Liar Game

Why I like this manga:
Plot: It has a very interesting plot. If you're into mystery and psychological, then this manga is for you. There's a lot of twists that you definitely won't expect. Also, the mystery behind it makes it even more interesting to read.

Characters: There are great characters and also hateable characters.

Art: The art is great. I like the mangaka's drawing style although some parts may look a bit off.

Why I dislike this manga: The only thing I dislike (and the only reason why I gave it 9 in overall) is the ending. I wasn't satisfied by it. Right before the ending I was like "Whaaat? That was it?" It would be great if there will be a sequel.

Overall this is totally worth reading. (The games) are somewhat confusing (for me) but you can just search them up so there's no need to worry. I was sad when it ended (the unsatisfying ending made me even more sad) but I enjoyed reading it so I don't have any regrets. This is one of my favorites so I will definitely read this again in the future.

After I finished reading Death Note and watching Code Geass I was thirsting for more manga that involved strategies and battle of wits and boy am I glad that I started reading this after someone recommended this to me on a forum.

-Story- The main plot is that a girl gets involved in the Liar Game which you have to trick and deceive the opponent to meet your objective. It may sound simple but as the story progresses more twists and turns are thrown in and it is incredibly difficult to stop reading once you're in the middle of a game.
Score: 9/10

-Art- The art isn't to impressive but it doesn't matter too much since this manga concentrates more on dialogue then anything else.
Score: 7/10

-Characters- There are a wide variety of characters, the a-bit-too honest girl Nao, the quick thinker Akiyama, the manipulator Yokoya and last but not least, my definite favourite, the transvestite Fukunaga.
Score: 9/10

-Enjoyment- The games that are played in this manga are all very well taught out and you never feel cheated when someone wins the game with strategy. I was always on the edge of my seat while reading this manga and the story never loses momentum.
Score: 10/10

OVERALL: Aside from the Art, every about this is enjoyable. If you are looking for a manga that is similar to Kaiji, Tobaku Haouden Zero, Death Note or any other manga that involves using tricks and cunning to outsmart the opposition the this manga is definitely for you.

Overall score is a 9/10

I have watched part of the jdrama and thought it was pretty good (I don't remember ever finishing it though because ... as much as I like Erika Toda, I hated her character in it. Kanzaki Nao was so infuriating in the drama BUT! She's actually pretty tolerable in the manga, even pretty awesome in the later chapters.

The manga gets to elaborate more than the drama can honestly and it had me hooked the whole time. I would most definitely be out a gazillion yen because I have yet to figure out even a single one of the Liar Game challenges. It is a very talky manga and many pages are often spent explaining the rules of each round, each character's thought process, the counter thought process, etc. It's not a manga for impatient people I guess, lol. I'll have to admit that sometimes I just flip through the explanations because they are too hard for me to understand. But ... for being a talky manga, it's still pretty addictive.

The art is probably the weakest part of this manga.

Smart like Death Note (but Death Note is still the better manga).

Personal Rate: 7
Rate based on different characteristics: 7


I've been aware of the hype generated behind this manga for years now but it's only after watching the Korean tv series by channel tvN that my curiosity was raised enough to read it. I should mention that although it seems the Japanese dorama is relatively faithful to the manga, it is not so for the K drama. This being said, I've got to admit I loved the kdrama more than the manga, but the stakes were different and it does change fundamentally how the series should be regarded.

I initially gave it a rate of 8 but ended up giving it a 7... The brilliance of the many twists makes it easy to overlook the plot-holes but I feel that as enthusiastic as some readers have been, it is no justification to blatantly ignore some of the elephants in the room.

Now for the review:


Story: 8

Plot-wise, it's pretty straightforward. The whole point of the manga is in the many games, strategies, twists and turns and many reversals occurring. It's just completely unpredictable and it keeps you on the edge of your seat.

This being said, I've got to remove 1 point for the complexity of some of the games involved... There's just so much time spent on explanations, that I found my attention drifting away on several occasions and had to reread several times . What with the rules of the games, the demonstration of the games, the games itself with the explanations of the twists, you're in for A LOT OF READING. And ok I get it's the point of the manga but still, some of the games are so complicated, I got headaches trying to understand what was going on. After about a bit over half of the series, the games got easier to grasp and the explanations got more fluid but I bet some readers would have probably renounced understanding everything going on by that point.

The second minus point is Kanzaki Nao... But more on that later.

Art: 6

The first volumes are...ugly. No other way to put it. By the end of the series though, the art looks great although it may not be to everyone's taste. The use of photographies for the background at times is not smooth but again who reads this for the pretty pictures anyway?

Character: 6

Weakest point of the series as far as I'm concerned. In a nutshell, while some characters have interesting trajectories, the vast majority of them don't change a bit over the course of the series. They were scum at the beginning, they remain scum at the end. Now let's elaborate a bit for our main characters:

Kanzaki Nao: You'll need a whole lot of patience with this character. She'll let you experience the true meaning behind the word "exasperation". I'll bet some readers gave up this series just because she is such a retard. This being said, you have to give it to her that she sticks to her ideals through and through, a character trait that is particularly remarkable and praise-worthy in such a wicked game. The problem with Nao is that her stupidity at the beginning of the series is just out of this world.
She does grow on you by the end of the series though. At the core, she still can hardly hold a candle to Akiyama and Yokoya's brains, but she does learn to put her innocence, lack of animosity and ability to see the good in people to good use and develops an ability to read people and as such to know how to move them. Nevertheless, some of her decisions throughout the series are just plain irrational and are responsible for the biggest plot-holes you'll witness. STUPID just does not cut it at this point .

