Jujutsu Kaisen season 3’s Culling Game rules explained

The latest episodes of Jujutsu Kaisen have hit like a train, yet not a single punch was thrown.

After Yuta Okkotsu joined us, things took a strange turn. One minute we were dealing with the usual, and the next, we were basically forced to sit through a long, detailed explanation of how the world was going to end. It felt like a whole episode dedicated to just… doom and gloom.

Tengen, a rather unsettling character, reveals that the upcoming competition, called The Culling Game, is a nationwide battle royale where participants fight to the death. This is a huge event, not just for those competing, but for everyone watching as well.

Honestly, there’s a surprising number of rules governing everything. I have to admit, the animators are fantastic – they manage to keep things exciting even without any actual fighting. It’s funny, even something as simple as a flow chart feels… dramatic. But yeah, it’s still a lot to take in.

The rules of this world were shown quickly in the first couple of episodes, and if you didn’t have time to read all the text, I’m here to explain Kenjaku’s plan in a simpler way.

What is The Culling Game?

This tournament is unlike any other anime competition. It’s been orchestrated for centuries by Kenjaku, the sorcerer responsible for the devastating events of the Shibuya Incident in season two.

I’ve learned his plan is incredibly dangerous – he wants to force a thousand sorcerers into a free-for-all battle where anyone, even himself, could be killed. Apparently, even if he does die, the game won’t stop. It’s all about gathering enough cursed energy through this chaotic battle to turn all of Japan into a single, massive cursed being. It’s terrifying, honestly.

The most surprising part is that he’s really just doing this for fun, since even Kenjaku doesn’t know what the outcome will be.

Yuji, Megumi Fushiguro, and their friends are determined to put a stop to this, for reasons that are probably clear. They’re especially focused on rescuing Megumi’s sister, Tsumiki, who was turned into a sorcerer by Kenjaku at the end of the last season. Given the dangerous name – “Culling” – the chances of making it out alive don’t look good.

Last season, Satoru Gojo, an incredibly powerful jujutsu sorcerer, was trapped in the Prison Realm. His return could be the key to humanity winning the fight against curses. To free him, the team needs to find a reincarnated sorcerer named Angel, who has the ability to break the seal holding Gojo captive, and they’ll have to compete to do so.

All caught up? Let’s break down the rules in more detail.

Rule 1: Every player must choose a colony within 19 days

All participants – whether they volunteered or were forced into this by Kenjaku – have 19 days to enter one of ten designated colonies across Japan. Each colony is sealed off by an unbreakable barrier. Once you choose a colony, you’re officially a player in the Culling Game.

The 19-day limit is strict, but it ensures everyone has an equal chance by preventing anyone from practicing for too long. And honestly, a tight deadline like this definitely adds to the excitement.

Rule 2: Breaking the first rule will result in almost certain death

Honestly, it’s terrifying how trapped these players are! If anyone even tries to back out once they’re aware of what’s going on, Kenjaku will strip them of their cursed technique – and that basically means brain damage and certain death. It’s a brutal rule, designed to absolutely prevent anyone from quitting or forfeiting once the game starts. Seriously, Kenjaku is a seriously manipulative and awful guy, isn’t he?

Rule 3: Civilians have one chance to leave the game

I’ve noticed that most people, those without any cursed energy themselves, can’t see spirits unless they’re using something to help them. It’s pretty interesting – this means ordinary people could wander right into a spirit colony’s boundaries without even knowing it, and technically, that would make them involved in the game too.

Players who accidentally end up in the Culling Game have one opportunity to leave right away. If they stay, they’ll be subject to all of the game’s rules. Kenjaku added this feature not to be helpful, but simply to create more confusion and unpredictability.

Rule 4: Players earn points by killing each other

To win this game, you’ll need to eliminate your opponents and earn points. It’s less about staying alive and more about aggressive combat. Expect a lot of action and widespread destruction throughout this extended gameplay section, as players are actively rewarded for attacking.

On top of everything else, Kenjaku further complicates things by suddenly introducing both newly powerful sorcerers and curse-users brought back from the past.

Rule 5: Every player has a set point value

In this competition, eliminating opponents earns points, but the value of each opponent isn’t the same. Defeating sorcerers or cursed spirits is worth 5 points, while defeating any other type of competitor only earns 1 point.

Every victory is important, but it’s especially crucial considering Kenjaku, the game master, can arbitrarily change a player’s point value based on how dangerous they seem. This leads to a fascinating situation where strong sorcerers become prime targets for those seeking high scores, while others prefer to target weaker humans as a safer strategy.

Rule 6: 100 points can be used to propose a new rule

This rule dramatically changes the game. Once a player reaches 100 points, they can suggest a new rule to Kenjaku. These rules can significantly alter the game, from changing the environment to introducing helpful new mechanics. Effectively, creating rules is a powerful ability, acting as another weapon for players who are both strong and strategic.

This rule definitely gives a big advantage to stronger sorcerers, as they can earn points much faster. Unfortunately for anyone just starting out, they might find themselves at a disadvantage.

Rule 7: Kenjaku must approve each new rule

There’s a limit to what players can ask for. They can request almost anything, but they can’t undo rules that Kenjaku has already established. It’s similar to a genie who won’t grant any more wishes after you’ve used them all.

Permanent alterations aren’t permitted either. Basically, Kenjaku has free rein with these requests, and it’s important to remember he prioritizes causing as much destruction and loss of life as possible – he’s truly twisted like that.

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Rule 8: Stop for 19 days and your cursed technique is removed

Originally, players had 19 days to select their starting colony. Now, the rules penalize players who don’t improve their score within that same timeframe. If you remain inactive for 19 days, you’ll lose your special ability, which almost always means your character will be eliminated. This makes a purely defensive, wait-for-others-to-die strategy much riskier.

This rule swiftly eliminates players who aren’t strong enough to compete, and it significantly increases the pressure of an already intense game. To be clear, the game is incredibly stressful – almost to the point of being overwhelming.

These rules ultimately harm everyone involved, turning decent people into something negative and exacerbating the flaws of those who were already problematic. It’s a truly unpleasant experience for the competitors, but from our perspective, watching the constant eliminations happen is strangely satisfying. There’s just so much elimination going on.

With that said, let the games begin! Good luck to everyone.

Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.

Authors

David OpieFreelance Writer

David Opie is a freelance journalist who covers TV and film for various online publications like TopMob, Indiewire, and Empire. He’s a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ representation, often speaking on related panels and prioritizing queer stories in his work. Beyond TV and film, he loves comics, animation, and horror—and he’s a big fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, hoping to see a ‘Rusical’ (RuPaul’s Drag Race musical) dedicated to the show. Before becoming a freelancer, David worked as a Deputy TV Editor at Digital Spy and holds a degree in Psychology.

2026-01-23 13:40