Akagi: Washizu Mahjong-hen is a tense psychological drama built on high-stakes mind games, ruthless opponents, and an underdog who thrives in impossible situations. Beneath the mahjong table lies a story about power, risk, ego, and the quiet thrill of watching someone outthink a system designed to crush them.
The anime below share similar DNA. Some focus on gambling, others on strategic battles or psychological warfare. All of them spotlight intense character development, subversion of expectations, and protagonists who navigate brutal power structures with cunning rather than brute force.
1. Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor (2007)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 26
Studio: Madhouse
MAL Rating: ~8.2
Plot: A debt-ridden drifter is forced into underground gambling tournaments where losing means life-altering consequences. Each game tests psychological endurance more than luck.
Similarity to Akagi:
Like Akagi, this series thrives on desperation and calculated risk. The exaggerated art style heightens emotional intensity, and the protagonist’s growth mirrors Akagi’s cold evolution in the face of brutal opponents.
2. Touhai Densetsu Akagi: Yami ni Maiorita Tensai (2005)
Streaming: HIDIVE (select regions)
Episodes: 26
Studio: Madhouse
MAL Rating: ~7.9
Plot: A teenage prodigy enters the underground mahjong world and quickly becomes a legend. His fearlessness unsettles even the most seasoned gamblers.
Similarity to Akagi:
This is the direct precursor, but it’s often overlooked. It establishes the psychological tone and underdog mystique that Washizu Mahjong-hen amplifies.
3. One Outs (2008)
Streaming: Not widely available (physical media)
Episodes: 25
Studio: Madhouse
MAL Rating: ~8.3
Plot: A genius pitcher joins a struggling baseball team under a contract where he’s paid per out. Every pitch becomes a psychological duel.
Similarity to Akagi:
The games are sports-based, but the tone is pure mind warfare. Tokuchi’s icy manipulation and strategic foresight echo Akagi’s fearless dominance.
4. Kaiji: Against All Rules (2011)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 26
Studio: Madhouse
MAL Rating: ~8.3
Plot: Kaiji returns for even riskier gambles involving deceit, teamwork, and psychological traps.
Similarity to Akagi:
Like Washizu Mahjong-hen, tension builds through slow, deliberate mind games where each decision carries devastating consequences.
5. Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji: Hakairoku-hen (2011)
Streaming: Limited availability
Episodes: 26
Studio: Madhouse
MAL Rating: ~8.1
Plot: Kaiji must navigate brutal labor camps and twisted betting systems to reclaim his freedom.
Similarity to Akagi:
Underground systems designed to exploit the weak are central here. Like Akagi, survival depends on intelligence and nerve.
6. Death Parade (2015)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 12
Studio: Madhouse
MAL Rating: ~8.1
Plot: Recently deceased individuals play games that determine their eternal fate.
Similarity to Akagi:
The quiet psychological breakdowns during high-stakes games feel familiar. Every match reveals character under pressure.
7. Kakegurui (2017)
Streaming: Netflix
Episodes: 12 (Season 1)
Studio: MAPPA
MAL Rating: ~7.2
Plot: At an elite academy, students gamble for social dominance and survival.
Similarity to Akagi:
The obsession with risk and emotional extremes mirrors Akagi’s world, though with a more flamboyant tone.
8. B: The Beginning (2018)
Streaming: Netflix
Episodes: 12
Studio: Production I.G
MAL Rating: ~7.2
Plot: A detective tracks a serial killer while political conspiracies unfold in the background.
Similarity to Akagi:
Strategic cat-and-mouse mind games dominate the narrative, focusing on intellectual battles over physical ones.
9. No Game No Life (2014)
Streaming: Netflix
Episodes: 12
Studio: Madhouse
MAL Rating: ~8.1
Plot: Two siblings enter a world where all conflict is resolved through games.
Similarity to Akagi:
Every confrontation is about strategy and psychological edge, though the tone is more colorful and comedic.
10. Joker Game (2016)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 12
Studio: Production I.G
MAL Rating: ~7.0
Plot: Elite spies engage in psychological manipulation during WWII.
Similarity to Akagi:
The calculated detachment and quiet dominance reflect Akagi’s personality in a non-gambling context.
11. Kaiji: The Final Game (2020)
Streaming: Limited
Episodes: Film
Studio: Toei
MAL Rating: ~6.8
Plot: Kaiji faces one last high-stakes gamble in a dystopian society.
Similarity to Akagi:
Risk escalation and emotional intensity mirror Washizu Mahjong-hen’s prolonged tension.
12. C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control (2011)
Streaming: Funimation archive
Episodes: 11
Studio: Tatsunoko Production
MAL Rating: ~7.2
Plot: A college student enters a financial battle arena where futures are wagered as currency.
Similarity to Akagi:
Money becomes life itself. Strategic betting and moral tension drive the plot.
13. 91 Days (2016)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Episodes: 12
Studio: Shuka
MAL Rating: ~7.8
Plot: A man infiltrates the mafia to enact calculated revenge.
Similarity to Akagi:
Like Akagi, the protagonist remains composed while manipulating powerful figures in a corrupt system.
14. Phi Brain: Puzzle of God (2011)
Streaming: Limited
Episodes: 25 (Season 1)
Studio: Sunrise
MAL Rating: ~6.9
Plot: Students solve deadly puzzles created by a secret organization.
Similarity to Akagi:
High-pressure intellectual battles dominate, though with a lighter tone.
15. Gungrave (2003)
Streaming: Funimation archive
Episodes: 26
Studio: Madhouse
MAL Rating: ~7.8
Plot: Two friends rise through the ranks of organized crime, only to clash over power and loyalty.
Similarity to Akagi:
Slow-burn character evolution and moral ambiguity mirror the psychological gravity of Akagi.
Why These Anime Work for Mentioned Anime Fans
If you love Akagi: Washizu Mahjong-hen, you’re drawn to tension that simmers rather than explodes. You appreciate strategic minds, oppressive systems, and protagonists who win through calculation rather than strength.
The series above offer similar emotional stakes and cerebral intensity. Some lean into gambling. Others shift the battlefield to sports, espionage, crime, or the supernatural. But all of them capture the same core thrill: watching someone face impossible odds and smile anyway.
