Bofuri

Maple (メイプル, Meipuru) / Kaede Honjō (本条 楓, Honjō Kaede)

Voiced by: Kaede Hondo[2] (Japanese); Megan Shipman[3] (English)

The main heroine, who has just started playing NewWorld Online. Since she doesn't like to get hurt, she puts every skill point she earns into boosting her defense, allowing her to acquire new skills and level up simply by withstanding attacks; she managed to level up quickly just by letting Mr. Bunny (a monster rabbit) attack her for a long period of time, until she accidentally killed it. Even with her lack of gaming experience, Maple remarkably gains enough resistance to almost anything, giving the game admins many headaches on how to slow her down; to which, her unorthodox methods overcomes the developers' adjustments (such as using the [Wooly] skill as not only a way to gather wool material, but also as an offensive skill by smothering opponents and using Poison to take them down, or as defense to absorb attacks that are not fire based). Despite her weaknesses, she uses techniques like [Cover], to make up for her lack of mobility. After consuming a Hydra and receiving one-of-kind equipment and shield, Maple acquires powerful poisonous magic, and obtains a skill called [Devour] due to maxing out her vitality points that devours her foes in a single counter. She equips this item to her shield, which subsequently consumes over 2,000 players in the first event. She becomes the third-rank player after competing in the first event. During the second event, she finds a monster egg which hatches into a turtle, which she names Syrup. She also seems to have an innate luck ability to locate rare items, hidden dungeons, and unique quests and skills (such as the Loving Sacrifice quest where she gains a second form). At the conclusion of the 4th event, the Guild Raid, the admins eventually decide to stop trying to weaken her as she has become the face of the game, with everyone working to either team up with her or be the first to actually defeat her. Due to her high defense, she has been nicknamed "the Living Fortress" by other players.

Armor Forms

• [Black Rose]: Her default armor; a black armor with red highlights, she gained this by eating the Poison Dragon (which took more than 7 hours) and soloing the boss first. It is equipped with the Dark Knight Shield, which releases a [Poison Breath] mist. She also equipped the shield with a [Devour] ability, which turns defeated opponents into Magical Power (MP); originally, the use was unlimited until the NWO Admins nerfed it to only 10 uses. It also has a tanto called Crescent Moon, which enables her [Paralyzing Shout] skill by drawing it. The Black Rose can draw and equip powers from the other armors like Loving Sacrifice's Wings & Halo, Atrocity's shadow devourer familiar [Predator], and Machine God's jet boosters and arm cannon, making this a somewhat customization armor.
• [Loving Sacrifice]: Maple's Angel Form; which allows anyone in her circle of influence to share in her already otherworldly defense. She gains wings which can be used to fly (though she prefers Syrup), a halo, and her hair turns blonde.
• [Atrocity]: Maple's Demon Form; a four armed giant lizard-like behemoth, which she obtained this by defeating (aka. eating) the Demon Knight in the abandoned church. She gains 1000 HP when she uses it and when the HP is lost she returns to her original form completely healed. By gaining this form, she is also gains [Predator], which summons a shadow devourer familiar that has great reach and speed.
• [Machine God]: Maple's Mecha Form equipped with railguns, lasers and other mechanized weapons. She earned this after the third event where she finds an old cog. She then finds the lab of the first Machine God who grants her its power to defeat him. She can also fly with this form; as well as deploy certain parts of the armor and weapons in a partial state.

Sally (サリー, Sarī) / Risa Shiromine (白峯 理沙, Shiromine Risa)

Voiced by: Ruriko Noguchi[4] (Japanese); Jad Saxton[3] (English)

Kaede's real-life friend who introduced her to NewWorld Online. She plays the swashbuckler class, which specializes in evasion and high speed offense, with the backlash of having low vitality, which is usually fatal for players. Should she get hit, she dies instantly, so she has to play cautiously, as Maple's hydra ability can also kill her. To compensate for Maple, she maxed out her agility. Risa previously won a championship online game reward; all the trophies in her room, as well as gaming knowledge, hint that she may be a pro gamer. She had to join Maple late in the game because her mother forbade her from gaming, wanting her to pass her proficiency exams. After leveling up her duration in swimming, she slashed a giant fish and acquired its water base attack magic. She has phasmophobia, despite being in-game; Maple jokes she couldn't handle haunted houses. Sally usually back carries Maple on fast foot due to her zero agility status. She immediately parties with Maple in the next game event. During the second event, Sally found a monster egg which hatched into a fox she named Oboro. During the second event, she was responsible for “The Massacre of Day 6” where she annihilated many players on the final day of the second event; earning her the moniker of “Untouchable Blue Monster.”

