People should be doubted. Many people misunderstand this concept. Doubting people is simply part of getting to know them. What many call 'trust' is often just giving up on trying to understand others, and that act is far worse than doubting—it's actually apathy." – Akiyama Shinichi (or rather, his criminal psychology professor).
If you're into psychological strategies and brain tactics, Liar Game is the manga for you. I'd be surprised if you claimed to be a fan of the psychological genre and hadn't read Liar Game. In my opinion, Liar Game is the most well-written, versed, and theorized manga ever created, deserving much more recognition. It's a real head-scratcher at first, with some concepts and mind tricks throughout the plot that are incredible to imagine.
It features various characters with different personality traits and beliefs, all competing against each other in this game of lies and deception. The characters don't rely on physical strength to overcome their enemies but depend on their mental abilities—whether by intelligence in battling formidable opponents or by maintaining a perfect psychological state. The manga will make you question many things and help you view them differently in a positive light. It'll assist you in understanding how different people act when placed in various situations based on what they know and how they perceive things. You'll often find yourself in the characters' shoes, trying to figure out what you would've done if you were in that situation. You'll need to use a significant amount of brainpower for every text to grasp the tactics and strategies devised by the characters, and the manga does an excellent job of explaining through graphs, maps, arrows, statistics, and other graphic representations, which are easy to understand if you read carefully. The amazing part is how the author portrays commetamorphicity (which is essentially a character development method that uses one character to develop another). It's surprising how many games are relevant to real life if you look at their deeper meanings.
The first theme Liar Game demonstrates is that trust isn't blind faith or belief but rather understanding instead of apathy. Throughout, we also encounter the idea of an oppressive society, power, money, greed, and dominance, and how harmony can overcome these. The amazing part is how the author portrays commetamorphicity (which is essentially a character development method that uses one character to develop another).
Akiyama Shinichi, one of the main characters, is a criminology student equipped with extensive knowledge and aptitude for analyzing and assessing the human mind. His greatest strength is his ability to predict and manipulate people's minds, allowing him to gain cooperation from other players as he presents them with logical and brilliant plans and gets the best out of their opponents by predicting their chain of thoughts and actions. He seems like the ideal candidate for the tournament, but the same can't be said for the other main character, Kanazaki Nao, who has an honest-to-god naive personality. She believes in honesty and truth and thinks it's wrong for people to deceive or lie to each other. This might be a noble mindset everyone learns growing up, but in this tournament, it only leads to her getting swindled and completely outsmarted at every turn. On top of that, she has a weak heart; she starts crying when things go wrong, which they inevitably do given her personality. In short, she's the last person who should participate in the Liar Game. Nao functions somewhat like a holy saint willing to take on the sins of others to try to save their souls. She doesn't worry about herself; all she wants is for no one else to fall into heavy debt, insisting that the company responsible for the entire Liar Game is the real enemy, not the other players.
Nao has significantly impacted many side characters and touched their hearts with her honest-to-god naive personality. Liar Game wouldn't be Liar Game without Nao, and Akiyama wouldn't have the upper hand in most situations without her. True, Akiyama was all brains and devised all the schemes and plans, but Nao was the one who helped execute them. It still seems unbelievable that her plans to save everyone and help them with their debts worked in every single round.
The multiple games are probably one of the main things that will grab your interest and keep you from putting it aside. It's surprising how many games correlate with real life if you look at their deeper meanings. Ridiculous games and money drive people to take certain measures, which might seem foul from a reader's perspective, but if you put yourself in the characters' shoes, you'll find yourself doing something similar. It's just human nature to prioritize oneself and find ways to survive instead of looking after others, and this aspect is very well depicted in every arc of the manga and often exploited by tactical minds like Akiyama or Yokoya and some others in the manga.
The art isn't breathtaking, but it fits the manga's theme perfectly, showing petrifying scenes or faces effectively. I highly recommend it. It's one of the few 10/10 mangas for me.
Rewriting the provided text while maintaining its original meaning and structure:
It's hard to approach writing about such a massive manga. With 203 chapters, "Liar Game" revolves around Trust. It tells the story of placing the most honest person on Earth in a game about becoming the ultimate liar. She partners with one of the smartest characters ever created. The premise is captivating, even endearing, which likely hooked so many into this series.
Story: 6/10
To begin with, the story is great. It evokes genuine anguish and pain when the stakes are high, and our protagonist can't do anything against those who deceive her. The conflicts unfold over long (at least it felt that way) arcs for each game. Each one attempts to introduce a different conflict and meaning. Characters fight, deceive, scheme, and play intense mind games to reach the finish line. Information is selectively revealed or concealed to keep scenes as engaging as possible. It's a high-risk story where failure could lead to severe consequences. However, the issue arises with the formula. Every game starts to feel repetitive in how it's won. It becomes a guessing game for the reader to figure out how it will be resolved unexpectedly.
