25+ Anime like Squid Game (Recommendations)

Updated on: July 23, 2022
by Ernie

“There’s a new show in town, folks, it’s called Squid Game. Have you heard about it, right? There’s no possible way you haven’t heard about it, and to be honest, this series was amazing. I mean, so thrilling that it even gave us movement, which made us forget to breathe. It even made many of us cry.

This series is amazing. Let me tell you a bit about it. In Squid Games, people who need money, are in debt, or something like that, participate in a game to win money by playing simple games. Sounds good, right? Playing games to win a huge amount of money. It’s not like that if you lose in a game, you lose your life. Now that’s what we call interesting and thrilling.

Anyway, the Squid Game is fun, but we are anime lovers, right? That’s why I’m here with one more interesting blog, Best Anime Similar To Squid Games. I know, I know. I will never disappoint you.

26. Redline

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
4/20	6/10	6/10	7/10	23/50

Anime Storyline:

Well, this movie is not similar to the Squid game. It involves racing, but yes, there is a huge cash price for the winner.

Every 5 years, a race is organized called Redline. Racers from all around the world participate in it and there are no rules. It is pretty dangerous, but it’s not a death game.

25. One Outs

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
5/20	6/10	6/10	7/10	24/50

Anime Storyline:

Tell me one thing: will you ever play a game where you can earn a lot of money? But if you miss or do something wrong, you’ll lose around 10 times more money than you earn. Will you play or you’ll let this opportunity go?

Toua Tokuchi is a baseball player, but by night, he is a gambler as well. One day, in a game called One-Outs, he scored 499 points by fast pitching, which drew the attention of a veteran slugger.

He gave Toua the opportunity that every time he pitches and gets a batter out he will win 5 million yen, but for every run, he’ll lose 50 million yen. If it was me, I wouldn’t have taken this opportunity, but Toua took it.

24. Hunter x Hunter

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
5/20	6/10	8/10	6/10	25/50

Anime Storyline:

Do you want to be a hunter? Not just an ordinary hunter, a hunter who tracks secret treasures, creatures, and things like these. Well, there are a lot of people who want to be hunters, but their chances of becoming one are less than one percent.

Gon Freecss has two goals. One is to become a hunter like his father, and the other is to find his father, Ging Freecss. Gon participated in the hunter exam, but he was not alone. Thousands of people participated to get a hunter’s license.

The Hunter exam has different stages with different tasks. There was an organisation that organised everything and by the end, only 6 passed the hunter exams. Ohh god it’s way harder.

23. High Rise Invasion

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
8/20	5/10	7/10	6/10	26/50

Anime Storyline:

What if someday you wake up in a place where everyone is a creep, wearing a mask, and the only thing they do is try to kill you even though you have not done anything? How will you feel? I’m sure you’ll be confused and terrified.

Yuri Hanjo woke up in a place where every building is connected by bridges. She didn’t have any idea what exactly was going on, but one thing was clear: people who were wearing masks were meant to kill her.

She later finds more people who are in situations like her’s. What will she do and what will happen to her?

22. The World Ends With You

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
10/20	5/10	6/10	6/10	27/50

Anime Storyline:

The World Ends With You was originally a Japanese video game that later got an anime adaptation.

The story starts with Neku somehow dying and waking up in a place similar to Japan. You can say it was a different version of Japan. Later, he was forcefully teamed up with other players and now they have to play deadly games for 7 days.

Well, if they survive 7 days, they’ll get anything they wish for. Still, it’s deadly and you don’t want to risk your life though.

21. I’m Standing on a Million Lives

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
11/20	5/10	6/10	6/10	28/50

Anime Storyline:

Let’s make things more interesting. How about we mix isekai? This sounds cool, I know, and you like it. Don’t deny it. Yuusuke Yotsuya and 2 of his friends got transported into a new world by a mysterious creature. The creature asked them to complete quotes within the given time limit.

They even become immortals for some time, and if any one of them survives till the end, they’ll win. BUT, by the end, they realise that they were playing in a various worlds with a lot of sequences. He was kinda tricked.

