind-led gambling anime, they are better off checking outAkagiorOne Outs, both of which are fantastic psychological thrillers with a game element (mahjong and baseball, respectively). However,Kaijishines for one simple reason: a fallible protagonist.
After getting saddled with a massive debt due to signing a guarantee he should not have signed, Kaiji goes to great lengths to try and dig himself out of the hole. Unfortunately, he finds himself dragged into an underworld where the rich use the desperate as entertainment. While not dumb, Kaiji makes plenty of mistakes and suffers his share of losses, two facts the story establishes early on. Consequently, this series is unpredictable in a way like nearly no other gambling or death game anime, making for a consistently intense and captivating watch.
Based on one of the most beloved webtoons, theTower of Godanime has a mixed reputation, with both seasons being very divisive. Before proceeding anything further, it needs to be stated that newcomers should seek out the source material since the adaptation is by no means a substitute. While hardly unwatchable, especially the 2020 entry, the anime speedruns through chapters, resulting in a muddled and relentless experience that lacks thegreat world-building and character nuance found in the manhwa. However, once someone is familiar with this universe, they can watch the show to get a cliff-notes version of the same story with the occasional well-animated fight (again, especially in the 2020 season).
Tower of Godis way more action-oriented and fantastical thanTomodachi Game. Set in a world where a chosen few are invited to try and climb a tower in pursuit of achieving their dream, participants have to endure an array of tests to prove their worth. More often than not, these challenges require the Regulars (or Irregulars) to work as a group, which is easier said than done when everyone involved cannot be trusted. Core differences aside,Tower of God’s structure and tests should hit the mark with people who enjoyedTomodachi Game’s focus on unreliable teamwork.
The Ones WithinandTomodachi Gameseem like perfect companion pieces. After all, they both center around a group of teenagers who are forced to take part in dangerous games while putting their fragile relationships through the wringer. UnlikeTomodachi Game,The Ones Withinrevolves around gamers who have strong online presences, and they are kidnapped and dropped on an island where their skills will be put through real-life tests (in front of a live audience). They generally do not know each other, which adds an element of intrigue since they should, realistically, be more willing to turn on each other. Also, the game master wears a llama mask.
Despite sharing a similar premise,The Ones Withinstrikes a very different tone thanTomodachi Game. While over-the-top and try-hard at times, the latter undoubtedly wants to tell a dark story that taps into humanity’s uglier side. Meanwhile,The Ones Withinis just kind of cute. The show strikes a surprisingly lighthearted tone considering its central concept, and the characters are not quite fleshed out enough to make them worth rooting for.
Criticisms aside, the 2019 series works well enough as turn-off-your-brain entertainment or a kid-friendly version of death game classics likeDanganronpa.
Akagiisall about mahjong, which might sound off-putting to viewers who are not familiar with the classic board game. However, the anime does a pretty great job of explaining the ruleset and victory conditions, allowing beginners to follow along. More importantly, the matches are incredibly intense, to the point of absurdity at times.
Although nowhere near as over-the-top as Yuichi, Akagi has a similar presence, demonstrating a quiet confidence that makes him oddly intimidating. Despite being very talented, he still seems just vulnerable enough to facilitate tension, especially since he is surrounded by dangerous people who would not hesitate to murder.
Death Paradeis an example of a high-stakes game in an anime, much likeTomodachi Game. This one has a little bit of a twist though, as the players of the game are already dead. The players arrive at Quindecim, a bar that determines which one of these two people can go to either heaven or hell.
These games are fueled with tension, guaranteed to hookpsychological animefans within the first episode. You see the realization set in for each participant as they arrive, and it’s easy to empathize with their anguish.
A high school that allows gambling on the premises sounds far-fetched, but not in anime.Kakeguruitakes place in Hyakkaou Private Academy, aschool for rich kids who have power. Due to the mass of money that the majority of students have, they decide to gamble said money with each other.
These aren’t just any type of gambling game though, they get extremely violent at times. Throughout the show, the viewer is introduced to a variety of students who take gambling a little bit too seriously.
Kaname Sudou,Darwin’s Game’s main character, is invited to play a mobile game. When a green snake breaks the fourth wall and literally comes out of his phone, it bites his neck. That experience would put most people off from opening the mobile game ever again.
In typical anime form, Kaname decides to open the game despite what previously happened. The mobile game performs like any other mobile game would, until his opponent appears in front of him with a knife. The games provided give a generous reward to those who survive, making the games incredibly competitive. Similar toTomodachi Game,Darwin’s Gameis not meant to be taken that seriously, and the anime prioritizes entertainment and over-the-top mayhem over tight storytelling. Basically, it is a fun ride.
