Top 10 Video Games Based on Anime That Offer the Best Story Adaptations

It is a common practice for anime franchises to capitalize on growing popularity through various methods, with video games being one such method. For decades, several anime franchises have released video games based on the anime or manga to help the franchise grow. Initially, the franchises used to focus on specific consoles, but that has changed, and they try to create different versions for different consoles.

The PC is the most common platform to play video games, along with PlayStation and Xbox. Capitalization on these platforms has made the anime franchises millions of dollars in revenue. However, not all anime-based video games are praiseworthy. Here is a list of the 10 anime-based video games, available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, that have become fan-favorites of the anime and gaming community.

1. One Piece: Pirate Warriors

• Anime Based On: One Piece
• Release Date: March 1, 2012
• Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
• Developer: Omega Force
• Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment

One Piece: Pirate Warriors is an action-adventure game featuring Monkey D. Luffy as the main character. While the first Pirate Warriors was released in 2012, the latest one, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4, was released in 2020. For a long time, the fans were bound to experience Monkey D. Luffy’s Gattling Gun or Pistol by watching the anime, but One Piece: Pirate Warriors also made it possible for people to use these techniques while playing the game.

While the franchise has produced several other video games, none of them come close to Pirate Warriors in terms of popularity. To date, the Pirate Warriors series has sold more than 8 million copies. Apart from the story mode, fans can also play single fights, choosing their preferred characters. Gamers who prefer the online mode can play the online co-op mode. The video game has beautifully showcased every minute detail from the anime, making it one of the best anime-based video games.

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2. Dragon Ball: Xenoverse

• Anime Based On: Dragon Ball
• Release Date: February 5, 2015
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
• Developer: Dimps
• Publisher: Bandai Namco Games

Dragon Ball: Xenoverse is one of the most highly rated video games based on an anime. Coming from the multi-billion dollar franchise, Dragon Ball: Xenoverse features a character designed by the user, who ventures on a path to defeat all the dark matter that is consuming the characters and changing the original timeline. Not only does the game bring the original characters, but there are also in-game transformations.

Through the game, the fans will get to experience Son Goku’s first Super Saiyan transformation once again. There are various in-game purchases that the user can buy to make the main character more potent. Multiplayer mode and exhibition matches are also available. Due to the video game’s immense popularity, a sequel to the video game was released in the following year.

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3. Naruto: Ultimate Ninja STORM

• Anime Based On: Naruto
• Release Date: November 4, 2008
• Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS
• Developer: CyberConnect2
• Publisher: Bandai Namco Games

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja was a fighting genre game released by the Naruto franchise. It has the same gameplay as the previous two entries on this list, since Bandai Namco is behind all three of them. Since its first release in 2008, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja has become a franchise with five video games. The video game allows both online and offline features, and allows the user to play as any shinobi from the anime.

The video game series is loosely based on the manga and anime, and has added a special feature in the gameplay to make it more realistic. It is often seen that when a character is on their last breath, they do something unimaginable and gain a massive boost. Naruto: Ultimate Ninja took inspiration from it and added the “Awakening Mode,” allowing characters to gain power boosts, and sometimes even new sets of abilities.

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4. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles

• Anime Based On: Demon Slayer
• Release Date: October 14, 2021
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
• Developer: CyberConnect2
• Publisher: Aniplex, SEGA

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles is the first PC game based on Koyoharu Gotouge’s magnum opus. It allows the user to play both online and offline modes, with multiplayer mode available on either of them. The video game is visually quite pleasing, and the characters are well-designed.

The Hinokami Chronicles follows Tanjiro Kamado’s journey from Demon Slayer Season 1 and The Mugen Train. All the battles that Tanjiro had to fight have been converted into boss fights. The anime and gaming enthusiasts can relive the moments again and see how difficult it was for the protagonist to fight against those demons. The video game has 31 characters, with Tanjiro having multiple versions. Due to Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles, a sequel to the game has been announced, which is scheduled to release later in 2025.

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5. Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions

• Anime Based On: Captain Tsubasa
• Released Date: August 27, 2020
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
• Developer: Tamsoft
• Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment

Captain Tsubasa is one of the most loved series from the sports anime genre, and Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions is based on that anime. It is one of the few football video games based on an anime. The video game features different football teams from the anime, including Nankatsu Middle School. While it is not as fluid as popular football games like EAFC or E-Football, Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions has its charm.

