Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3’s Culling Game Arc Takes the Anime World by Storm

The Jujutsu Kaisen hype train isn’t slowing down — it’s speeding up. Season 3, centered on the brutal Culling Game arc, is currently airing and generating massive buzz from fans around the world. Since its premiere in January 2026, this latest chapter of Yuji Itadori’s story has become one of the most-discussed anime of the season — and for good reason.

A Hit in the Ratings and Streaming Charts

It’s not just chatter online: Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 has soared to the top of streaming charts, including landing at No. 1 on Netflix Japan, overtaking even other major anime titles. This surge in viewership reflects not only the franchise’s enduring popularity but also how deeply fans are engaging with the Culling Game story.

Critically, the anime is also scoring big — with standout episodes earning impressive ratings on platforms like IMDb, where some episodes have reached scores as high as 9.8/10 thanks to standout character moments and action scenes.

What Fans Are Saying

The fan reaction hasn’t been one-note, but it has been lively.

Across social platforms, many viewers are praising the quality of the animation, the tension of the Culling Game mechanics, and the emotional stakes of major character battles — particularly scenes involving Maki, Yuji, and other sorcerers gearing up for life-or-death confrontations. Some fans have even called this season one of MAPPA’s most visually striking works yet.

At the same time, there’s been a spirited divide in response. While many international viewers celebrate the spectacle and pacing, some segments of the Japanese fanbase have expressed frustration over certain plot and stylistic choices, sparking debates about narrative balance and character portrayal.

The Arc Itself: Intense and Expansive

For those tuning in, the Culling Game arc isn’t just another story beat — it’s an expansive test of everything the characters have learned. It pits sorcerers against each other under brutal rules, introduces long-lost fighters from ancient history, and layers in political intrigue and emotional depth rarely seen in shonen anime.

Episodes so far have brought:

Strategic confrontations between Yuji and other powerful sorcerers

The arrival of ancient enemies and rule-bending twists

High stakes that tilt the balance between survival and sacrifice

With a split cours structure expected — the first half running through March and a second later this year — there’s plenty more action and drama to come.

Why This Season Feels Different

Rather than cruising on reputation alone, Season 3 is proving itself with measurable performance — chart dominance, community engagement, and lively online debate. Whether you’re in it for the fight sequences, the lore, or the character arcs, the Culling Game has fans hooked in ways both familiar and fresh.

For anime lovers everywhere, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 isn’t just doing well — it’s reminding the world why it remains a cornerstone of modern shonen storytelling.