Now, why a 6? No spoilers, but I wanted to warn you. The ending is one of the worst I've seen for such a long series. It's rushed, inconsistent, and nonsensical. Various reasons might be responsible—cancellation notice, boredom with the story, or perhaps that was the intended conclusion. I can't fully endorse it. The characters change abruptly, and the story concludes with an abrupt happy ending, only to suddenly turn unhappy again. "The End," "Bye bye." Proceed with caution, as a poor ending like this can sour the overall experience.
Characters: 7/10
I don't care for the formulaic approach to the plot, even if some aspects were quite good. I enjoyed Nao, the protagonist, immensely. Her journey toward doubting others, understanding human nature, and introspection is compelling. The other characters range from "part of an arc" to "interesting." They fit well and don't disrupt the story. There are moments of significant change with deeply meaningful scenes about realizing one's place in the world. Personal stances against systems that force people to treat each other poorly are powerful at times.
Art: 8/10
The art excels in extreme expression. Mouths contort to display intense emotions like anguish, happiness, or hatred. Eyes sometimes look in different directions to convey extreme confusion. Shadows are used effectively for a threatening atmosphere. I love the realistic portrayal of characters beyond the exaggerated moments. It feels like a more grounded version of what death games or battle royales typically depict. I enjoyed it greatly, even though some pages feature just talking heads. There's fun with perspectives, and certain panels are packed with personality. I wish speech bubbles didn't cover entire pages, making it resemble a novel with illustrations.
Enjoyment: 6/10
There were times I forced myself to continue. By the halfway point, I considered dropping it. What kept me going was the desire to see the protagonist grow smarter or more intriguing. I won't elaborate, but I did finish it, and that speaks volumes.
Overall: 6.8/10
"Liar Game" feels more like a very well-drawn novel, with pages that take time to comprehend and analyze. I had a blast following some games and their logic, while others were difficult to grasp or overly simplistic. It stands as a solid psychological manga held back by a terrible ending. It's lengthy and fascinating for some, but for me, it required too much commitment to complete.
I haven't read many chapters yet, but I am genuinely looking forward to the next one.
The story is incredibly original. You find yourself captivated and surprised each time a lie is uncovered, and you end up flipping back through the pages thinking, "OH!! So that's how he did it!!"
The artwork is decent—nothing extraordinary, but it suits the story well.
The characters are fascinating, with plenty of depth and humanity. There's always something being revealed about their backgrounds, so they never become dull.
The plot is thrilling and enjoyable to read. I would recommend this manga to those who enjoy solving tactics or mysteries and love stories involving psychological games. It might not appeal as much to a younger audience, but still, give it a try—you never know. Anyways, HAVE FUN READING!!!
Liar Game revolves around an honest girl who joins a wild tournament known as the Liar Game. Physical violence isn't permitted; only deception is allowed. Participants have the chance to win a great deal of money, but they also risk losing a lot, which is why they're apprehensive.
At first glance, you might think this manga is just ordinary, but that's not accurate. The real excitement kicks off from chapter 9.
Art:
The artwork isn't exceptional, but it didn't distract me while reading.
Characters:
The main characters experience some solid development.
The contrasts between the characters result in engaging debates and plenty of arguments.
Enjoyment:
If you enjoyed the psychological battles in Death Note, you'll definitely appreciate this manga. It can be incredibly clever. It keeps you guessing how on earth they managed to find the solution to win a round.
Overall:
Liar Game is a brilliant psychological manga that you simply can't put down.
<p>Liar Game was incredibly popular, and I decided to give this manga a try. Initially, I expected to get bored, but once I started reading, I found myself deeply engrossed. Although the artwork might be considered average, the story is absolutely stunning. I appreciate how the author portrays human greed and the ways people deceive each other for personal gain. This is an element that most mangas tend to overlook. The game devised by the author is also highly original and fascinating, focusing on how individuals must lie to one another to achieve profit. Liar Game is a genuine psychological masterpiece that everyone should read.</p>
"People SHOULD be doubted. Many people misunderstand this concept. Doubting people is just a part of getting to know them. What many people call 'trust' is really just giving up on trying to understand others, and that very act is far worse than doubting. It is actually 'apathy.'" – Akiyama Shinichi
It is widely accepted that the world is largely driven by money. It's what humans need to succeed in life, which is why we dedicate so much of our lives to working tirelessly to acquire as much of it as possible. Money is the root of nearly all greed and desire in this world... and consequently, it's also the most ruthless way to uncover the darkest secrets of the human heart.
Imagine one day you receive a letter at your doorstep. This letter tells you how you could win an astronomical sum of money simply by playing a game with a few other people. However, by accepting, you would also risk losing an equally vast amount of your own money to the other players. In such a scenario, would you do it? Would you be willing to stake such a fortune—essentially your life—for the chance to live the rest of your days in luxury? And perhaps most importantly, could you live with yourself knowing that to win that fortune, you'd have to take it from another player, essentially ruining their life in the process? These are the questions you must confront if you choose to participate in the Liar Game.