Gamers can enjoy a Captain Tsubasa-style match where the players use their special abilities to shoot the ball, and the goalkeepers use their defensive techniques to save it. Small details like fast sliding tackles, quick passing, anime-style animation, etc., have made it a fan-favorite video game.

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Also Check: 10 Sports Anime That Prove the Genre Is Bigger Than the Sport Itself

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6. My Hero One’s Justice

• Anime Based On: My Hero Academia
• Release Date: August 23, 2018
• Platform: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
• Developer: Byking
• Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment

My Hero One’s Justice saw the characters of My Hero Academia become playable characters. The fighting genre multiplayer game was loosely based on the plot of My Hero Academia and was highly praised because of its “What If” moments. It explored several stories that could have taken place if certain characters had taken different steps. Apart from that, the critics praised the game controls, character designs, with the easter eggs from the anime. However, many did not enjoy the story mode and believed it the developers could have done better. The video game also had DLC where several new characters were added. Two years after its release, the developers released a sequel to the game.

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7. Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World: The Prophecy of the Throne

• Anime Based On: Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World
• Released Date: January 28, 2021
• Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
• Developer: Chime
• Publisher: Spike Chunsoft

Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World: The Prophecy of the Throne is the first game under the Re:Zero franchise to have an English release. Unlike other anime-based video games, it has an original story. On top of that, the author, Tappei Nagatsuki, and illustrator, Shinichiou Otsuka, made sure that everything was done under their supervision.

It is a tactical role-playing video game that allows the user to choose an option of their preference. Each option will narrate the story in a different manner, providing fans with a new experience every time. One of the standout things in Re: Zero − Starting Life in Another World: The Prophecy of the Throne is that the gameplay features chibi versions of the characters during combat and exploration, but when it comes to cutscenes, they return to their original forms.

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8. Fairy Tail

• Anime Based On: Fairy Tail
• Release Date: July 30, 2020
• Platform: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows
• Developer: Gust
• Publisher: Koei Tecmo

Named after the original anime, Fairy Tail is a role-playing and single-player video game. Like the anime, the gameplay also focuses on the Fairy Tail guild, where the user can control several characters, with their main motive being to bring back the glory days for the guild. The selected player can accept missions or meet other characters at the guild. Completing each mission will earn them in-game jewels that can be used to upgrade the guild as well as the characters.

The Fairy Tail video game starts from the Grand Magic Games arc after the potent guild members return from Tenryou Island after seven years. A great video game to be a part of Fairy Tail’s rise to glory with Natsu Dragneel and his friends.

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9. One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows

• Anime Based On: One Punch Man
• Release Date: February 27, 2020
• Platform: PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
• Developer: Spike Chunsoft
• Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment

One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows is an RPG and fighting game with access to both single-player and multiplayer modes. Each player can choose a team of three characters and battle against the CPU or another player. Like the anime, Saitama is an all-powerful character in the video game and is invulnerable to all attacks. He can defeat the opponent with a single punch, but there is a little twist to it. A team consisting of Saitama is guaranteed to win, but the catch is that he will arrive on the battlefield late. So, if the opponent can defeat the two characters of the user before Saitama arrives, they will be victorious.

One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows has received mixed reviews due to this factor, as few were in favor of making Saitama like the anime, while others think that making him invulnerable makes the other playable characters more useful. There is also a “Dream Version” where Saitama is not invulnerable and is a playable character.

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10. Attack on Titan

• Anime Based On: Attack on Titan
• Release Date: February 18, 2016
• Platform: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Windows, Xbox One
• Developer: Omega Force
• Publisher: Koei Tecmo

A hack-and-slash video game, Attack on Titan, follows chapters 1 to 33 of the manga. Attack on Titan was highly praised by critics for its anime-like visuals and attention to detail. There are multiple side quests, along with the survey missions, and upon completing them, the player can access more chapters of the epilogue.

The video game features ten characters, but initially, it was just three, with the others getting unlocked as the story progresses. Players can earn experience points that they can spend on upgrading the weapons, 3D Maneuvering Gear, buying war horses, etc. Attack on Titan’s popularity saw the developers release a sequel to the video game in 2019.

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