With the holidays long over and 2022 now going full swing, life is certainly back in the fast lane. However, not everyone is a fan of the speed, making this little-known anime the perfect remedy after a long day.
Recovery of an MMO Junkie is a slice-of-life anime that can boast truly relatable characters, a slow-build romance and a message of self-love and care that reminds everyone to put life on hold every once in a while.
The Plot of Recovery of an MMO Junkie
Morioka Moriko has never had an easy time navigating adult life. At 30, she is an extreme introvert who finds the fast-paced corporate life to be extremely stressful, saving enough money to quit her job and spend her time where she feels more comfortable: in anonymous online games. Moriko creates an account with MMORPG Fruits de Mer as the male knight character Hayashi, and commits herself to enjoying life now that she can hide behind her avatar.
Soon after, Hayashi encounters a healer named Lily, and the two form a deep connection of the sort Moriko never managed in real life. However, she has no idea that behind Lily's words is Sakurai Yuta, a similarly socially crippled businessman who is closer to her sheltered existence than she thinks.
Recovery of an MMO Junkie is an exploration of gender dynamics, the pressures of modern society and adult relationships through the eyes of an unusual anime heroine who must regain the courage to reenter the world for her life to actually become fulfilling. It is also a sweet story of blooming romance between two people who never would have had a chance without the softer world of Fruit de Mer giving them the chance to interact. For all that the anime industry is especially hard on the concept of NEETs (Not in Education, Employment or Training), Recovery of an MMO Junkie is an acceptance that life can be difficult -- for some more than others -- and sometimes a healthy escape is exactly what's needed.
Where to Read the Recovery of an MMO Junkie Manga
Recovery of an MMO Junkie was originally published on the WEBTOON app Comico from 2013-2015. It went on hiatus with 87 chapters published, then was ended in 2o18 due to author Kokuyo Rin's health problems. Though no English translation of the series is currently available, Comico was released as an English app Pocket Comics: Premium Webtoon, which offers many of Comico's titles for free.
Though Recovery of an MMO Junkie is not yet available, a translation through Pocket Comics is still a possibility. Comico also published two physical volumes of the series, though neither has an English translation yet. With Kokuyo's health status unknown, it's difficult to predict what Comico will ultimately choose to do with the series.
Where to Watch the Recovery of an MMO Junkie Anime
The anime adaptation for Recovery of an MMO Junkie aired in 2017 with 10 episodes and an OVA. It is available to stream on Crunchyroll, including the OVA and dubbed versions in English, Spanish and French. Physical copies on Blu-ray/DVD can also be found and purchased via classic retailers like Amazon, Target and Walmart.
Recovery of an MMO Junkie is a gentle and kind comfort for the introverts out there. Moriko's decision to leave the corporate world doesn't make her weak -- in fact, her happiness once she finds a balance between real life and her online persona can be infectious. The emotional stakes of Moriko and Yuta -- along with everyone else in the orbits of their lives -- are simple yet grounding, since these are not teenagers in the thrall of first loves but adults rooted in their current careers and lives. Recovery of an MMO Junkie is the perfect escape for anyone who needs their own version of Fruits de Mer for just a little while, with a soft romance and a reminder to take care.