Akiyama Shinichi: A character whom I found difficult to read, so I won't talk much about about him. He's truly impressive and his sole motivation is to make sure that Nao's ideals stand true. Together they do form an impressive combination. Though it appears at the beginning that Nao is a dead weight he carries for some unknown reasons, by the end of the series, it's clear that Akiyama's plots which often rely on trust and tricks could never have been carried out without the apparently clueless Nao. He also has a tendency to self-sacrifice and put himself at risk for a bunch of trash people with no conscience whatsoever... That is what makes him such a puzzling character in my book. Nao's a philanthropist but it's clear that he is not, yet why does he accept to put his neck on the line for people who betrayed him and whom he could easily crush with that brain of his is beyond me. It's not like Nao would blame him if he ever did, after all they would have ripped what they sowed.

Fukunaga: A side character worth mentioning for his interesting arc. From despicably low to a savior, he's one character who redeemed himself as the story went on, changed by Akiyama and more importantly Nao.

Yokoya Norihiko: That guy's got Akiyama's brain but no conscience whatsoever... which makes his end trajectory pretty puzzling to me.


Liar Game is filled with characters whose levels on the moral spectrum varies a lot... While some characters do learn from their mistakes, most of them remain their selfish selves all throughout which is truly sad to see as a fellow human being. Are we that low I wonder? My personal belief is that faced with unbearable difficulties, most people would choose to support each other instead of saving their own skin at the cost of others. Unfortunately, looking at the players in this game, it seems I belong to the minority.


Enjoyment: 8

Apart from Nao's initial stupidity which made me roll my eyes for most of the first half of the series, I enjoyed reading Liar Game immensely: there was no way I could predict how things were going to turn out. Every chapter was always full of twists and turns, and I could only expect the unexpected, which made for an exciting read.


Overall: 7


WARNING: no spoilers ahead, but some comments on the message of the manga by the end of the series.


I mentioned it, but my biggest complain lies with the characters. Apart from Nao, Fukanaga and a couple of side characters, nobody changes radically. The saddest part is that we get some open ending with a morality speech on the power of trust when even in the very last game, that sorry bunch couldn't agree with each other and still wanted to win over the other. After all they'd been through, up to the last minute, only their distrust won over and they only managed to get to where they were because as usual, Akiyama tricked them hence rendering the trust speech empty.

It would have done wonders, if for once, they learned to work together instead of constantly try to get the best of the others. It is sad that Nao's ideals couldn't get through to most of them...

Also, we play games after games, there is no such thing as "rest period" in this series, it's fast paced but it doesn't give breathing room to get to know our characters more, which consequently given how rotten they all are makes it even more difficult to empathize with them.

We also get an open-ending which is a bit frustrating to be honest... Though the series stands on its own. No explanation is given about how the masked men managed to create the whole game and the logistics involved... It's not indispensable... but still. Finally... would it have hurt the author to give us a proper epilogue I wonder. The game's finished, end of story... OK. What happened to the players?

Would I recommend this? Sure, it's GREAT entertainment, but at the end of the day that's it. I don't feel like this story is going to leave me a lasting impression nor its characters... since we never took the time to know them properly and the whole point of the story wasn't properly handled. "Victory lies with those who learn to put their trust in the others" would have hit home if only that is what they'd have done by the end... but sadly not.

When I started reading this, I thought the main character was beyond stupid. I mean, hello... she receives an envelope inviting her to participate in what's called the "Liar Game," is now responsible for holding 100 million dollars, and must steal her opponent's 100 million. But because she's so stupidly honest, as people describe her, the opponent uses his history as her former high school student to trick her into giving him her 100 million for "safe keeping."

The thing about the plot, though, is that it develops well. Sure, Kanzaki Nao might have been a nice idiot in the beginning of the story, but after she manages to enlist the help of Akiyama Shinichi, an ex-convict who had swindled all the funds from a larger company, she begins to get the hang of the game and changes herself in the process.

The Liar Game consists of several rounds because the losers from the previous rounds are invited to play again in order to pay off their debts. Of course, if they lose yet again, their debts grow even larger and the cycle continues. Going to the police is not an option, because their initial agreement to play the game and use of the money that was given to them will count as theft. Later on, the players realize that unless they do whatever it takes to trick the other players out of their money and win the whole jackpot, they'll never escape the Liar Game.

I was excited to read this manga in the first place because the games seemed simple, but the players had to come up with complex ways to win them. It was not only a matter of protecting themselves, but also anticipating their opponents' next moves. Therefore, there was a good way to win the game, but it was not necessarily the best method all the time. The types of opponents that were introduced made each round a new challenge, especially since there was a different game every time.

It wasn't always exciting, though. As the games went on, the later ones became more complicated and lasted longer as the participants became smarter. Explanations for strategies to win the games became longer and a bit convoluted, and there was a lot of reading involved. Sometimes it became boring.

