Aishiteru Game wo Owarasetai

The title should be "I Want to End This Insecurity Game" because holy shit. Yet another inconclusive 12 episode romance anime, premise is same as Love is War, what's different is... I don't know? This anime barely has anything going for it besides the cute moments, but that's like the bare minimum for a romance anime. I'm not joking when I say that after 12 episodes they're basically back to base 1 plus some events that occurred of course. There's also minimal if any character development. These 240 minutes can really be summed up by the following loop: minor/major event -> line "crossed" -> "I'm not good enough for him/her" -> act distant and/or gloomy -> make up -> repeat. Some of these scenarios are not even bad on their own, but the issue is that ultimately nothing ever changes or moves in any direction, their relationship is exactly the same on episode 1 and 12. All the events that happened throughout these episodes are only acknowledged only to spark embarrassment, cute moments or to tease one another, no real consequences or advancements. Early episodes had hideous CGI, VAs are not bad, they make the anime watchable. There's no good reason to recommend this anime, you can get all the value out of it by seeing the lovey dovey clips on tiktok. Maybe if season 2 arrives one day things will be different, but until then it's a waste of your time, and if you're really interested just pick up the manga.

I’ve been imagining the day Aishiteru Game got an anime for years as someone who’s read it since almost day 1. When I imagined it, I always thought it’d be a Cloverworks production, so I was a little disappointed when Felix Film got announced as the studio handling it and boy was I wrong to be concerned. It might not look as shiny and pretty as I’d wanted, but all the intangibles that make this series special are here along with great voice acting performances to bring all my favorite mind numbingly sweet moments to life! I know everyone’s hyping Kuranika, Otagal and a few others, and for good reason, this was an insanely stacked season of romance. But for me, this series is very near and dear to my heart and the whole love game element makes it different from everything else this season. It’s yearning personified and some of the cutest stuff I’ve ever experienced and the studio nailed it. So the whole playing mind games to get the other person to confess trope isn’t new at all, Kaguya-sama being the most famous example, BUT Aishiteru game is my favorite of the bunch because of the way the situations featuring the two leads are depicted, as well as the characters themselves. Unlike most romcoms, there’s no loser shy MC here, Miku and Yukiya are both very attractive, popular and decently sociable. They’re of course awkward dorks when it comes to one another, but they’re not your stereotypical romcom couple. There’s no power imbalance here. They’re both equally desirable catches who anyone would be lucky to be with. There’s so many romcoms these days that ANYTHING that helps distinguish you from the pack is important and I can’t overstate how much I enjoyed seeing the two of them make each other jealous because they’re both so popular and everyone wants them. That leads me to my other point, the scenario writing in this series is second to none. The teasing and flirting is so well done that you cannot help but cover your face and start smiling and giggling, it’s the first manga I ever read to genuinely give me butterflies and Felix Film were able to replicate that magic in the anime. Every single episode is almost nonstop tension and yearning between these two and it’s so nice to see how they have such a great friendship. You obviously want them to get together, but you also appreciate all the things they’ve been through and how they help each other through some tough times. These two are genuinely one of my favorite couples because they’re so much more than just a stereotypical romance. The reason they’re so head over heels for each other makes sense and they prioritize each other’s feelings, sometimes to their detriment. We also get to see a nice amount of character development from both of them which is always nice. I know all the different games they play can be frustrating at times because you’re like “just confess at this point”, but it’ll all be worth it in the end, I promise. At least you actually see them growing closer and learning more about themselves as individuals and a couple as the games progress! So it’s not like it’s just time wasting and padding the story out, there’s a reason for everything. Felix film obviously aren’t as big as CloverWorks, so it was never going to be the best art and animation, but it’s more than good enough and there’s a few moments here and there that are genuinely really well directed, looking at you Pocky game! They came through when it mattered most, so that’s all I care about. The voice acting is really what impressed me the most, though. Shoutout to Itou Miku and Ishikawa Kaito for some incredible performances. I swear they had their rent on the line at times here and it just elevated some of my favorite moments to the next level. The mixture of tenderness and yearning they were able to add to their voices.. Incredible. Sadly, because of how stacked this season was, this show never blew up to the level of popularity I thought it would. The manga is very well received and I thought the anime would be one of the biggest this season, but there was just so much to compete with. Still, give it a chance because I promise you it’s one of the best romances out there and is very near and dear to my heart. Aishiteru Game gets 9 out of 10.