The story of this manga primarily revolves around a college student named Kanzaki Nao, who one day receives an invitation to join exactly this kind of game. She is given a box filled with 100 million yen and told that her former homeroom teacher has been given the same amount. The two have 30 days to try to take as much money as they can from each other. After the time is up, they must return the initial 100 million yen they were provided, but any excess money they manage to acquire from the other person they can keep. Conversely, the person who loses the money will instead go into heavy debt.
Unfortunately for Nao, she is utterly unsuited for this kind of challenge. She is someone who genuinely believes in the righteousness of human honesty and thinks it's wrong for people to lie to each other. She wants everyone to get along, trust each other, and cooperate. While this mindset may seem noble, in the context of the Liar Game, it only leads to her being tricked, swindled, and outsmarted at every turn. On top of that, she is mentally weak. Whenever she faces a tough situation, instead of fighting back, she cries, gets down on her knees, and begs for mercy. In short, she is the least suitable person imaginable for someone participating in the Liar Game.
But luckily for Nao, she manages to team up with someone willing to help her—an ex-convict and genius swindler named Akiyama Shinichi. If every male lead character were as exceptional as Akiyama, there would be far less malice in this world. In my opinion, he is one of the absolute best male characters I've ever encountered, and watching him in action is absolutely thrilling. Following in the footsteps of iconic characters like Light and L from Death Note, Akiyama continually astonishes with his foresight and the ingenious strategies he devises to extricate himself and Nao from every conceivable predicament. Beyond being intelligent and charismatic, he is also kind and loyal to those he cares about. Akiyama is the true driving force behind the Liar Game manga and the main reason you'll want to keep reading. He is the type of character who is both cool and unpredictable, yet possesses a likable personality, making him someone readers genuinely root for.
The manga unfolds over several smaller arcs, each corresponding to a different game session. The shorter games span a single volume, while the longer ones cover around three or four. The Liar Game itself is structured as a large tournament bracket where each round features a new game. Additionally, there are consolation rounds for the losers of each game, offering them a chance to redeem themselves and continue competing. The number of participants in a game varies greatly, sometimes involving only a few people and other times reaching the mid-twenties. The games themselves are also highly diverse, encompassing themes of teamwork, unity, trust, conquest, deceit, domination, and more. The common thread is that they are all psychological mind games requiring a significant amount of strategy, planning, and intelligence to master. Each game is also a simulation, complete with a setting and backstory designed to reflect something in real life. It might involve smuggling goods to a bank in a foreign country, reenacting the Japanese wars during the Sengoku era, or drawing inspiration from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. These games are far from trivial, and everything happens for a reason, clearly used by the author to make real-life references and convey certain messages to the readers.
Liar Game is one of the most thrilling and captivating manga I've ever read. Once you start, it's nearly impossible to stop. Personally, I devoured it from start to finish in about 20 hours straight. The games are meticulously researched, written, and presented in a seamless package. There's an exhilarating sense of excitement as the story continuously escalates with layers upon layers of deception and game-changing moves, creating an upward spiral of tension. At the same time, the overarching narrative progresses steadily, ensuring that none of the arcs feel superfluous in the long run.
Of course, no work of art is perfect, and this one is no exception. Liar Game's primary flaw is glaringly obvious—it's embodied by Kanzaki Nao. As mentioned earlier, at the beginning of the manga, she is both naive and emotionally fragile. Over time, she gradually grows stronger mentally and evolves into someone you can genuinely respect and admire. However, her intellectual limitations remain unchanged throughout the story. Now, it's not fair to fault someone for being unintelligent—it's not as if she can help it. But when the same girl repeatedly falls for the exact same tricks time after time, even when everyone else can plainly see how obvious the deception is, it becomes incredibly frustrating. As someone quipped, "If Nao lost 1 yen for every time she got tricked, she'd have lost 100 million yen by now." Can the girl at least learn from her mistakes or listen to what others tell her just once? Please?
That said, Nao's role is deliberately crafted for the sake of the overall story and the profound impact she has on the other characters. I'd describe her as a necessary evil—or perhaps a necessary good would be a better phrase, as her overwhelming kindness significantly influences how others think and act. Nao serves as the moral compass of Liar Game; she's like a holy saint willing to shoulder the sins of others to save their souls. She doesn't worry about herself; all she desires is for no one else to fall into heavy debt, asserting that the company responsible for the entire Liar Game is the true adversary, not the other players.