The ending stopped at a questionable note. I'm not sure if it means there will be a continuation or that's just it. But let me know what you thought about it if you get there.

While Kanzaki Nao was the main character, I think Akiyama Shinichi was the most interesting. I mean, come on, he was an ex-convict. I always think of that word meaning the person indicated committed some horrible crime, but it was really an amazing feat, swindling a large corporation of all its funds. It makes you wonder what kind of person he is. I thought of him as a brilliant genius and loved to hear his plans on how to win each game. It is also known that he graduated from a top university with a major in psychology, which helps him a lot in the Liar Game as he is able to predict the actions his opponents will take based on their demeanors and personality.

Kanzaki Nao, however, comes a long way from her stupidly honest personality. I have a bone to pick with the way she is described as "stupidly honest." While she is honest, almost honest to a fault when she plays the Liar Game, I think her greatest flaw is her absolute trust in strangers. She begins as a girl who believes everyone's word no matter what, and I seriously mean no matter what. It wouldn't occur to her that someone lied to her unless someone else pointed it out to her because she believes very much in human integrity.

Coupled with Akiyama, though, she possesses an ability to renew faith in the other players and change their outlook on the situation. Is it wrong to trust people? Absolutely not. She knows what good can come of it when everyone works together and forms team bonds. But of course, she experiences a lot of disappointment when things don't go according to plan, and she is repeatedly told that humans cannot be trusted. This is the Liar Game, after all. Can she turn things around even in the bleakest of situations? If you haven't read Liar Game yet, you will find that she can.

What I dislike most about Liar Game is the artwork. I found it bearable at the beginning, but once the mangaka began drawing characters with more emotional expressions, like those of shock and ridicule, I began to dislike it. At these points, the characters tend to have long mouths to express surprise and such, and they look like mocking caricatures to me rather than sincere feelings.

There are also a few issues with angles and viewpoints in the manga. Body proportions are a little off sometimes and in certain perspectives, the characters don't look like they fit in.

However, I appreciate the range of appearances. There are some characters with piercings, spiky haircuts, larger bodies, thin heads, facial hair, etc. In some manga, the main characters look similar to other people or something, but in this one everyone is pretty distinguishable.

I don't read a lot of seinen, so this was a good read for me. The Liar Game was an interesting concept, and I liked the way it started. With that in mind, though, the manga did seem to feel like it was drawn out near the end with longer games, and I wasn't super eager to read all the time. But when I did read again, I read a couple chapters at once. I liked Kanzaki Nao's character development and I also liked Akiyama Shinichi's personality. (I was also sort of shipping them, but nothing happened so much.) Overall, though, it wasn't bad.

I had found this manga a while back when it had only about 105 or so chapters, and after I revisted it and saw that the amount of chapters had sky rocketed to 152 I decided to reread the manga. This brought back to me how much I loved the manga, but also the fact that you cannot judge it by it's beginning.
Story- (10)This story is something that I picked up on whim, not expecting too much, I was just looking for a long-running manga. However, thoughout the whole series the plot has exceeded my expectations. From the beginnning it has accelerated into a full blown complex story that has so much going on constantly you are absorbed in it completely.
Art- (6)This is the reason why 99% readers of the manga Liar Game almost drop it in the beginning. The art at the beginning is very ameteurish, they figures are unpropotional, the expressions are overplayed, and so on. The author also employes personal art habits to the characters (such as previously stated in other reviews, the habit of drawing eyelashes on the side of the eyes) Although, granted, as the story goes on the art work does improve by miles. Therefore, if you can overlook the beginning art, you can even say the art is fairly good.
Character- (10) Now some other Reviews say that they dislike the main character, Kanzaki Nao's personality. Hey personality, being naive and honest to the core, is a crucial plot point. This aspect of Nao is what drives Akiyama to help Nao in the first place, because she so much reminds him of his own Honest and naive mother. Also, Nao gradually grows stronger throughout the manga, she picks up on things even Akiyama doesn't, she begins to devise her own stategies, solely based on "cooperating togther to fight the Liar Game Offices" which would only be able to be enforced by a character with her specific personality. The other Main character, Akiyama Shin'nichi is what saved the reviewers from their 'irritation' with Nao. Akiyama is brilliant, always catching on to the slightest things, and biting back when all seems lost. He's a genius that saves his whole teams butts thorughout the whole series. Basically, he is one of the most fascinating characters I've ever come across, I'm spell bound, constantly wondering how he pulls through the most dire situations like it's nothing. Not only Akiyama, but the stronger Nao who becomes suprisingly sly through the series, is what earned my "character" a 10.
Enjoyment- (10) This is a manga you can finish in under a week, I read the published 152 chapters in 3 days, considering the fact they are only 18-20 pages long. But once you start this series, you are bound to be hooked on it, it just captures you and keeps you up all night late reading until dawn. and although I've read 100+ manga in the last year, by far Liar game is my all-time favorite. I highly reccomend this manga.
Therefore, my overall ratign is a 10.