Fixing other misleading review to save you reader some time, IT IS NOT THE SAME AS KAGUYA LOVE IS WAR. It should be in a new category called romcorny or romridiculous I’ve seen pretty much most of modern day romcom and a lot of show starting way back from 2010 ish, I normally don’t leave review but I will here because I was misled by review that recommend for those who liked kaguya love is war, so I will say this 80% of kaguya fan will absolutely hate this and find it very hard to watch, only 20% would find it watchable, First thing first the story and everything involve : when you think of romcom, it gonna be a bit corny but also funny, but most of the time it just a little corny but the comedy usually save it and people usually recover from the corny part with that BUT THIS SHOW is mostly corny and the comedy part? Gone out the window none of the joke and punchline landed, it alway fall flat and make you think “ tf? That was uh funny? I guess?” SO NO IT IS NOT THE SAME AS KAGUYA LOVE IS WAR, kaguya has a good story in each episode and the comedy part is actually there and it hit with most viewers but that’s not the case here, the best way to explain this is “ a crappy show trying to follow a masterpiece but the author personally preference show too much, so it just end up being corny and ridiculous” The last thing here I usually don’t talk about visuals stuff like animation cuz it not a good way to rate an anime but normally a bad story anime has good animation to save it will make it a decent anime or good anime right? And an anime with a decent or bad animation if it has at least a good story then that also make it decent or good right? But that’s the problem, this is bad on both side, the story I already explain, so let me dive into the visual stuff, 40% of the show feel like a slideshow, they completely throw the background on and just keep it as it is and not even trying to make some smth move in background, it practically a still image, another 20% is the bad cgi, it stand out way too much that you can’t help but notice it, you can notice it right from the get go on episode 1, another 40% is just a decent or I would even say sloppy animation which I won’t call a proper animation cuz it a disrespect to other anime that actually has a proper animation, the only thing saving this is the artstyle.

"Nice try" is the first thing I thought after finishing this anime. It starts slow, really slow, and show nothing that any other romance anime haven't done yet. Still, it is not bad enough to justify dropping it, therefore, I kept watching and did not regret my decision. Around episode 10 or so the plot shifts gears and start picking up pace. What felt like useless scenes and wasted time at the beginning suddenly turned into actual good and engaging moments at the tail end of this season. The supporting cast does little and gets almost no attention whatsoever, so you barely care about anything that does not involve Yukiya or Miku in those 12 episodes. Luckily, they're almost omnipresent, but still, sometimes you wonder why some dialogues even took place. If you're okay with grinding through 10 episodes to just then experience what this show has to offer on it's last 3 episodes (which are way better than the others), then you might wanna give it a shot. Otherwise, I believe you'll be better off watching something else.

I kinda wish i could call this a cute slow burn, but that's kinda rough, when there hardly even was a spark to begin with. There is only a single episode throughout this entire series where the relationship progress in any meaningful way, just for the two of them to return to their respective shells. I can hardly put into words, how frustratingly this show plays into the interruption of confessions. There are multiple times throughout this show, where they have finally decided to in some way progress their relationship, just to be interrupted and never take up the conversation again. It's not even a "will they won't they" kinda show, it's simply just a "they won't". It is very frustrating having to spend so much screen time on non-developing characters and then have the side-characters be somehow even more boring. Literally nothing ever happens. No choice makes a difference, no character ever develops, nothing ever happens. It is a sad thing to say, but i literally sped through the last 2 episodes because i eventually got so insanely bored with the show. There is one episode (1... uno.... én.... A SINGLE) where their relationship SHOULD have bloomed because it is simply the only logical step from what transpired, but even then, NOTHING EVER HAPPENS. It is so frustrating that it can't even be cute. The only good thing i can say that develops, is the lack of CGI. The first episode had some odd stylistic choices with odd CGI that really clashed, but they really reined that in, so kudos to that i suppose. Other than that, there is not a single reason to watch this show. TLDR: Nothing ever happens. Not in romance. Not in character development. Not in any meaningful plot. Nothing.

