Survival is one of humans’ most basic instincts, with everyone always looking to do what they must to get through. This is what makes Death Game animes so iconic. The genre involves typically unsuspecting people whisked away to battle each other to stay alive. As a result of the high stakes, everyone looks out for themselves, some even sacrificing their humanity. With that said, Here are some of the most intense death game anime.
Alice in Borderland
Despite the short nature of the anime, the iconic series has gone on even to inspire its own live-action adaptation. The story takes place in an alternate version of Japan, where selected individuals compete against each other in gruesome games to stay alive. The anime has just three episodes, which cover the series’ first arc, but it is still an excellent watch for veteran and new fans of the genre.
Tomodachi Game
Tomodachi Game is a death game anime like no other, ignoring the concept of playing with strangers. The anime follows Yūichi Katagiri and his best friends as they are forced to participate in a game due to one of them’s debts. Their friendship is tested as sparking betrayal, shocking revelations, and confessions surface. The anime is by no means for the faint of heart, but it is a great watch for fans of the genre.
Darwin’s Game
Darwin’s Game perfectly combines the Isekai genre with the gruesome reality of death games. The anime follows Kaname Sudō, an avid gamer who accepts an invitation to play Darwin’s Game. He accepts that he has no idea the game involves fighting for one’s life against others. People in the game are given sigils, which grant them various powers to make the game more entertaining. With no hope of escaping, Kaname decides to clear the game and kill the game master.
Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor
The popular anime has been called the father of Death Game Anime due to the many plots passed on to the more recent shows. The anime follows Kaiji Itou, who is in massive debt due to a coworker’s mistake. He is allowed to board a ship and play a game in exchange for clearing his debts. However, these games are not what they seem, as his life is in danger every step of the way. Kaiji’s wit makes this show particularly interesting.
Future Diaries
Who says you’ve got nothing to gain in death games as Future Diaries offered 12 people a chance to become a god? The story follows Yukiteru Amano, a 14-year-old quiet boy, carefully observing and jotting down the events on his cell phone. His only friends are Deus Ex Machina, the God of Space and Time, and his assistant, Muru Muru. Deus transforms Yukiteru’s phone into a diary that can predict the future. Deus chooses Yuki and eleven others to participate in a survival game. The first to eliminate the other diary holders gets to succeed Deus as God.
Death Parade
This iconic series puts its unique spin on the death game, as people compete with their souls on the line for a chance at reincarnation. The games occur in a bar in the afterlife, a middle ground between heaven and hell. Players appear after death without knowing how they died until they start playing the game. The games are handled by arbiters who judge whether their souls will be sent for reincarnation or hell. The story centers on Decim, an arbiter, and his assistant as they do their jobs and discover more about each other. It is an exciting masterpiece, but the only downside is it is just a single season.