I could've sworn that the author of Liar Game was the same as Death Note when I glanced at the front cover's style. It was not. And frankly, I'm glad because as much as I like psychology, I couldn't get through with Death Note because I disliked Light so much.
Liar Game was much more in tune with my likings. The story was pretty unique and was full of twists and turns. Usually I like to hypothesize and come up with a theory of how it's going to end on my own, but the characters' thought process is so far advanced that I just couldn't catch up at all and had to wait for the explanations. The manga completely tore down my confidence in guessing the outcome. Only thing I can say is that good thing I was not in the Liar Game or I would have lost with a debt that beats everyone else's debt in the manga.
The art was pretty meh, it's nothing glamorous but not the worst thing out there. And while I am not a fan of it, I admit that it gives the manga a nice psychological gothic feel.
I hated Nao Kanzaki at first, she was stupid, a crybaby, gullible to a fault, the type of girl that was detestable. However, she developed and good thing she did or I would have dropped it. She still is pretty naive in the end but is no longer a crybaby and is much stronger. The real star of the manga in my opinion though, was Akiyama. He is a boy genius with an IQ of over 9000 and manages to be comical at times with his nonchalance and constant trolling. Another honorable mention is one of my favorite characters in the manga, Fukunaga. Avoiding gender pronouns here, I will just say the name. Fukunaga started out selfish and money hungry and ended as a lovable character who also brings comedy to the table.
I enjoyed the manga a lot but there are two things which unsettled me, both which can be disagreeable. One, the ending, Im not going to spoil it but the ending seems kinda a letdown. I read 201 chapters and the ending was just like "wait...what....thats it?" It just seems like a not good enough excuse for the whole mess of the Liar Game and I find it hard to believe the players were not even angry. The second disappointment, and a disagreeable one to many is the wish for romance in it. I seriously wish for some romantic development between Aliyama and Kanzaki with Yokoya as a hinted love rival being the shoujo manga obsessed fool I was. However, there was hardly even a smidge of romance, only two times Akiyama made Nao blushed, and that was all. In the end i was left to produce mental fanfictions between the characters as I read.

After reading a manga like 'Liar Game,' many people find different meaning in it. For some it's about the value of honesty, for others it reflects society or maybe some problem closer to home. For me, 'Liar Game' was about the bonds between people - be them friends or foes.

Art (8):

The art is a little disproportionate in the beginning and not entirely my style but the more I read, the more it improved. I also came to really like the realistic style as it fit the story perfectly. Do not be deceived by the cover (which is honestly why I didn't read this for so long).

Story (10):

Although 'Liar Game' can't be said to be completely flawless, it's story is deep and the plot incredibly engaging. I do believe that some of the earlier events are a little flimsy but by the first Revival Round, things solidify and events become all too believable.

The actual events and thought process behind many of the player's strategies can range from amazingly complex to weirdly simple and although in more than a few cases I found myself figuring things about before the big reveal, there always seemed to be another hidden move, a deeper meaning and a hundred clever actions played out by the characters. While you're busy smiling smugly for figuring out the game's answer, you may want to wait before jumping to any conclusions...

Characters (9):

Despite giving the characters one point lower, this is really where the heart and soul of the manga is. Not to mention the mind. Nao, Akiyama, Fukinaga and Yokoya each have their own wonderfully designed personalities, all different and important to establishing the themes for this story. Not to mention the huge supporting cast that really take the story to new heights.

Nao is really the base of this story and while I've seen many reviewers rave about Akiyama, I honestly don't believe anyone makes this story more than her. Although she can be extremely foolish, her simple charm really makes or breaks the bonds between all the characters. She is the element with the power to draw people together and although is often duped, still trusts in the good of humanity. For a pessimist like myself, this usually would annoy me but instead I found myself effected just like the other players in the game.

I'll try to keep things brief with the other characters. Akiyama is an intelligent, ex-con, fresh out of prison who I honestly believe really enjoys the liar game. I think it must be fun to test your skills, especially when you have the smarts like he does. The jaded Akiyama is indeed changed by Nao but it's refreshingly subtle and it's always exciting to see Akiyama's plans play out and try deducing the next move. On the flip side, Yokoya is a great villain and very similar to Akiyama save for his ideals and the pride he takes in being the best. Yokoya is a very interesting character and although it is easy to hate him, I think the point of the story is to try and understand him as 'doubt' and 'trust' are large themes of 'Liar Game.'

Enjoyment/Overall (10):

I'd read this again. And maybe five times after that. It's just a really fun read and although it's only been hours since I've finished, I already feel a bit sad that I'm not going to get to read it for the first time all over again.

The story's message is important but even if you ignore it, you'll still have a great time reading it. It's just incredibly enjoyable. It doesn't preach at you and the human actions aren't unbelievable, in many cases it was easy to sympathise with why a character was doing something even if you didn't approve of it. After all... in the Liar Game, would you really do any different?

Story: 9

The story of Liar Game is primarily about these two main characters Nao and Akiyama taking part in different mind-heavy games where the players' greed is tested and they have to find a solution that would benefit all participants as much as possible. The main obstacle in their way being the human nature itself and other players inability to remain true to the same pure ideals.

Overall I would consider the story a very original premise that shows tons of creativity from the author. The rules behind the games are all well planned out in advance to benefit the complicated solutions the characters eventually find.

