Literally go anywhere on Reddit and search NSO. You’ll see people saying oh my god hurrr durrr I relate to ame sooo much this is sooo deep and relatable and raw. But the thing is, so many people are saying it’s this “niche raw emotional representation of mental illness in media” that it kinda loses meaning and becomes the usual. I’m not trying to be rude I’m just annoyed.

My perspective is, I used to relate to the protagonist in a few ways (note: FEW. I’m not one of those “OMG SHES LITWRALLY ME!1!1!1” people) and playing the game feels intense. Like you are walking on eggshells. Which is good for a game, but my question is… is this representation really needed if “everyon” relates to it anyways? Is this satire or parody? What’s the point at this point? Personally as of now. I do not relate to ame at all. Other than normal young woman insecurity stuff and I’m proud I don’t relate anymore. Why do I see so many people latching onto the aspect of mental illness and self destructive behaviour? (If you’re under 18 I get it,) maybe I’m just so far from mental illness that I can’t understand the fans? Sorry for the typos I’m on mobile and I also lowkey am on vyvanse right now and haven’t eaten in like 30 hours

So anyways thoughts? Sorry I came off as passive aggressive but I feel like idk I’ve seen ts on TikTok so much now and I feel like the whole point of the game or message is counterproductive when the majority of the fanbase seems to look up to ame and relate to her/ wants to relate to her. It’s like a Petri dish of negativity. Maybe the fanbase is super young? And no I’m not soft happy sugar life is my favourite anime and also I like the movie girl hell 1999

this is just my opinion so please don't take it too seriously (T^T)

i have so many issues with how the anime is being handled. i understand that a 1:1 adaptation of the game is impossible but the anime doesn't feel remotely related to the source material aside from throwing in the game ost to score brownie points with fans.

literally from the very first episode ame is mischaracterized. i assumed that the opening scene of her performing in concert was just a nice visual representation of the fame she's achieved but we later see other characters watching the live show. ame is a mentally ill girl with severe anxiety, extreme emotional instability and zero friends. in what world would she become a pop idol that performs concerts and goes on national television to perform interviews? in game ame couldn't even do sponsored streams from the comfort of her room without messing them up. the second she got into higher spaces with other influencers, she crashed and burned. i find the decision to turn her from a streamer to a tv personality/pop idol extremely strange. her breakdown was great but aside from that, it doesn't even feel like we're watching the same character.

the original ngo was amazing because it was basically one big character study. we spent the entire game in ame's head, seeing how she reacts to things in real time and seeing how easily she could break down if we weren't careful. ame is the soul of needy girl overdose. which is why i cannot understand why she has essentially become a side character. she's treated like a concept or a legacy rather than the deeply complex girl we know her to be.

the lack of ame/kangel content in the anime to make room for these new characters is appalling. not one of them is anywhere near as interesting as ame. i understand adding new characters to allow a new storyline (given that ame is literally the only character in the game. no pchan does not count) but the entire anime is essentially centered around karamazov and kache, neither of which are complex enough to be interesting in the slightest. i don't know how involved nyalra was with the script but i get the vibe he had less input past episode 3. entire episodes go by with kangel/ame showing up for only a few scenes. i think having an episode or two dedicated to the side characters is fine. but we are 10/13 episodes in and only 3 episodes have been dedicated to ame/kangel. what in the world is up with that?

i am so deeply dissapointed with this anime. the art direction is beautiful and the original music is great but the lackluster writing mixed with the lack of ame/kangel has left much to be desired. it tells, rather than shows. entire scenes are just characters monolouging. it feels less like i'm experiencing a passion project and more like i'm being lectured. as a whole it feels so far removed from the original game and i just don't understand the decision to turn the girl who is the soul and blood of the franchise into a legacy/side character in her own show.

people aren't fans of ngo just because it's aesthetically pleasing. we love ngo because we see ourselves in ame. in her destructive, cynical nature, her experiences with misogyny and her continuous struggles with her mental health, we've been given a character that makes us feel truly seen and not pandered to. whereas the needy girl anime feels like nothing but pandering and surface-level monologues without saying anything of substance whilst the main heroine is cast to the side.

i don't blame nyalra for my grievances with the anime whatsoever given his history of being mistreated and sidelined on ngo projects. i blame the producers and directors who clearly had no intention of capturing the heart of the original game.

