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OMORI #1
Omori, Band 1
Nach einem tragischen Vorfall bricht Sunny mit seinen Freunden und verlässt so gut wie nicht mehr das Haus. Einige Jahre später entscheidet seine Mutter, dass es nicht so weitergehen kann und sie die Stadt verlassen werden. Doch kurz vor dem Umzug begegnet Sunny erneut seinen alten Freunden und ein Abenteuer beginnt, das alte Wunden erneut aufreißen – oder heilen – könnte …
208 pages, Paperback
First published November 21, 2024
18 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
OMOCAT
23 books15 followersOMOCAT is an illustrator known for a variety of work that ranges from very personal art and comics (Pretty Boy!!) to fanart of various video games and anime. Aside from being an artist, she runs her own website / online store with a very successful clothing line featuring her original artwork as well as collaborations with other independent artists.
Her most recent project is OMORI, a project that has been on her mind since the start of her career.
(- https://omori.fandom.com/wiki/OMOCAT)
Her most recent project is OMORI, a project that has been on her mind since the start of her career.
(- https://omori.fandom.com/wiki/OMOCAT)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for a voluntary and honest review!
I will say I have previous knowledge of Omori so I knew what I was getting into by reading this manga but it was super enjoyable nonetheless! It was really nostalgic to jump back into this world and storyline - I by no means think that you need to have any prior knowledge of this world to jump straight into the manga, if anything you'll just join the club a slight confusion and intrigue lmao
The art style is insanely pretty but also pretty horrifying - this story is a psychological horror and you can definitely tell that the storyline will be disturbing just from the art style alone! If I had to compare the art to another popular manga I would say its somewhat similar to The Summer Hikaru Died and I mean that in the best way possible!!
Super excited for the second volume of this to be released in summer - I'll definitely be continuing it!
I will say I have previous knowledge of Omori so I knew what I was getting into by reading this manga but it was super enjoyable nonetheless! It was really nostalgic to jump back into this world and storyline - I by no means think that you need to have any prior knowledge of this world to jump straight into the manga, if anything you'll just join the club a slight confusion and intrigue lmao
The art style is insanely pretty but also pretty horrifying - this story is a psychological horror and you can definitely tell that the storyline will be disturbing just from the art style alone! If I had to compare the art to another popular manga I would say its somewhat similar to The Summer Hikaru Died and I mean that in the best way possible!!
Super excited for the second volume of this to be released in summer - I'll definitely be continuing it!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received this book from the publisher (Kodansha) on Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
So I was definitely in the mood for something horror so when I spotted this one (and that awesome cover) I just had to request. On that note, I did see that a game was mentioned, but hey, I have read enough manga and seen anime based on games that work (.hack, Clannad, Kanon, Higurashi, Touhou, The IdolM@ster, Fate, Kantai to name a few), so I thought that I may miss some references but I should be fine. Well that was WRONG. So WRONG.
This is going to be a reactions review.
Or I would think that you would make a manga that allows people who have NEVER heard of your game or played it actually know what the heck is going on. I mean, I was so confused. Sunny our MC is a shut-in, apparently he is about to move and there is his bestie??? Who he hasn’t seen in 4 years??? And then suddenly we meet others who are fighting? There are bats with nails, and knives? HELLO? I knew it was going to be horror-esque, but I didn’t expect weapons all of the sudden. What is this that angel anime with all the violence? Why is everyone so angry? I mean, I get that someone died, four years ago and things broke apart, but that was 4 years ago? Hello? And then backstory in which everyone is like the total opposite of what they are now. I know grief does things with you but this is a bit much. Basil I thought was a girl, is a boy. Kel who looked like a slender girl is a boy. Aubrey looks so vastly different in the past and the present that I cannot believe they are the actual same person. Who the fuck is OMORI? Is that Sunny?
We went from 4 years after Sunny’s big sister’s death to back in the past when she was alive and they were all kids. And then suddenly there was a fight scene with a monster? Named Boss????? And then Sunny (or OMORI or whatever) has the same knife he had before the flashback happened, so is this really a flashback or something else???? Also Mari going that her leg hurts but in the mean time she is sitting on it the whole time????? And then we get some strange shit happening with Basil and then we are back again? And then things get normal but with a dark undertone?? And now instead of knifing someone we are yeeting cans at people’s heads???? What is this manga? WHAT IS HAPPENING.
And now we are at a church and things are getting heated (IN A CHURCH TAKE IT OUTSIDDDEEE). And then a search and then we are back again in the past???? And then that world map? Is that something the kids made? Is this world all fake? There is a fucking ladder to space????? DO I really need to play a fucking game to understand this? And now they are on another planet with shadows and whatever else????? HELLLO? ANYONE? Help. Dark shit happens? Knife is back. Shadows are back. Portraits are leaking? WHATTTT????
And then suddenly after a lot of darkness (which was actually a cool part and I want more of it) we are back again and now at another place??? HELLO??? ANYONE? Can someone give me a map and some information. Please. I know that Mari is dead. But not in this part. Is this grief? Is this loss? And now we end it with some space hero??????????????? SPACE HERO?????? WHATTTTTT??
