JJK’s Culling Game Just Became the New Greatest Anime Tournament of All Time

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Season 3 kicked off in January 2026 with the long-awaited entry of Yuji Itadori into the Culling Games. Following the devastating events of the Shibuya Incident – which included heartbreaking losses like Nanami and major revelations about Yuji’s history – the Culling Game promises even more intense action, brutal battles, and unexpected surprises.

The Culling Game arc in Jujutsu Kaisen raises the stakes with every decision, turning each move into a life-or-death gamble. It’s a thrilling tournament-style arc packed with strategic battles, characters wielding incredible powers, and tough ethical dilemmas. Many fans consider this the true beginning of the JJK story.

JJK’s Culling Games Is Anime’s Greatest Modern Tournament Arc

The Culling Game dramatically changes Jujutsu Kaisen, turning it into a large-scale free-for-all battle. Previously, fights were typically small, focused encounters like the memorable battle between Toji and Megumi, or Yuji and Todo teaming up against Mahito. Now, the Culling Game expands the conflict across ten huge, isolated zones throughout Japan, cutting off any chance of outside help. Each zone offers a different environment – from city streets perfect for chases, to wide-open fields for powerful techniques, and dangerous Curses lurking everywhere. Because inactive sorcerers are quickly eliminated, the constant need to move and fight keeps the tension incredibly high.

The Culling Game takes place within inescapable areas that trap players and force them to battle for points and to survive. These zones are linked across the country, with only the Hokkaido region remaining safe. Orchestrated by Kenjaku, players awaken with a spirit companion named Kogane, which explains the rules as a countdown begins. If a Jujutsu sorcerer enters a colony, they have 19 days to participate in the game; otherwise, they lose their powers and often die.

I’ve been watching the Culling Game, and it’s interesting how points work. You get five points for defeating a sorcerer, but only one for a regular person. If a sorcerer manages to reach 100 points, they can actually change the rules of the game – things like letting colonies share information or allowing players to move between them. It turns out Kenjaku planned this whole thing around old agreements he made with powerful sorcerers from the Heian period – people like Takako Uro, Dhruv Lakdawalla, and Hajime Kashimo. He’s somehow brought them back to life in new bodies to fight in the game, which is creating some incredible battles between these historical figures and the current generation of Jujutsu sorcerers.

Jujutsu Kaisen’s Culling Game Rules Are Brutal But Genius

The Culling Game is designed to be both fair and incredibly dangerous, compelling everyone to participate or face death – all in the name of forcing humanity to evolve through conflict. What sets it apart from other anime tournaments is its strategic depth, thanks to a constantly changing point system and new rules. Simply hiding isn’t an option either, as failing to earn any points within 19 days results in certain death.

While The Culling Game allows anyone to propose new rules with 100 points, it’s incredibly violent. The need to harm civilians for points forces Yuji into impossible situations. The deaths in Jujutsu Kaisen feel truly impactful, particularly considering how much Yuji has suffered since the events of the Shibuya massacre in Season 3, due to Sukuna’s actions.

Although Jujutsu Kaisen features plenty of sorrow and hardship, it’s also packed with exciting events. Its tournament arc is more focused and streamlined than similar arcs in anime like Naruto (the Chunin Exams) or Hunter x Hunter (the Nen vows). In JJK, characters aren’t protected by luck, and even flaws and vulnerabilities can have serious consequences.

The Culling Game Outplays Every Major Anime Tournament Before It

Many anime tournaments, like the Chunin Exams in Naruto and the Hunter Licensing Exam in Hunter x Hunter, have organizers, teachers, or officials who oversee the competition and make sure it’s fair. Joining these tournaments is usually a choice, not something participants are forced to do. But the Culling Game is different – it completely breaks from these typical tournament rules.

The Culling Game isn’t a normal competition; most participants were forced into it and can’t quit, making it a deadly trap. Every death is final – unlike in the Dragon Ball Super tournament where everyone was brought back, no one will be revived after the Culling Game ends. Points earned by players like Kashimo and Higuruma represent both sorcerers and non-sorcerers they’ve defeated. And because the author, Gege Akutami, is known for not holding back, even the main characters are at risk of permanent death.

Unlike typical tournament storylines where you can expect the heroes to always win or survive, the Culling Game presents real danger for the main characters. Kenjaku’s plan is hard to stop, and even if the sorcerers manage to achieve a good outcome, it will come with devastating losses.

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2026-02-16 22:44