Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
MinusOverflow
As a high-stakes enjoyer, I couldn't ignore Kakegurui gathering dust in my plan-to-watch list. The story revolves around crazy bitches high on compulsive gambling, happening throughout various games. These games, while often pushing the limits of the suspension of disbelief and being somewhat hard to follow, immensely benefit from the direction, which through well-timed shots and clear explanations helps you keep up with what's going on screen.
The plot twists and climax of each game can be predictable, but the inclusion of the possibility of cheating in each game makes up for that. I don't see it often in this genre, and I consider it an underrated element. Nevertheless, I find it to be a bit overused and repetitive in the series.
Moreover, the anime follows the usual tropes of suspense…
Read at the sourceAnimeExplorer21
Kakegurui Is Not About Gambling It Is About The Madness Behind Human Desire. I thought gambling anime would mostly be about strategy and luck but Kakegurui showed me something much more intense. This anime is not just about winning money. It is about pride obsession fear and the terrifying side of human nature when people are pushed into extreme situations.
From the beginning the atmosphere of Hyakkaou Academy feels completely different from any normal school. Here money decides your status and students are willing to risk unbelievable amounts just for victory. Watching characters treat gambling like a battle of survival is honestly crazy but that is exactly what makes the series so addictive.
The characters are one of the biggest strengths of the anime. Every opponent has their own pers…
Read at the sourcejacksonalves
I know it's cheesy, repetitive, full of conveniences, and practically a festival of deus ex machina. Even so...
Kakegurui is insane on a level that very few series can reach. It takes everything to the extreme without a shred of shame, and after a while the absurdity simply becomes the norm.
But that's also its biggest strength. The direction has style, the soundtrack fits perfectly, and Yumeko carries a huge part of the show through pure charisma and madness.
Does it push things too far? Absolutely. But it has personality and knows how to entertain. To me, it's the kind of anime you watch once, enjoy the ride, and then move on.
Read at the sourcepuellamagiaca
I really liked this.
After staying home sick, I basically binged the entire series (I had episode one finished, and half of episode two).
First of all, throughout the entire show, it left me on the edge of my seat. It didn't always let the "Yumeko wins immediately because she's so smart" thing slide. It didn't let me think that she was just going to win every gambling session. And while I do say all of this, I have to also say that the narrative is a little repetitive, but the plot itself is able to clear that up by making big twists and turns to catch you off guard & even provoke doubt.
The fanservice is a bit much. I don't mind butts and boobs and all that jazz, but it's so obvious and direct that a lot of times it's just... annoying? Not with Midari though. I love Midari.
Lastly, th…
Read at the sourceoPikWojtik
This review is mainly subjective and contains no major spoilers.
I had Kakegurui on my watchlist for some time and now when the famous ‘‘Kakegurui Masho‘‘ meme went viral, i decided to finally watch it. I went into Kakegurui with little to no expectations, but I still hoped the psychological elements would keep me engaged. Unfortunately, they didn’t and the series ended up very surface and boring.
What I expected was a psychological gambling anime based on mind games and strong character dynamics. What I got was an inconsistent, poorly written show that relies only on shock value and fan service.
Story and Structure - 2/10
The story in Kakegurui feels very inconsistent and the pacing is extremely odd. The series never really goes to a certain and clear direction. It doesnt know what it w…
Read at the sourceNagi_sa
It was definitely entertaining to say the least. The worst part about a show is if it's boring, and this definitely wasn't. But for a show about gambling there's little stakes and no character to watch. Everything feels single noted and the only thing they dare give detail to is how wet a highschool girl is. Just no substance below the surface but at least there's some action going on. Definitely some funny moments, definitely isn't intentional but it works in its favor. The animation is... Something. Mappa has definitely done better but this before their prime so I guess it's fine. Also, where the hell are the adults in this world? It's so flat in its theme that it's silly.
My boyfriend's rating: 10/10
"It's so bad that it's good"
Read at the sourceScanerior
Kakegurui is a hit for me - an academy where social status is determined by the skill of the player is a bit of a question mark, but I immediately liked it. As in many other series, various (more or less mundane) games are played here and the stakes are often very high, however, of course, it is not just about the games themselves, but also the characters who play them and their story motivations - and this works absolutely great here, the characters are distinctly unique and interesting, the motivation is clearly given and the school environment also works great. I would also like to add that I also liked it when it was strongly mentioned that here you simply rely on luck and therefore real gambling, the bets were unprecedented, losses meant major life turning points and the games were fu…
Read at the sourcephiliwilly
This show is pretty slay. Not sure whether the plot or the characters are more absurd. Very entertaining overall.
