The best anime games are full of heart, friendship, and a sense of adventure. With crossovers with the best JRPGs and gripping visual novels, they offer some of the most unique characters and experiences for gamers to dive into, period.
Often featuring turn-based combat and an art style reminiscent of the best manga, there's a lot of common ground between anime games - but also a lot to set them apart. If you're having trouble finding the best anime game for you, this list will help you out. While any video game adaptation of one of the best anime series (aka Dragon Ball and One Piece) obviously counts as an anime game, we've also included games with a distinct visual style and common genre themes, such as Genshin Impact.
So, whether you're looking for an utterly twisted horror story or a happy-go-lucky adventure game to lift your spirits, these are the 20 best anime games you can play today.
20. Tower of Fantasy
Developer: Hotta Studio
Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC, iOS, Android
If you've ever looked at Genshin Impact and thought, "I wish this was an MMORPG," Tower of Fantasy may be for you. Granted, it's far from the best anime game on this list, but as an anime MMORPG, it does offer a unique experience. Although the servers aren't massive, you'll run into other players often enough as you traverse the many futuristic fantasy-themed towns, mountains, and deserts of Planet Aida.
Rather than forging friendships with virtual characters, you'll be able to forge real-life friendships by joining a guild, a.k.a. Crew. One of the most fun aspects of Tower of Fantasy is that you get to design your own anime character to lead the team, which is quite a rarity among anime games. This customized hero will be featured in an abundance of epic cutscenes, but beware that the character movement and scene transitions are rather clunky at times.
Read our complete Tower of Fantasy character guide before you dive in.
19. One Piece Odyssey
Developer: ILCA
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch
Based on one of the best manga and anime series out there, One Piece Odyssey adds yet another epic adventure to the already busy lives of Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates. Finding themselves stranded on a colorful but mysterious island, the crew must battle and puzzle their way to freedom. Although this storyline is brand-new, you may be happy to hear that One Piece Odyssey's character design stays as true to the original as possible - no need to tamper with one of the best manga ever created, right?
Beware that One Piece Odyssey may not be the best anime game for those who aren't familiar with the source material. The game understandably assumes prior knowledge, making it difficult to grasp the story or connect with the characters without it. The game also has a somewhat repetitive turn-based combat system, which is much easier to forgive if you're excited to hang out with your favorite rubbery pirate captain.
For information, read our One Piece Odyssey hands-on preview.
18. Doki Doki Literature Club
Developer: Team Salvato
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch
If you aren't at all familiar with Doki Doki Literature Club, you probably have a lot of questions. And I can tell you that whatever you might think of it given the name, Doki Doki Literature Club probably isn't anything like what you're expecting. Even looking at screenshots, you'd probably imagine you're dealing with a run-of-the-mill, anime-inspired dating sim, but you'd never guess the horrific psychological nightmare waiting for you just beneath that shiny harem surface.
Doki Doki Literature Club is a violent, genre-busting, psychological, interactive visual novel. It's also still one of the best horror games around, so if you love spooky things as well as anime, this is for you. Final warning: Doki Doki's plot deals with shockingly heavy themes and subjects, including depression, suicide, insanity, and the grotesque. If you can stomach it, Doki Doki Literature Club tells a story worth hearing, well worth the scary trip.
17. Zenless Zone Zero
Developer: miHoYo
Platforms: PS5, PC, iOS, Android
Developed by the studio responsible for Genshin Impact, expectations were high when Zenless Zone Zero was released, but the futuristic action-adventure anime game didn't reach the same level of popularity. Its dungeon-crawler-with-puzzles gameplay resulted in a far more niche type of game. However, Zenless Zone Zero is still one of the best anime games available if you love to play around with character stats and experiment with different team compositions.
It takes a bit of time to unlock the more difficult dungeons, but when you do, developing a unique playstyle becomes truly rewarding. Besides the team-based combat system, there's another reason to give Zenless Zone Zero a try: its magnificent 2D storytelling sections can rival the best manga out there, which, combined with the dynamic movement system used in combat and cutscenes, forms a true masterclass in bringing anime visuals to life.
Want to try out this new hit for yourself? Check out our Zenless Zone Zero review first.
16. Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness and the Secret Hideout
Developer: Gust
Platforms: PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch
The Atelier games are best known for two things: magical aesthetics and adorable characters. You'll still be fighting turn-based battles in a team setup, but the combat takes a backseat as you're busy crafting potions, questing, exploring, gathering items, and forging friendships. With ever-cheerful companions and storylines devoid of anything too grim, the Atelier games are the best anime games if you'd like to fancy yourself a resident of an utterly gorgeous anime fantasy kingdom.
With 25 Atelier games to date, getting into this series may seem a bit daunting, though. Luckily, the Atelier games are divided into smaller series telling standalone stories, so it's surprisingly easy to play. We recommend starting with Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness and the Secret Hideout. Kicking off one of the latest Atelier trilogies, it has the best visuals as well as some much-needed quality-of-life upgrades.
15. Dragon Ball FighterZ
Developer: Arc System Works
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
If you've ever wanted to play as the most powerful heroes of the Dragon Ball universe while blasting overpowered alien overlords, Dragon Ball FighterZ offers that satisfying, almost cathartic experience. Of course, you can also embrace your inner villain and fight Goku as Frieza, Buu, Kid Buu, Beerus, Cell, and Captain Ginyu.
It's hard to live up to the sheer energy that's drawn so many viewers to Dragon Ball over more than three decades, but Dragon Ball FighterZ is easily the most successful fighting game at doing so based in the series' universe. It's fast, punchy, visually awesome, and, most importantly, makes you feel like Goku - or Cell, depending on your moral compass.
For more information, read our Dragon Ball FighterZ review. Or you can head over to our guide on how to watch all of Dragon Ball in order!
14. Tales of Berseria
Developer: BNE Entertainment
Platforms: PS4, PC, PS3
If you're looking for a traditional JRPG with a heavy anime bend, Tales of Berseria fits the bill and then some. The combat, if not entirely innovative, is challenging enough to engage through the roughly 60-hour campaign, but the real highlight is the emotionally captivating storytelling.
Bucking so many trends we aren't soon to miss, Tales of Berseria follows a relentlessly badass female protagonist - a first for the series - in her journey to avenge her brother's death by killing his murderer. It sounds formulaic enough, but Tales of Berseria will surprise you at every plot-turn, and in-between keep you satisfied enough with its battling to see what happens next.
13. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R
Developer: CyberConnect2
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch
Pitting your favorite JoJo's against each other, this burly brawler is easily among the best anime games for fans of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. The one-versus-one fighting game mechanics are not unlike others in the genre, but the faithful character recreations and captivating storytelling sets it apart. Using many of its iconic locations, the 'All-Star Battle Mode' provides the perfect way to relive one of the best manga series of all time.
Before you grab this anarchic anime brawler, though, be mindful of the 'R' at the end - All-Star Battle R is a 2022 remastered version of the original JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle from 2013. Alongside other improvements, the remastered game introduces support attacks and assists, which creates a more versatile combat system and provides yet another reason to jump into the ring with Joseph Joestar, Jonathan Joestar, and the like.
For more battles, check out our list of the best fighting games ever made.
12. Astral Chain
Developer: PlatinumGames
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
If the anime you prefer is of the stylized, global, and awe-inspiring type, Astral Chain is right up your alley. And if you're at all familiar with PlatinumGames' other IPs, like Bayonetta and Nier: Automata, you're already largely familiar with Astral Chain's vibe.
The combat is frenetic, the visuals are bright and busy, and boss fights are brilliantly inventive. Better yet, and sort-of surprising for the genre, Astral Chain tells a well-crafted story well worth paying attention to. For a little bit of everything, including smartly designed side quests, platforming, and puzzle-solving elements, Astral Chain is your most stylish and categorically shonen choice.
This anime game grows on you more over time, so check out our Astral Chain review for more details on this title.
11. Valkyria Chronicles 4
Developer: Sega
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
Most of our best anime games build on a fantasy or sci-fi theme - but not Valkyria Chronicles 4. The fourth installment of this gritty tactical battle series is all about tanks, grenadiers, and thinking ten steps ahead. Set in a World War 2-like environment, the campaign follows the members of Squad E as they try to survive the war between the East Europan Imperial Alliance and the Atlantic Federation. Staying true to its anime-inspired nature, this tale of death and destruction is littered with tearjerker moments and (you've been warned) plenty of fan service.