Sometimes an anime doesn't need some crazy plot to become a favorite. It just needs to feel warm. That's how I ended up loving I Want to End This Love Game after the 12 episodes. I jumped in for the fun premise, but honestly? I stopped caring about the game pretty quick. I just wanted to hang out with Yukiya and Miku every week. It's been forever since a romance made me grin like an idiot this consistently. There were scenes where I was straight-up blushing with them. If anime could give you diabetes, this one would be the culprit. The setup is simple: childhood friends playing a dumb first to blush lose game since middle school. It could've gotten old fast, but they kept finding new ways to twist it, and the way the two of them slowly crack just hits different. Yukiya might be one of my favorite male leads in a while. Dude's not some flashy badass, he's just... decent. He actually pays attention to her, worries about the small stuff, puts her first without making it a big deal. Those quiet moments say way more than any confession scene. Miku's great too. Cute, playful, but not in that annoying exaggerated way. Their banter feels real because they've known each other forever. The teasing, the comfortable silences, the awkward pauses... it didn't feel forced. I really liked that it didn't lean on stupid drama. Yeah, there are misunderstandings, but they don't drag them out forever. It's mostly those tiny everyday things that build up. And visually? The animation focuses on the expressions and it works perfectly. A little blush or nervous look says everything. Voice acting is solid too especially the little hesitations that sell the embarrassment. I even stopped skipping the OP after a few episodes. Episode 10 though... damn. After finishing I immediately started the manga and now I'm dying for Season 2. Only real complaint is some sweet moments ended too fast. I just wanted them to last a bit longer. It's not reinventing anything, but it does what it sets out to do really well. Wholesome, funny, and comforting. Easily a 10/10 for me. Now the wait for more begins... ugh.

COMPARING THIS CRAP TO KAGUYA-SAMA: LOVE IS WAR IS A HUGE DISRESPECT, FIRST OF ALL. Both main leads felt very cringey and lazy written, instead of leaning into a fun well-executed story it feels like the plot is running in circles and goes nowhere except the last few episodes. It's such a shame that many times even side characters takes limelight from them whenever they appear on screen. ​In my opinion, Miku and Yukiya should've been a small side couple like Nagisa Kashiwagi and Tsubasa Tanuma from Kaguya-sama whereas Kazane and Kakeru should've been the actual main characters instead. Honestly they are way better in every aspect, plus their charming dynamic is the only good thing of this show. They are the only characters with enjoyable moments despite not having much screentime. ​While some people might find it enjoyable just for the sake of the genre, but anyone expecting brilliant pacing, psychological wit, or comedic timing of Kaguya-sama will be severely disappointed. Or maybe I've just consumed way too many rom-coms at this point, so this one just doesn't hit the mark.

Love games, a concept that reached new heights with the emergence and popularity of Kaguya-sama: Love is War. Now, we get to witness a childhood friend rivalry between Yukiya Asagi and Miku Sakura. They've been engaged against each other in a love game that has been going on for over 4 years. Now carried into their teenage lives, both of them want to end this love game. What started as a game however become more complicated. Now that they're both more mature, that game has turned into geninue love rather than teasing. And this should look obvious from day one for the viewers. They may not release it from the beginning but Yukiya and Miku behave like teenagers in love. From the flustering, teasing, and moments that set up to them being together, the anime wanted to sell us their chemistry. Luckily, it achieves that through with human emotions and a degree of realism. They do act like how you'd imagine to be in real life. They're still innocent and tries to understand love between each other. While the teasing goes on relentlessly at times, there's no doubt their feelings grow. With its playful nature, this show's story is treated like a game with each episode throwing the two childhood friends into scenarios they are not prepared for. While redundant, this is what the main story is about. From sleepovers to harmless seduction scenes, viewers should be prepared for lots of rom-com moments. Some of them tries to push the boundaries of its love game. Because there's virtually no rules set, Yakuya and Miku sometimes goes out of their own boundaries to try and win. Coming into this show, I knew what the expectations were. While not as stylish or psychological compared to Kaguya-sama, this anime still tries its hardest at building a relationship between Yukiya and Miku. Believing in their relationship to grow into something more is what should keep most viewers at their seat. Although some of their tactics can come of as almost desperate, I believe this anime wanted us more to cheer for them. It wanted the viewers to understand their characters, beyond their actions. It wants to set an identity for both characters. Yukiya for instance has a stoic nature who only shows his real image to Miku. Meanwhile, Miku is the more playful type that isn't afraid to express what's on her mind. When you bring in these together, it feels like a case of opposites attract. Their childhood relationship is also relevant given their history with each other. While this anime doesn't take big deep dives into their past, it still gives us a general decent understanding of their characters. I Want to End This Love Game's premise and story sounds about as predictable as it can be. It's obvious the author wanted to bring two childhood friends together while engaged into these games, almost like foreplay. Despite its repetitive nature, it maintains its level of consistent storytelling from day one, and believes in itself. It's these type of rom-com that brings entertainment, without bringing in complex love angles or tearjerking drama. We need more I Want to End This Love Game.