So I have a headache. I am confused. I am not amused. I mean, the art was fantastic. The spooky bits (which I still have no clue what they mean but I am guessing grief or something though the shadows also murder or try to murder people so umm….) were drawn wonderfully. But um, if your manga needs something extra like a game or an anime or a show to have people enjoy it you are doing it wrong. Or at least warn us. I am not reading any more of this. Bye.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
So I was definitely in the mood for something horror so when I spotted this one (and that awesome cover) I just had to request. On that note, I did see that a game was mentioned, but hey, I have read enough manga and seen anime based on games that work (.hack, Clannad, Kanon, Higurashi, Touhou, The IdolM@ster, Fate, Kantai to name a few), so I thought that I may miss some references but I should be fine. Well that was WRONG. So WRONG.
This is going to be a reactions review.
Or I would think that you would make a manga that allows people who have NEVER heard of your game or played it actually know what the heck is going on. I mean, I was so confused. Sunny our MC is a shut-in, apparently he is about to move and there is his bestie??? Who he hasn’t seen in 4 years??? And then suddenly we meet others who are fighting? There are bats with nails, and knives? HELLO? I knew it was going to be horror-esque, but I didn’t expect weapons all of the sudden. What is this that angel anime with all the violence? Why is everyone so angry? I mean, I get that someone died, four years ago and things broke apart, but that was 4 years ago? Hello? And then backstory in which everyone is like the total opposite of what they are now. I know grief does things with you but this is a bit much. Basil I thought was a girl, is a boy. Kel who looked like a slender girl is a boy. Aubrey looks so vastly different in the past and the present that I cannot believe they are the actual same person. Who the fuck is OMORI? Is that Sunny?
We went from 4 years after Sunny’s big sister’s death to back in the past when she was alive and they were all kids. And then suddenly there was a fight scene with a monster? Named Boss????? And then Sunny (or OMORI or whatever) has the same knife he had before the flashback happened, so is this really a flashback or something else???? Also Mari going that her leg hurts but in the mean time she is sitting on it the whole time????? And then we get some strange shit happening with Basil and then we are back again? And then things get normal but with a dark undertone?? And now instead of knifing someone we are yeeting cans at people’s heads???? What is this manga? WHAT IS HAPPENING.
And now we are at a church and things are getting heated (IN A CHURCH TAKE IT OUTSIDDDEEE). And then a search and then we are back again in the past???? And then that world map? Is that something the kids made? Is this world all fake? There is a fucking ladder to space????? DO I really need to play a fucking game to understand this? And now they are on another planet with shadows and whatever else????? HELLLO? ANYONE? Help. Dark shit happens? Knife is back. Shadows are back. Portraits are leaking? WHATTTT????
And then suddenly after a lot of darkness (which was actually a cool part and I want more of it) we are back again and now at another place??? HELLO??? ANYONE? Can someone give me a map and some information. Please. I know that Mari is dead. But not in this part. Is this grief? Is this loss? And now we end it with some space hero??????????????? SPACE HERO?????? WHATTTTTT??
So I have a headache. I am confused. I am not amused. I mean, the art was fantastic. The spooky bits (which I still have no clue what they mean but I am guessing grief or something though the shadows also murder or try to murder people so umm….) were drawn wonderfully. But um, if your manga needs something extra like a game or an anime or a show to have people enjoy it you are doing it wrong. Or at least warn us. I am not reading any more of this. Bye.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
March 23, 2026
I meant to read this before it came out but with studying for a test and my not so pretty nightmare, I felt it better to wait a week or so.
This is a psychological horror manga. So my sister played the game and said this was really good. I didn’t play the game and I’m simply very confused 🤣🤣
I swear I don’t get how we go from one scene to another. Like it is just me or did you guys also felt your heads become potato reading this? 😅
So what I got was that we alternate from going to the past and the present. This way we can see Omori’s sister - Mari. According to my sister and the description of the book (I went back to it after reading it 😭😭) she’s accidentally killed. So in the present I think it’s trying to show Sunny’s trauma. But then they also show memories of the friend group together. Yeah I’m confused to say the least but at least I really like the art.
Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha comics for the arc.
This is a psychological horror manga. So my sister played the game and said this was really good. I didn’t play the game and I’m simply very confused 🤣🤣
I swear I don’t get how we go from one scene to another. Like it is just me or did you guys also felt your heads become potato reading this? 😅
So what I got was that we alternate from going to the past and the present. This way we can see Omori’s sister - Mari. According to my sister and the description of the book (I went back to it after reading it 😭😭) she’s accidentally killed. So in the present I think it’s trying to show Sunny’s trauma. But then they also show memories of the friend group together. Yeah I’m confused to say the least but at least I really like the art.
Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha comics for the arc.
January 4, 2026
as a huge Huge fan of the game, i really enjoyed it. but i can see how it can be a bit confusing for people who haven't played it,, dont give up on it plz!.!.!!! >_< i love the art style and im excited to read more volumes in the future :)
February 27, 2026
Thanks Netgalley and publisher for allowing me to read this manga after its game release!
Now I never played the game but oh boy, it’s really really dark even as a volume 1. You’d really feel for our boi Sunny here with the amount of hallucinations he faces while he’s with his friends and also coming into terms of his sister Maris death. It really does show the mental illness quite well with curiosity and pain that Sunny feels. It reminds me a mix of Higurashi: hear they cry and From the new World animes with making you confused but more interested to find out on seeing more.