The real MC is Jabami. Suzui is a pushover that seemingly exists only to demonstrate her craze and influence. The cast is so female dominated I can't help but interpret the gambling as some allegory to liberation. Also the show is pretty homosexuel if I'm ngl. Pretty taboo themes for anime. Its refreshing to see this in a medium which often feels dominated by neet male authors that don't seem to connect/understand much of society.
There are some faults though. In just 12 episodes it started to feel a bit repetitive. Maybe more focus on character development instead of constantly gambling would have been nice? And lowkey the MC guy didn't need to exist, he kinda just became a…
Read at the sourceelumizu
Kakegurui constructs a psychological drama set within an elite academy where gambling determines social hierarchy, personal freedom, and even identity. Rather than focusing on traditional academic competition, the series builds its narrative around risk, manipulation, and the thrill of placing everything on the line. Beneath its extravagant expressions and theatrical tension lies a story about power structures, human obsession, and the dangerous allure of chance. The story takes place at Hyakkaou Private Academy, a prestigious school attended primarily by the children of wealthy and influential families. Unlike ordinary institutions that measure success through grades or academic achievements, Hyakkaou operates under an entirely different system. Social status within the school is determin…
Read at the sourcecupidity_0_0
its okay. its just okay, but its good. it kept me watching for some reason because i found it so entertaining. i dont like he fan service and many episodes can be kind of confusing, especially with the family drama. however the arcs are very well rounded, and yumeko always seems to bounce back. however she never gets much character development which makes me wonder if shes more of a fan service main character..... especially with her weird lust for gambling as well.
i feel like its only fun for a few people who might find it funny (ironically) but also interested in action without fighting/combat
Read at the sourceprakhargr8
Kakegurui thrives in chaos and revels in excess. It makes no attempt to ground itself in reason or probability to say instead, it loathes restraint and embraces the unhinged with theatrical flair. What results is not a measured exploration of strategy, but a fever dream of indulgence, where each gamble feels less like a calculated risk and more like a descent into madness. And yet, that is where its charm lies in its unapologetic commitment to pushing every emotion and twist to a new unknown.
The characters orbit this madness with delightfully distinct flavors. From Midari’s gleeful masochism to Yumemi’s polished cunning, the supporting cast is anything but static each encounter peels back layers of obsession, vanity, or delusion creating a kaleidoscope of motives that make the games as m…
Read at the sourceGuddyBuddy
Gambling is set in an insane dictatorial high school with women and MAPPA at the helm. This show has been on my backlog for a while, and the new Netflix release prompted me to finally watch it. The art is drawn rather well and with wonderful flair, but this show couldn't hold my interest. I rarely write reviews, but this honestly came as a bit of an oddity to me. All the building blocks from other works that I adore are here. Great studio, gambling, an insane high school structure that leads to conflict and action, and a sneaky newcomer who looks to topple it down. Yet, I can't find myself getting too interested. Characters and bets are a bit too "insane" imo without much real backbone of a story and/or straight man to keep me. While a story may not need those sorts of things to break the…
Read at the sourceAshParth
I guess the sad truth comes out before I get started with this review. First time I've watched this, I found it to be one of the best. Yet as I'm older and grown a little wiser, I found myself mixed with this one. Not saying that it's godawful or anything. It just more-or-less exists.
So first of all, what's the story? Not really much of a story. It just started with the main character, Ryota Susui, who is going through his life as a house pet after losing a gambling match against Mary. All of a sudden, a new transfer student has arrived named Yumeko Jabami. She is a compulsive gambler and loves to stake even her life away, all for the thrill of it. But, uh oh, the students council president, Kirari Momobami, does not like Yumeko's presence as she's the "Serpent of Eden" who'd slithered aw…
Read at the sourceRemanTheArchean
Was this supposed to be a satire of something? If it was, I didn't get it.
Japan seems to think poker is some hardcore crazy game. To me, poker is a game for people like Nate Silver, i.e. it's a hobby for geeks and nerds to check if they paid attention during stats class. Seeing overexaggerated anime monologues saying things like "PREPARE TO DIE, LOSER!!! I'LL SPLATTER YOUR BLOOD ALL OVER THIS TABLE" in regards to poker is just bizarrely goofy.
