Finished
“Man imprisoned for 10 years seeks revenge on mysterious captor in deadly game.”
Old Boy
ルーズ戦記 オールドボーイ
7.25
5,764 rank · 20,901 readers · 278 favorites
Seinen
Psychological
Action
Drama
Mystery
Would You Love or Hate This?
AI-powered analysis tailored to your taste
Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
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Honest pros & cons
Based on your library
Synopsis
Man imprisoned for 10 years seeks revenge on mysterious captor in deadly game.
Drugged and confused, Shinichi Gotou wakes up in a small room inside a private prison. Despite his pleadings, none of the guards will tell him who kidnapped him or why he is being held captive. As the days go by, his forced isolation slowly takes a toll on his sanity. He finds an outlet through training his mind and body for the day he will be able to wreak vengeance. After 10 years, Shinichi is finally free. Once outside, he encounters a much changed world. His long imprisonment ripped him from society and kept him from having the normal life he desired. With nothing to lose, he begins his hunt for the one responsible. However, it seems that the person behind Shinichi's captivity is not done with him just yet, and thus begins a twisted game where only the winner survives.
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 15 sampled reviews
6.6
/10
What 15 readers settled on.
67%
recommend
Score distribution
median 6
mode 4
σ 2.03
Agreement
Polarized
σ 2.03 · split reception
The polarity gap
4.8 pts
Recommenders 8.8 · others 4.0
Yes
No
Score over time
↓ 1.40
Running avg · Nov 2010 → Jan 2026
Snap verdicts
· shortest highly-rated reviews
- 9 “The art is fantastic, perfectly capturing the nighttime atmosphere of Tokyo, while the well-written characters and intriguing plot keep me questioning the hero's situation from the start. Although...”
- 8 “Old Boy is an enjoyable read that excels in its dark, detailed artwork, strong character development, and a suspenseful, Urasawa-esque narrative build-up. However, the experience is hampered by a...”
- 9 “Old Boy is an enigmatic, brilliant thriller with a slow-burn narrative and deeply relatable, formidable characters that kept me completely hooked. While the art is excellent and carries a timeless,...”
Verbosity
Short · 33%
Medium · 40%
Long · 27%
Read Order & Related
A self-contained story.
No sequels, spin-offs or alternate tellings — Old Boy begins and ends here.
Cast
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A Manga Publication
- Format 79 × 8 ch × vol
- Total read 10h 32m approx
- Published Jan 1996 – Jan 1998
- Source Manga media type
- Ref. BS-M1715 catalog