Now I never played the game but oh boy, it’s really really dark even as a volume 1. You’d really feel for our boi Sunny here with the amount of hallucinations he faces while he’s with his friends and also coming into terms of his sister Maris death. It really does show the mental illness quite well with curiosity and pain that Sunny feels. It reminds me a mix of Higurashi: hear they cry and From the new World animes with making you confused but more interested to find out on seeing more.
March 13, 2026
I’m confused but very intrigued. Love the art style but can’t get behind the fact that they’re supposed to be young adults? They still look like children. Anyways, excited to get my heartbroken.
(Ethan, still waiting for that gameplay)
(Ethan, still waiting for that gameplay)
April 12, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and Kodansha for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Promised Neverland meets Junji Ito.
Child on Child violence and it was kinda fun. I really enjoyed the horror panels of weird slime creatures either oozing put of something or just chomping on a kid.
I definitely think its shortfall is that you need to keep reading for it all to come together, but as someone who knows nothing about the game, it's a very not bad first volume.
Promised Neverland meets Junji Ito.
Child on Child violence and it was kinda fun. I really enjoyed the horror panels of weird slime creatures either oozing put of something or just chomping on a kid.
I definitely think its shortfall is that you need to keep reading for it all to come together, but as someone who knows nothing about the game, it's a very not bad first volume.
April 1, 2026
Thanks to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Although it was a bit confusing at the beginning, not understanding the dynamic between Omori and Sunny, I was in suspense the entire time, waiting to see what unexpected event would happen next. To be honest, I truly enjoyed Omori's character who, as the author may have put it, somewhat dead inside. The lack of emotion from Omori did make it somewhat humorous. It was a very interesting that some moments seemed lighthearted when others would be the complete opposite. The illustrations definitely helped with this. I especially enjoyed the transition in the illustrations from lighthearted to horrific. It kept me on my toes, and I am curious to see how the story will unfold in the next volume!
Although it was a bit confusing at the beginning, not understanding the dynamic between Omori and Sunny, I was in suspense the entire time, waiting to see what unexpected event would happen next. To be honest, I truly enjoyed Omori's character who, as the author may have put it, somewhat dead inside. The lack of emotion from Omori did make it somewhat humorous. It was a very interesting that some moments seemed lighthearted when others would be the complete opposite. The illustrations definitely helped with this. I especially enjoyed the transition in the illustrations from lighthearted to horrific. It kept me on my toes, and I am curious to see how the story will unfold in the next volume!
April 17, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this advanced copy.
I really loved the game. However I found it lost Its Sparks in this format. Like the transition of how the world changed feel so awkward.
Sadly, it didn't clicked to me as the game did
I really loved the game. However I found it lost Its Sparks in this format. Like the transition of how the world changed feel so awkward.
Sadly, it didn't clicked to me as the game did
July 20, 2025
I’m not totally into it yet (probably because I haven’t played the game) but it is very intriguing.
March 24, 2026
Thanks to OMOCAT, Kodansha Comics, and Netgalley for a complimentary e-arc of this manga in exchange for an honest review.
Let me disclaimer this review by saying - I went into this book completely blind as someone who hasn't yet played the Omori video game this is based off of. It is something I am interested in playing however as I know it delves into psychological horror which is something I am interested in genre-wise in my video games and books. Whilst this definitely did do the psychological horror elements well, and I got a general idea of the tone and characters in this first volume of the manga series, unfortunately it was a rather confusing read. I feel like this was a manga which assumed you were already familiar with the video game, and doesn't hold your hand at all in this regards. Whilst I was definitely intrigued by the mysteries presented here and did think the art direction worked really well for the psychological horror elements, I felt the plot itself was too vague to be understood by a casual reader.
It's a shame as I know this video game (which I believe was independently made), has had an emotional impact on a lot of people and I was excited to see what it was all about but this first volume of the manga just left me feeling baffled and I really had no clue what was going on a lot of the time. The story seems to follow our main character Sunny (also sometimes know as Omori?), who has become a shut in, years after an incident appears to have happened between a group of childhood friends. The group are all haunted and changed by this incident, but as of yet, the story hasn't revealed exactly what splintered their friend group. I thought the characters were interesting but we didn't spend too long with any of them long enough to get a real feel for them outside of their base personalities. The art felt somewhat childish at times, but this is in keeping with the series' style but i was confused by how it seemed the kids were sometimes referred to as children, and then as being older as they all looked very young.
Not one for me sadly, as I was just very confused reading this manga and will check out the video game instead.
Let me disclaimer this review by saying - I went into this book completely blind as someone who hasn't yet played the Omori video game this is based off of. It is something I am interested in playing however as I know it delves into psychological horror which is something I am interested in genre-wise in my video games and books. Whilst this definitely did do the psychological horror elements well, and I got a general idea of the tone and characters in this first volume of the manga series, unfortunately it was a rather confusing read. I feel like this was a manga which assumed you were already familiar with the video game, and doesn't hold your hand at all in this regards. Whilst I was definitely intrigued by the mysteries presented here and did think the art direction worked really well for the psychological horror elements, I felt the plot itself was too vague to be understood by a casual reader.