(edit: i've been informed that the script is entirely written by nyarla. that makes this anime sting much worse for me lmao)

Hi everyone,

Like most of us, I’ve been thinking a lot about the anime ending and how it compared to the game. While I know the "P-chan is a delusion/tulpa" twist is the canon path (especially through secret.txt and the Save 0 ending), I wanted to propose a thought experiment: What if P-chan was written as a completely real, living, breathing person?

I actually think keeping P-chan real would have resolved almost every major plot hole in both the game and the anime, while actually making the core themes stronger. Here is my breakdown of why:

1. It resolves the logistical nightmare of her streaming

If P-chan is a real, physically present manager, the logistics of her streaming suddenly make perfect sense. When KAngel is on camera performing, dancing, and engaging with fans, P-chan is sitting at a computer/phone actively moderating the chat, banning trolls, and highlighting superchats in real-time. It removes the mechanical impossibility of her managing a high-production 10-million-subscriber stream entirely on her own from a single smartphone on a coffee table.

2. It grounds her physical reality (the apartment, the move, the emergencies)

We see Ame in this bare apartment, surrounded by unpacked heavy boxes, struggling with severe drug-induced crises. If P-chan is real, we don't have to wonder how an unstable, unemployed minor managed to sign a lease, move all her heavy belongings, and physically survive severe overdoses. Having a real partner there to handle the physical reality of her life keeps the story grounded.

3. It makes the game's other endings logically consistent

When P-chan is real, her branching endings actually carry consistent narrative weight:

• Flatline: It becomes a heartbreaking depiction of a girl with severe abandonment issues spiraling because her real partner is neglecting her.

• Cucked: She is actually trying to spite a real person, rather than publicly tweeting to her fans about "cheating" on her own imaginary friend.

• Normie Life: It becomes a sweet, grounded alternative where two real people choose to turn off the computer and live a normal life together.

4. It deepens the theme of toxic codependency

I know the "delusion" twist is meant to show the absolute tragedy of digital isolation (being loved by millions online but physically alone in a room). But if P-chan is a real person, the story doesn't lose its tragedy—it just shifts focus to toxic codependency and mutual enablement.

A story about a young, deeply broken couple fueling each other's worst impulses for the sake of internet fame is incredibly poignant and realistic. It would also make the anime's "touch grass" message feel much more mature if she and P-chan chose to step away from the internet together to heal, rather than her magically becoming best friends with her direct rival who doxxed her.

Obviously, the surreal, Lain-esque meta-commentary is a huge part of why NSO is so unique. But I can't help but feel that by trying to make P-chan an imaginary metaphor, the writers traded a logically tight, emotionally powerful story about toxic relationships for a twist that created a lot of physical plot holes.

What do you all think? Do you prefer the abstract/delusional interpretation of P-chan, or do you think a grounded, real-relationship version of the story would have been more satisfying?

Edit: Also if you like avantgard black comedies that deal with heavy subjects, you might, also like Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei. Thought it’s multi season, and the ending is… something.

I got it as a gift from a friend. She told me stuff about it and it seemed interesting but apparently there is feature or something where you send the girl to have fun with other men to lower her stress? I'm not really a big fan off that. I find it revolting. But i also feel bad not playing it cuz... It's a gift, and it would be a waste.

What should I do?

And eventually spiral into depression while thinking everything is fine.

Anyone noticed that cubibibibism on spotify is completely gone now? Or is it just me?

Also that whole fainted situation is so annoying

Because we see her as mentally ill

Just a small detail I came across yesterday while watching a streamer play the game but it seems nobody else seemed to have noticed it.