20. Sword Art Online

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
10/20	7/10	6/10	7/10	30/50

Anime Storyline:

We all know about Sword Art Online and you might wonder how it is similar to a Squid Game. It’s because of its first season. SAO and Squid Game both had one thing in common, that people were stuck until they completed the game.

Many players logged in to a game called Sword Art Online. When they logged in, the first thing they knew was that there was no log-out option. Later, the game creators told everyone if they wanted to go out, they had to complete the game, and if you die in-game, you would die in real life.

I guess this much is enough to tell you. After all, you people already know about SAO and Squid Game. Both are somehow connected.

19. Kakegurui

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
11/20	7/10	7/10	6/10	31/50

Anime Storyline:

Gambling is so addictive, right? I’ve seen many people who started it as fun but now they are completely addicted. Gambling is risky as well; stakes are always high and people even put things on bets that are precious to them, sometimes even their life.

Yumeko Jabami is a new transfer student at Hyakkaou Private School of gambling. Here, students are valued by their status, how rich and powerful they are. Apart from that, this school is all about gambling. Students risk almost everything on gambling. The stakes are always high.

18. The God of Highschool

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
11/20	7/10	7/10	7/10	32/50

Anime Storyline:

Being the strongest is okay, but proving that you are the strongest is a waste of time. Still, people love to waste their time proving that they are the strongest by participating in competitions.

I don’t know why wasting time on such boring things like fighting each other. It’s awful.

Jin Mori, a high school student, participated in a competition. The competition was organised by some people to decide who was the strongest high school student. Many students from different high schools participated to win the title. Here we are, like I said, a waste of time but full of entertainment.

17. Alice in the Borderland

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
13/20	6/10	7/10	7/10	33/50

Anime Storyline:

Surviving is difficult. It gets more difficult when you have to play deadly games for survival. You might yourself get killed, and this is the only choice as well. I’m glad I never got stuck in such a position. After all, it’s real-life, not anime.

Ryouhei Arisu somehow got transported to a deserted version of Tokyo along with his friend. Later, he finds out that if he wants to go back, he and his friend have to play deadly games and have to survive them as well. Make a mistake and you are dead. That’s nice.

16. Gantz

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
11/20	8/10	7/10	7/10	33/50

Anime Storyline:

Sometimes, death is worse than expected. No god or salvation is waiting for you. Instead, you are thrown into a game where you must fight against robots and aliens for the chance to survive.

Kei Kurono learns that his life is not his own, and he is not going to survive. After his death, he woke up in a strange place, and now he has to fight green aliens and robots to survive.

Just so you know, there is a series of Gantz with 26 episodes and a movie too. Gantz is not meant for everyone. It covers some stuff like harassment, mass murder, and other stuff like this. So be careful.

15. The Death Parade

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
11/20	8/10	8/10	7/10	34/50

Anime Storyline:

When we die, we are sent to heaven or hell according to the actions we have taken when we were alive. If we were good and did good things, then we would be sent to heaven, and if we did bad things, we’d be sent to hell. This is what we’ve been hearing our whole life, right? What if I told you it’s nothing like this? Someone else will decide where you will go.

After death, souls are not sent to hell or heaven; instead, they are sent to a bar. Quindecim is a bar which people go to after their death. Decim is the bartender and he will give you tasks/challenges to do.

If you complete it, you’ll be reincarnated, and if you are not able to do it, your soul will be thrown away in a deep void. After watching this anime, my entire life appears to be a lie.

14. Deadman Wonderland

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
14/20	6/10	8/10	7/10	35/50

Anime Storyline:

Being punished for something which you’ve not done is unfair; it’s even worse when the punishment is death. Life can be very unfair. Always keep this in mind, mate.

Ganta Igarashi has been sent to a prison called Deadman Wonderland for false accusations. He had a hard time there until he realised he had developed an ability to manipulate his blood, even though he could transform his blood into a weapon.

Later, Ganta was forced to participate in death matches which were held inside the prison, and rich people paid a high price to watch these matches. Hmm, this sounds somewhat familiar.