It's a shame as I know this video game (which I believe was independently made), has had an emotional impact on a lot of people and I was excited to see what it was all about but this first volume of the manga just left me feeling baffled and I really had no clue what was going on a lot of the time. The story seems to follow our main character Sunny (also sometimes know as Omori?), who has become a shut in, years after an incident appears to have happened between a group of childhood friends. The group are all haunted and changed by this incident, but as of yet, the story hasn't revealed exactly what splintered their friend group. I thought the characters were interesting but we didn't spend too long with any of them long enough to get a real feel for them outside of their base personalities. The art felt somewhat childish at times, but this is in keeping with the series' style but i was confused by how it seemed the kids were sometimes referred to as children, and then as being older as they all looked very young.
Not one for me sadly, as I was just very confused reading this manga and will check out the video game instead.
March 15, 2026
5⭐️
This was so nostalgic, I am so incredibly happy this manga is finally coming out because I feel there is never enough of Omori in this world 🤍
I absolutely LOVED the videogame, so much I played it three times to not lose any of the many details and when I saw the ARC of the first manga on NetGallery, I screamed.
Thank you so much for gifting me the opportunity to read this one before the release date, I made sure to add it to my wish list and I am 100% going to get each manga in the series 😍
This volume was so similar to the videogame, I was actually really surprised. The drawings are beyond amazing and now I can’t wait to read the second volume.
For those not familiar with the videogame Omori, this volume might seem full of nonsense, but just trust me, you keep reading and you won’t be disappointed!
This was so nostalgic, I am so incredibly happy this manga is finally coming out because I feel there is never enough of Omori in this world 🤍
I absolutely LOVED the videogame, so much I played it three times to not lose any of the many details and when I saw the ARC of the first manga on NetGallery, I screamed.
Thank you so much for gifting me the opportunity to read this one before the release date, I made sure to add it to my wish list and I am 100% going to get each manga in the series 😍
This volume was so similar to the videogame, I was actually really surprised. The drawings are beyond amazing and now I can’t wait to read the second volume.
For those not familiar with the videogame Omori, this volume might seem full of nonsense, but just trust me, you keep reading and you won’t be disappointed!
April 13, 2026
I received this book courtesy of Netgalley for the purpose of a fair and honest review.
Overview: Sunny has long lived in his home. Ever since his sister died, he has been what is called a shut-in. Now that his family is planning to move, it's time for him to face the outside again. What happened to Mari? Why is Aubrey so angry? Let's find out.
Story Telling: This is apart one of a manga based off of an indie RPG style videogame.
Artwork: The style is manga, including how the book is read.
Dislikes: I was rather lost in this manga. This is because I was unaware that you really needed to have played the game, or been aware of the game's story, in order to understand it.
Likes: Basil has a good heart.
Conclusion: This book is okay. If you are a fan of the game OMARI then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
Overview: Sunny has long lived in his home. Ever since his sister died, he has been what is called a shut-in. Now that his family is planning to move, it's time for him to face the outside again. What happened to Mari? Why is Aubrey so angry? Let's find out.
Story Telling: This is apart one of a manga based off of an indie RPG style videogame.
Artwork: The style is manga, including how the book is read.
Dislikes: I was rather lost in this manga. This is because I was unaware that you really needed to have played the game, or been aware of the game's story, in order to understand it.
Likes: Basil has a good heart.
Conclusion: This book is okay. If you are a fan of the game OMARI then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
May 9, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for this e-ARC.
OMORI 1 was a wonderful blend of dark and adorable. I’m a huge fan of rpgs and cozy horror sooo this was an easy 5 star read for me.
I knew from the moment I saw the cover that I would probably like this manga. And as soon as I saw Mari at the beginning, I knew I was right. The character design in OMORI 1 was great. All of the illustration in general was beautiful and so detailed. I’m especially a big fan of the character introductions and Aubrey’s design.
As a gamer. the fact this is based on an indie game is so cool and one of my favorite parts about this manga. I wishlisted it on steam before I even finished reading.
I definitely recommend OMORI 1 and I can’t wait to see more of the story progress in future volumes.
♡
OMORI 1 was a wonderful blend of dark and adorable. I’m a huge fan of rpgs and cozy horror sooo this was an easy 5 star read for me.
I knew from the moment I saw the cover that I would probably like this manga. And as soon as I saw Mari at the beginning, I knew I was right. The character design in OMORI 1 was great. All of the illustration in general was beautiful and so detailed. I’m especially a big fan of the character introductions and Aubrey’s design.
As a gamer. the fact this is based on an indie game is so cool and one of my favorite parts about this manga. I wishlisted it on steam before I even finished reading.
I definitely recommend OMORI 1 and I can’t wait to see more of the story progress in future volumes.
♡
February 26, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for this ARC!
Omori is a very interesting and depressing story. The way this story is told through this new medium is excellent. The art style and design choices blend video game design with an almost cosmic horror level of character design that was unexpected. While the story is very intriguing, it may be too confusing to follow for those that are unfamiliar with the video game that this book is based upon. That said, I would still recommend this manga for lovers of horror manga and (obviously) those that played the game.
Omori is a very interesting and depressing story. The way this story is told through this new medium is excellent. The art style and design choices blend video game design with an almost cosmic horror level of character design that was unexpected. While the story is very intriguing, it may be too confusing to follow for those that are unfamiliar with the video game that this book is based upon. That said, I would still recommend this manga for lovers of horror manga and (obviously) those that played the game.