The games of chance aren't actually really the focus of the show though. The show is much more interested in showing weirdly overexaggerated expressions that are sometimes sexual. I could pause at nearly any point and I'd often be left with something that could be screenshotted and used as a silly anime reaction picture on 4chan, if I wanted. Th…
Read at the sourceuchu_no_otaku
I went in expecting just another edgy anime with a gimmick, but Kakegurui straight-up snatched my attention and never let go. That whole “elite school where everything runs on gambling” setup? Wild. Genius. It instantly pulled me in.
There’s something weirdly addicting about watching characters gamble their way through literal life-or-debt situations. The stakes always feel insane — like one wrong card flip and someone’s losing an eye, their status, or their future. That thrill? Yeah, that’s what kept me locked in. I’m usually not into this kind of psychological drama, but here? It hit different.
Yumeko... bro, she’s an absolute menace. The way she gambles not for money or status, but pure excitement? She gives off chaotic energy that somehow makes the whole thing even more unpredictable…
Read at the sourceKhaledkucci
This is one of the most enjoyable things I've watched after what I saw about it from sexual innuendo or anything else. Faster. The characters are diverse and good that suit the story and the main characters are Yumiko and the student council president are the best. The story is different because of the secondary or shoujo classification in general. The story is distinguished by the fact that it talks about a prestigious academy where most of the students are children of families or blind people in Japan, but gambling and power determine everything here. 8/10 I recommend it to those looking for psychological excitement and enjoyment other than those shounen fights.. I recommend it and I don't recommend it at the same time. It is a bitter experience and I watched it and I don't think anyone…
Read at the sourceMoiraCarey
Best title choice ever. "Kake" means "to bet" or a high-stakes game, while "gurui/kurui" signifies madness + obsession. When used as a verb, it’s like saying, “Let’s go crazy together!” As a compound word, it carries a nuance that’s impossible to translate directly, encapsulating the very essence of the series - whether it's the irrational storyline, the extreme facial expressions, the intensely depicted passions, or the underlying message of the work.
Capitalism is a fun ride. Kakegurui isn’t really a leftist revenge fantasy (though at first, it’s easy to see it that way). The dangerous woman, Yumeko, enters a school that functions as a microcosm of free-market competition. As an allegorical figure, she embodies the "pure gambler" - someone who lives for the thrill of risk-taking. To her…
Read at the sourcescy318
I feel compelled to write this review to offer some kind of explanation for why this anime is on my favorites list. It's very simple really, Kakegurui is what happens when writers are given free reign to do whatever they like. Kakegurui is batshit crazy to a degree that fully and utterly transcends typical degeneracy. This is NOT your average fantasy isekai. The plot is structured but completely wild, the characters are clinically insane, and all of them are into each other. Even the fanservice in this anime can't even truly be called fanservice. Fanservice is meant to please the audience, but what you get here is borderline disgusting and the show makes sure you know that it's gross.
All the characters are superhuman geniuses who spend their entire day gambling at a school with NO teach…
Read at the sourcehaekele
Just read the manga, the art style in the manga is so much better. I almost felt like I wanted to puke watching this. So the main thing that I have to complain about this anime is the art style. They really didn't nail it. That was one of the main attractions for me reading the manga. The characters will look a lot uglier in the adaptation. A lot of the time I just laughed out loud reading the manga and seeing the characters' over-dramatic expressions. But the expressions were done really well, whether it's angry, happy, sad, depressed, cocky, or anything else. You could tell just by looking at their faces exactly how they felt. The adaptation doesn't nail those expressions at all. Also, the music is really strange, I don't like, it's kind of annoying. Most of all, I would just straight up…
Read at the sourceDompa112
As a big fan of the genre and MAPPAS track record it was one i hadd to watch. And 24 episodes later its something if recommend for likeminded. Even still it doesnt reach those great heights in anyway. Its just an entertaining show and watch each gamble take place and how it unfolds. While its entertaining it doesnt really put me on a knifes edge like other high stakes game shows like Kaiji and similar where the battles feel much more intense and have a stronger lineup of characters. Ultimately they all felt quite similar to each other.
Music didnt stand out. Neither original or OP/ED songs.
Story is ongoing in the manga so it kinda leaves you in the middle. If the continue its good enough to finish from what ive seen so far. But it wasnt as good as keeping me on a knifes edge waiting f…
Read at the source