13. No Game, No Life

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
14/20	8/10	7/10	7/10	36/50

Anime Storyline:

What do you think it would be like if everything was seriously deadly. Decisions and actions would be decided by playing games? I guess it will be fair because cheating will be forbidden, but still, everything about playing games is a bit too far. What do you think?

The series revolves around Sora and his stepsister, Shiro, who are both gamers. When they are challenged to play against the god of games, they are victorious and are sent to Disboard, a place where war, killing, and cheating are forbidden.

Everything will be decided by playing games. Prices will be very high and the game could be anything: cards, chess, anything. I want to live in this world. I don’t know about you, but I want to.

12. A Battle Game in 5 Seconds

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
15/20	7/10	8/10	7/10	37/50

Anime Storyline:

What if someday you got dragged into a game in the unknown world? You’ll be erased from everyone’s memory until you win the game. Man, that will scare the hell out of me. I mean, it’s just that they are forcing you to do this. You haven’t got any other choice.

Akira Shiroyanagi was a normal high schooler until he got dragged into a battlefield by a girl named Mion. Akira loved playing games and when the rules were explained, everyone who was the victim, like Akira, gained power.

After getting the power back, Akira is determined to destroy the organisation that started all this. Way to go, Akira.

11. Platinum End

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
13/20	9/10	8/10	8/10	38/50

Anime Storyline:

How about becoming God? I mean, do you want to be God? True God of the Universe? Ohh God, just imagine how it would feel to be the actual God.

Mirai Kakehashi is living a rough and abusive life after his parents’ death. One day, he decided to commit suicide, but he was saved by Guardian Angel Nasse. Nasse tells him the truth about his parent’s death and lends him her power to perform justice.

Later, Nasse tells Mirai that God is about to retire in 999 days, and Mirai is one of the 13 candidates who have been chosen to be the next God. It is dangerous because other candidates are willing to do anything to become god, even if it means killing. Mirai is not like that, though.

10. Akudama Drive

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
14/20	8/10	8/10	8/10	38/50

Anime Storyline:

Do you know about Cyberpunk? This popular video game is similar to Akudama Drive in many aspects. Criminals run the city, and one night, a girl participates in a race to see who can steal a certain object first.

However, all of them get a collar on their neck and now they have to continue the heist for various objects or they’ll die because the collar is explosive. They will be rewarded with a huge amount of money as well, once they are done with all the heists.

9. Mirai Nikki/Future Diary

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
15/20	9/10	7/10	9/10	40/50

Anime Storyline:

Will you take the opportunity to become God of Time and Space? I’m damn sure you would, but will you get it by killing people?

12 players are chosen as the candidates, and each one of them has a diary that can tell them about the future. The rules are simple: kill the rest of the 11 players and become the God of Time and Space.

Let me be honest, it’s not that bad. Don’t think that I’m heartless or cruel. Becoming God of Time is a big deal.

8. King's Game

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
16/20	8/10	8/10	9/10	40/50

Anime Storyline:

I hate when someone forces you to do something. What about you? Do you hate it as well? Believe me, an entire class of 32 students got the same message from an unknown person, King.

That message said you have to obey the orders or you’ll be punished by your life-ending. However, one of the students, Nobuaki Kanazawa, is determined to put this game to an end forever. Damn! He has my respect.

7. The Magical Girl Raising Project

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
17/20	8/10	8/10	8/10	41/50

Anime Storyline:

Being an idol is a dream for many girls. Girls work hard to achieve this dream. It’s not easy, there is a lot of competition. But can you imagine being an idol just by playing games? The thing is, if you lose in a game, you’ll be deleted permanently.

Koyuki Himekawa participates in a competition to become the next Fantasy Idol. Her life turns upside down when she gets to know that anyone who fails in any task/game they’ll be deleted permanently simply means they’ll be dead. She was not alone; there were a lot of participants.

This is such a nightmare. I wish someone would never get into such a situation.

6. Danganronpa

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
17/20	8/10	9/10	8/10	42/50

Anime Storyline:

Will you kill your friends for survival? There’s no other option. It’s the only choice you have. Think or plan how to murder and then do it. The survivor will be rewarded and will be sent back.