March 6, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
I went into this without having played the game it’s based on, and I do think that influenced my overall experience with the story. Because I didn’t have that background knowledge, parts of the plot felt a bit scattered and I occasionally found myself feeling lost while trying to follow what was happening.
That said, I don’t think this is a bad story at all, it just wasn’t the right fit for me personally. I suspect fans of the game will likely get much more out of it since they’ll already be familiar with the world and characters.
One thing I really did enjoy was the artwork. The illustrations are beautiful and add a lot of charm to the overall reading experience.
After reading this, I’m definitely curious about the game and plan to check it out. I’d love to revisit the story later with that extra context and see if it changes how I feel about it. 🎮📚
I went into this without having played the game it’s based on, and I do think that influenced my overall experience with the story. Because I didn’t have that background knowledge, parts of the plot felt a bit scattered and I occasionally found myself feeling lost while trying to follow what was happening.
That said, I don’t think this is a bad story at all, it just wasn’t the right fit for me personally. I suspect fans of the game will likely get much more out of it since they’ll already be familiar with the world and characters.
One thing I really did enjoy was the artwork. The illustrations are beautiful and add a lot of charm to the overall reading experience.
After reading this, I’m definitely curious about the game and plan to check it out. I’d love to revisit the story later with that extra context and see if it changes how I feel about it. 🎮📚
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2026
4 ⭐️
I'm so so so grateful to NetGalley and the publisher to have granted me early access on this new adaptation of Omori. I'm a huge fan of the game and jumping back into this crazy, heartbreaking story was exciting and nostalgic af. Unfortunately i found the style a bit confusing and If I didn’t have the background knowledge I had I don’t know if I’d have enjoyed it this much…
I'm so so so grateful to NetGalley and the publisher to have granted me early access on this new adaptation of Omori. I'm a huge fan of the game and jumping back into this crazy, heartbreaking story was exciting and nostalgic af. Unfortunately i found the style a bit confusing and If I didn’t have the background knowledge I had I don’t know if I’d have enjoyed it this much…
March 26, 2026
I actually have no idea what I just read. The art was a bit wild and I wasn't sure what I was looking at. Something about a photo album and a sister who died?
Either way I don't think these were for me and I wont be reading anymore
Thanks Netgally for my advanced copy
Either way I don't think these were for me and I wont be reading anymore
Thanks Netgally for my advanced copy
April 11, 2026
I received this manga as an ARC from Netgalley in return for my honest feedback.
After playing the game, I was intrigued by the manga and this first part of Omori was pretty good. The art is great and it does a good job of being unsettling. It is almost shot-for-shot the events of the game for the most part, which was what I was expecting.
I will say without the context of the game I would be less intrigued and not as interested in continuing the series.
After playing the game, I was intrigued by the manga and this first part of Omori was pretty good. The art is great and it does a good job of being unsettling. It is almost shot-for-shot the events of the game for the most part, which was what I was expecting.
I will say without the context of the game I would be less intrigued and not as interested in continuing the series.
December 1, 2025
mmmmm muchas opiniones sobre adaptar a manga este jogo
February 26, 2026
Jest git, ale sposób rysowania tych postaci... nie wiem. Ogólnie jednak nostalgia gry bardzo wpływa na czytanie tego. Mam mieszane uczucia...
April 5, 2026
*** Review of Advanced Copy received from Kodansha through Net Galley.***
I must confess that I’ve never played the original video game this manga is adapting, so all my prior knowledge of OMORI and its plot stems from video essays. I also refrained from refreshing myself on the game’s plot before reading, so I could properly judge the story's clarity.
The manga does a great job of portraying the distinctions between the white space, the real world, and the headspace, even though it’s all in black and white. The non-linear storyline was successfully conveyed through visuals. That being said, don’t expect to finish this book having it all figured out. It’s only the first edition, and it doesn’t leave many questions answered. While that’s not exactly a critique (as this is to be expected for a serialized work), I didn’t really love where the first issue ended. I thought the beginning started off with a strong hook, but the end had me expecting more.
To speak further on the artwork, I was very impressed by the panel composition and character expression. Intense movement was captured very well, and all of the chilling visuals had loose line work that gave it a scribbled dream-like quality. As for the dialogue, I found a lot of it to be flat and on the nose. However, I’m hesitant to truly criticize it, because I’m unsure if it was taken from the game or not. Overall, it was a pleasant and easy read, and I’m sure fans of the original game will enjoy it.
I must confess that I’ve never played the original video game this manga is adapting, so all my prior knowledge of OMORI and its plot stems from video essays. I also refrained from refreshing myself on the game’s plot before reading, so I could properly judge the story's clarity.
The manga does a great job of portraying the distinctions between the white space, the real world, and the headspace, even though it’s all in black and white. The non-linear storyline was successfully conveyed through visuals. That being said, don’t expect to finish this book having it all figured out. It’s only the first edition, and it doesn’t leave many questions answered. While that’s not exactly a critique (as this is to be expected for a serialized work), I didn’t really love where the first issue ended. I thought the beginning started off with a strong hook, but the end had me expecting more.
To speak further on the artwork, I was very impressed by the panel composition and character expression. Intense movement was captured very well, and all of the chilling visuals had loose line work that gave it a scribbled dream-like quality. As for the dialogue, I found a lot of it to be flat and on the nose. However, I’m hesitant to truly criticize it, because I’m unsure if it was taken from the game or not. Overall, it was a pleasant and easy read, and I’m sure fans of the original game will enjoy it.
