Netflix’s Squid Game was groundbreaking with its concept: a dangerous game where people competed for survival in secret, with a prize for the winner. But a new anime series, also on Netflix, is even more intense. While Squid Game focused on the wealthy taking advantage of those in debt, forcing them to play life-or-death games for money, this anime takes it further. Though Squid Game was brutal, there was still a reward to be gained; this new series raises the stakes even higher.
This dark anime shares a similar premise with Squid Game – a deadly competition – but it stands out by adding supernatural twists and a backstory spanning a thousand years. The anime is Jujutsu Kaisen, and its current season focuses on the ‘Culling Game’ arc. This arc features sorcerers trapped in an arena where only the strongest survive, and many are forced to fight even though they didn’t volunteer. It’s a brutal fight for survival where the odds are stacked against most.
Jujutsu Kaisen’s Culling Game Is Even Deadlier Than Netflix’s Squid Game
Netflix’s Squid Game featured a dark irony – deadly versions of children’s games – but players still willingly chose to participate, and there was even a way to vote to stop the game. In contrast, the Culling Game is much harsher. Sorcerers already living within the colonies are trapped, unable to escape once the barriers are up. While civilians had one chance to leave, anyone caught inside remains there indefinitely, as the game’s rules are designed to prevent it from ever ending.
The rules of the game forced sorcerers to kill someone at least every nineteen days. Adding to the danger, powerful ancient sorcerers—who previously made deals with Kenjaku—return by possessing bodies, each with their own agenda. Because these ancient sorcerers are so much stronger, less experienced sorcerers—particularly those who were forced into the game—must kill to survive. This often leads weaker players to rely on trickery and manipulation instead of direct combat.
The Culling Game’s true purpose isn’t about rewards for participants; it’s to gather a huge amount of Cursed Energy for Kenjaku’s schemes. Players are trapped in a never-ending cycle of fighting, while Cursed Spirits wreak havoc. This makes the Culling Game in Jujutsu Kaisen a more brutal competition than Squid Game and establishes it as a top-tier battle tournament in the anime world.
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2026-02-18 18:40