16 Students who are on top of their respective fields are trapped in a game by a bear-like machine. In this game, you have to kill the rest of the players and you have to be innocent while finding who killed who. It’s more like killing without even being suspected.

Makoto Nagai, our protagonist, is against all this and he’ll try his best to convince others that this is not right. There must be other ways, but players are most likely to ignore him and his perspective. Poor guy. He is good and intelligent, but the rest are dumb.

5. Eden of the East

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
17/20	9/10	9/10	8/10	43/50

Anime Storyline:

OK, so here’s the deal: what if I give you money, like a billion yen, and ask you to help people with it? Will you do what I asked you to do or will you take advantage of the situation? There will be consequences if you use the money completely. Keep that in mind, and now tell me what you will do.

Akira Takizawa was suffering from amnesia and thought that he was a terrorist. He was later helped by Saki Morimi, who brought him back to Japan. Later, Takizawa discovers he had around 8.2 billion yen in digital money on his phone, and he has become a part of the game.

The rules are simple: you have to use this money for the benefit of Japan. If you completely use the money for your greed, you’ll be eliminated.

4. Darwin's Game

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
18/20	9/10	9/10	8/10	44/50

Anime Storyline:

God, I’m sick of these video games and stuff. I like it, but seeing the same thing over and over again, the same plot, kinda makes me angry, but it’s fun.

Kaname Sudo is a 17-year-old high school student. One day he accepts an invitation from a friend to play a game called Darwin’s Game. Sudo didn’t know at first that this game could kill you. It’s a life or death situation.

Several people died and now Sudo wants to complete the game and kill the Game Master. Well, it seems like he is going to succeed. What do you think?

3. Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
17/20	9/10	9/10	9/10	44/50

Anime Storyline:

Gambling can ruin anyone’s life. Gamblers’ addiction is something you don’t want to get addicted to, and gamblers’ true nature is bad as hell.

Kaiji Itou is a loiterer who drinks beer and steals hubcaps every day. He gets tricked by his former coworker into agreeing to participate in an illegal gambling venture on a cruise ship. This all leads to a life of hell.

This anime series follows the protagonist as he must overcome the various evils of human nature. He is stuck and he can’t get out of this gambling hell, a sad thing.

2. The Tower of God

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
18/20	10/10	10/10	9/10	47/50

Anime Storyline:

What if I told you a tower could grant you anything or any wish? You just have to reach the top. Will you believe me? I know you will, you know about the Tower of God.

Twenty-Fifth Bam lived under a tower ever since he was a kid. He had only one friend, Rachel. Rachel decided to enter the tower and Bam followed Rachel. That’s because Bam didn’t want to be alone.

Not just Bam and Rachel, other people wanted to reach the top of the tower. Reaching the top was not easy. Completing tasks and overcoming obstacles was a lot more difficult than anyone would have thought. Damn! This anime has similar betrayals to the Squid Game.

1. Btooom!

Similarity	Characters Personalities	Plot Storyline	Animation	Total
20/20	10/10	10/10	10/10	50/50

Anime Storyline:

Playing video games and loving them is nice until it becomes reality and you are stuck in it. Now you have to complete it, otherwise, you’ll be stuck there forever or you might get yourself killed.

One day, Ryota Sakamoto woke up on a tropical island and he was confused about where he was. Ryota saw someone and asked for help, but that person threw a bomb towards Ryota, understanding that this was the real-life version of his favourite game, Btooom.

Man, this game is scary even though there are people behind it and there are more players other than Ryota. Each player has an opportunity to win 10,000,000 yen. Still, you might lose your life. Be prepared.

Which Anime Like Squid Game Are You Watching Next?

Oh hi there, did you enjoy the blog? I guess you did. It was filled with the best anime recommendations, similar to Squid Game. Well, Squid Game and all are nice, but anime is our love. I know I just said the truth.

Anyway, let us know in the comment section which is your favourite anime from the list, and let us know which list you want next in the comment section. Till then, bye-bye.