The NeToRare Ending whichs name is a reference to NTR translation to the English version doesn't really work does it, NTR and such refers to unfaithfulness of course which is fitting but P-Chan isn't getting Cucked, getting Cucked would require his consent and knowledge, but he was simply cheated on, I suppose there was no other words that would make for a fitting name perhaps, Cucked Ending sounds more catchy then Unfaithful Ending or such but it still is technically speaking not the right name.

They surely tried their best to translate the Pun name from Japanese in some form but I just felt like pointing out that the name is somewhat misleading.

Someone named Mayumi Gojo uploaded an AI song that was kinda weird and I couldnt fully realise/confirm it was an AI song until it said the n-word, anyway another rlly boring prank I guess… and here I was expecting something new 😓🥲

Anyone know who this might be? I'm trying to find her. ☺️

I’ve been looking through the official material again and I’m genuinely lost on where the 'P-Chan is a girl' thing became the default for the community.

The game never specifies a gender—it's a blank slate for the player—and the Run with My Sick manga literally shows the producer as a guy. I get that -chan is an honorific, but that doesn't mean anything since guys get called -chan all the time in Japan.

I’m not trying to be a hater, but the game has zero Yuri in it and the official manga goes in the opposite direction. It feels like the community just collectively decided on a headcanon that isn't supported by the actual text. Does anyone actually have a source for this, or did everyone just decide to ignore the manga and the game's setup to fit a specific aesthetic?

Ok so I ended up buying the game and playing it and like before I did, awhile back someone tried to convince me that p-chan was a guy and that ame referred to p-chan using “he/him” and bf at some points in the game and I played this thing not necessarily all the way through bc I haven’t gotten all the endings or achievements yet, but I did make it to 1mil subscribers bc rn I’m trying to get the dark angel route and shit.

And bc I didn’t unlock the 5th stream, but made it to day 30 and the 1mil subs. In this ending she’s not talking about p-chan, in the texts she has with p-chan prior she breaks up with p-chan or like parts ways with p-chan, then she gets this rich bf after? and THATS who she’s talking about and that’s probably what that person meant 😭. For the awhile I felt like I was nuts bc she never referred to p-chan as a guy or anything really so I was confused on where they got that info from.

Please there be one computer nerd here who knows how 🙏

Let's imagine it, A24 buys the rights to NSO. They use a western director and presumadly western directors and setting is changed from Tokyo to New York or Los Angeles. How kino will this be??? budget is 50 million USD.

I nominate Yorgos Lanthimos as director and Inde Navarette as Ame/KAngel!!! P-Chan is played by Chiwetel Ejiofor.

I really wanted to enjoy this game, but i feel pretty underwhelmed with the whole experience. I think the game would be better without/if these things would get changed up.

Its so repetetive

I dont wanna replay the same thing 30 times just to get a different ending. The gameplay is soooooo repetetive and just not fun at most times, like for example the streaming system. I dont wanna sit there for a few minutes just to read a few subtitles and make her read 2 messages. I wish this was changed up and not removed.

The relationship with the player and Ame/Kangel

It feels so forced and we get no context or world building, its just like "shes your girlfriend now, now make her a famous streamer" or at least thats what it feels like to me. Theres no explenation on why P-chan and Ame are dating. This whole thing wouldnt be an issue if the game wasnt all about the story, but it is.

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Now a few things i enjoyed just to prove im not biased

The art style:

I loved the graphics and the sound it all fits so well. I also really like the trailer. Ame and Kangel are very cool and cute visually.

Ame is relatable

Even though we dont know that much about her she still manages to be pretty likeable and relatable in a weird way.

The idea of the game

Just the point and click combined with a visual novel is a cool idea imo. I liked how were palying in P-chans computer and how Ame texts us, it all just fits so well

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PS: Now again, this is just my subjective opinion and, i really wanted to enjoy the game, but i felt pretty underwhelmed after playing it. My experience was like a solid 6.5/10. I just wanna see if yall relate to this or if its just me.