February 10, 2026
I loved the game and decided to give manga a try and yes, it's still good.
Some of the facial expressions the characters have were weird to me, maybe that's just not my style, but it's not something, that will make me hate this book.
My rating is more like 3,5 I'd say.
Some of the facial expressions the characters have were weird to me, maybe that's just not my style, but it's not something, that will make me hate this book.
My rating is more like 3,5 I'd say.
March 18, 2026
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC
That was really good.
I was worried that somethings like the battles and other rpg elements would not ve ncorporated well, but it was done in a very skillful way. The way I could feel the same emotions from the game while reading made the book that much better.
That was really good.
I was worried that somethings like the battles and other rpg elements would not ve ncorporated well, but it was done in a very skillful way. The way I could feel the same emotions from the game while reading made the book that much better.
December 11, 2025
Jaka piekna kreska... cudowna.
No a mangi nie ocenię obiektywnie bo oczywiście wiem co sie dzialo w grze, wiec nie wiem jak odbierxe to osoba ktora tego nie zrobila. Mimo ze jest to doslownie adaptacja gry (dialogi te same itp.) to masa rzeczy jest pominieta, bo manga bylaby za nudna.
Moj biedny chlopiec Sunny / Omori... Wlasciwie juz ti jest roznica bo z tego co pamietam w grze nie bylo od poczatku wiadome ze on sie nazywal Sunny. Kocham go, biedny chlopiec. Jedyna postacia ktorej nie lubie jest Aubrey... Kazdy inaczej reaguje na traume i ona akurat zareagowala staniem sie bullym ale jakos jej nie umiem polubic
No a mangi nie ocenię obiektywnie bo oczywiście wiem co sie dzialo w grze, wiec nie wiem jak odbierxe to osoba ktora tego nie zrobila. Mimo ze jest to doslownie adaptacja gry (dialogi te same itp.) to masa rzeczy jest pominieta, bo manga bylaby za nudna.
Moj biedny chlopiec Sunny / Omori... Wlasciwie juz ti jest roznica bo z tego co pamietam w grze nie bylo od poczatku wiadome ze on sie nazywal Sunny. Kocham go, biedny chlopiec. Jedyna postacia ktorej nie lubie jest Aubrey... Kazdy inaczej reaguje na traume i ona akurat zareagowala staniem sie bullym ale jakos jej nie umiem polubic
December 2, 2025
Really good art with the story of the game. I really enjoyed it but I also feel that if you don't know the story beforehand it will be extremely confusing to follow/connect the story
December 31, 2025
manga to trochę speedrun gry, ale to nadal omori, więc fajne.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
Quick Recommendation
This surreal psychological horror manga offers an emotional and intense experience, centering around grief, loss and the importance of friendships in difficult times.
It uniquely blends a cute and colourful world with a darker and more tragic one. The lingering mysterious atmosphere makes one wonder what might happen next and what parts of the story still needs to be unraveld. The tone is shifting from one moment into the next which can feel intense or blends in flawlessly.
Suitable for anyone who wants to read something psychological that isn't always sad but when it does gets sad it will be devastating.
Introduction
OMORI was originally a webcomic but is widely known as an indie game that now got a manga adaption, which I'm happy for. It's a psychological horror story which with its long content (20+ hours of gaming) is very engaging and fun. 'Cause of it's non-linear and fragmented narrative I hoped to experience the main storyline differently by this manga adaption.
I was able to read a preview of the first manga chapter as a Kodansha Reader. It was already amazing and I wanted to find out what happened next!
Plot
One gets thrown into the story right away. It starts off mysterious and steadily moves to tense moments. This manga series doesn't fear to confront the readers with the darkest pasts, secrets and feelings. It will make one feel uncomfortable—one might want to flee and stop—but stopping would ruin the experience. The characters can't sleep at night without replaying the events on repeat like a broken cassette who has long lost its way. Trapped inside one's own house with no way out. Trapped inside one's own head without being able to think clearly.
Friendships aren't always beautiful—they have an ugly side too. There might be sad memories but one can always create more happy ones and overshadow the sad ones—unless they can't be forgotten or fixed.
Themes
Main themes
Guilt, grief, loss, overthinking, friendships, self-isolation, loneliness and self-identity.
Other themes
Promises, dreams, memories, denial vs acceptance, fear of growing up and feeling of entrapment.
Most of the story is revealed through symbolism, so one needs to take attention while reading to catch them, especially the subtle ones. I won't analyse them here but I might do so in future reviews when the story progresses.
Characters
The alternate world is portraying the characters how they used to be. One can see clearly each of their individual coping mechanisms, which were caused by the tragic event. It's really interesting to find out how their past self differs from their current self. In my opinion it reflects their changed mental state caused by trauma well. Especially their changed behaviour which was caused by long-term psychological impact.
Outroduction
After reading the first volume I long to play the game again; it's so much fun! Immediately made me remind back when I first experienced the whole story. I wish I could experience it for the first time again 'cause it evoked so many feelings in me.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with the advanced reader copy of OMORI 1 by OMOCAT and Nui Konoito.
