Disboard
A world where all matters are decided through games.
Disboard is the world where the light novel series No Game No Life takes place. It is a reality where a spell known as the Ten Covenants prevents citizens from inflicting harm on one another, forcing them to resolve their differences by gambling with games whose rules and rewards are magically enforced. Cheating is allowed only if it goes undetected; discovery by any means results in automatic loss. The world is home to sixteen ruling species, which Sora and Shiro plan to conquer in order to usurp the god of games, Tet.
- First Appearance
- Light Novel Volume 1
Lore & Background
Disboard is a reality created by Tet, a god from another reality who challenged the hikikomori stepsiblings Sora and Shiro to a game of chess. After the two were victorious, Tet summoned them to Disboard. The world operates under the Ten Covenants, a spell that forbids murder, war, and theft. All matters, including national borders and even people's lives, are decided through games. The first nation Sora and Shiro visit is Elkia, the nation inhabited by humans. They befriend the duchess Stephanie Dola and, after learning about Elkia's decline, participate in a tournament to determine the next ruler. After winning the crown, they earn the right to challenge Disboard's other species as humanity's representative. As of the sixth volume of the light novel, three of the sixteen species are under their control: Immanity, Werebeast, and Dhampir.
In Their Own Story
The air in the throne room hummed with an unnatural stillness, heavy with the weight of divine observation. Sora and Shiro, known collectively as Blank, made their final move on a board that could decide the fate of a nation. The rules were absolute; a faint smile touched Tet's lips as he sensed the potential for a new variable in the equation. The game had changed, and the gods would simply watch to see if the mortals could rewrite the script.
Reader's Guide
Disboard serves as the central setting of the No Game No Life franchise. Its primary law is the Ten Covenants, which magically enforces the outcomes of games and prevents direct harm. Players can cheat through discreet methods, but rule enforcement only occurs when the method of cheating is acknowledged and outed by the opponent. Sora and Shiro's goal is to conquer all sixteen ruling species in order to challenge Tet to a game. Their journey begins in Elkia, the human nation, where they win the crown in a tournament and become humanity's representative. As of the sixth volume, five of the sixteen species are under their control. The world's history includes events set 6000 years before the main series, as depicted in the film No Game No Life: Zero, which adapts the sixth volume of the light novel.
Did You Know?
- Disboard is a world where murder, war, and theft are forbidden by a spell known as the Ten Covenants.
- All matters in Disboard, including national borders and people's lives, are decided through games.
- Sora and Shiro were summoned to Disboard by the god Tet after winning a game of chess against him.
- As of the sixth light novel volume, three of the sixteen ruling species in Disboard are under Sora and Shiro's control: Immanity, Werebeast, and Dhampir.
- The film No Game No Life: Zero is set 6000 years before the events of the main series.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is Disboard?
Disboard is not a character or race, but rather the name of the fantasy world where the series takes place. It operates under magical laws that strictly prohibit physical harm between its citizens.
How are conflicts resolved on this planet?
All disputes must be settled through games instead of combat due to the Ten Covenants spell. These agreements magically enforce the rules and outcomes of every wager made within the world.
Who governs the sixteen species living here?
The deity Tet currently rules over Disboard while sixteen distinct races compete for dominance below him. Sora and Shiro aim to unite these factions to challenge his authority directly.
Can players cheat during a match on Disboard?
Cheating is possible if the opponent does not acknowledge or expose the specific method used by the player. Magical enforcement only triggers once a rule violation is mutually recognized during play.
When did Sora and Shiro arrive in this world?
This location is introduced immediately when they are summoned to it at the beginning of Light Novel Volume 1. It remains the central setting for all subsequent events throughout the narrative.