In contrast, if Nao is the heart of the story, then Akiyama is the brain. While Nao addresses the humanitarian concerns, Akiyama resolves the practical issues and devises the plans to win the games. Of course, no brilliant protagonist could truly showcase their skills without formidable opposition, and this manga provides just that. The main rival is Yokoya, a wealthy, cunning individual who will go to great lengths to prove his superiority. Although I say great lengths, it should be noted that all forms of violence are strictly prohibited in the Liar Game. There are no darker elements like people betting their limbs or anything extreme in this story; money is the sole stake here. Nonetheless, Yokoya is the only one capable of going head-to-head with Akiyama, and their battles of wits never fail to astound with how far they push the boundaries. Drawing parallels to earlier comparisons, think of it as Light vs. L again, albeit with slightly different motivations. Regardless, every confrontation between them is absolutely enthralling to witness.
As for the artwork, it's certainly visually appealing but not extraordinary. However, given the nature of Liar Game, it doesn't feel particularly important. The essence of the manga lies in the text, which is what truly matters. You'll be fully engrossed, carefully analyzing every word to fully grasp the unfolding situation. Critiquing the artwork objectively will be the last thing on your mind while reading. For the same reason, many of the images in Liar Game don't depict characters or backgrounds but consist of tactical displays and graphs to aid the reader in understanding the game mechanics and the players' thoughts and strategies. These include maps, game boards, cards, arrows, and other helpful visual aids designed to clarify the complex ideas frequently presented in the manga.
For these reasons, Liar Game is probably not ideal for younger audiences (hence the Seinen tag) as it demands considerable focus and attention to follow the intricate plot. However, if you appreciate complex stories brimming with unexpected twists and turns, Liar Game is among the best. While some arcs are undoubtedly superior to others, I loved them all and consider this one of the absolute best manga I've ever read. Reading Liar Game reignited emotions in me that I hadn't felt from a manga in 2.5 years—that's how long it had been since I could effortlessly immerse myself in a manga for hours on end, completely undistracted and fully absorbed. It's that addictive. It's that good. Therefore, I wholeheartedly recommend you give it a try if you enjoy psychological narratives, and I can only hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
Ok, so I don't usually write reviews, but I felt compelled to share my thoughts on this one because I genuinely enjoyed it a lot. Liar Game is seriously underrated. I only discovered it through the YouTube video "The manga that lies to you" by Schnoz Meister. If you don't mind spoilers, I highly recommend checking it out.
Anyway, Liar Game has an atmosphere reminiscent of "survival" mangas, but it leaves plenty to the imagination. It avoids being gory or overly traumatizing in a way that makes me wish I had read it before diving into heavier material when I was younger. I also find myself wishing I could experience reading it for the first time all over again. It ends each chapter with such cliffhangers that you simply can't put it down.
While I'll admit the ending felt somewhat underwhelming, it still made me think, "I guess it makes sense?" It's definitely a must-read for me, and I hope you all give it a chance.
This manga was simply amazing and something I could have never imagined. So far, this is the only manga I've ever read that deserved a 10 because every moment was incredible. I did think that at some parts it took a little longer, but because of that, there were a lot of twists and turns, which I love in stories. The logic is also incredible; I couldn't believe that people could actually come up with some of these ideas. I'm still reading it, and I just want to know what happens next since all the chapters end with a cliffhanger. "If only it were finished," I always say. I can't wait to read the ending!
Overall, I give this manga a 10 because, in one word, it's just phenomenal!
Why I like this manga:
Plot: It features a highly intriguing plot. If you're into mystery and psychological themes, this manga is definitely for you. There are numerous unexpected twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Additionally, the underlying mystery adds an extra layer of fascination to the reading experience.
Characters: The characters are well-developed, ranging from those you admire to ones you love to hate.
Art: The artwork is impressive. I appreciate the mangaka's unique drawing style, even though some parts might appear slightly off.
Why I dislike this manga: The sole reason for my dissatisfaction (and why I rated it 9 overall) is the ending. It left me feeling unfulfilled. Right before it concluded, I found myself thinking, "What? Is that all there is?" A sequel would have been fantastic.
Overall, this manga is absolutely worth reading. While the games can be somewhat confusing (at least for me), you can always look them up online, so there's no need to worry. Although I was saddened by its conclusion—the unsatisfying ending made me even more disheartened—I thoroughly enjoyed the journey and have no regrets. This is one of my favorite mangas, and I will undoubtedly revisit it in the future.
It seems to me that the creator of Liar Game must have been inspired by Death Note. Liar Game features just as many psychological twists as Death Note. If you take a look at Mr. Akiyama, he is as intelligent as L, with a combination of L's and Light's facial features, Light's personality, and a mix of L's and Light's hairstyle. It constantly keeps you guessing; you think the Liar Game is one thing, but it turns out to be something else entirely. The art style is also extremely similar to Death Note. I love how well-developed the characters are. The story is simply fantastic. Can't forget that this manga is very addictive. I was hooked after the first volume. I can't wait for the next chapter.