There's also a consistent sense of uncertainty on the readers' part since the POV changes between the characters at a pace that complements the eventual conclusion as much as possible.

In Liar Game there are still few moments where certain things are repeated unnecessarily or explained in too many words for the scene itself to have the right impact. Most of the time it's not an apparent problem though as I see it.

Characters: 8

A lot of the critique towards the manga is targeted towards the main character Nao. Her exaggerated honesty rubbed some people the wrong way because of the contrast it has with the story itself. The way I see it is it wouldn't really work any other way. If there was no one challenging the Liar Game's logic with their own morals there wouldn't be much conflict. And thanks to Akiyama there's still enough detail in the clashes between brains themselves.

Akiyama's beliefs towards doubting people and using psychology to read other people is the perfect combo to Nao's eagerness to save everyone. Even if the two don't agree on almost anything and don't even have the same objectives, the chemistry they have with each other keeps the story going and brings up interesting questions with no clear answers.

Aside from one or two most of them aren't that memorable and are mostly treated as masses than individuals. I kinda like this because it's more realistic and brings more tension but it' still a shame when characters like Fukunaga who are super entertaining are pushed to sidelines with their stories still left inconclusive.

Overall I'd say the characters that need to be relevant are done very well and the characters that are there just for exposition work for that too. It's better not to get too emotionally invested in them though since that's not really what the story focuses on aside from Akiyama, Nao and Yokoya.

Visuals: 7

The art-style is very simplistic in order to not deviate focus from the dialogue and they even use illustrations to demonstrate some of the more complicated elements to make following the story easier.

However there are times when the perspectives of manga panels are simply off in relation to each other and the assembly of pages ends up bit clunky as a result. It almost feels like the manga could have benefited most from being in novel form since while the visuals don't distract from the narrative they don't add much either in terms of style.

Ending: Brilliant

Liar Game finished with 201 chapters on a controversial ending that some consider genius, some just lazy. Some even interpreted it as a cliffhanger leading to a sequel series. Personally I found the ending very fitting to the message the author was going for and there aren't too many series that would have dared to take the same approach.

Overall: 8

I'd say it's definitely worth a read in terms of story and characters if the iffy visuals or the vast amount of dialogue aren't a problem. A lot of Liar Game focuses on exposition and diverting the focus from that on to actual mind games. This means there's a lot of text but the visual demonstration is used well to accompany that so it's not that challenging to read. Figuring out some of the twists beforehand isn't that hard but then again the story is built in a way where the readers are supposed to do that.

Liar Game is not the most intellectually provoking or visually appealing work but the effort put into the games themselves and their narratives is enough to make it a worthwhile experience. And a one that stands very much on it's own with a strong theme and message.

I don't generally write reviews, but I guess I can't really help myself with this one. It honestly falls into the category of one of my favorite long-mangas, sidling up next to Death Note pretty closely. Although one can easily tie many similarities to Death Note, the differences are quite notable as well. So don't read it thinking it's a complete carbon-copy of Death Note because it totally isn't, and you'll regret it if you skim over this simply because your expectations were skewed.

For something a lot more underrated, this manga proves to be a good psychological seinen manga that keeps you riveted through its 160+ chapters. True, there were some dull moments (as all long mangas tend to have), but you will be thoroughly entertained for the most part from page to page.

If you aren't a fan of psychological mind games however, I advise you to stray away from this. But who doesn't love exciting plot turns? Not only that, but it explores human nature and our complex understanding of trust, mistrust, anxiety, and greed.

Story: 10/10

Given the same situation, how will different people react? Nao Kazaki is ridiculously honest -- it's a trait she has always harbored. One day a mysterious package containing 100 million yen appears, along with a note stating that she has been entered in the "Liar Game Tournament". It is just what the name implies. Basically, it's a contest to find out the best "liar", and the winner will receive an enormous amount of money. The losers, however, are faced with grief-inducing debts and misery. The game is exciting and unpredictable, and it's why you keep reading -- you just want to find out what's next. The characters and both likable and despicable; you can't help but fluctuate between the two emotions as you become exposed to their stories and witness what they'll do just to attain a "win" in the game.

Character: 9/10

Truth be told, the only reason I gave this rating a 9 is because I honestly didn't like the main female protagonist that much. Seeing as this is a seinen manga however, that can be forgiven. Its typical for a more helpless, innocent, useless female to be present in seinen mangas -- and although Nao Kanzaki wasn't totally useless, she only succeeded due Akiyama's scheming and prodding. Otherwise she just kind of helped to drag the story along. The true shining character is Akiyama, of course, who is uncannily similar to L's Death Note, but again totally different in his own way. Akiyama is more mellowed down; more rational. He's the one with all the answers, all the twists, and of course he's the one that saves the day. Some may argue that it gets cliche, but I found myself intrigued by all of them. Intrigued enough to stay, finish it, and love it. The rest of the characters are not fully fleshed out, but they're quirky and serve their purpose.


Art: 7/10

This is one of the reasons why it's such a huge turn-off for people, although that's perfectly understandable. Don't judge a book by it's cover (as cheesy at that sounds). They see the art, and they're afraid to give this a chance because it's a little rough around the corners. For a seinen manga the art here serves it's goal fairly well in depicting an exciting thriller manga; the characters expressions are funny but fitting, and it also molds the atmosphere well.

