Kakegurui

Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler, written by Homura Kawamoto and illustrated by Tōru Naomura, began serialization in Square Enix’s Gangan Joker magazine in 2014. The series emerged during a period of rising interest in high-stakes, psychological thriller manga, focusing on Hyakkaō Private Academy, an elite institution where social hierarchy is determined by elaborate gambling rather than academic performance. The narrative serves as a dark satire of meritocracy, centering on the disruptive arrival of transfer student Yumeko Jabami.

Tōru Naomura’s art style is central to the series' identity, characterized by exaggerated, manic character expressions—often referred to as the 'face-melting' aesthetic—that visually capture the characters' descent into gambling obsession. The series was met with significant critical and commercial success, leading to multiple spin-offs, a long-running anime adaptation, and live-action projects, cementing its status as a notable entry in the psychological game-theory genre.