Was Liar Game manga canceled or axed? Some fans believe it ended earlier than expected for a number of reasons.
In this article, we break down the main factors behind Liar Game manga’s situation.
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Was Liar Game manga Canceled or Axed? Reasons Explained
Liar Game ran in Weekly Young Jump from February 17, 2005, to January 22, 2015, and concluded properly rather than being canceled.
“Liar Game” aired as “Season 1” in 2007, followed by the sequel “Season 2” from 2009 to 2010.
It was also adapted into films: the theatrical release “Liar Game: The Final Stage” premiered on March 6, 2010, and the second theatrical installment, “Liar Game: Rebirth,” which featured a largely new cast (with the exception of Akiyama), was released on March 3, 2012.
In 2014, a Korean TV drama adaptation was produced and aired on the country’s cable channel tvN, and in 2023, a stage play titled “LIAR GAME murder mystery,” based on the murder mystery genre, was performed.
An anime adaptation was also produced and aired from April to July 2026. To commemorate the anime adaptation, a short-term serialization titled “LIAR GAME The Last Game” began in the March 2026 issue of “Grand Jump Mucha.”
⇒Watch the anime “Liar Game” on Amazon Prime Video
⇒Watch the drama “Liar Game” on Amazon Prime Video
The ending is terrible
The ending of the manga *Liar Game* has been described as a sudden cancellation, with the story concluding that “it was suppressed by pressure from a shadowy power broker,” suggesting that the mysterious force behind it was far more formidable than anyone had anticipated.
漫画のライアーゲーム，１９巻を読んだけど，初めて通しで全部読んだけど本当に素晴らしかった．ただ結末だけ，なんだそりゃみたいな．．．無理やり終わらした感がすごい．．．あんな面白い漫画なのに打ち切り？
— hideyuki takahashi (@hideman2009) November 21, 2016
漫画版ライアーゲームほぼ投げっぱなし打ち切りエンドやんけ！！！
— Shion (@_oninoshikogusa) May 2, 2021
ライアーゲームの原作読み終わったけど、ジャンプの打ち切り漫画でもここまで雑な終わり方見られんぞｗｗ
— 老師 (@yuuta929) February 18, 2018
Spoiler alert
1. The Original Work of *Liar Game*
・It was originally written as a three-volume novel.
・Due to its anti-government content, it was subject to censorship.
・The final volume was never published, and the author was murdered.
2. Plan to Recreate “Liar Game”
・The author’s close friend approaches a famous film director, suggesting, “If we recreate it, we might be able to reveal the contents of the second volume.”
・They attempt to recreate “Liar Game” with Japan as the setting.
3. The Launch and Cancellation of the First Liar Game
・As the final round approached, the authorities became aware of the plan.
・The author’s close friend was murdered, and the film director was also threatened.
・Furthermore, 5 billion yen in cash arrived, forcing the Liar Game to be canceled.
・One of the players at the time was Yokoya’s father, who was dominating the game.
4. The Second Liar Game (Main Story)
Twenty years later, a film director who had sought asylum in Japan hires the players from the previous game to serve as dealers.
Offering a success bonus of 100 million yen, the Second Liar Game begins.
This is the story of the main series, *Liar Game*.
5. Release and Removal of the “Liar Game” Video
・By unanimous decision of the participants, it was decided to film the “Liar Game.”
・One month later, the video was uploaded to a video-sharing site but was immediately taken down.
・The truth behind the “Liar Game” was once again buried in a “darkness” far deeper than anyone could have imagined. (End)
Many readers were left bewildered by the ending—which, despite the series having run for 10 years, seemed to be abruptly cut short by a mysterious force known as “the darkness,” a concept far deeper than anyone could have imagined, rather than through any conventional mystery-solving.
Although the series was highly praised for its unique psychological battles and intellectual maneuvering, the fact that it ended with a mysterious force left many feeling that the conclusion was so poor that it might as well have been canceled.
Even though the drama was so popular...
