# Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table
*Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table* (Japanese: 死亡遊戯で飯を食う。, *Shibō Yūgi de Meshi o Kū*) is a Japanese light novel series written by Yūshi Ukai (鵜飼有志) and illustrated by Nekometaru (ねこめたる), published under Kadokawa's MF Bunko J imprint.[1](https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322207001275/) The story flips the standard death-game setup: instead of a victim made to fight for survival, its lead, Yuuki, competes in deadly games professionally, supporting herself on the cash prizes she earns from emerging victorious in these violent contests.[2](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-09-01/playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-light-novels-get-tv-anime/.215005) The first volume appeared in November 2022 after winning a newcomer award, the series topped the New Title category of the 2024 *Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!* guidebook, and it has been adapted into a manga and a television anime.[2](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-09-01/playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-light-novels-get-tv-anime/.215005) [Yen Press](https://www.edgepedia.org/yen-press) publishes the series in English.[2](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-09-01/playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-light-novels-get-tv-anime/.215005)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Japanese title | 死亡遊戯で飯を食う。 (*Shibō Yūgi de Meshi o Kū*), by Yūshi Ukai, illustrated by Nekometaru, MF Bunko J imprint[1](https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322207001275/) |
| Origin | Excellence Award, 18th MF Bunko J Light Novel Newcomer Award (2022); first print volume November 2022[2](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-09-01/playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-light-novels-get-tv-anime/.215005) |
| Volume 1 | 25 November 2022, bunko format, 264 pages, ISBN 9784046819376[1](https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322207001275/) |
| Premise | Yuuki plays death games for a living, aiming for an unprecedented 99-win streak[3](https://yenpress.com/titles/9798855420876-playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-vol-1-manga) |
| Ranking | #1 New Title and #2 bunkobon in the 2024 *Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!* guidebook[4](https://www.hachette.com.au/yushi-ukai-nekometaru-nekometaru/playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-vol-4) |
| English release | Yen Press; volumes 1–4 released June 18, 2024 through August 12, 2025; volume 5 was scheduled for February 10, 2026[5](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=28902&page=28) |
| Anime | TV anime announced September 1, 2024[2](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-09-01/playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-light-novels-get-tv-anime/.215005); Studio DEEN series began airing in January 2026, streamed by Crunchyroll as *SHIBOYUGI: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table*[6](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Literature/PlayingDeathGamesToPutFoodOnTheTable) |
## Premise and story
Yuuki treats death games as a profession. Yen Press's official description states that she participates in them for a living and that her goal is not mere survival but an unprecedented 99-win streak.[3](https://yenpress.com/titles/9798855420876-playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-vol-1-manga) Prize money is her income, which makes the games her workplace rather than a trap she is trying to escape.[2](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-09-01/playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-light-novels-get-tv-anime/.215005)
The opening arc sets the tone. Six girls wake in maid outfits, confined in a trap-filled manor; unimaginable riches await on the other side of the death game, but only for those who make it out alive.[3](https://yenpress.com/titles/9798855420876-playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-vol-1-manga) A Japanese reader review on the publisher's page singles out the escape-game sequence's elevator, which operates only for four people weighing 150 kg or less, as presenting brutally stark choices.[1](https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322207001275/)
Later volumes broaden the repertoire. Volume 5's synopsis introduces Rinrin, a retired player who had a successful career despite being blind, whose techniques Yuuki seeks out as her own right eye's vision fails, and Tamamo, whom Yuuki has falsely promised to accept as her apprentice; the volume includes a deadly island scavenger hunt and Royal Palace, a game of one-on-one sword duels.[7](https://yenpress.com/titles/9798855401103-playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-vol-5)
## Publication history
The series entered print through a competition. It won the Excellence Award at the 18th MF Bunko J Light Novel Newcomer Award in 2022, and Kadokawa's MF Bunko J imprint published the first volume that November.[2](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-09-01/playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-light-novels-get-tv-anime/.215005) Volume 1 was a 264-page bunko-format paperback released on November 25, 2022.[1](https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322207001275/) Japanese volumes followed at roughly quarterly intervals early on: volume 2 on January 25, 2023 and volume 3 on April 25, 2023.[5](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=28902&page=28) The seventh Japanese volume shipped on September 25, 2024.[2](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-09-01/playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-light-novels-get-tv-anime/.215005)
