10 Must-Watch Anime for Fans of Squid Game

The excitement surrounding the upcoming release of Squid Game Season 2 in December 2024 has reignited global interest in this cultural phenomenon, boasting over 68 million views worldwide. After a three-year wait, viewers are once again captivated by its intense narrative.

In light of this renewed enthusiasm, I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 anime series that mirror the high-stakes tension, psychological mind games, and unexpected twists of Squid Game.

10. Fat

Imagine a futuristic adaptation of Squid Game, and you get Gantz. It centers around players equipped with advanced weapons and suits to battle extraterrestrial foes in a deadly game for points.

The story unfolds from the deaths of high schoolers Kei Kurono and Masaru Kato, who find themselves in a mysterious room with a black orb named Gantz. Their mission: earn 100 points to either return home or revive a fallen friend.

9. Danganronpa

Danganronpa combines suspense with a thrilling murder mystery. This anime reveals its tension through dark humor, thanks to Monokuma, the sadistic bear overseeing the twisted game.

Following Makoto Naegi, who wins admission to an elite school, the plot takes a dark turn as he becomes trapped inside the academy with 13 other students. To survive, students must murder one another without getting caught, culminating in trial sequences that dictate their fate.

8. Deadman Wonderland

Much like Squid Game, Deadman Wonderland critiques a twisted societal system where suffering is entertainment. The personal stories behind each character create an emotional connection akin to what fans felt for Ali in Squid Game.

The narrative follows Ganta Igarashi, wrongfully imprisoned after witnessing a massacre carried out by the enigmatic “Red Man.”In this high-security prison turned amusement park, he must fight against other prisoners known as Deadmen, with brutal stakes that include potential death.

7. Future Diary

For those looking for suspense akin to Squid Game, Future Diary is essential viewing. It features a cruel deity named Deus Ex Machina organizing a competition where the winner becomes the next God of Time and Space.

Main character Yukiteru “Yuki”Amano finds himself ensnared in a deadly survival game after his cellphone begins predicting future events. Twelve participants compete using their unique Future Diaries to eliminate one another, leading to psychological tension and strategy.

6. Btooom!

For fans of survival narratives, Btooom! presents an intriguing concept. The protagonist, Ryouta Sakamoto, awakens on a mysterious island with no recollection of how he arrived and must compete in a deadly game named Btooom!

Using unique bombs called BIMs to defeat opponents adds a layer of strategy and urgency as players navigate their alliances and interpersonal betrayals while fighting for survival.

5. Tomodachi Game

Tomodachi Game, or “Friends Game,”offers a unique twist on psychological breakdowns among friends. In this series, trust, loyalty, and relationships are pushed to their breaking point, albeit without the fatal stakes found in Squid Game.

Centered on Yuichi Katagiri and his friends, they are involuntarily drawn into a game stemming from someone’s personal debts, leading to a gradual erosion of their integrity as they battle each other psychologically.

4. Darwin’s Game

Darwin’s Game invites viewers into a realm of survival combat where players utilize unique abilities, or “sigils,”tailored to their personalities. Protagonist Sudou Kaname possesses the Hinokagutsuchi sigil, allowing him to summon objects, while Karino Shuka’s Queen of Thorns sigil grants her control over string-like objects, creating intense and deadly confrontations.

3. Alice In Borderland

If you recognized Alice in Borderland, you may know it was inspired by a popular manga. This anime follows Ryohei Arisu and his friends as they are transported to a deserted Tokyo, where survival games dictated by cards become their only path to escape.

2. Death Parade

If Squid Game held you captive, Death Parade will elevate that tension even further. Set in a surreal bar, deceased guests engage in games, unaware of their fates: reincarnation or eternal oblivion. The true nature of each participant is unveiled during the games, presenting a profound exploration of human psychology under duress.

1. Kaiji: The Ultimate Survivor

According to Hwang Dong-hyuk, the creative mind behind Squid Game, the tragic tale of Kaiji was an inspiration for the acclaimed series. This anime chronicles the life of Kaiji Itou, who, burdened by debts, is thrust into life-or-death gambling matches to resolve his financial woes.

Like in Squid Game, Kaiji faces insurmountable odds that could lead to liberation or a life in desperation, capturing the essence of high-stakes survival narratives.

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