It’s a cute anime featuring characters who already like each other and are aware of it from the start, yet are too insecure and proud to admit it. It seems fun at first—I absolutely love *Kaguya-sama: Love Is War* and thought this would be similar, but I was mistaken. The show has very sweet moments, and you keep waiting for character development and growth... but it never happens. They do make progress regarding "shared experiences," though even that gets a bit distorted since they aren't officially in a romantic relationship. In the final episodes, the main character gains a bit more depth, but this is ignored, and in the end, everything goes back to square one. I give it a 6 for the moments of tension and cuteness that kept me glued to the screen, but I don't think it's worth watching for those reasons alone. Oh, and I forgot to mention the side stories—mostly because they don't exist, even though the characters are there.

Aishiteru Game is an outstanding anime. It's incredibly sweet, and the emotions it delivers are absolutely wonderful. This series truly does everything a romcom should do well: the chemistry between the two main characters is excellent, the atmosphere feels comfortable and natural, the pacing is just right, and the climactic moments are captivating in every frame (especially in Episode 10). The romance scenes are incredibly strong—they made me blush, get excited, and roll around on my bed. On top of that, the comedy is genuinely funny and never feels forced, constantly putting a smile on my face. The series balances romance and comedy so well that I never felt like either aspect was lacking or overdone. The flirting scenes are both hilarious and engaging, while the more serious moments are surprisingly deep, taking me through a wide range of emotions. The way both of them strive to improve themselves for the person they love (both in the past and in the present) is truly inspiring. It touched my heart and even made me want to do something meaningful with my own life. Another outstanding aspect is Miku's voice acting. It genuinely brought her character to life. Whenever Miku speaks, cries, or appears in emotional scenes, her voice gives me goosebumps. Combined with her adorable expressions, she completely melts my heart. Her voice acting is truly top-tier. 🔥 The main characters each have their own personalities and goals. They feel so lively and full of energy that I simply can't ignore them like the bland, lifeless NPC-like characters often found in many other series. At the same time, they never become so over-the-top that they become annoying. ----. However, there's one thing I don't understand. Why do people judge this series by the standards of Love is War, when the two are built in completely different ways? In Aishiteru Game, Miku initially came up with the "Aishiteru" game to make Yukiya blush. (Before that, Miku had already fallen for Yukiya, but because he seemed somewhat "indifferent" toward her, she came up with this game to make his heart flutter and make him see her as a girl.) At first, Yukiya seemed pretty confident, seeing it as an opportunity to tease Miku and make her embarrassed. But as he gradually witnessed Miku's efforts to change and better herself, he also fell in love with her. (Seeing Yukiya genuinely become flustered by her also made Miku realize her own true feelings.) However, because Miku's teasing always left him incredibly embarrassed, and because he felt that this game was the only thing connecting him and Miku, he chose not to end it. Instead, he decided to join the game, flirt with Miku in return, and try to win in order to make Miku see him differently. The game gradually became an excuse for the two of them to stay close to each other, flirt with each other, move the other person's heart, make the other person blush, and wait for the other person to admit defeat or finally acknowledge their feelings. If they couldn't make the other person blush or truly move their heart, then to them, it simply meant that they still weren't good enough to truly move the other person's heart. As time went by, they gradually realized that what they needed was not just to make the other person see them differently, but also to make the other person genuinely happy when they were together. (At first, they were still unsure of how the other person truly felt about them, and they were afraid that the other person might tease or mock them if they lost. But over time, they gradually realized that the other person truly loved them, and that they loved the other person even more than they had ever realized.) Rather than simply being about winning or losing the game, it became a way for them to express their feelings, understand each other better, and gradually grow closer. Because of that, they continued improving themselves to become worthy of each other, motivating one another to grow together. -- On the other hand, I honestly have no idea what they're trying to do in Love is War. Isn't their goal to make the other person confess first? Yet everything I see is them dropping hints, sending signals through these unspoken games with invisible rules, then waiting for the other person to follow along in a passive and forced way. But what if the other person doesn't understand those hints, or interprets them differently? Then surely nothing would ever move forward. Everything they do feels like they're reacting to their own overanalyzed interpretations and fantasies rather than actually interacting with each other or trying to connect with the other person's emotions. (For example, choosing certain flowers somehow represents how much someone likes the other person, or choosing a particular person somehow means that's the one you love???) To me, it feels like they're still trying to figure each other out, so how can they already be so certain that the other person likes them? If that's the case, isn't the whole confession game built on a rather weak foundation? Watching them constantly get stuck in this pointless tug-of-war becomes genuinely frustrating. It makes me question their relationship and the way they think about each other's feelings. Another issue is that if circumstances don't allow them to be together (such as summer vacation, exams, or a third person getting involved), everything basically comes to a halt. The two of them just keep getting caught up in their own heads, overthinking everything through long internal monologues while creating small dramas. -- Both series begin with the premise that the two main characters already like each other. However, I find Kaguya-sama: Love is War somewhat superficial. I never truly feel that they're in love, that they understand the other person's feelings, that they know the other person likes them, or that they genuinely care about each other's emotions. To me, it's mostly just schemes, setting traps for each other, and overanalyzing everything to such an extent that their relationship feels artificial and unhealthy. It simply doesn't convey any emotional impact to me. -- In contrast, in the early chapters of Aishiteru Game, they mostly tease each other in subtle ways. But before long, their feelings gradually become much deeper. They begin to express their genuine emotions more openly. They cherish every moment they spend together. They actively look for excuses to be around each other. They genuinely care about each other's feelings. They often ask themselves, "How can I make them happy?", "Am I going too far?", or "Am I making them uncomfortable?" Those little things genuinely make me feel like they're a real couple in love. -- So what I'm trying to say is this: I hope Kaguya fans can compare these two series more fairly. You can't use one anime as the standard to put another anime down. Your series has its own flaws too, at least to some extent. Thank you. Every work should be judged based on the goal it sets out to achieve. For me, Aishiteru Game completely succeeds in conveying what it set out to convey: a sweet and sincere love story that truly made me believe in the feelings between its two main characters. Combined with all of its other strengths, it absolutely deserves a perfect 10/10. I really hope it gets a Season 2 so I can witness Yukiya's growth, see how Miku continues to take the initiative and support him, and of course, what I believe will be the greatest confession scene in history. Haha.