Kasumi (カスミ)

Voiced by: Saori Hayami[5] (Japanese); Tia Ballard (English)

A samurai whose speed is on par with Sally. She was ranked sixth in the first event. The Flame Emperors guild intended to recruit her, but Maple got to her first. She and the Flame Emperor's Split-Sword Shin have faced each other multiple times in the past and she defeated him every single time.

Kanade (カナデ)

Voiced by: Satomi Arai[6] (Japanese); Brittney Karbowski (English)

An androgynous male mage player, who specializes in intel gathering and puzzle solving, which allows him to access secret places and items in the game. He uses a Rubik's Cube-like staff called the "Akashic Records," which grants him a random skill each day. Kuromu tends to forget Kanade is a boy. He also has a library of spells that he can prepare ahead of time.

Kuromu (クロム, Kuromu)

Voiced by: Noriaki Sugiyama[5] (Japanese); Anthony Bowling[3] (English)

A great shielder like Maple and one of the first users Maple meets in the game. He ranked 9th in the first event, and usually hangs out with Iz, implying that both he and Iz are friends in real life. He later gains the [Undead Lord] gear after soloing a hidden dungeon designed for players who have died and revived a certain number of times. The [Undead lord] gear grants him a unique ability called [dead or alive] which allows him to keep fighting after 0 HP, with a 50 percent chance of activation. He is usually involved in the chat moments where the chat presses him for information about Maple and Sally. Some of chat envy him because he joined Maple's guild. During the chat sessions, in the manga, he is represented by a cartoon shield icon. It's implied he's the oldest among the guild as he states he has to act as the girls' big brother and protector just to make sure no one takes advantage of them, which Iz misinterprets as something perverted. He also forgets that Kanade is a boy as he says that he's the only male in the guild who must protect the girls. Some of the chat room recognize him as a Pro Gamer.

Iz (イズ, Izu)

Voiced by: Satomi Satō[5] (Japanese); Caitlin Glass[3] (English)

A crafter who creates order-made equipment. She becomes the guilds crafter, but still accepts private commissions. Being in the guild inspires her to craft unique gear, an opportunity she never was given originally. She usually hangs out with Kuromu, implying they're friends in real life, and sometimes has to keep him in check any time she feels Kuromu is acting weird around the girls. She enjoys when Maple shows off a new ability no matter how weird or improbable it is by saying "As long as she's a friend". In battle, she specializes in demolition equipping herself with various explosives; she also uses a pickaxe for close range.

Mai (マイ, Mai)

Voiced by: Ai Kakuma[5] (Japanese); Sara Ragsdale (English)

A rookie player who, put all of her skill points into her Strength stat, which allows them to wield heavy weapons and deal maximum damage. She wears a green ribbon in her black hair and wields 2 giant hammers with the same color scheme. Much of her skills are earned in boss rushes and time trials. She and her sister have a strong hero worship of Maple and Sally, showing that maxing out their skills can be a benefit.

Yui (ユイ)

Voiced by: Nanaka Suwa[5] (Japanese); Kristen McGuire (English)

Mai's younger sister, who put all of her skill points into Strength, much like Mai. Her hair is white with a pink ribbon and her hammers are also the same color as her hair. Like her twin sister, her skills are earned through boss rushes and time trials, which allows her to wield heavier weapons and deal maximum damage. She and her sister have a strong hero worship of Maple and Sally showing that maxing out their skills can be a benefit.

Syrup (シロップ, Shiroppu)

Maple's turtle familiar, whose egg was reward to her after Maple and Sally defeated the Silverwing boss. Ironically, Syrup's mobility is far superior than Maple; after the second event, Maple uses her rewards to allow Syrup to grow in size using the [Metamorph] skill, as well as fly by means of Maple equipping herself with [Psychokinesis] skill. Thus, utilized as the guild's form of transportation or, in battle, as a flying fortress using powerful moves such as Mother Nature, which uses vines as defense or offense and Mana Beam - a powerful beam attack that can cut through almost anything. Syrup soon grows an affection for Kuromu, especially when he feels depressed. It can only say the word "Kame" (カメ, turtle).

Oboro (朧)

Sally's Fox Familiar, whose egg was reward to her after Maple and Sally defeated the Silverwing boss. Oboro specializes speed and fire spells like Sally. She also has the ability to split Sally into shadow clones.

Payne (ペイン, Pein)

Voiced by: Kensho Ono[7] (Japanese); Clifford Chapin[3] (English)

The Order of the Holy Sword's guild master; a swordsman and NewWorld Online's top player with the highest level in the game. He specializes as a solo player and in PVP combat. Many consider him on par with a final boss monster. Based on statistics, if equipped properly, he is skilled enough to defeat Maple.