Enjoyment: 10/10

Not much to say here. I enjoyed it. It happens to fit the genres I like, and I gradually grew fond of the art.


OVERALL: 10/10

Honestly, it was hard for me to get into Liar Game. When browsing for new mangas to read, I'm the type to look at the art first and then, see IF the story is interesting. The art comes first before anything else, before the raving reviews or the glowing recommendations. So me ending up reading Liar Game was purely by chance. Lucky me :)

The main reason why after getting past the cover, discovering that the art wasn't to my liking--but oh well, it's just one chapter anyway--and continued reading the first chapter, and the one after that and the next one and the next one is this: Liar Game truly has an interesting story. The main premise, the plot twists, the psychological battle going on between the participants particularly and the further developing plot which just makes me want more.

The cover art sort of has this Death Note-ish quality to it that attracted me to click it after seeing it in the 'updated' list. For the rest of the manga, I can say that I don't...mind it. Nao's character design is simple, if not, almost realistic. I can imagine what she must look like in real life. The same can be said for almost the rest of the characters except Akiyama-san. Now, he looks like a manga character and more than enough to fill my crave for spike-haired bishies.

So far, the characters have stayed true to their 'core' in all chapters. Nao being 'foolishly honest' and staying gullible even after going through so much in the Liar Game and Akiyama, the clever partner who began doing this for Nao's sake but has developed a curiosity to discover who is really behind all of this. I've barely just began reading this manga so I will add more if anyone else catches my eye or if there is some sudden development that makes me reevaluate my view of the characters.

I am immensely enjoying this manga and looking forward to new chapters. If I could have my way, I'd catch up to the most recent chapters out (but sadly, I am quite busy) but that I took the time to write this review is proof enough how much I liked this manga. While it might not be a feast in the eyes, it's quite effective for brain exercise :)

tl;dr: A manga that has well thought out games that serve as exciting battles of wits, but that is severely lacking in every other area.

How much you enjoy this manga really depends on what you want to get out of it. The overarching plot is mostly nonexistent beyond hints here and there for the entire manga, and though it does finally get revealed in the end its just kind of thrown out there in a rushed manner and ultimately I wouldn’t say it has much value. There are characters that are interesting and the two leads, Nao and Akiyama, both have character and relationship development. However, that only matters as far as the games are concerned, and beyond that it doesn’t really have much of an effect at all, it really not mattering in the ending at all. So in terms of anything overarching the manga isn’t just weak but pretty much completely empty.

What the manga does have and what it does incredibly well are the games. The manga has a very simple structure of characters participating in game after game with pretty much nothing in between. Characters carry over from game to game so their personalities, their relationships, and their circumstances do play an important part, though as mentioned they only play an important so far as the effect on the games themselves. Beyond that none of these aspects are developed very well. Now as for the games themselves, they’re all incredibly well designed, with a good amount of complexity and depth, depth that gets explored incredibly well both in terms of the base mechanics of each individual game itself. But more importantly depth in terms of manipulating others in order to guide them to perform actions that along side the game mechanics result in the desired outcomes, which often ends up completely changing how the games are meant to be played, sometimes even changing the goals of the game itself.

In addition, each aspect of these is explained in incredible detail such that even though things can get fairly complex at times, things never get confusing. The argument could be made that it over explains, but it’s a written work so it's easy to simply quickly gloss through the explanations that are unneeded so I didn't find that an issue. The manga also does a really good job with framing during the games, where it changes perspective quite often in order to control what the reader knows about the current state of affairs while guiding them to think of the games flow in certain ways similar to the character the perspective is currently under, only to shatter those expectations with a major twist that then goes on to be explained in detail. It was both exciting and suspenseful throughout, and the victories during these games were quite satisfying.

Hence, even though the actual ending in terms of plot, characters, relationships, etc. was incredibly weak and not satisfying at all, I’m overall pretty satisfied with the manga. The art was pretty average and dull overall, but was really good in terms of using diagrams and such to explain things which was the most important part. 

One of the works of Shinobu Kaitani author of One Outs. Just as expected from the author, it will be another mind-boggling. The title itself is catchy. The concept of the story will makes you wonder how will be the end of the protagonist. Although, I don't have a background from the terms being use somehow the manga did its best to define it. The characters are quite interesting. I like the heroine of this manga even if she is helpless at first she began to become stronger. The drawback of the manga is the art. It is kinda stiff. Overall, I did enjoy reading this one. The psychological genre of it pique my attention. It did well on the psychological aspect. How the characters deal with lying. I'm just sad how this manga doesn't have an anime.