Given the explosive popularity of the “Liar Game” TV drama, rumors began to circulate that the original manga had been canceled because its ending was considered far too disappointing by comparison.
ライアーゲーム……。ドラマ化、映画化したヒット作の最終回がこんなに打ち切りくさくていいのか……。
— さきがめ (@Sakigame) January 22, 2015
ライアーゲームの尻窄み感と唐突な最終回。打ち切りかな？ドラマは人気出たのに残念な終わり方。
— TPX (@jonny1096) January 8, 2015
While the drama’s popularity raised expectations for the original story, the abrupt ending and numerous unresolved plot points led to widespread dissatisfaction among readers.
Furthermore, despite the manga maintaining the same thrilling and suspenseful pacing as the drama, its ending felt abrupt and half-hearted, leading to speculation that the series had been canceled.
As a result, the work’s reputation plummeted, and the series itself came to be perceived as unfinished.
Differences Between the Original Manga and the TV Drama of *Liar Game*
Differences in Media Distribution and Their Impact
It is certainly true that the differences between the original manga and the drama’s storyline fueled speculation about the series being canceled and left a strong impression on fans.
The original manga concluded in 2015 with a total of 19 volumes, but the drama aired from 2007 to 2009 and was adapted into films in 2010 and 2012, concluding its run earlier.
The “Garden of Eden Game” in the movie *The Final Stage* was an original story not found in the original manga; it received high praise and captivated fans.
Because the ending of the original manga was considered abrupt, the discrepancy with the drama series served to reinforce the cancellation rumors and sparked heated debate among fans.
It is certainly true that the differences between the media adaptations had a significant impact on fan expectations and evaluations, further heightening the buzz surrounding the work.
It is clear that the high quality of the drama raised expectations for the original work and sparked debate regarding the cancellation theory.
It is certain that this discrepancy had a complex impact on the work’s reception and served as the backdrop for the growing speculation about its cancellation.
The Drama's Popularity and Its Impact on the Original Work
There is no doubt that the success of the TV drama adaptation of “Liar Game” significantly raised expectations for the original manga and influenced fans' perceptions of it.
The duo of Shinichi Akiyama, played by Shota Matsuda, and Nao Kanzaki, played by Erika Toda, captivated viewers, resulting in a massive hit with an average viewership rating of 11.4% for Season 1 and box office receipts of over 2.3 billion yen for the film.
However, many felt that the conclusion of the original manga fell short compared to the drama’s tension and intellectual gameplay, leaving fans dissatisfied.
In particular, the ambiguity surrounding Nao and Akiyama’s relationship and the treatment of the final boss, Yokoya, caused disappointment and fueled speculation that the series had been abruptly canceled.
It is true that this discrepancy was a major factor in making the conclusion of the original work feel like a “cancellation,” sparking heated debate among fans.
It is certain that the high quality of the drama had a complex impact on the evaluation of the original work, leading to a sense of disappointment among fans.
The differences between the original work and the drama deeply influenced the work’s reception and can be seen as the background that fueled the rumors of cancellation.
How far does the *Liar Game* TV series go? Where does the original manga begin?
The “Liar Game” TV series covers the story up to around Volume 10, after which it features original games created specifically for the series.
So, if you want to continue reading the original manga after watching the drama, you can just start with Volume 10.
⇒ドラマ「ライアーゲーム」をAmazonプライムビデオで見る
Final Thoughts on Liar Game manga
In conclusion, there is no clear evidence that Liar Game manga was canceled.
Overall, several factors discussed above likely influenced how Liar Game manga ended.
Some readers felt that the ending came too suddenly, especially because the series had spent many years building its games and psychological battles, which led to claims that it felt like a cancellation.
However, Liar Game remains highly enjoyable for its game-based challenges and mind games, and both the manga and drama adaptation are remembered for those strengths regardless of the ending.
It may still be worth checking out for yourself.
⇒アニメ「ライアーゲーム」をAmazonプライムビデオで見る
⇒ドラマ「ライアーゲーム」をAmazonプライムビデオで見る
