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The following contains spoilers for Season 1 of Tomodachi Game, available on Crunchyroll.
The first season of the recent psychological thriller anime Tomodachi Game has come to an end. Much like Netflix's popular series Squid Game and the murder mystery anime Danganronpa: The Animation, Tomodachi Game also features a set of characters that are trapped in a game that contains deadly stakes but with the assurance of an enticing reward if they survive.
Tomodachi Game follows high school student Yuuichi Katagiri and his friends Tenji Mikasa, Shiho Sawaragi, Makoto Shibe, and Yutori Kokorogi as they are forced into participating in the titular game when the money they were putting towards a class trip suddenly ends up getting stolen. With Season 1 having been left off at a cliffhanger, there is no doubt that fans are even more excited to see what comes next, and if any high-demand unresolved questions will be covered in the following season.
Who is Running the Tomodachi Game?
Although there are two unnamed women that have been shown to observe the events of the game through a set of monitors, it is still unknown who the mastermind is. Although Tenji has been revealed to be the traitor in Episode 3, "There's No Way I'd Believe That", he does not run the game either.
However, some insight is revealed when Tenji tells Yuuichi that he was in a previous Tomodachi Game in Episode 7 "I'll Take 20 Million Yen Worth of Your Life." After becoming suspicious of Sawaragi, who he knew beforehand, he asked his father to look into it, which would only result in his father's death. Whether this was true, or just a coincidence remains ambiguous among fans.
Will Yuuichi's Seemingly Murder-Filled History Ever Come to Light More Fully?
In an attempt to draw attention away from Shibe's reputation as a murderer, as well as to protect Sawaragi from losing the second game, Yuuichi decides to disclose the fact that he is the one who initiated Shibe's murderer status. He also claims that he has been responsible for three murders in the past in Episode 6 "I Really Can't Be Friends with a 'Murderer.'"
However, this is never brought up again in the following episodes. It is not even mentioned in the season finale, prompting fans to be even more curious to see if it is something that will be expanded upon should a second season receive a green light.
What is the Real Intent of the Tomodachi Game?
Tenji is currently in his second Tomodachi Game. Both of these games are the result of him falling into a massive amount of debt. While it is unlikely and anticlimactic that the titular game is just there to help someone settle their debts, something more sinister could be going on.
For example, the unnamed observers have seen how manipulative and toxic Yuuichi can be, following his actions throughout the game. Although it is a stretch, there is the idea of the Tomodachi Game existing just to experiment on the minds of those that are playing it.
Are Tenji, Shibe, and Kokorogi Ready For What Will Unfold?
With Shibe recently arrested in relation to his father's death, and Kokorogi being captured by a gang resulting in Yuuichi having to rescue her, there is no doubt that the two are not mentally prepared for the fourth game. On top of that, Tenji still does not know the truth behind what happened to his father.
Adding on, Yuuichi's manipulative tactics shown throughout the series have been proven to successfully play with the minds of his friends. This shows that Yuuichi is amenable to anything to get the outcome he desires, even if it results in the suffering of others in the long run, leaving a big impact on their psyche and trust level.