What makes the Valkyria Chronicles series even more unique, though, is its focus on large-scale battle tactics. Yes, you'll see anime girls running towards the frontline with oversized weapons in their hands, but a large part of the gameplay involves staring at maps and deciding where to strike next. Think of Command and Conquer but with a charming story and pretty anime visuals.
Check out our list of the best strategy games for more anime wars.
10. Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
Developer: Spike Chunsoft
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
Play a Danganronpa game, and you'll never look at plushies the same way again. The main villain in this murder mystery series is a sadistic teddy bear whose schtick is to lock a bunch of students in a school-like facility and have them live under a simple rule: you cannot leave until you murder a classmate and get away with it. Rather than join in on the trigger-happy havoc, you'll be tasked with solving the murders.
Between class trials and leisure time, there's an incredible amount of freedom to explore the premises and follow leads, making you feel like a true detective. There are three Danganronpa games in the main series, and although each of them deserves to be a contender for this list of the best anime games, the win goes to Danganronpa 2. While Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc surprised us with its original premise and unexpected brutality, Goodbye Despair took everything great about the first game and gave it a polished makeover with better characters and a nicer setting.
9. Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors (999)
Developers: Spike Chunsoft
Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC
999 is another oddball sleeper hit with a unique gameplay flow structured around a surprisingly captivating story. Like all the best visual novels, the story here branches into different paths based on your choices, although in 999, reaching the "true ending" requires multiple playthroughs. Playing through the stressful, at-times violent story requires sitting through its captivating story, interrupted by puzzle-solving sequences to escape situations.
The plot is nothing short of a dreadful situation; you wake up on a cruise ship with eight other captives, and your goal is to find the door marked '9' before time runs out and the ship sinks. Worse yet, disobeying commands in "the Nonary Games" causes a bomb placed inside your stomach to detonate. Needless to say, the stakes are high in 999, and you feel the intensity from the opening sequence through to the end.
8. Catherine: Full Body
Developer: Atlus/ Studio Zero
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch
Catherine deserves more attention, but the game itself is to blame for its niche appeal - its subversive and sexually-charged moralizing is almost impossible to package neatly into its inventive puzzling RPG format for mass appeal. Catherine tells the story of a young commitment phobe trapped in the clutches of a succubus, struggling to survive nightly attacks and reconcile his faith in his relationship.
The only real gameplay here takes place while Vincent is asleep, and it's all about moving around blocks to climb a structure and escape the giant monster clawing its way up from the bottom. The under-pressure puzzling at Catherine's core is engaging enough, and the story told by day is equally gripping. Catherine isn't just weird; it's easily one of the best puzzle games you can still play today. And the new-and-improved Catherine: Full Body is the best way to experience this wild story.
7. Genshin Impact
Developer: miHoYo
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, iOS, Android
With dozens of quirky characters and a variety of nations to explore, Genshin Impact is one of the best anime titles if you're looking for the best open world games. While it's fun to play around with a team-based real-time combat system, the main reasons to visit the fantasy world of Teyvat are the endless exploration opportunities, quirky characters, and wholesome questlines. Discover hidden dreams and heartbreaking background stories as you journey through lush forests, snowy mountains, lively cities, and barren deserts.
It's also worth noting that you can play this magnificent anime game for free - if you don't mind a somewhat limited character roster, that is. To obtain more characters or get the ones you like best, you may have to spend money on Genshin Impact's gacha system. While it may not be the best manga ever created, take a look at Genshin Impact’s webtoon series for more free fun.
Read our Genshin Impact mobile review for more details!
6. Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom
Developer: Level-5
Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S
Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom marks more than one departure from its excellent predecessor but stands on its own as an ambitious, rewarding JRPG with a massive heart at its center. Battling is no longer turn-based, and there's a whole new city management gameplay loop and skirmish battles. For my taste, the kinetic battling is an improvement over the first Ni No Kuni's traditional turn-based combat, but I've never been much for the latter.
It's true Ni No Kuni 2 wasn't graced with Studio Ghibli heading up the art direction, but you might not know it at first glance. Characters have that same Ghibli look, and environments look hand-brushed, but a closer look reveals some discrepancies. Namely, Ni No Kuni 2 benefits from some of the most diverse, enchanting towns I've explored in a video game, and that charm bleeds through the entire experience.
