Psychological battles in extreme situations and life-or-death survival—works themed around death games have always fascinated us, no matter the era. In recent years, live-action adaptations have increased, led by the global Netflix hit Alice in Borderland. In this article, we introduce death game manga and anime that deliver heart-pounding thrills. From the betrayal-filled Tomodachi Game to the ultimate paranoia of Jinrou Game (Werewolf Game), here are 10 supreme works that will shake up your everyday life.
*If you purchase or reserve products introduced in this article, a portion of the sales may be returned to FUN! JAPAN.
What Are Death Games and Survival Games? Why Alice in Borderland Became So Popular
Why are we so drawn to such hopeless situations? Here, let's take a deeper look at the characteristics of death games and survival games, and the factors that have captivated the world.
A major feature of death games is the "battles that unfold based on unique rules." Not only physical ability, but also intelligence, luck, and sometimes even ethics are tested under special conditions, as the forcibly involved characters struggle between "how to clear the game" and "how to survive." This is the unique appeal of death game works.
This structure is easy to understand across language and cultural barriers, making it accessible to overseas fans as well. For example, Alice in Borderland sparked a worldwide movement by combining a clever system that visualizes difficulty and genre through playing card suits with stunning visuals.
10 Must-See Death Game Titles for Fans of Alice in Borderland
Now that we've covered the features and popularity of death games, let's dive into 10 recommended works where you can fully immerse yourself in the thrill of death games.
Battle Royale (Tatsuya Fujiwara, Chiaki Kuriyama | Live-Action Film Adaptation)
Synopsis
In Japan, the "BR Act," a new educational reform law, is enacted. Every year, one class of third-year junior high school students is selected nationwide and forced to fight to the death until only one remains. The students, abducted to a deserted island, are given random weapons and collars to prevent escape.
Highlights (Manga)
The manga version features thorough depictions of brutality and a deep exploration of the characters' inner worlds. The terror of friends turning into enemies overnight, and the twisted love born under extreme conditions, create an intense human drama that will leave a mark on readers' hearts.
Live-Action Adaptation
The film Battle Royale was released in 2000 and became a social phenomenon. Led by Tatsuya Fujiwara, the cast included Aki Maeda, Taro Yamamoto, Chiaki Kuriyama as the cold-hearted transfer student, and Beat Takeshi as the crazed teacher, making for a legendary lineup.
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Tomodachi Game (Ryo Yoshizawa, Rio Uchida | Live-Action Drama and Film Adaptations)
【Synopsis】
A group of five close high school friends are suddenly abducted and taken to a mysterious facility. In order to repay a 20-million-yen debt that one of the members has incurred, they are forced to participate in a game under the pretense of "testing their friendship." However, what should be a game they can clear by working together begins to fall apart due to the actions of a traitor among them.
【Highlights (Manga/Anime)】
The biggest highlight of the manga and anime versions is the protagonist Yuuichi Katagiri's "devilish cunning." With his devilish cunning, he exposes the traitor, and the catharsis of outsmarting both the betrayer and the reader is highly addictive. You can enjoy the intense drama as the true nature of humanity is revealed.
【Live-action Adaptation】
Adapted into a drama and movie in 2017. Ryo Yoshizawa played Yuuichi Katagiri, and his performance, which combined his handsome looks with a sense of madness, received high praise. The cast also includes Rio Uchida and Yuki Yamada, among other popular and talented actors, who perfectly recreate the tense atmosphere of mutual suspicion.
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As the Gods Will (Sota Fukushi, Hirona Yamazaki | Live-action movie available)
【Synopsis】
In the classroom of an ordinary high school student, Shun Takahata, a Daruma doll suddenly appears. This marks the beginning of a merciless game where losing means instant death. Familiar toys such as the "Maneki-neko" and "Kokeshi" take turns setting up deadly games, and Shun and his classmates must fight for survival.