[SPOILER-FREE]
-Story:
Liar Game is a one of a kind psychological thriller manga. The manga opens with an honest girl , Kanzaki Nao who has received a parcel from the LGT Office. She reluctantly opened it(The parcel contained a hefty sum of 100 Million Yen) and got involved in the Liar Game Tournament. Well, that's the theme. The Liar Game tournament is a tournament of wits and strategy. Each player/group tries to outwit each other. The plot progresses in a fashionable manner and the mind games are well thought out and well executed. The games are excellent. They make you think out your own strategies.
-Art:
The art is between average and good. But the story is so intriguing that it hardly matters. The art improves gradually with chapters.
-Characters:
Liar Game excels in this field. Akiyama(The male lead) is cunning and extremely intelligent. Reminds me of Light Yagami and L Lawliet from Death Note. Yokoya and Fukunaga provide a great show too. While every game goes on, you'll ask yourself "Who will win this game?". I guarantee Akiyama's plans alone will blow your mind beyond the boundary.
-Enjoyment:
Mindf**k planning. Pure entertainment and badassery. If you like mind games and psychological mangas, then Liar Game will be epic.
-Overall
Liar Game is flawless and mesmerizing. Well thought out and well executed. The manga is a masterpiece. A must read for all manga-otakus.

10/10

Well, there are already too many reviews for this manga but I liked it so much I had to write my own. This is what happens when you get an actually smart author to write stuff: you get cool stuff.

It's not actually completely fullproof, though. Some of the stuff, like the smuggling game, does require suspension of disbelief (e.g. Mr. No Eyebrows should have realized the deal Akiyama made with the "spies" and found some suitable way to dissuade them immediately after they mentioned what Akiyama said in the room,) but whatever. Also, some of the games, like the 2nd round game is an example of stuff you would've come across if you studied engineering, so lol that was ruined, but otherwise it's real cool! The games are cool, thought out, and unique, the explanations are pretty good, what's not to like?

Well, the story does rely on the other characters being stupid a lot. On the bright side, who I thought would be the stupidest character is actually (plot twist!) the wisest them all. Character development is honestly like of erratic, though. Also, at the final game, it seemed like the author had run out of steam. I honestly liked the previous round much better. Finally, the ending is kind of abrupt, but it's also at a nice point where he can write a sequel if he ever feels like it, so hate the sin, forgive the sinner.

The art is great! The expressions are a treat.

Read this is you want to read an illustrated version of a trading company interview + tech company interview's bastard child proctored by Satan.

Liar Game: A high-stake contest fueled by the darkest sides of human nature. Greed, deceit, betrayal, and lies are what rules these games. Do anything you can to win, or it's your head on the chopping block. What would you do?

I had picked up this manga on a whim some time ago, looking for something interesting that had good reviews. As many of the other reviews say, this is the type of manga that keeps you engaged from beginning to end. The story revolves around the main character Kanzaki, who has been sucked into the Liar Game and must now participate in an intricate series of games. Picking up the help from an ex-con, Akiyama, we watch the Liar Game unfold at the hands of a mysterious organization.

As most can probably tell based on the cover of the first volume, the art in this is somewhat different, and it takes a while to get used to. It seems the biggest thing the art focuses on is facial expressions. Throughout the series I found myself trying to mimic their expression when something shocking happens, because they're so full of emotion and detail, which was sometimes funny. There were also a few times where the faces people made were creepy, and freaked me out to the point where I was dying to flip the page. I think if art can effect you in that way, it's something noteworthy. Even aside from that though, art was good and always very clean.

One of the series' greatest strengths is it's character development. From the first few games, Kanzaki is practically useless, dependent, and hopeless when it comes to deceit and lying. She is continuously described as "foolishly honest" due to the fact that she lets people deceive her, and is far too trustworthy. Towards the middle of the series, however, Kanzaki becomes practically a different person. She develops into someone who is still honest, but much more analytic. She makes it her mission to to free all of the players from debt, and stop the organization from holding the Liar Game, with the help of Akiyama. The development in this character is phenomenal, and the growth in the supporting cast is also impressive.

The best part of this manga, though, are the games themselves. Each one is so carefully crafted and enticing, and beautifully considered. The psychological and strategic elements is where this manga really shines. The strategies are insanely complex and unique, as there is always a way to completely turn a game around. I was constantly thinking to myself, "how do they come up with this? How do people write something so intricate?", and that speaks volume. There were plenty of moments where I was physically anxious, excited, smiling, and nervous, because I was never left unsurprised.

I've been wanting to review this for a while, but decided to wait until I finally finished the series. Liar Game was a total thrill ride, a shining example of what a 'psychological' manga should be like. You may be wondering, "why aren't they giving this a 10/10?". Well, besides a few minor flaws, the main reason it's not a 10 is because of the ending. For a manga that was full of plot twists and surprises, I found the ending to be rather anticlimactic, especially for a manga that has been publishing for ten years.The secrets of the game and the organization weren't revealed until the very last chapter, along with a set up for a cliff hanger, which seemed rather rushed.

But regardless, a 9/10 is an excellent score, and the series deserves it. Liar Game is a wonderfully crafted manga, leading the way for many in its genre, and easily becoming one of my favorites.

Story: 9/10
Art: 8/10
Character: 9/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Overall: 9/10

I found Liar Game by watching the first episode of its korean drama a few years back, however eventually i decided to read the manga due to its great reviews and hype. I have not fully fiinished this series, i have read 5 volumes and can easily say its so worth the read. Although the naivity of the main character and the not-so-great art style are sometimes offputting, the plot and the way the 'games' unfold make up for them by miles. As someone going on to study psychology at university this series is so fascinating in terms of human morals and trust.

