Episode 1: Beginner
Review: No Game No Life Episode 1: The Undefeated Gamers And A Whole New World
In No Game No Life episode 1, “Beginner,” Shiro and Sora made up the online gaming team of Blank. They were so good that more than a thousand players in one tournament swarmed against them — some of them even using elaborate cheats — and those challengers still lost! What the losing players didn’t know is that there were only two humans in Blank, because they routinely played with four simultaneous players. After the tournament, Sora was surprised to get an e-mail. After all, neither he nor Shiro had any friends. What they learned from that e-mail and its link would not only validate their deepest observations about their world. It would turn their world upside down.
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 2: Challenger
Review: No Game No Life Episode 2: A Harsh Lesson And A New Goal
In No Game No Life episode 2, “Challenger,” Stephanie Dola, having literally lost the shirt off her back in a card game against Kurami Zell, tried to blame Shiro and Sora for her loss — because they wouldn’t tell her how Kurami had cheated. But the Blank siblings were having none of it. They offered to settle things the way any upstanding inhabitant of Disboard would — with a game. Will the deceased King’s granddaughter do any better against Sora than she had done against Kurami — even if Sora doesn’t cheat? Just what is Kurami up to, anyway? And what does it have to do with our heroes?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 3: Expert
Review: No Game No Life Episode 3: A Brazen Challenge And The Changing Tides Of War
In No Game No Life episode 3, “Expert,” Shiro, Sora, and Stephanie Dola rushed to the throne room. They goal was to challenge the coronation of Kurami Zell. Sora tried to show the subjects that the elf Fil Nilvaren was actually helping Kurami win, and if she were to be coronated, it would be the same as handing Imanity’s fate to the elves. Kurami, though, was too subtle to be so easily trapped — much to Sora and Shiro’s delight, given how much they love a challenge. Since Blank were the ones contesting the proceedings, Kurami claimed the right to choose the game. What will she choose? How will Sora and Shiro guard against her cheating? And just how far is Kurami willing to go to become King?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 4: Grandmaster
Review: No Game No Life Episode 4: The Foretold Tactic And A Chat With God
In No Game No Life episode 4, “Grandmaster,” Shiro and Sora continued their chess battle against Kurami Zell. Sora had turned the enemy queen to their side, but the king stood strong, surrounded by the pieces under Kurami’s command. With a particularly deft move, Sora unleashed his ultimate tactic, which caught Stephanie Dola completely by surprise. It was the tactic her grandfather had told her would be the sign of Imanity’s champions! But now that Sora had pushed Kurami’s back to the wall, she threw aside all pretense and unleashed all the elven magic at her disposal. Can Blank withstand her magical fury? Will this be Blank’s first loss?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 5: Weak Square
Review: No Game No Life Episode 5: Blank’s Ultimate Weapon Unveiled And The Angel Of Death-Ish
In No Game No Life episode 5, “Weak Square,” Stephanie Dola was at her wit’s end. Despite all the work she had invested in keeping the kingdom’s political apparatus running, all Shiro and Sora seemed do do all day was laze around reading. To teach them a lesson, she challenged Sora to a game of Blackjack. She even secretly prepared a cheat! If she won, she said he would have to become a decent person. But of course she didn’t win, and she continued her losing streak until she learned the harsh truth. Not that she couldn’t beat them; she should already have known that! No, she learned what they’d really been doing with their time — and just how close Imanity was to utter disaster.