I started reading it long before there was any talk of an anime adaptation. Back then it was simply another romance manga with a ridiculous premise and it only had 23 chapters at that time. I can still remember the very moment when I first discovered the manga few years ago. In a pirated website where I was looking for a romance to read before bed. The curiosity got the better of me and before I knew it, I was completely invested. What made me fall in love with the series wasn't the "game" itself, it was how the game slowly stopped being a game. The story is less about whether they'll become a couple and more about when and who will take to first step. When the anime adaptation was finally announced years later, I wasn't just excited because another manga I liked was getting animated. I was genuinely happy because the manga that had quietly won my heart was finally going to reach a much wider audience. it felt like watching an underrated gem finally receive the recognition it deserved - STRONGEST CHEMISTRY OF THE SEASON (SPRING 2026) Romance chemistry is difficult to measure because different couples excel in different areas. Some couples make you smile because they feel warm and comforting. Others stand out because they are realistic, funny, or emotionally intense. It's subjective. Looking at "I Want to End This Love Game," "I Made Friends with the Second Prettiest Girl in My Class", "The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten Season 2", "The Ramparts of Ice", "Gals Can't Be Kind to Otaku!?, and "The Klutzy Class Monitor and the Girl with the Short Skirt", despite how STACKED this season is with romance, each of them brings something different. 1. Angel Next Door - Amane and Mahiru have perhaps the strongest comfort chemistry. Their relationship is built less around teasing and more around becoming each other's safe place. Their best moments come from small things such as cooking together, quite conversations, and taking care of each other. 2. Ramparts of Ice - This series has one of the most realistic approaches to teenage romance. The characters don't always know what to say, they overthink, they hesitate and it feels natural, more fragile. The appeal is watching two reserved people slowly open up. 3. Gals Can't be Kind to Otaku - This couple thrives on contrast. You got the gyaru and a otaku, the chemistry is entertaining because every interaction has the question "How long until they realize they are actually perfect for each other?" Personally, I think this is the weakest this season. 4. The Klutzy Class Monitor and the Girl with the Short Skirt - This is the underrated gem of this season. This romance focuses on simplicity and this is the most innocent romance on the list. Their chemistry is gentle It is built through everyday interaction, pure sweetness and charming interaction. 5. I Made Friends with the Second Prettiest Girl in My Class - I think this was the most talk this season. The chemistry between Maehara and Umi comes from something incredibly important they become close before they become romantic. Unlike many romance anime where attraction comes first and emotional connection follows, their relationship is built through genuine companionship. And its greatest strength is those two feel like best friends at first, they don't immediately become a couple, they simply enjoy being together. All of them have very very strong chemistry. but personally for me It's "I Want to End This Love Game" I Want To End This Love Game, out of all the romances this season, Yukiya and Miku I think have the strongest overall chemistry. Not because they have the most dramatic story, not because they have the most emotional trauma, their relationship is built around one simple game: Whoever says "I love you" and gets embarrassed first loses. This premise is that the game stopped being a game a long time ago. They already know how they feel, they already understand each other, they already act like a couple, and the only thing stopping them is their pride and fear of changing what they already have. A single sentence can mean four different things. When one says "I love you," they're teasing, they're challenging, they're flirting, they're confessing, they're secretly asking the other person to understand. They aren't just talking they are constantly reading each other. Unlike other romance anime where conflict comes from misunderstandings, their conflict comes from something much more interesting its "Vulnerability." They already know, the audience know, everyone knows it and the only question is "Who is brave enough to stop pretending" Every blush, pause, and eye contact carries weight because their feelings are already there. - PROBLEMS This isn't an animation showcase like the biggest seasonal hits. If you dislike slow romances... this is not for you because the premise intentionally repeats itself, and some viewers may feel the story stretches its central gimmick longer than necessary. The pacing demands patience, especially if you're expecting rapid relationship milestones - FINAL THOUGHTS Spring 2026 is honestly one of the strongest romance seasons in recent memory because every series delivers a different type of relationship. Angel Next Door gives comfort. Ramparts of Ice gives us realism. I Became Friends with the Second Cutest Girl in the Class gives us genuine friendship Ponsuka give us innocent affection But Yukiya and Miku stand out because their chemistry feels the most alive. Their "love game" is supposed to determine who loses first, but the truth is that both of them already lost the moment their feelings became real. It isn't just about waiting for a confession. It's about watching two people who are already in love slowly find the courage to admit it. Just like how I enjoyed Kaguya-sama because of the mind games, playful teasing, and two people who are obviously in love but refuse to admit it. The fun comes from watching two people who clearly love each other continue their little game because neither wants to be the first one to become vulnerable. Watching it evolve from a manga into a full anime adaptation has been a privilege, and it's a journey I'll always be grateful I experienced from the very beginning.

