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Kaiji is regarded as one of the best gambling anime/manga to be ever conceived and there’s a good reason for that. Written and illustrated by Nobuyuki Fukumoto, Kaiji paved the way for future artists looking to explore the multifaceted nature of the gambling world.
In this article, we are going to look at 6 anime and manga similar to Kaiji that you should watch at least once.
Exploring Gambling in Kaiji
To be able to tell thrilling stories while also keeping the audience interested throughout the plot progression is something that Kaiji manga has executed consistently. This has also inspired manga artists far beyond the gambling genre and otakus have witnessed this from time to time.
Netflix’s hit show Squid Games is another creation for which Kaiji has served as an inspiration, the two are eerily similar. The show’s creator Hwang Dong-Hyuk stated in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that Kaiji was one of the prominent manga that inspired him to write about surviving death games.
Most themes implemented in survival games are similar to how gambling works; high-stake conditions where winning means you get change your life around dramatically.
And while the environment of online casino Canada platforms might not be as competitive, they do share the trait of high-stakes gambling for life changing amounts of money. That is, the core essence of such challenges remain the same: the pursuit for life-altering wins through various gambling-related strategies and tasks.
After all, both with Kaiji and traditional online gambling, there’s an underlying theme of strategy, resilience, and risk-taking. Kaiji’s character emanates the spirit of adaptability and determination, showcasing how individuals can employ their intelligence to navigate the world of high-stakes gambling.
Similarly, casino players strategize, analyze odds, and make calculated decisions, hoping to tilt the balance in their favor and secure sizeable rewards.
Overall, the parallels between Kaiji’s challenges and online casino experiences emphasize the universal appeal of risk-taking ventures. In both situations, there’s an emphasis on psychological agility and the capacity to stay composed in emotionally intense settings.
Given that, let’s dive into 6 top anime & manga series that are similar to Kaiji:
6. Liar Game
Liar Game is a psychological thriller manga that revolves around a gambling tournament where unwilling participants are sent a package containing 100 million yen. Package receivers automatically become contestants of the Liar Game Tournament, where losers are forced to bear a huge debt. The story’s protagonist Kanzaki Nao gets entangled into the cruel tournament and learns that she will constantly face trickery and deception throughout the duration of the game. She seeks out help from Akiyama Shinichi, also known as “genius swindler” and the two proceed with the games as a pair.
5. Code Geass
Code Geass is an original anime series created by Sunrise Studio in collaboration with all-female manga artist group Clamp. The anime focuses on a teenage outcast, Lelouch Lamperouge who lives in Japan conquered by the Holy Empire of Britannia and his only goal is revenge against his father.
Lelouch is bestowed upon a power of “Geass” by a mysterious witch named C.C., which he uses to become a leader of rebel group that seeks to destroy the Britannian Empire. The series was co-created by director Gorō Taniguchi and writer Ichirō Ōkouchi and Clamp being responsible for character designs.
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4. Kakegurui
The story of Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler takes place in an elite school, Hyakkaou Private Academy, where attendance consists of children of wealthiest and powerful people around the world. For the most part, the school functions just like any other but it has a few perks that make it stand out as a private academy.
During nighttime, the school transforms into a big gambling establishment, where students learn the art of gambling and every other aspect of casino industry that involves making money, be it manipulation or making connections with powerful people. The story follows Yumeko Jabami, a beautiful transfer student whose life is all about experiencing thrill from gambling.
3. Death Note
Death Note is not a gambling anime, but it does fit the theme of psychological thriller, a genre recurring in this list. Written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata, the story of Death Note trails the life of Light Yagami, who is given a mysterious notebook that has power to end any human life of writer’s choice. With his newfound power, Light aims to become a God of the New World, but path to his goal is not easy as he is playing constant cat and mouse chase with genius detectives.
2. Death Parade
In the story of Death Parade, characters gamble their own souls. When two people die at the same time, they head to a mysterious bar, which forces them to participate in Death Games.
Decim, an enigmatic figure who is the bartender of the bar also serves as arbiter of the games. The bar features several games including Bowling, Air Hockey, Darts and other variants of popular games. Souls of winners are reincarnated for a new life, whereas souls of losers are sent into the void.
1. Alice in Borderland
Alice in Borderland’s protagonist Ryouhei Arisu is a common high school student who feels out of place in his world. There’s nothing going on for him, every aspect of his life from relationships to daily habits are incredibly dull.
With no ambitions whatsoever he wishes to escape his reality and during one particular night his wish appears to come true when he and his friends are transported into a parallel world. Ryouhei and his friends soon find out they got sucked into a very brutal survival game, and winning is the only condition needed for them to return to their own reality.