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 6: Interesting
Review: No Game No Life Episode 6: The Super Healthy Space And This Will Only Kill You A Little
In No Game No Life episode 6, “Interesting,” Shiro and Sora challenged Jibril, a Flügel who used to kill gods in her younger days, to a game of shiritori. But it was not just any game of shiritori. It was Materialization Shiritori, which meant any valid word they played actually materialized — or dematerialized, if it was already present. On one side of the battle we had a being whose intellect is far superior to humans and whose battle instincts were honed over thousands of years. On the other, we had two NEETs whose tactics have evolved over just a few years — and for online video games. Do they stand a chance against such a formidable foe — a foe who barely considers them alive? And when will Stephanie Dola be able to stop acting like a dog?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 7: Sacrifice
Review: No Game No Life Episode 7: Despair Does Not Become Him And The King’s Biggest Gamble
In No Game No Life episode 7, “Sacrifice,” Jibril was doing more than just tolerating her new masters Shiro and Sora. She seemed to positively relish in their antics — though she really didn’t think much of any other humans like Stephanie Dola. Expecting deep insights into the War Beasts’ gaming skills, Sora asked Jibril for a complete debrief. He was shocked to learn she’d lost to the Eastern Federation — and had her memories of that loss erased! That was their last hope. Sora knew of no other source of information. Since the games were won with information, there was no path to victory. Can Shiro lift Sora out of his despair? Will Stephanie forgive him for how he spoke of her grandfather? And just how many times did her grandfather lose to the Eastern Federation — costing how much land?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 8: Fake End
Review: No Game No Life Episode 8: Betting The Race Piece And An Ultimate Act Of Trust
In No Game No Life episode 8, “Fake End,” Shiro and Sora have decided to take the fight to the Eastern Federation, so they visit the Warbeasts’ embassy along with Stephanie Dola and Jibril. They challenge the Warbeasts to a game. Step by step, they show Ino Hatsuse, the assistant ambassador, and his granddaughter, the ambassador Izuna Hatsuse, that they know the Warbeast’s mind-reading ability is just a myth. What’s more, they reveal that Blank has figured out exactly what the Warbeast’s super secret game is — and that Blank knows exactly and precisely what’s needed to beat it. When Ino shows signs of hesitation, Sora reveals the ultimate lure: Imanity’s race piece. Will that convince the Warbeasts to participate? Will Sora and Shiro’s subjects allow them to bet their race piece — knowing that if they lose, Imanity leaves the rank of the Exceed and become animals with no rights? Finally, why is Sora telling Shiro how much he believes in her — as if he’s about to perish?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 9: Sky Walk
Review: No Game No Life Episode 9: A Profound Trust And A New Found Intimacy
In No Game No Life episode 9, “Sky Walk,” Shiro tried to come to terms with a world in which Sora no longer existed. It doesn’t help that neither Stephanie Dola nor Jibril remember Shiro ever having a brother. To Jibril’s credit, she doesn’t assume Shiro is insane. But perhaps worse, she assumes that Shiro had played a game, perhaps against the Eastern Federation, and had lost, with the price being her having false memories. With her own memories of Sora beginning to fade, and with her will to continue fading along with it, can Shiro rally herself to figure out what’s going on? Can she count on Stephanie or Jibril to help? And will Jibril’s idea for Shiro to bet her “false” memories in a game and loose — when Blank never loses — bear fruit?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 10: Blue Rose
Review: No Game No Life Episode 10: Flügel On The Roof And Full Dive Couches
In No Game No Life episode 10, “Blue Rose,” Sora made a surprise announcement: in order to increase teamwork, everyone had to introduce themselves. Kurami Zell didn’t really want to say much more than her name, but with a little prompting from Sora (who mentioned something about padding), she did her part. All was going well until they got to Fil Nilvaren. Apparently, she wasn’t about to work with the Flügel Jibril, who had apparently destroyed at least one and maybe more Elven cities back in the Great War. Can Sora and Shiro keep their little group together long enough to take on the Eastern Federation? Or will Jibril’s past transgressions (and complete lack of contrition in the present) doom their plans?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 11: Killing Giant
Review: No Game No Life Episode 11: Hiding In Plain Sight And A Game Of Millimeters
In No Game No Life episode 11, “Killing Giant,” Shiro and Sora were enormously relieved to learn that what they thought was Tokyo was actually the fictional level in a video came called Love or Loved 2: Hit Her with Your Bullet of Love! Their relief wasn’t long-lasted, though, as it became apparent that no matter how well they played, Izuna Hatsuse seemed to be one step ahead of them. Shiro and Sora knew she was cheating. So did Kurami Zell and Fil Nilvaren, who were watching the game from the outside. But the Warbeasts prepared their game well, and it was impossible to prove. Is victory even possible — especially after Jibril is turned to Izuna’s side?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Episode 12: Rule Number 10
Review: No Game No Life Episode 12: Dire Expectations And The Flip Of A Coin
In No Game No Life episode 12, “Rule Number 10,” Shiro and Sora were expecting Izuna Hatsuse to power up, but not to the extent that she had. Izuna seemed to move faster than the laws of physics, even the physics within the game, would allow. Sora even had to kick off his shoes to intercept a shot from Izuna! But her speed and ferocity finally seemed to overwhelm them. She banked a shot off of Sora’s defense to hit Shiro, and another shot hit Sora. As they went down, Ino Hatsuse began to celebrate. Had Imanity actually lost? Did Izuna’s Blood Destruction really overwhelm them? It’s hard to see how both Shiro and Sora going down is part of their plan…
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