7/10 I Want To End this Love Game isn’t a very interesting love story. Well thought romance often feature an incomplete hero, a counterpart, and a complication. We watch romance not only to see how the couple’s lives impact each other, but also to see a reflection of ourselves. For our heroes Yukiya and Miyu, everything’s perfect. They’re pretty, have no issues at home, and surrounded by loving friends and family. The only problem is that they don’t believe they deserve each other. The anime of I Want to End this Love Game is a terrible adaptation of its source material. Somehow it manages to take a charming story about two awkward teenagers trying to better themselves and completely suck the life out of it. Ugly animation, a dull script, and lighting fast pacing make up this massive disappointment. The broader issue is the lack of major conflict or well-defined characters. What internal struggles do they have that brings them together? While these themes were also somewhat absent from its source material, Love Game’s adaptation dulls this further, omitting deeper character introspection in favor of cutesy antics. Somewhere in here is a sweet, endearing romance that’s completely watered down. Check out the manga for the better version of this story. +Sweet, endearing romance between two childhood friends -Prioritizes cringey antics over deeper character introspection -Main characters lack conflict to propel story organically; dull supporting cast -Horrible animation with inconsistent framework

Absolutely outstanding romcom and one of my favourites of the season - this was so damn wholesome and takes and replicates all of the best parts of kaguya sama - the animes are really similar and I love the concept of a romance that has playful games involved - it’s just so much better when there’s a pair that’s dead set one each other from the get go without any unnecessary drama or dragging out and I love all of the lovey dovey moments this anime creates - I really do hope this anime gets another season as it has all the ingredients to become even better