Read our Ni no Kuni 2 review for more information on this near-perfect anime game.
5. Persona 3 Reload
Developer: Atlus
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Lifting the 'high-schooler with supernatural abilities' trope to a higher level, Persona 3 Reload might be the best anime game if you'd like to strike a balance between outlandish adventures and ordinary life. The brilliant character design and excellent turn-based combat are reason enough to give this Persona 3 remake a try, but the deep friendships - and romances - between characters are what truly elevates the game to greatness.
Although Persona 3 Reload arguably has the most intricate narrative of the bunch, it's far from the only top contender for the best Persona game out there. If you'd rather have a more polished gameplay system, Persona 5 Royal could be the best choice. Our advice? Play them both, but be ready to give up everything else in your life - Persona games are notoriously long-winded.
4. Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
The latest release in the acclaimed Fire Emblem franchise lives up to, and even exceeds its name in plenty of ways. With a large, highly-explorable base hub, emotionally-gripping story, and dynamic characters and relationships, it's easy to forget you're playing a turn-based strategy game and a damn good one.
Indeed, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a complex, class-based strategy game at its core. It'll take some time to learn complete mastery of its combat, but once you do, the result is as rewarding as it gets for the turn-based strategy genre. It's also still one of the best Nintendo Switch games out there, so if you have the console, be sure to give it a look!
Read our Fire Emblem: Three Houses review for more details on this must-play.
3. Dragon Quest 11
Developer: Square Enix
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch
The latest adventure in the veteran Dragon Quest series is exactly that: an adventure. It's vast, colorful, ridiculously charming, occasionally quite touching, and ultimately satisfying. The anime-inspired 3D environments are lavish, evocative, and distinctly Akira Toriyama. And indeed, the famed Dragon Ball and Chrono Trigger character designer was responsible for Dragon Quest 11's art design.
There are a few genuinely heavy, even heartbreaking, chapters, but for most of the ride, you'll be so charmed by the world and its characters. The gameplay loop is also challenging enough to demand some grinding, but by no means excessively. Basically, Dragon Quest 11 is a traditional JRPG in almost every way, and the fact that it stands so tall among literally decades of genre classics says all you need to know about it.
Check out our Dragon Quest 11 S – Definitive Edition review.
2. Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
Developer: Level-5
Platforms: PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S
Whether you're an unabashed Ghibli aficionado or you've never heard the name Miyazaki, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch can't be missed for fans of anime, video games, or happiness. Ni No Kuni bleeds Ghibli, from the exceptionally beautiful art to the emotional storytelling. Its gameplay has all the markers seen in the best RPGs, with an overworld for you to grind through and traverse towns, cinematic cutscenes, and turn-based gameplay.
No matter your preferred anime genre, there's an anime-inspired game for you. The thing about Ni No Kuni that separates it from most JRPGs is how expertly crafted each element is. The story is profoundly moving; the exceptional Studio Ghibli-drawn art has aged wonderfully (especially with the PS4 remaster), and progressing through the story requires minimal grinding - even less if you take on sidequests.
1. Metaphor: ReFantazio
Developer(s): Atlus, Studio Zero
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Made by developers who gave us the Persona games, Metaphor: ReFantazio's features an excellent turn-based battle system, wonderful characters, and a beautifully crafted world - basically everything you could wish for in one of the best anime games. Playing as a member of a repressed tribe, your task is to save the crown prince of a troubled medieval fantasy realm as you fight against inequality and evil contenders for the throne, thereby relying on a mixture of press-turned and real-time combat to beat bad guys.
While Metaphor: ReFantazio isn't the only anime game with an engaging narrative, its storytelling is exceptionally detailed and dark - not in the least because of the evil Count Louis' ever-looming presence. Anime fans will also be delighted to witness the game's many cutscenes; blessed with amazing voice-acting, a bombastic orchestral score, and a highly detailed art style, they're absolutely worth grabbing the popcorn for.
If you want to know more about GameRadar+'s top pick for the best anime game, read our Metaphor: ReFantazio review.
If you're on the lookout for more adventures, check out our lists of all the upcoming anime heading our way and the new games on the horizon.