StoryGraph review + content warnings
Started the book: 10. March 2026
Finished the book: 10. March 2026
Wrote the review: 10. March 2026
Quick Recommendation
This surreal psychological horror manga offers an emotional and intense experience, centering around grief, loss and the importance of friendships in difficult times.
It uniquely blends a cute and colourful world with a darker and more tragic one. The lingering mysterious atmosphere makes one wonder what might happen next and what parts of the story still needs to be unraveld. The tone is shifting from one moment into the next which can feel intense or blends in flawlessly.
Suitable for anyone who wants to read something psychological that isn't always sad but when it does gets sad it will be devastating.
Introduction
OMORI was originally a webcomic but is widely known as an indie game that now got a manga adaption, which I'm happy for. It's a psychological horror story which with its long content (20+ hours of gaming) is very engaging and fun. 'Cause of it's non-linear and fragmented narrative I hoped to experience the main storyline differently by this manga adaption.
I was able to read a preview of the first manga chapter as a Kodansha Reader. It was already amazing and I wanted to find out what happened next!
Plot
One gets thrown into the story right away. It starts off mysterious and steadily moves to tense moments. This manga series doesn't fear to confront the readers with the darkest pasts, secrets and feelings. It will make one feel uncomfortable—one might want to flee and stop—but stopping would ruin the experience. The characters can't sleep at night without replaying the events on repeat like a broken cassette who has long lost its way. Trapped inside one's own house with no way out. Trapped inside one's own head without being able to think clearly.
Friendships aren't always beautiful—they have an ugly side too. There might be sad memories but one can always create more happy ones and overshadow the sad ones—unless they can't be forgotten or fixed.
Themes
Main themes
Guilt, grief, loss, overthinking, friendships, self-isolation, loneliness and self-identity.
Other themes
Promises, dreams, memories, denial vs acceptance, fear of growing up and feeling of entrapment.
Most of the story is revealed through symbolism, so one needs to take attention while reading to catch them, especially the subtle ones. I won't analyse them here but I might do so in future reviews when the story progresses.
Characters
The alternate world is portraying the characters how they used to be. One can see clearly each of their individual coping mechanisms, which were caused by the tragic event. It's really interesting to find out how their past self differs from their current self. In my opinion it reflects their changed mental state caused by trauma well. Especially their changed behaviour which was caused by long-term psychological impact.
Outroduction
After reading the first volume I long to play the game again; it's so much fun! Immediately made me remind back when I first experienced the whole story. I wish I could experience it for the first time again 'cause it evoked so many feelings in me.
Big thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with the advanced reader copy of OMORI 1 by OMOCAT and Nui Konoito.
StoryGraph review + content warnings
Started the book: 10. March 2026
Finished the book: 10. March 2026
Wrote the review: 10. March 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Who I would recommend this book to: Fans of the OMORI game who are hungry for more content or interested in experiencing the story in a different form
Who I would not recommend this book to: Those who intend to but have not yet played the OMORI game
I would like to preface this review by acknowledging that this manga is an adaptation of an RPG. I recognize that there are all sorts of limitations and challenges when it comes to adapting a work from one format to another and appreciate the amount of thought that must go into a project of this sort. As a huge fan of the OMORI game, I was both excited for and skeptical about the release of this manga adaptation. There’s no denying that with the game as its source material, the bar was set high for this manga and, in my personal opinion, it just didn’t really deliver.
I’ll start by highlighting some of the aspects of the manga that I did enjoy. One touch I really liked is that the chapters are named after particular tracks from the game’s OST. (I even listened to those tracks as I read their namesake chapters, which added to the atmosphere). I liked that a good amount of the dialogue seems to have been lifted directly from the game and also enjoyed other little details throughout the volume that nod to the game (like the confetti surrounding the characters after they triumph in battle).
Now on to some of my criticisms. I realize that with it being an adaptation, some degree of modification and rearranging was inevitable. That said, I feel that the choice to begin the manga in FARAWAY TOWN detracts from the suspense and build-up of the original story. I’m not sure how many total volumes there are expected to be in this series, but I imagine the author was tasked with condensing the story to fit a certain number of volumes. Even so, I have to wonder whether rearranging the story in this particular way was really the only solution. Also, the pacing does feel somewhat off and the storyline disjointed in a way that I feel would be very confusing to readers who have not played the game. By contrast, I feel like a lot of the original story’s impact lies in its very intentional pacing and how it keeps the audience guessing. I was also really disappointed about how little emphasis was placed on WHITE SPACE. There was only one extremely brief scene featuring WHITE SPACE and I don’t feel that it succeeded in conveying its eerie vastness.
I do hold out hope that the manga will improve as it progresses and will be reading and purchasing all of the volumes. Admittedly, because I am such a fan of the game, I may be viewing the manga through a somewhat overly critical lens. One thing I can confidently say, however, is that I would recommend playing the game first so that you can experience the story as originally intended — it truly is a work of art. I would love to someday see an OMORI graphic novel made by OMOCAT/the original team of artists.
I would like the thank Kodansha Comics for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. The above is an honest review and all opinions are my own.
Who I would not recommend this book to: Those who intend to but have not yet played the OMORI game
I would like to preface this review by acknowledging that this manga is an adaptation of an RPG. I recognize that there are all sorts of limitations and challenges when it comes to adapting a work from one format to another and appreciate the amount of thought that must go into a project of this sort. As a huge fan of the OMORI game, I was both excited for and skeptical about the release of this manga adaptation. There’s no denying that with the game as its source material, the bar was set high for this manga and, in my personal opinion, it just didn’t really deliver.
