Anime shows centering around gambling are not all that common. Thankfully, the few that do exist are pretty great, with Madhouse proving to be particularly fond of adapting manga with these types of stories. Two of the studio's and the genre's standout series are Kaiji, which spawned two seasons and a spin-off, and Akagi, which lasted for 26 episodes.

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As both anime are based on manga properties written by Nobuyuki Fukumoto, they share quite a few things in common, including art style, tone, and presentation. That being said, Kaiji and Akagi are very different in a lot of key ways, despite both centering around high stakes underground gambling. Here are five reasons Kaiji is the best gambling anime, along with five in favor of Akagi.

10 Akagi: A Genius Protagonist

Shigeru from Akagi.

Gambling anime love their prodigy protagonists. Kakegurui's Yumeko Jabami often comes across as psychic, while One Outs' Toua Tokuchi could give Death Note's L and Light a run for their money. Shigeru Akagi is no exception, as the protagonist crashes a yakuza mahjong match and picks up the game's intricacies within a few minutes.

Akagi is constantly chasing that thrill offered by gambling, as he willingly risks his own life in order to overcome a challenge. He remembers everything and is capable of forming strategies, legal or otherwise, that nobody else would even begin to consider. Always maintaining a detached demeanor, Akagi is meant to be admired like someone more than human.

9 Kaiji: A Human Protagonist

Character from Kaiji celebrating his return, pumping his fists, with "I'm back! I'm back!" in subtitles.

Compared to the likes of Akagi or Tokuchi, Kaiji is painfully ordinary. While not an idiot, Kaiji is basically conned into crushing debt and spends the majority of the anime trying to succeed while playing other people's games. He is not a genius who is forever five steps ahead of the opponent or the audience; in fact, viewers are nearly always on the same page as Kaiji.

Kaiji is relatable and vulnerable. Although neither property glorifies their subject matter, Kaiji's weak protagonist stresses the dangerous nature of gambling.

8 Akagi: Mahjong

Riichi Mahjong tiles.

Someone's enjoyment of Akagi is not dependent on their understanding of mahjong, but familiarity with the game enhances the experience by quite a bit. This can be seen as either a negative or a positive, but the anime's focus on a single activity allows for a wide variety of complex strategies and techniques to be explored.

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As every arc revolves around mahjong, the anime remains consistent throughout. The same cannot be said for Kaiji, which takes a notable dip in the final arc of the second season.

7 Kaiji: Variety Of Gambles

Kaiji Ito in Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji.

If someone is not familiar at all with mahjong, Akagi is not going to help them understand its rules. At times, the anime's jargon can be alienating and overwhelming. Kaiji does not have that problem, as its various games are relatively straightforward and focus more on the characters' psychological states rather than the intricate strategies employed by the players.

Each arc introduces a different gamble, which can range from rock paper scissors to walking across a beam suspended over a deadly fall with no safety net.

6 Akagi: Iwao Washizu

Kaiji's Kazutaka Houdou has his moments, but the president of the Teiai Corporation would be eaten alive by Akagi's Iwao Washizu. An extremely powerful force in the anime's underground scene, Washizu is a sadistic billionaire who uses his riches to motivate weaker people to gamble their lives away. Usually, Washizu does not risk anything of significance.

Washizu can back up his terrifying facial expressions with genuine skill as a mahjong player, and he competes directly against Akagi. In the manga, Akagi's match with Washizu took around two decades to reach its completion; consequently, the anime only scratched the surface of this epic saga and its awesome villain.

5 Kaiji: Secondary Characters

Kaiji has a strong roster of recurring characters, more so than Akagi's yakuza members who are primarily used as tools to explain what is going on to the audience. While a comedy rather than a gambling series, Mr. Tonegawa: Middle Management Blues is a delightful spin-off that expands upon the Teiai Corporation and its employees.

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This anime takes a central antagonist from Kaiji's first season, Yukio Tonegawa, and transforms him into an endearing company man who is desperately trying to please a deranged boss.

4 Akagi: Escapism

Akagi is quite dark and gritty. One wrong move could result in insurmountable debt or the loss of 400 ccs of blood, so the stakes are pretty high. Be that as it may, Akagi's cold nature and superhuman talent for mahjong means the anime avoids ever getting too tense.

Akagi focuses heavily on the matches, with their outcome often being less interesting than the methods used to reach that conclusion. It is a great series when someone wants to escape from reality for a few hours.

3 Kaiji: An Emotional Rollercoaster

Kaiji, from the anime Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor, crying and grimacing

Kaiji is exhausting. The weak protagonist's frequent waterworks might frustrate those seeking an escapist anime, but the series does a fantastic job of illustrating just how overwhelmed Kaiji feels in most situations.

This is not a story about gamblers chasing a high, and even though the stakes might sometimes be lower than those set in Akagi, it always feels like there is more on the line in Kaiji. It is difficult to watch Madhouse's series and not grow emotionally invested.

2 Akagi: A Great Thriller Anime About Gambling

Akagi is a thriller that happens to center around gambling. While the characters are continuously putting everything on the line, it quickly becomes obvious that Shigeru Akagi will inevitably win.

Although this renders the outcomes of most arcs a foregone conclusion, it also makes it easier to simply enjoy the show's minute-to-minute thrills. Similar to heist movies, Akagi constantly treats viewers to epic moments that reveal new and exciting ways the protagonist managed to outthink his opponents.

1 Kaiji: A Great Gambling Anime That Is Thrilling

Kaiji Ito on the floor crying

Victory is not guaranteed in Kaiji. Even when the stakes seem too steep, the protagonist might still end up losing. Gambling is built on risk, something Kaiji reflects better than any other anime in the genre. Not only are the characters gambling their lives, but the audiences are also putting their own emotions on the line. If Kaiji wins, everyone feels relief; if he loses, it is devastating.

Unlike Akagi or One OutsKaiji's protagonist nearly always reveals his plans to the audience, and then it is just a matter of waiting to see if things work out. Consequently, Kaiji and the audience are on the same journey.

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