【Highlights (Manga)】
The surreal world where everyday "toys" turn into gruesome execution devices is outstanding. The overwhelming artwork heightens the sense of despair, drawing readers in even more. Another highlight is the growth of the boys as they awaken and struggle to survive in this absurd world.
【Live-action Adaptation】
Adapted into a movie in 2014, directed by Takashi Miike. Sota Fukushi starred as the lead, with Hirona Yamazaki as the heroine. The cast also includes Ryunosuke Kamiki, who delivers an overwhelming sense of madness as the rival, as well as Shota Sometani and Mio Yuki, bringing together a lineup of popular actors.
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The Werewolf Game (Tao Tsuchiya, Nanami Sakuraba | Live-action movie series)
【Synopsis】
High school students are locked inside a building and assigned the roles of "Villager" and "Werewolf." The players assigned as Werewolves actually kill the players assigned as Villagers, and the Villagers must execute for real the players they suspect to be Werewolves. Thus begins a deadly game of Werewolf where lives are on the line...!
【Highlights of the Work (Original/Manga)】
The biggest feature is that the party game "Werewolf" is turned into a real-life battle for survival. In the manga version, the expressions of people driven to the edge mentally and the mystery of deducing who is lying stand out as particularly interesting aspects.
【Live-Action Adaptation Information】
The first film adaptation was released in 2013, and to date, there have been a total of eight movies and one TV drama. The first film starred Nanami Sakuraba, followed by Tao Tsuchiya (2nd film) and Sara Takatsuki (3rd film), making it known as a gateway to success for young actresses.
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Future Diary (Masaki Okada, Ayame Goriki | Live-Action Drama Available)
【Synopsis】
Yukiteru Amano, a lonely boy, spends his days recording the events around him in his diary. One day, his cell phone starts displaying "future events." This marks the beginning of a survival game among 12 diary holders, with the winner becoming the next "God."
【Highlights of the Work (Manga/Anime)】
The battles using the different "abilities" granted by each type of diary are a major highlight. Also, the heroine Yuno Gasai, who loves the protagonist to an abnormal degree and will kill all his enemies, brings an unpredictable twist to the story with her extreme yandere personality.
【Live-Action Adaptation Information】
In 2012, it was adapted into a drama titled "Future Diary -ANOTHER:WORLD-" with an original setting. Masaki Okada starred as the lead, with Ayame Goriki as the heroine. Although the story differs from the original, it dramatically depicts the thrill and fate manipulated by the diaries.
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GANTZ (Kazunari Ninomiya, Kenichi Matsuyama | Live-Action Movie Available)
【Synopsis】
Childhood friends Kei Kurono and Masaru Kato are hit by a train while trying to save a drunk man who fell onto the tracks. When they come to, they find themselves in a room of an apartment where a mysterious black sphere called "GANTZ" is placed. Given weapons by GANTZ, they are ordered to fight deadly battles against mysterious "aliens."
【Highlights of the Work (Manga/Anime)】
The violent action scenes against eerie aliens are depicted mercilessly with Hiroya Oku's overwhelming artistic skill. Another point of interest is the game-like system, where clearing missions and earning 100 points gives players the choice between "erasing their memories and being freed" or "reviving a comrade."
【Live-Action Adaptation Information】
Adapted into a movie in 2011, starring Kazunari Ninomiya. The VFX, which faithfully recreated the black rubber suits and weapons, became a hot topic. The star-studded cast, including Kenichi Matsuyama, heroine Yuriko Yoshitaka, and Go Ayano as the strongest enemy, is also a highlight.
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Tag (Reina Triendl | Live-action film available)
【Synopsis】
The year is 3000. One day, the King comes up with a brutal idea: "I can't stand people with the same last name as me!" He launches a deadly game called "Tag," targeting the 5 million people named Sato across the country. The rule is simple: if you can't escape the tagger for seven days, you will be killed. Thus begins a merciless game of survival.