At the beginning, Liar Game seemed like just another insignificant series, but once I started reading it, I was hooked until this very day. This manga boasts an exceptional psychological style that delves into the deepest aspects of human ambition. Observing how each unique character thinks and acts differently in the same scenarios captivates your attention at every moment, making Liar Game a remarkable story.
Story: It introduces a highly original concept, revolving around a girl who finds herself ensnared in a game where she must lie to survive. However, she faces a significant challenge: she is excessively honest.
Art: The artwork in Liar Game isn't the most refined ever, but it effectively fulfills its purpose.
Characters: A diverse cast of characters allows readers to grasp how different personality types might behave in extreme circumstances.
Enjoyment: With its utterly unpredictable nature, Liar Game will keep you enthralled, and before you know it, you'll have read countless chapters.
Liar Game is a masterpiece. The ending was somewhat rushed, but the games themselves were so solid that the story doesn't drop below a 9.5 overall. I would genuinely give it a 10/10.
Nao can understandably be annoying, but ironically, she's my favorite character in the manga due to her (very) gradual development and what she represents in the story. The theme reveal was actually very subtle and well-executed. Yes, she is naive and suffers losses because of it (even Akiyama points out her flaws and philosophy), but she does eventually learn and grow. On the other hand, Akiyama is almost too perfect from a character perspective, but once again, the games are just too brilliantly written to deduct points for any character shortcomings. You could say the characters (who function more as vehicles for the plot) are around 6/10, but the plot itself is like 16/10, so it balances out. This series is the lesser-known cousin of Death Note, but I believe it's actually smarter because it relies less on chance or assumptions. I would recommend Liar Game without hesitation.
Popular Reviews
If you're into psychological strategies and brain tactics, Liar Game is the manga for you. I'd be surprised if you claimed to be a fan of the psychological genre and hadn't read Liar Game. In my opinion, Liar Game is the most well-written, versed, and theorized manga ever created, deserving much more recognition. It's a real head-scratcher at first, with some concepts and mind tricks throughout the plot that are incredible to imagine.
It features various characters with different personality traits and beliefs, all competing against each other in this game of lies and deception. The characters don't rely on physical strength to overcome their enemies but depend on their mental abilities—whether by intelligence in battling formidable opponents or by maintaining a perfect psychological state. The manga will make you question many things and help you view them differently in a positive light. It'll assist you in understanding how different people act when placed in various situations based on what they know and how they perceive things. You'll often find yourself in the characters' shoes, trying to figure out what you would've done if you were in that situation. You'll need to use a significant amount of brainpower for every text to grasp the tactics and strategies devised by the characters, and the manga does an excellent job of explaining through graphs, maps, arrows, statistics, and other graphic representations, which are easy to understand if you read carefully. The amazing part is how the author portrays commetamorphicity (which is essentially a character development method that uses one character to develop another). It's surprising how many games are relevant to real life if you look at their deeper meanings.
The first theme Liar Game demonstrates is that trust isn't blind faith or belief but rather understanding instead of apathy. Throughout, we also encounter the idea of an oppressive society, power, money, greed, and dominance, and how harmony can overcome these. The amazing part is how the author portrays commetamorphicity (which is essentially a character development method that uses one character to develop another).
Akiyama Shinichi, one of the main characters, is a criminology student equipped with extensive knowledge and aptitude for analyzing and assessing the human mind. His greatest strength is his ability to predict and manipulate people's minds, allowing him to gain cooperation from other players as he presents them with logical and brilliant plans and gets the best out of their opponents by predicting their chain of thoughts and actions. He seems like the ideal candidate for the tournament, but the same can't be said for the other main character, Kanazaki Nao, who has an honest-to-god naive personality. She believes in honesty and truth and thinks it's wrong for people to deceive or lie to each other. This might be a noble mindset everyone learns growing up, but in this tournament, it only leads to her getting swindled and completely outsmarted at every turn. On top of that, she has a weak heart; she starts crying when things go wrong, which they inevitably do given her personality. In short, she's the last person who should participate in the Liar Game. Nao functions somewhat like a holy saint willing to take on the sins of others to try to save their souls. She doesn't worry about herself; all she wants is for no one else to fall into heavy debt, insisting that the company responsible for the entire Liar Game is the real enemy, not the other players.
Nao has significantly impacted many side characters and touched their hearts with her honest-to-god naive personality. Liar Game wouldn't be Liar Game without Nao, and Akiyama wouldn't have the upper hand in most situations without her. True, Akiyama was all brains and devised all the schemes and plans, but Nao was the one who helped execute them. It still seems unbelievable that her plans to save everyone and help them with their debts worked in every single round.
The multiple games are probably one of the main things that will grab your interest and keep you from putting it aside. It's surprising how many games correlate with real life if you look at their deeper meanings. Ridiculous games and money drive people to take certain measures, which might seem foul from a reader's perspective, but if you put yourself in the characters' shoes, you'll find yourself doing something similar. It's just human nature to prioritize oneself and find ways to survive instead of looking after others, and this aspect is very well depicted in every arc of the manga and often exploited by tactical minds like Akiyama or Yokoya and some others in the manga.
