Netflix has added Hi Score Girl, the charming 2018 comedy about 90s arcade culture, now available with an English dub and subtitles. The series follows Haruo Yaguchi, a sixth-grader obsessed with video games, whose pride is shattered when he's soundly defeated by his classmate, the wealthy and popular Akira Oono, in a game of Street Fighter 2.
Produced by J.C.Staff, the anime captures the nostalgic atmosphere of early 90s arcades, a time when professional gaming was a nascent dream. Haruo's subsequent pursuit of Akira, not for romance but for gaming supremacy, forms the core of the show's unique premise. The series deftly blends humor derived from Haruo's earnest obsession with the burgeoning romance between the two protagonists.
Hi Score Girl scored a respectable 7.74 on MyAnimeList, drawing praise for its faithful recreation of classic arcade games and its heartfelt, albeit unconventional, love story. The narrative unfolds through Haruo's perspective, highlighting his growth as he navigates school, friendships, and his all-consuming passion for video games.
The complete 12-episode first season is available for binge-watching. It adapts the first half of Rensuke Oshikiri's manga, concluding before the events of the Hi Score Girl: Extra Stage OVAs, which serve as a direct continuation.