【Highlights (Original Work)】
This is the debut novel of popular horror writer Yusuke Yamada, and it is characterized by a simple, primal fear—just "run and escape." There are several manga adaptations as well, known for their fast pace that keeps readers engaged and the overwhelming sense of despair as characters are eliminated one after another.
【Live-action Adaptation】
In 2015, the story was adapted into a film directed by Sion Sono. The targets were changed to "high school girls," with Reina Triendl, Mariko Shinoda, and Erina Mano playing students from across Japan who are hunted by a mysterious entity. The film became a hot topic for its brand of absurdist horror, distinct from the original novel.
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Karada Sagashi (Kanna Hashimoto, Gordon Maeda | Live-action film available)
【Synopsis】
After encountering the "Red Person" at school after hours, Asuka and her friends are forced to search for their friend's dismembered body parts in the school building at midnight. Until they find all the parts, they are repeatedly killed by the Red Person and forced to relive the same day in a never-ending loop. Thus begins a day of inescapable terror.
【Highlights (Manga)】
Serialized on Shonen Jump+, the manga became a huge hit. While it features classic horror elements, its appeal lies in the strategies that use the "loop" mechanic to try again after dying, and the deepening bonds among the six main characters as they face extreme circumstances. It stands out as a youth-oriented death game with strong coming-of-age elements.
【Live-action Adaptation】
Adapted into a film in 2022, the movie stars Kanna Hashimoto, Gordon Maeda, Maika Yamamoto, and Fuma Kamio, among other popular young actors. The story unfolds with the speed and intensity of an amusement park attraction, creating a new kind of loop horror experience.
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Judge (Koji Seto, Kasumi Arimura | Live-action film available)
【Synopsis】
Seven men and women, each forced to wear animal masks, wake up in a sealed room. They are confronted with the "sins" they have committed and are forced to participate in a trial where, every hour, they must vote on who should die next. Only one person can survive. The ultimate judgment begins.
【Highlights (Manga)】
The original work depicts an intense "psychological drama in a closed room." The psychological warfare of majority voting in a confined space acts as a trigger, exposing the ugliness of human nature as people try to justify themselves while exposing others' pasts. The strong mystery element—guessing who committed what crime—makes it a real page-turner.
[Live-Action Adaptation Information]
In 2013, the story was adapted into a film starring Koji Seto and Kasumi Arimura in dual leading roles. The narrative unfolds mainly through dialogue in a closed room, and the use of surveillance camera perspectives in the direction heightens the inescapable tension, making it palpable even to the audience.
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Darwin's Game (Anime Adaptation / No Live-Action)
[Synopsis]
An invitation email for the app "Darwin's Game" arrives for Kaname, an ordinary high school student. The moment he launches it, he is drawn into a real-world death game where players use supernatural abilities (called Sigils) to fight to the death. Can Kaname survive these desperate battles!?
[Highlights (Manga & Anime)]
It's not just about killing—the compatibility of abilities, such as manipulating fire or creating objects, and the intricate tactics that utilize these powers, are depicted in great detail. The classic shonen manga development of forming a clan (allies) and taking on a massive organization makes for an exhilarating read.
[Live-Action Adaptation Information]
In 2020, the series was adapted into a TV anime. Yusuke Kobayashi voices the protagonist Kaname, and Reina Ueda voices the heroine Shuka. The high-quality action scenes and fast-paced story are highlights. As of February 2026, there is no information about a live-action adaptation of this work.
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Experience the Ultimate Psychological Battles and Human Drama in Death Game Stories
This article has introduced 10 carefully selected works that let you immerse yourself in the appeal of death games. Through the extraordinary fear and thrill of these genres, they remind us of our "attachment to life" and "true friendship"—things we don't usually think about. You can enjoy the detailed psychological portrayals in the original manga, or immerse yourself in the overwhelming tension of live-action films and dramas. Feel free to check out any titles that catch your interest!
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