The art isn't breathtaking, but it fits the manga's theme perfectly, showing petrifying scenes or faces effectively. I highly recommend it. It's one of the few 10/10 mangas for me.
It's hard to approach writing about such a massive manga. With 203 chapters, "Liar Game" revolves around Trust. It tells the story of placing the most honest person on Earth in a game about becoming the ultimate liar. She partners with one of the smartest characters ever created. The premise is captivating, even endearing, which likely hooked so many into this series.
Story: 6/10
To begin with, the story is great. It evokes genuine anguish and pain when the stakes are high, and our protagonist can't do anything against those who deceive her. The conflicts unfold over long (at least it felt that way) arcs for each game. Each one attempts to introduce a different conflict and meaning. Characters fight, deceive, scheme, and play intense mind games to reach the finish line. Information is selectively revealed or concealed to keep scenes as engaging as possible. It's a high-risk story where failure could lead to severe consequences. However, the issue arises with the formula. Every game starts to feel repetitive in how it's won. It becomes a guessing game for the reader to figure out how it will be resolved unexpectedly.
Now, why a 6? No spoilers, but I wanted to warn you. The ending is one of the worst I've seen for such a long series. It's rushed, inconsistent, and nonsensical. Various reasons might be responsible—cancellation notice, boredom with the story, or perhaps that was the intended conclusion. I can't fully endorse it. The characters change abruptly, and the story concludes with an abrupt happy ending, only to suddenly turn unhappy again. "The End," "Bye bye." Proceed with caution, as a poor ending like this can sour the overall experience.
Characters: 7/10
I don't care for the formulaic approach to the plot, even if some aspects were quite good. I enjoyed Nao, the protagonist, immensely. Her journey toward doubting others, understanding human nature, and introspection is compelling. The other characters range from "part of an arc" to "interesting." They fit well and don't disrupt the story. There are moments of significant change with deeply meaningful scenes about realizing one's place in the world. Personal stances against systems that force people to treat each other poorly are powerful at times.
Art: 8/10
The art excels in extreme expression. Mouths contort to display intense emotions like anguish, happiness, or hatred. Eyes sometimes look in different directions to convey extreme confusion. Shadows are used effectively for a threatening atmosphere. I love the realistic portrayal of characters beyond the exaggerated moments. It feels like a more grounded version of what death games or battle royales typically depict. I enjoyed it greatly, even though some pages feature just talking heads. There's fun with perspectives, and certain panels are packed with personality. I wish speech bubbles didn't cover entire pages, making it resemble a novel with illustrations.
Enjoyment: 6/10
There were times I forced myself to continue. By the halfway point, I considered dropping it. What kept me going was the desire to see the protagonist grow smarter or more intriguing. I won't elaborate, but I did finish it, and that speaks volumes.
Overall: 6.8/10
"Liar Game" feels more like a very well-drawn novel, with pages that take time to comprehend and analyze. I had a blast following some games and their logic, while others were difficult to grasp or overly simplistic. It stands as a solid psychological manga held back by a terrible ending. It's lengthy and fascinating for some, but for me, it required too much commitment to complete.
The story is incredibly original. You find yourself captivated and surprised each time a lie is uncovered, and you end up flipping back through the pages thinking, "OH!! So that's how he did it!!"
The artwork is decent—nothing extraordinary, but it suits the story well.
The characters are fascinating, with plenty of depth and humanity. There's always something being revealed about their backgrounds, so they never become dull.
The plot is thrilling and enjoyable to read. I would recommend this manga to those who enjoy solving tactics or mysteries and love stories involving psychological games. It might not appeal as much to a younger audience, but still, give it a try—you never know. Anyways, HAVE FUN READING!!!
<p>
At first glance, you might think this manga is just ordinary, but that's not accurate. The real excitement kicks off from chapter 9.
Art:
The artwork isn't exceptional, but it didn't distract me while reading.
Characters:
The main characters experience some solid development.
The contrasts between the characters result in engaging debates and plenty of arguments.
Enjoyment:
If you enjoyed the psychological battles in Death Note, you'll definitely appreciate this manga. It can be incredibly clever. It keeps you guessing how on earth they managed to find the solution to win a round.
Overall:
Liar Game is a brilliant psychological manga that you simply can't put down.
It is widely accepted that the world is largely driven by money. It's what humans need to succeed in life, which is why we dedicate so much of our lives to working tirelessly to acquire as much of it as possible. Money is the root of nearly all greed and desire in this world... and consequently, it's also the most ruthless way to uncover the darkest secrets of the human heart.