I’ll start by highlighting some of the aspects of the manga that I did enjoy. One touch I really liked is that the chapters are named after particular tracks from the game’s OST. (I even listened to those tracks as I read their namesake chapters, which added to the atmosphere). I liked that a good amount of the dialogue seems to have been lifted directly from the game and also enjoyed other little details throughout the volume that nod to the game (like the confetti surrounding the characters after they triumph in battle).
Now on to some of my criticisms. I realize that with it being an adaptation, some degree of modification and rearranging was inevitable. That said, I feel that the choice to begin the manga in FARAWAY TOWN detracts from the suspense and build-up of the original story. I’m not sure how many total volumes there are expected to be in this series, but I imagine the author was tasked with condensing the story to fit a certain number of volumes. Even so, I have to wonder whether rearranging the story in this particular way was really the only solution. Also, the pacing does feel somewhat off and the storyline disjointed in a way that I feel would be very confusing to readers who have not played the game. By contrast, I feel like a lot of the original story’s impact lies in its very intentional pacing and how it keeps the audience guessing. I was also really disappointed about how little emphasis was placed on WHITE SPACE. There was only one extremely brief scene featuring WHITE SPACE and I don’t feel that it succeeded in conveying its eerie vastness.
I do hold out hope that the manga will improve as it progresses and will be reading and purchasing all of the volumes. Admittedly, because I am such a fan of the game, I may be viewing the manga through a somewhat overly critical lens. One thing I can confidently say, however, is that I would recommend playing the game first so that you can experience the story as originally intended — it truly is a work of art. I would love to someday see an OMORI graphic novel made by OMOCAT/the original team of artists.
I would like the thank Kodansha Comics for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. The above is an honest review and all opinions are my own.
March 22, 2026
Manga | Psychological | Core concept as word
Thank you to Kodansha Comics for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
•Plot: OMORI 1, it starts off with the MC having a nightmare. But his nightmare seems to leak into his actual life. His friends have fallen apart over a death.
•What I liked: It’s mostly psychological, but also has some horror elements. I’m trying to figure out if some of the events we see from the children’s perspective, besides the MC hallucinations, are actually real in that universe. There’s a scene with an absurdly elongated ladder, and if it’s actual, it’s as tall as a skyscraper to climb, but if it’s how the kids view climbing, that would make sense for it to feel that long. That scene leads into another supernatural scene, but I’m not fully sure if the MC is just hallucinating. Sometimes the other kids can interact with the same things he sees, so it’s not always a hallucination.
•What didn’t work for me: The children are violent, one carries a baseball bat with nails in it, and the MC arms himself with a kitchen knife that he actually uses on the other violent kid. In the past, they were nice to each other. The pacing was very slow for me. There's is not parental figures present to help manage them. At times, the manga leaves readers in a lot of confusion that I'm not sure they will clarify later.
•Themes / Ideas: Loss, violence. Absent parents, psychological trauma.
•Who I’d recommend it to: If you're interested in reading something borderline horror and mostly psychological. If you don't mind figuring out the meaning or the reason why things are happening, with several things left open-ended.
Overall/Thoughts: It was a little tough to finish this manga for me due to the pacing being slow. I had to set it down and picked it up days later. It’s mostly about the death of someone changing the lives of their friends. Each person handles it differently, but it looks like there are possible supernatural elements mixed with their death. We spend a lot of the story seeing how the others reacted to the death and see how they were before and after it. The ending leaves a strange cliffhanger as if did the death even happened.
Thank you to Kodansha Comics for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
•Plot: OMORI 1, it starts off with the MC having a nightmare. But his nightmare seems to leak into his actual life. His friends have fallen apart over a death.
•What I liked: It’s mostly psychological, but also has some horror elements. I’m trying to figure out if some of the events we see from the children’s perspective, besides the MC hallucinations, are actually real in that universe. There’s a scene with an absurdly elongated ladder, and if it’s actual, it’s as tall as a skyscraper to climb, but if it’s how the kids view climbing, that would make sense for it to feel that long. That scene leads into another supernatural scene, but I’m not fully sure if the MC is just hallucinating. Sometimes the other kids can interact with the same things he sees, so it’s not always a hallucination.
•What didn’t work for me: The children are violent, one carries a baseball bat with nails in it, and the MC arms himself with a kitchen knife that he actually uses on the other violent kid. In the past, they were nice to each other. The pacing was very slow for me. There's is not parental figures present to help manage them. At times, the manga leaves readers in a lot of confusion that I'm not sure they will clarify later.
•Themes / Ideas: Loss, violence. Absent parents, psychological trauma.
•Who I’d recommend it to: If you're interested in reading something borderline horror and mostly psychological. If you don't mind figuring out the meaning or the reason why things are happening, with several things left open-ended.
Overall/Thoughts: It was a little tough to finish this manga for me due to the pacing being slow. I had to set it down and picked it up days later. It’s mostly about the death of someone changing the lives of their friends. Each person handles it differently, but it looks like there are possible supernatural elements mixed with their death. We spend a lot of the story seeing how the others reacted to the death and see how they were before and after it. The ending leaves a strange cliffhanger as if did the death even happened.
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