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Squid Game became popular for its intense survival games, and luckily, there are several anime like Squid Game that deliver the same thrill. These shows pull you into high-stakes battles, mind games, and betrayals where every decision can mean life or death. If you enjoyed the tension and strategy of the popular anime series, you’ll love these anime just as much.
What makes this list amazing is that while each show has its own unique style, all of them share the same high-stakes tension. If you’re looking for anime with intense games, clever strategies, and unforgettable moments, these picks are perfect for you.
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10/10 Danganronpa: The Animation
In Danganronpa, students are trapped in a prestigious academy and forced to play a deadly game where they must kill each other without getting caught. Much like Squid Game, this anime centers around life-or-death stakes, where trust is a scarce commodity, and betrayal is lurking around every corner.
What makes Danganronpa unique is the mystery element. Each time a murder occurs, a trial takes place, where the students must figure out the culprit. The colorful, exaggerated art style contrasts with the dark subject matter, creating an amazing viewing experience.
9/10 Kakegurui
Gambling is the heart of Kakegurui, where the elite students of Hyakkaou Private Academy play gambling games to determine their social standing. While not as deadly as Squid Game, the tension is off the charts, with characters gambling their fortunes, futures, and sanity.
The protagonist, Yumeko Jabami, is a compulsive gambler who relishes the thrill of the game. Her unpredictable nature and calculated risk-taking add an exciting edge to the series. With its intense mind games and drama, Kakegurui offers a similar rush of adrenaline as Squid Game but adds a flashy, over-the-top twist to the genre.
8/10 Btooom!
Btooom! is a thrilling survival anime that gives off strong Squid Game vibes. Released in 2012 by Madhouse, this 12-episode series follows Ryouta Sakamoto, a top-ranked gamer who suddenly wakes up on a deserted island with no idea how he got there. The only way to survive? Play a deadly real-life version of Btooom!, where players must take each other out using special bombs.
The anime keeps you hooked with intense battles and smart strategies. But what really makes it interesting is how Ryouta and the others struggle to trust each other, knowing that anyone could turn on them at any moment. If you love high-stakes survival stories with a dark twist, this one is definitely worth watching.
7/10 Darwin’s Game
Imagine downloading a mobile game, only to find out it’s a deadly battle for survival. That’s exactly what happens to Kaname Sudou in Darwin’s Game, an 11-episode anime from 2020, animated by Nexus. Without any warning, he’s thrown into fights where players have special powers, and the only way out is to win or die trying.
Unlike many survival stories, Darwin’s Game is more than just fighting. Kaname quickly realizes there’s a deeper mystery behind the game, and he’s determined to uncover the truth. With allies by his side and enemies everywhere, he has to be smart about who he trusts.
6/10 Deadman Wonderland
Deadman Wonderland throws you into a brutal world where survival is a game, but the stakes are even higher than in Squid Game. This anime by Manglobe, follows Ganta Igarashi, a regular student who gets framed for a horrific crime and sent to a twisted prison called Deadman Wonderland. Here, inmates are forced to compete in deadly challenges for entertainment.
Deadman Wonderland is full of horror, action, and psychological tension. Moreover, Ganta isn’t just fighting to survive but to prove his innocence while discovering a terrifying power inside himself.
5/10 Future Diary
Future Diary follows a group of people who are given special diaries that predict the future. They must use these diaries to kill each other, with the last one standing becoming a god. This anime like Squid Game is based on a survival game where only one winner can emerge.
The protagonist is initially weak and passive but grows throughout the series as the stress increases. And while the story might look simple and straightforward in the start, the twists at the end will leave you speechless.
4/10 Tomodachi Game
What’s scarier, physical danger or realizing you can’t trust your closest friends? Tomodachi Game throws a group of high school friends into a twisted debt-repayment game where the real challenge isn’t winning, it’s staying loyal. The rules seem simple, but the games are designed to create doubt, turning friendship into a battlefield of lies and betrayal.
Unlike most survival anime, there’s no violence here, just pure psychological warfare. Watching Yuichi play mind games with his opponents is both thrilling and terrifying because you never know what he’s really thinking.
3/10 Alice in Borderland
Imagine waking up in an empty city where the only way to survive is by playing deadly games. That’s the nightmare Arisu and his friends find themselves in Alice in Borderland. One moment, they’re just hanging out in Tokyo, and the next, they’re trapped in a mysterious alternate world where every game has brutal consequences.
What makes Alice in Borderland so intense is how unpredictable it is. Just when you think a character is safe, the game changes the rules. Arisu isn’t the strongest player, but his ability to think ahead keeps him alive.
2/10 Death Parade
What happens after you die? Death Parade has a chilling answer; you don’t go to heaven or hell right away. Instead, you find yourself in a mysterious bar called Quindecim, where a bartender named Decim makes you play a game. It could be darts, bowling, or even an arcade match, but there’s a catch, your deepest fears and hidden emotions come out, and the result decides your fate.
While some episodes hit hard emotionally, others leave you questioning what you’d do in the same situation. If you want a survival anime that makes you think just as much as it entertains, this one is unforgettable.
1/10 Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor
Kaiji Itou is just like Seong Gi-hun from Squid Game - broke, desperate, and always making bad choices, making it a perfect anime like Squid Game. One day, his debt gets so big that he’s forced to join deadly gambling games to survive. But these games aren’t fair. Rich and powerful people control everything, and Kaiji has to outsmart them if he wants to live.
What makes Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor so intense is the feeling of pure fear. Every game is dangerous, and every mistake could mean losing everything. The art style is rough, the music makes your heart race, and Kaiji’s struggles feel real.
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