Imagine one day you receive a letter at your doorstep. This letter tells you how you could win an astronomical sum of money simply by playing a game with a few other people. However, by accepting, you would also risk losing an equally vast amount of your own money to the other players. In such a scenario, would you do it? Would you be willing to stake such a fortune—essentially your life—for the chance to live the rest of your days in luxury? And perhaps most importantly, could you live with yourself knowing that to win that fortune, you'd have to take it from another player, essentially ruining their life in the process? These are the questions you must confront if you choose to participate in the Liar Game.
The story of this manga primarily revolves around a college student named Kanzaki Nao, who one day receives an invitation to join exactly this kind of game. She is given a box filled with 100 million yen and told that her former homeroom teacher has been given the same amount. The two have 30 days to try to take as much money as they can from each other. After the time is up, they must return the initial 100 million yen they were provided, but any excess money they manage to acquire from the other person they can keep. Conversely, the person who loses the money will instead go into heavy debt.
Unfortunately for Nao, she is utterly unsuited for this kind of challenge. She is someone who genuinely believes in the righteousness of human honesty and thinks it's wrong for people to lie to each other. She wants everyone to get along, trust each other, and cooperate. While this mindset may seem noble, in the context of the Liar Game, it only leads to her being tricked, swindled, and outsmarted at every turn. On top of that, she is mentally weak. Whenever she faces a tough situation, instead of fighting back, she cries, gets down on her knees, and begs for mercy. In short, she is the least suitable person imaginable for someone participating in the Liar Game.
But luckily for Nao, she manages to team up with someone willing to help her—an ex-convict and genius swindler named Akiyama Shinichi. If every male lead character were as exceptional as Akiyama, there would be far less malice in this world. In my opinion, he is one of the absolute best male characters I've ever encountered, and watching him in action is absolutely thrilling. Following in the footsteps of iconic characters like Light and L from Death Note, Akiyama continually astonishes with his foresight and the ingenious strategies he devises to extricate himself and Nao from every conceivable predicament. Beyond being intelligent and charismatic, he is also kind and loyal to those he cares about. Akiyama is the true driving force behind the Liar Game manga and the main reason you'll want to keep reading. He is the type of character who is both cool and unpredictable, yet possesses a likable personality, making him someone readers genuinely root for.
The manga unfolds over several smaller arcs, each corresponding to a different game session. The shorter games span a single volume, while the longer ones cover around three or four. The Liar Game itself is structured as a large tournament bracket where each round features a new game. Additionally, there are consolation rounds for the losers of each game, offering them a chance to redeem themselves and continue competing. The number of participants in a game varies greatly, sometimes involving only a few people and other times reaching the mid-twenties. The games themselves are also highly diverse, encompassing themes of teamwork, unity, trust, conquest, deceit, domination, and more. The common thread is that they are all psychological mind games requiring a significant amount of strategy, planning, and intelligence to master. Each game is also a simulation, complete with a setting and backstory designed to reflect something in real life. It might involve smuggling goods to a bank in a foreign country, reenacting the Japanese wars during the Sengoku era, or drawing inspiration from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. These games are far from trivial, and everything happens for a reason, clearly used by the author to make real-life references and convey certain messages to the readers.
Liar Game is one of the most thrilling and captivating manga I've ever read. Once you start, it's nearly impossible to stop. Personally, I devoured it from start to finish in about 20 hours straight. The games are meticulously researched, written, and presented in a seamless package. There's an exhilarating sense of excitement as the story continuously escalates with layers upon layers of deception and game-changing moves, creating an upward spiral of tension. At the same time, the overarching narrative progresses steadily, ensuring that none of the arcs feel superfluous in the long run.
Of course, no work of art is perfect, and this one is no exception. Liar Game's primary flaw is glaringly obvious—it's embodied by Kanzaki Nao. As mentioned earlier, at the beginning of the manga, she is both naive and emotionally fragile. Over time, she gradually grows stronger mentally and evolves into someone you can genuinely respect and admire. However, her intellectual limitations remain unchanged throughout the story. Now, it's not fair to fault someone for being unintelligent—it's not as if she can help it. But when the same girl repeatedly falls for the exact same tricks time after time, even when everyone else can plainly see how obvious the deception is, it becomes incredibly frustrating. As someone quipped, "If Nao lost 1 yen for every time she got tricked, she'd have lost 100 million yen by now." Can the girl at least learn from her mistakes or listen to what others tell her just once? Please?
That said, Nao's role is deliberately crafted for the sake of the overall story and the profound impact she has on the other characters. I'd describe her as a necessary evil—or perhaps a necessary good would be a better phrase, as her overwhelming kindness significantly influences how others think and act. Nao serves as the moral compass of Liar Game; she's like a holy saint willing to shoulder the sins of others to save their souls. She doesn't worry about herself; all she desires is for no one else to fall into heavy debt, asserting that the company responsible for the entire Liar Game is the true adversary, not the other players.
