Hi Score Girl (2018)
A nostalgic anime rom-com set in the golden age of arcades, where rivalry, video games, and an unlikely friendship slowly blossom into something more.
Hi Score Girl - Series Information
- Original Title: ハイスコアガール
- First Air Year: 2018
- Last Air Year: 2019
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Comedy, Animation
- Content Rating (US): TV-PG
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (24 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 2
- Number of Episodes: 21
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- First Air Date: July 14, 2018 (United States - TV-PG), July 14, 2018 (India - U/A 13+), July 14, 2018 (Australia - PG), July 14, 2018 (Brazil - 12), July 14, 2018 (South Korea - 12)
- Networks: Tokyo MX, BS11
- Alternative Titles: ハイスコアガール EXTRA STAGE (JP), High Score Girl: Extra Stage (US), Девчонка не промах (RU), Hi Score Girl (TR)
- Production Companies: J.C.STAFF
- Production Countries: Japan
Hi Score Girl - Plot
The year is 1991 and 6th grader Yaguchi Haruo only has video games to live for. He's not popular in school and he's neither handsome, funny, nice nor even friendly. The only thing he has going for him is that he is good at video games. One day at the local arcade, he plays Oono Akira, a fellow classmate but who's popular, smart, pretty and a rich girl that absolutely destroys him at Street Fighter II. Not only does he lose to her 30 times in a row, he can't beat her at any game. Haruo can't seem to shake Akira off as she follows him from arcade to arcade everyday after school and beats him every time. As weird as it sounds, the odd couple begins a strange bond and friendship.
Hi Score Girl - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a taste of the arcade nostalgia and heartfelt story waiting inside:
Where to Watch Hi Score Girl
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Hi Score Girl - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Sayumi Suzushiro
- Daiki Yamashita
- Satomi Arai
- Cho
- Chinatsu Akasaki
- Hochu Otsuka
- Yuuki Hirose
- Kohei Amasaki
- Kazuyuki Okitsu
- Shizuka Itoh
Writers
- Tatsuhiko Urahata
Hi Score Girl - FAQs
Is Hi Score Girl based on a manga?
Hi Score Girl is adapted from the manga of the same name by Rensuke Oshikiri, serialized in Square Enix's Monthly Big Gangan from 2010 to 2018. The manga ran for nine volumes and is notable for featuring real licensed arcade game titles from the early 1990s, which was a significant production achievement.
What real video games appear in Hi Score Girl?
Hi Score Girl features a remarkable lineup of authentic arcade classics, including Street Fighter II, Samurai Shodown, Virtua Fighter, The King of Fighters, and Puzzle Bobble, among many others. The series secured actual licenses from publishers like Capcom, SNK, and Sega, making it a genuine love letter to early 1990s gaming culture.
Is Hi Score Girl worth watching for non-gamers?
Absolutely. While the arcade nostalgia is a huge draw, the heart of the series is its tender, slow-burn romance between two very different kids who find connection through a shared passion. The emotional storytelling and endearing characters resonate well beyond gaming, making it a genuinely touching watch for anyone who enjoys character-driven anime.
Where can you stream Hi Score Girl?
Hi Score Girl is available to stream on Netflix and Netflix Standard with Ads. Both subscription tiers give you access to the full series, including its two main seasons and the bonus special episodes that round out the story.
Who voices Akira Ono in Hi Score Girl?
Akira Ono, the silent and enigmatic female lead, is voiced by Sayumi Suzushiro. The role is particularly challenging because Akira almost never speaks throughout the series, requiring Suzushiro to convey the character's rich inner life entirely through subtle vocal reactions, breathing, and expressive timing — a performance widely praised by fans.
How many seasons and episodes does Hi Score Girl have?
Hi Score Girl ran for two main seasons totalling 21 episodes — 12 in Season 1 and 9 in Season 2 — plus three bonus special episodes collected under Season 0. The series aired between 2018 and 2019 and concluded its story fully, giving viewers a satisfying and complete ending.
Who composed the music for Hi Score Girl?
The score for Hi Score Girl was composed by Yoko Shimomura, a legendary video game composer best known for her work on Kingdom Hearts, Street Fighter II, and Final Fantasy XV. Her involvement was a perfect creative fit, lending the series an authentic gaming-era warmth that beautifully complements its nostalgic 1990s arcade setting.
What anime series are similar to Hi Score Girl?
Fans of Hi Score Girl often enjoy Kaguya-sama: Love Is War for its witty romantic tension, GAMERS! for its video game setting and romantic misunderstandings, and Spice and Wolf for its slow-burn character-driven bond. Place to Place is another gentle pick for viewers drawn to the series' quiet, heartfelt approach to romance.
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