Yen Press licensed the light novels for English.[2](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-09-01/playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-light-novels-get-tv-anime/.215005) English volume 1 was released on June 18, 2024, volume 2 on October 29, 2024, volume 3 on February 18, 2025, and volume 4 on August 12, 2025, with volume 5 having been scheduled for February 10, 2026.[5](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=28902&page=28) • [7](https://yenpress.com/titles/9798855401103-playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-vol-5)
## Genre and style
The series sits in the death-game and survival-thriller genre, but its distinguishing feature is the removal of the genre's usual motive. Death games conventionally involve characters killing each other for some stated purpose; Japanese reader commentary on the publisher's page identifies the absence of such a purpose as the series' novelty, with one reviewer calling it effectively a "daily life" story about a professional death-game player, depicted in a matter-of-fact way.[1](https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322207001275/) The same reviewer notes the unsettling depth of Yuuki's character, and praises the title as apt.[1](https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322207001275/)
## Reception and rankings
In the 2024 edition of Takarajimasha's *Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!* (*This Light Novel Is Amazing!*) guidebook, the series topped the New Title rankings and ranked second in the bunkobon rankings.[4](https://www.hachette.com.au/yushi-ukai-nekometaru-nekometaru/playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-vol-4)
## Adaptations and related media
A manga adaptation by Banzai Kotobuki Daienkai began serialization in Kadokawa's *Comp Ace* magazine in April 2023; its second compiled volume was published on December 26, 2023.[2](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-09-01/playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-light-novels-get-tv-anime/.215005) Yen Press has licensed the manga as well, with English volume 1 scheduled for August 25, 2026.[3](https://yenpress.com/titles/9798855420876-playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-vol-1-manga)
A television anime adaptation was announced at the "MF Bunko J Natsu no Gakuensai 2024" event on September 1, 2024, with voice actress [Rie Takahashi](https://www.edgepedia.org/rie-takahashi) narrating the announcement video.[2](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-09-01/playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-light-novels-get-tv-anime/.215005) A Studio DEEN anime began airing in January 2026, licensed by [Crunchyroll](https://www.edgepedia.org/crunchyroll) under the title *SHIBOYUGI: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table*.[6](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Literature/PlayingDeathGamesToPutFoodOnTheTable) A week after the anime concluded, a continuation film covering the "Cloudy Beach" story arc was announced, set for a limited two-week run in Japanese theaters starting July 10, 2026.[6](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Literature/PlayingDeathGamesToPutFoodOnTheTable)
## What has changed since 2023
By late 2023 the series had three Japanese print volumes[5](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=28902&page=28) and a manga adaptation that had begun serialization in April 2023.[2](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-09-01/playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-light-novels-get-tv-anime/.215005) Since then it has expanded on every front: the seventh Japanese volume shipped in September 2024;[2](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-09-01/playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-light-novels-get-tv-anime/.215005) the anime was announced the same month;[2](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-09-01/playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-light-novels-get-tv-anime/.215005) the English translation launched in June 2024 and reached volume 4 by August 2025, with volume 5 having been scheduled for February 10, 2026;[5](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=28902&page=28) and the anime broadcast in January 2026 was followed within a week by a sequel film announcement for July 2026.[6](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Literature/PlayingDeathGamesToPutFoodOnTheTable)
## References
1. [「死亡遊戯で飯を食う。」鵜飼有志 [MF文庫J] – KADOKAWA](https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/322207001275/)
2. [Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table Light Novels Get TV Anime – Anime News Network](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-09-01/playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-light-novels-get-tv-anime/.215005)
3. [Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table, Vol. 1 (manga) – Yen Press](https://yenpress.com/titles/9798855420876-playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-vol-1-manga)
4. [Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table, Vol. 4 – Hachette Australia](https://www.hachette.com.au/yushi-ukai-nekometaru-nekometaru/playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-vol-4)
5. [Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table (light novel) [Release dates] – Anime News Network](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=28902&page=28)
6. [Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table (Literature) – TV Tropes](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Literature/PlayingDeathGamesToPutFoodOnTheTable)
7. [Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table, Vol. 5 – Yen Press](https://yenpress.com/titles/9798855401103-playing-death-games-to-put-food-on-the-table-vol-5)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Literature and written works › Creative written works and worlds › Graphic, illustrated, and Asian-format fiction › Light novels and web novels › Light novel series and individual titles › Science fiction and action light novels*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license