We could be looking at one of the best romances this decade has given us. Aishiteru has a fairly simple premise: "Characters who like each other but want the other to admit it first." To do this, they have the "I Love You Game," where the first to get emotional upon hearing "I love you" and admit it will be the loser. It's a simple, straightforward, overused, and, more than anything, limited premise. Just hearing it makes you think it will be just another run-of-the-mill anime. Repetitive, lacking originality, something to fill the season. The first few episodes are well-constructed. They introduce the protagonists, show how close and trusting they are, and how the game works. The first few episodes are a fairly standard story, with the same strategies and games we've seen in similar anime. So what makes it so special? How they use this limited premise to explore the emotional depth of their protagonists, while simultaneously fostering introspection within them. The game goes from being an excuse to avoid confessing their feelings to an emotional shield for both of them. The game ceases to be a competition and becomes an excuse. This is where the best element of the series comes in: its protagonists. They have it all: communication, chemistry, they're funny, they're romantic. They have everything a romance couple should have. Miku is "the typical popular girl" and Asagi is "the introvert of the class." Up to this point, you might think it's a typical romance with self-insert characters. Well, no, because the story develops them beyond that stereotype. You have Miku, a girl whose main feeling is loneliness, which the anime reflects very well in the scenes inside her house. In addition to loneliness, she has some insecurity about her appearance. For this reason, she decides to embrace her own beauty. She uses makeup and pretty clothes because she wants to feel beautiful for herself. Meanwhile, as part of the game, she wants to force Yukiya to acknowledge her cuteness. He's a very well-developed character, and you can better understand his strengths and weaknesses in the final stretch of the season. Yukiya, on the other hand, is an introverted boy who can connect with others. It's not that he's alone because he can't make friends, but because he chooses to be. This is an important point; the series demonstrates how he can have completely normal conversations with other people, breaking free from the self-insert stereotype. Added to this is the fact that he's extremely committed; he changed his physique and his fashion sense to be the best version of himself. He understood that to aspire to have the girl of his dreams, he also has to be his own ideal self. Both protagonists have such strong personalities that you recognize them as people, not just characters. Another key aspect is that the series never forgets that they are both teenagers. They have the typical insecurities of adolescence, with an emotional burden that matches those problems. This isn't just reflected in their insecurities, but also in their romantic relationships. The kissing episode is simply the best. I think it's the best kiss I've seen in a very, very long time. It's a kiss that happens during a game. At some point, they forget the game and let themselves be carried away by the euphoria of the moment. It's a silent kiss, there are no words, just the act. Rather than portraying it like a scene from a Hollywood movie, they do it like a kiss between teenagers. You can feel their heavy breathing, the emotion, and you could even see a certain level of lust taking over. Like I said, typical of a teenage romance. You don't have to believe what I say, see it for yourself and then come back and confirm that what you just read is true.

I Want to End This Love Game is an anime that grew on me more and more with each episode. A fun premise that I imagine is similar to that of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, although I haven't seen it so I can't say for certain. Art Style/Character Designs - 8 Animation - 5 Themes/Romance - 8.5 Characters - 8 Story - 8 Comedy - 9 Music - 9 Enjoyment - 9 The art style is simple but looks nice, and the same can be said for the character designs. However on the animation side of things it really wasn't very good. You can tell there wasn't a very big budget for this anime, while the animation wasn't exactly horrible it definitely has it's rough moments, especially with its use of CGI. However with that being said, animation is not exactly the most important thing when it comes to romance/slice of life series so I can generally overlook it for I Want to End This Love Game. When it comes to the romance element of this anime, I thought it was extremely adorable. I will say from time to time it was a bit cringe and gave me second hand embarrassment while watching, but it came off in a funny and entertaining way as opposed to being uncomfortable to watch. Specifically because there's times where Miku and Yukiya would be overly flirty while playing the love game and someone would catch them in the middle of it, which again was a little embarrassing but also very funny. As for the characters I really liked Miku and Yukiya, and the way they interacted with each other was really cute too. The side characters were also enjoyable additions in my opinion, the little side story Kazane and Kakeru was interesting, and I really loved Wakana's contribution to the story even if it was pretty minor in the grand scheme of things. When it comes to the story/love game itself I enjoyed it quite a bit, but I do hope if we ever get a season 2 the game doesn't get dragged on too long, especially with how season 1 ended. Also have to mention how much I love the opening and ending songs, they fit the vibe of this anime so well. With all that being said, I'd give I Want to End This Love Game an 8.5/10. While the production quality wasn't great, it made up for it by being cute, adorable and funny. Would definitely recommend giving this one a watch.