In contrast, if Nao is the heart of the story, then Akiyama is the brain. While Nao addresses the humanitarian concerns, Akiyama resolves the practical issues and devises the plans to win the games. Of course, no brilliant protagonist could truly showcase their skills without formidable opposition, and this manga provides just that. The main rival is Yokoya, a wealthy, cunning individual who will go to great lengths to prove his superiority. Although I say great lengths, it should be noted that all forms of violence are strictly prohibited in the Liar Game. There are no darker elements like people betting their limbs or anything extreme in this story; money is the sole stake here. Nonetheless, Yokoya is the only one capable of going head-to-head with Akiyama, and their battles of wits never fail to astound with how far they push the boundaries. Drawing parallels to earlier comparisons, think of it as Light vs. L again, albeit with slightly different motivations. Regardless, every confrontation between them is absolutely enthralling to witness.
As for the artwork, it's certainly visually appealing but not extraordinary. However, given the nature of Liar Game, it doesn't feel particularly important. The essence of the manga lies in the text, which is what truly matters. You'll be fully engrossed, carefully analyzing every word to fully grasp the unfolding situation. Critiquing the artwork objectively will be the last thing on your mind while reading. For the same reason, many of the images in Liar Game don't depict characters or backgrounds but consist of tactical displays and graphs to aid the reader in understanding the game mechanics and the players' thoughts and strategies. These include maps, game boards, cards, arrows, and other helpful visual aids designed to clarify the complex ideas frequently presented in the manga.
For these reasons, Liar Game is probably not ideal for younger audiences (hence the Seinen tag) as it demands considerable focus and attention to follow the intricate plot. However, if you appreciate complex stories brimming with unexpected twists and turns, Liar Game is among the best. While some arcs are undoubtedly superior to others, I loved them all and consider this one of the absolute best manga I've ever read. Reading Liar Game reignited emotions in me that I hadn't felt from a manga in 2.5 years—that's how long it had been since I could effortlessly immerse myself in a manga for hours on end, completely undistracted and fully absorbed. It's that addictive. It's that good. Therefore, I wholeheartedly recommend you give it a try if you enjoy psychological narratives, and I can only hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
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Anyway, Liar Game has an atmosphere reminiscent of "survival" mangas, but it leaves plenty to the imagination. It avoids being gory or overly traumatizing in a way that makes me wish I had read it before diving into heavier material when I was younger. I also find myself wishing I could experience reading it for the first time all over again. It ends each chapter with such cliffhangers that you simply can't put it down.
While I'll admit the ending felt somewhat underwhelming, it still made me think, "I guess it makes sense?" It's definitely a must-read for me, and I hope you all give it a chance.
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Overall, I give this manga a 10 because, in one word, it's just phenomenal!
Plot: It features a highly intriguing plot. If you're into mystery and psychological themes, this manga is definitely for you. There are numerous unexpected twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Additionally, the underlying mystery adds an extra layer of fascination to the reading experience.
Characters: The characters are well-developed, ranging from those you admire to ones you love to hate.
Art: The artwork is impressive. I appreciate the mangaka's unique drawing style, even though some parts might appear slightly off.
Why I dislike this manga: The sole reason for my dissatisfaction (and why I rated it 9 overall) is the ending. It left me feeling unfulfilled. Right before it concluded, I found myself thinking, "What? Is that all there is?" A sequel would have been fantastic.
Overall, this manga is absolutely worth reading. While the games can be somewhat confusing (at least for me), you can always look them up online, so there's no need to worry. Although I was saddened by its conclusion—the unsatisfying ending made me even more disheartened—I thoroughly enjoyed the journey and have no regrets. This is one of my favorite mangas, and I will undoubtedly revisit it in the future.
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Story: It introduces a highly original concept, revolving around a girl who finds herself ensnared in a game where she must lie to survive. However, she faces a significant challenge: she is excessively honest.
Art: The artwork in Liar Game isn't the most refined ever, but it effectively fulfills its purpose.
Characters: A diverse cast of characters allows readers to grasp how different personality types might behave in extreme circumstances.
Enjoyment: With its utterly unpredictable nature, Liar Game will keep you enthralled, and before you know it, you'll have read countless chapters.
Nao can understandably be annoying, but ironically, she's my favorite character in the manga due to her (very) gradual development and what she represents in the story. The theme reveal was actually very subtle and well-executed. Yes, she is naive and suffers losses because of it (even Akiyama points out her flaws and philosophy), but she does eventually learn and grow. On the other hand, Akiyama is almost too perfect from a character perspective, but once again, the games are just too brilliantly written to deduct points for any character shortcomings. You could say the characters (who function more as vehicles for the plot) are around 6/10, but the plot itself is like 16/10, so it balances out. This series is the lesser-known cousin of Death Note, but I believe it's actually smarter because it relies less on chance or assumptions. I would recommend Liar Game without hesitation.
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