Liar Game was pretty famous and I thought I'd try this manga. I thought I'd get bored, but after I started reading it I was extremely immersed in it. Despite the fact that the art may be average, the story is mind-blowing. I like the way that the author shows human greed and how people trick each other for themselves. It's something that almost all mangas don't show. The game that the author came up with is also very original and amazing - about how people have to lie to each other to obtain profit. Liar Game is a true psychological masterpiece that anyone should read.

Alright, so it's time to review the manga that completely dominates every single other manga in psychology. It's a manga with brutally psychological battles that'll leave you excited and pondering for hours for the next chapter.

It's a story about an extremely honest girl named Nao. She's entered in a tournament of 100,000 people. She is handed 100 million. If she is tricked, she gets putted into a debt of 100 million while if she tricks her opponent, she'll gain 100 million. Vast riches await the genius liars while debt awaits everyone else.

Story: 10. It's a very outstanding and interesting story.

Art: 7. The only thing I have to say is the art. It is not as good as the most popular mangas. Slightly above average, and gets better along the way. Bare with the art. Everything else will get you hyped up for hours.

Character: 10. There are many unique characters which are developed in Liar Game. You'll get to meet them more in the later chapters =3

Enjoyment: 10. If you love psychology, this manga is definitely for you.

Overall: 10.
It's a simply incredible manga that I haven't been able to put down ever since I started reading.

Synopsis:

Kanzaki Nao, a foolishly honest college student, receives a package containing 100 million yen and a postcard that states, "Congratulations! You are 1 of the 100 000 people who have been entered in the Liar Game." This activates a series of events that will drive Kanzaki Nao in discovering the dark, hidden side of the human nature as well as to test her ability to "foolishly" trust other people. Will she be able to survive the Liar Game?

Story: 9/10

The Liar Game has both amused and disheartened me throughout my reading experience. For the most part, I enjoyed it. The manga has enough plot twists due to the numerous strategies coming from one of the series' protagonists, Akiyama Shinichi, and the antagonists in each arc. Expect to be on your toes for most of the time due to the sudden revelations of stratagems hidden throughout the story. Furthermore, the manga does not proceed on a slow pace, as implied earlier, and does not have any filler chapters. What disappointed me, albeit slightly, was that each arc followed a formulaic pattern in its progression. The formulaic pattern may tick off some readers but it has its own advantages. For one, it leaves the author more opportunities for character development, which will be discussed later. The author also has more opportunities presenting the different sides of the human nature and its tendencies when placed in certain situations. Due to this, the Liar Game can be said as a manga more focused on its characters rather than the story itself.

Art: 8/10

I have no qualms about the mangaka's art style for my own part. As a matter of fact, I applaud him for his ability to portray the dark side of the human nature in the facial expressions of the manga's antagonists. Ranging from creepy smiles to intimidating glares, these expressions can make one shiver either out of fear or anticipation for the next event. Though at times it bothered me that certain scenes lack detail, especially at the beginning, the art has gradually improved as the series went on. No need to worry, the bland art will not interfere one's amusement in reading the manga at its beginnings.

Characters 10/10

Character development is where the manga truly shines, aside from the numerous plot twists and creepy facial expressions that I have encountered. Remember, the characters in this manga have been pitted against each other with money at high stakes. This is enough for them to express their hidden true nature amidst the system of survival of the fittest presented in the Liar Game. Different people utilize different strategies to attain victory in the Liar Game and this adds more to the despondent atmosphere of the game's system. Additionally, it leaves the readers a few indications on what the purpose of the Liar Game is.

Here are few prominent characters presented in the manga though I will refrain from using spoilers. The first one is of course the protagonist herself, Kanzaki Nao. She initially starts out as a "foolishly" honest girl who accidentally gets pulled into the Liar Game. Due to her honesty and inclination to trust other people, she usually gets taken advantage of. She is a perfect example of the last person one would have in the Liar Game and this is a fact that has ticked off many readers. Gradually, as the manga progresses, readers will realize the importance of Kanzaki Nao's presence in the game. The second one is Kanzaki's partner for most of the time in the game, Akiyama Shinichi, a gruaduate student in psychology and also known as the legendary swindler. Akiyama is a logical, no-nonsense person unlike the honest Kanzaki. Being an expert in human psychology, he frequently is the one cooking up the numerous strategies found in the manga. Last but not the least is the series' main antagonist, Yokoya Norihiko. Yokoya is Kanzaki and Akiyama's enemy for most of the manga and unlike them, Yokoya employs more brutal and dominating tactics in order to seize victory. Each of these characters undergo a change in the course of the game as its purpose is slowly unfolded.

Enjoyment 10/10

Having an interest in the world of psychology, I have enjoyed this manga to the fullest, enough to pull up all-nighters just to finish all of the 203 chapters. This is the first manga ever since Shingeki no Kyojin to let me do that. At times, I would constantly debate with myself on the events that will happen in the next chapter. For now, I can only hope that this manga will be adapted as an anime series in the near future (though I am well aware that there is a drama series).

Overall 10/10

On the whole, I am very thankful for discovering this manga as it has helped me realize numerous phenomenon and trends in human psychology. Even though I am one of the people who prioritizes plot quality over character development, I still enjoyed it to the fullest. Overlooking a few deficiencies this manga has made, I give it a perfect 10.