The complaints claiming "12 episodes went by with no real progress" completely miss the core appeal of Aishiteru Game wo Owarasetai. When held against the bloated landscape of modern rom-coms, Yukiya and Miku’s dynamic is significantly more engaging and honest. Most romance titles rely on exasperating hesitation, treating simple eye contact or hand-holding like catastrophic events. Here, the premise of the "I Love You Game" flips that formula: because both characters are actively trying to fluster each other into confessing, they engage in physical proximity, bold flirting, and couple-like behaviors that standard rom-com leads avoid for entire seasons. They don't stall out of puritanical embarrassment; they push boundaries under the guise of competition. The tension works because the mutual affection is obvious from day one, and watching them navigate the blur between a childhood game and authentic dating keeps the pacing sharp. A grounded, charming dynamic like this could easily carry 40 or 50 episodes without losing its edge. Verdict: Highly Recommended. Don't let superficial critiques deter you—it’s a witty, proactive romance that delivers far more genuine intimacy than its peers.

Edging, The Anime is a fun High School romcom where you follow a likable and reliable boy trying to better himself to capture the heart of the cute popular girl who secretly very much wants his affections. Since they are childhood friends, they have easy chemistry and cute interactions without having to wait three episodes for them to catch each others' eye. Their daily ritual of openly and brazenly flirting in an attempt to get each other to doki shows off all the things you could have if you were watching a better anime. There is no doubt about it, though, you are not watching a better anime. You are watching the same episode over and over. Even when the story-line introduces growth moments, they inevitably lead to nothing and soon you are back to square one. Aishiteru Game is sandbagged by mediocre animation, repetitive internal self-doubting monologue, and a lack of motion. Not sold yet? You get a secondary romance with the Student Council President so lethargic that it makes the primary romance look like a crazy fast one-night stand. The supporting characters do not get enough screen time, but they are generally fun and make you wish they had more prominent roles. So many shows have leveraged a great supporting cast, but this one just squanders the opportunity. Don't worry too much about missing this one. Recent anime seasons are absolutely stacked so you have plenty else to watch. If you read this far, aishiteru. Did that get your heart beating faster? Maybe you SHOULD watch this anime after all.

Please continue with Season 2! This is one of the most realistic and heartfelt love stories I've seen in an anime in a long time. The relationship between the characters feels genuine, and the emotions, awkward moments, and personal growth make it easy to connect with them. It doesn't rely on unnecessary drama, which makes the story even more enjoyable. I also want to praise the voice cast for their outstanding performances. Miku Ito, in particular, did an incredible job bringing her character to life. Her voice perfectly captured every emotion, making the heartfelt scenes even more memorable. Thank you so much for creating this amazing anime. I truly enjoyed every episode from beginning to end. I would love to see the story continue because it feels like there's still so much left to explore. This anime has become one of my favorites, and I sincerely hope we get to experience Season 2. Please keep this wonderful story alive!

I hate it when a manga has such a unique atmosphere and beautiful, easy-on-the-eyes artwork, while its anime adaptation turns out to be pretty average, with mediocre animation at best, like this one. There are so many beautiful details that didn’t make it into the anime, and the emotions aren’t nearly as strong or portrayed as well as they were in the manga. That’s my opinion on the studio’s work. As for the actual events, here’s what I think: Yukiya is sincere and genuinely loves Miko, but I think he’s lacking a little bit of manliness 😂 Okay, I’m joking. He just needs to be a little more decisive. I just want him to get this whole game over with quickly and give Miko the words she’s been wanting to hear for so long. There’s really no reason for him to keep dragging out the confession. As for Miko, she’s just adorable as always 😂

An unexpectedly good progression... almost. I was curious to see this anime, but I wasn't sure what to expect. When it started, it felt silly and not particularly original, but cute, so I continued. As weeks went by, it became kind of a feel good option. Then, finally, it unexpectedly peaked in episodes 9 and 10. For a moment there I thought it might get some unexpected depth. But then they messed up the pacing, rushed through the last 2 episodes, and the ending just felt flat. Should you watch it? If you enjoy romance animes, definitely. It's fun and cute and has several good scenes, despite not being particularly memorable. For any other reason? Not really.