Dread (ドレッド, Doreddo)

Voiced by: Takumi Yamazaki[7] (Japanese); Jarrod Greene (English)

An assassin type and a second-rank player after the First Event. Like Sally, he acts as a high speed attacker. Along with Drag, they develop a rivalry with the twins, Mai and Yui, who earns his respect during the fourth event where they nearly defeat him.

Frederica (フレデリカ, Furederika)

Voiced by: Ayana Taketatsu[7] (Japanese); Lindsay Seidel (English)

A magician and one of the first users Maple meets in the game; in addition, gives Maple advice on how to level up. She later develops a friendly rivalry with Sally. She is also the guild's information gatherer.

Drag (ドラグ, Doragu)

Voiced by: Nobutoshi Canna[7]

A warrior type axeman who became Fifth-rank player after the First Event. He excels in brute force attacks. Along with Dread, they develop a rivalry with the twins, Mai and Yui.

Mii (ミィ, Mī)

Voiced by: Rina Satō[7] (Japanese); Terri Doty (English)

Nicknamed Entei, she is a high ranking mage and the Flame Emperors' guild master. Considered one of the most powerful and charismatic players. She is considered one of the few players who could compete with Payne in PVP combat. She also has her own fan club both in and out of the guild, but feels inferior; especially, if she fails to complete a task for her guild. She develops a one-sided rivalry with an oblivious Maple.

Shin (シン)

Voiced by: Kappei Yamaguchi[7]

Nicknamed Split-Sword, due to his special skill of splitting his sword's blade into multiple projectiles. He fought Kasumi several times in the past and lost. Originally, he wanted to recruit her to the Flame Emperors, but Maple recruited her first.

Markus (マルクス, Marukasu)

Voiced by: Akira Ishida[7] (Japanese); Aaron Dismuke (English)

The guild's Trap Master.

Misery (ミザリー, Mizarī)

Voiced by: Yūko Minaguchi[7] (Japanese); Morgan Garrett (English)

The healer of the Guild. She has a fan club following within the guild for as much as her skill as her beauty.

The Administrators

A boardroom consisting of developers, designers, and programmers. This group is constantly driven crazy by Maple's shenanigans and describe her as "more of last boss than their last boss" due to the fact that many of the Administrators' "special" bosses, such as the Silverwing and the Sea King; were created as a trolling prank against players. They're made to be undefeatable, equipped with many overpowered, lethal attacks and ridiculous vitality that even Payne or Mii would not be able to defeat them; only to learn that Maple defeated them with relative ease, in addition, Maple being reward rare items as a result. They get even more stressed when Sally joins Maple; they collectively refer to the duo as “The Embodiment of the Developer's Malice.” They constantly struggle to make adjustments to compensate for Maple; only to be thwarted by her unorthodox strategies and creative playstyle; as well as her absurdly good luck. At the conclusion of the fourth event, Guild Raid, they decide to leave her be as Maple has become the face of NWO. Some are even now betting among themselves in predicting what Maple will do next. In the anime, they are represented by smiley face rabbit avatars; in the manga, they are paper bag headed individuals in business suits.

The Dungeon Bosses

Poison Dragon: A three-headed serpent mid-boss that Maple first fought and defeat (by eating it overtime after 7 hours); thus, leading her to gaining her [HYDRA] abilities, as well as her first set of armor. Mai and Yui would fight it multiple times to increase their levels.

Big Fish: A giant fish whose dungeon was located in the lake cavern that only Sally could get to; it used its water abilities to flood the room to give it an advantage. After a close battle, Sally would gain her Oceanic Armor set.

Forest Guardian: The Guardian to the 2nd floor. A giant deer who uses plant and light attacks. Its weakness is the apples hanging from it. It managed to knockout Maple leaving Sally to fight it on its own. Later Sally fought it again solo as a demonstration to Mai and Yui and to let them enter the 2nd floor.

Demonic Jester/Goblin King: A boss Maple and Sally encounters early in the 2nd event. The Goblin is in the manga and the Jester is in the anime. The Jester is also featured in the opening song video with the entire Maple Tree guild fighting it.

Doppelganger: An entity that takes the forms of others. When Maple and Sally were separated in the dungeon, the entities took the forms of them respectively. It fought Maple in the form of Sally, while vice versa fought Sally in the form of Maple. But, because the two girls knew each other's weakness, the duo managed to beat the clones. This boss only appeared in the manga.

Silverwing: A giant ice bird boss, created as a prank boss by the Administrators, which appeared during the Second Event. It guarded the eggs of Syrup and Oboro at the top of the mountain summit. It first faced Kuromu and his group and effortlessly defeated them.

Snails: Unkillable enemies patrolling a dungeon from the 2nd event.

Sea King: A giant squid boss that appeared during the Second Event. It was discovered by Maple and Sally after Kanade gave them a hint on how to get to it. It's another prank boss, as the only thing that can defeat it is attacking the main body, which is hidden deep in the ocean that no player can get to it. Destroying its tentacles will only cause them to regenerate. In the anime Maple overcame it by poisoning the entire sea; thus defeating it relatively easily. In the manga it was a harder fight as the poison effect was slower.

Skeleton King: A skeleton boss that Chrome encounters alone in a dungeon that require 1000 deaths to enter.

Demon Knight: A demon that lurked in an abandoned church that Maple and Syrup stumbled upon during the Third Event. It is one of the first bosses to speak and it constantly told Maple that it wanted to devour her, only for her to retort that she would devour him first. It has two forms, an armored knight, and after taking enough damage, would shed its armor to reveal a demonic form. The boss managed to eat Maple, thus destroying most of the Wool Armor that Iz made for her; however, her vitality was enough to survive the demon's stomach. Thus, Maple "devoured" the boss from the inside out until its destruction. As a result, Maple gained many demonic attacks as well as a demon form.

Green Giant: The Guardian to the 3rd floor. A giant Tree monster like an Ent that uses Strength and Constricting attacks on its Opponent. Maple clears it by using the [Seeping Chaos] to severely damage it; then finally finishes it off with her demonic third form, [Atrocity].

Machine Lord: A corrupted mechanical golem who asked Maple to defeat it before it went out of control; thus inserting a machine gear into Maple and allowing her to gain [Machine God].

Drazō (ドラぞう, Dorazō)

Voiced by: Sakura Tange[7] (Japanese); Monica Rial (English)

NewWorld Online's little dragon mascot, who acts as host to the various player events; popping up now and then to remind players; as well as conduct player interviews.

The Chat Room

A forum of various players who express their opinions of Maple and Sally, or any other happenings in NWO. When anything bizarre happens in the game, all the members quickly agree that it's related to Maple. They also get very excited when they learn about any battles where Payne, Mii, and Maple face off against each other; as they deem it a battle between true monsters. It's evident that Kuromu is a part of that chat room; when they learn that Kuromu is part of Maple's guild, they press him for information about Maple and Sally's abilities; some envy Kuromu because he is in Maple's guild, which consists of mostly female members; some ask him to introduce them to Maple because a few of them have a crush on her but are too shy to approach her. There is a subgroup that created the Maple fan club, who vows to protect her in the shadows; in which Kuromu deems them hopeless. They also refer to Payne as “The Embodiment of the Player's Malice”, due to his dominating gameplay in PVP battles; some chose to avoid him and his guild entirely. There is also the implication that some of the chat is from The Holy Order of the Sword and the Flame Emperors. In the manga, the chat is represented by cartoon icons; Kuromu is represented by a Shield Icon, while some of his friends are represented by a Wizard Staff, Sword, Long Bow, and Spear.

The series originally began on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō by Yuumikan in 2016, being viewed more than 60 million times on the site. The following year, the series was acquired by publisher Fujimi Shobo to be published as a light novel with illustrations by Koin on the Kadokawa Books imprint, with the first volume being released in September 2017. The light novel is licensed in North America by Yen Press.[8]

A manga adaptation by Jirō Oimoto began serialization on the seinen magazine Comp Ace by publisher Kadokawa Shoten in May 2018. The manga is also licensed by Yen Press.[8]

An anime adaptation was announced by Kadokawa on December 6, 2018.[27] The television series is animated by Silver Link, and directed by Shin Ōnuma and Mirai Minato, with Fumihiko Shimo handling series composition, and Kazuya Hirata designing the characters.[2] The series aired between January 8 and March 25, 2020 on AT-X, ABC, Tokyo MX, TVA, and BS11.[5] Afilia Saga performed the series' opening theme song "Kyūkyoku Unbalance" (究極アンバランス!) while Riko Sasaki performed the series' ending theme song "Play the World."[7] Funimation has licensed the series for a simuldub.[1][28] It ran for 12 episodes.[29] Muse Communication is streaming the series on its Muse Asia YouTube channel in Southeast Asia and South Asia.[30] A second season of the anime was announced at the ending of the first season's finale episode, and is set to premiere in 2022.[31]