20+ Anime Games You Have To Play In 2026 

Finding a good anime game to play is much harder than finding good anime to watch. As a gamer who loves to watch anime, that sentence hurts my soul. It has gotten to the point where I started to daydream about the perfect Naruto game that I would love to play, and the sad part is that if I want to play it, I have to make it. Which isn’t impossible but it’s an expensive endeavor. 

Anyways, anime games can be a perfect antidote to the endless suffering of waiting for the new season of your favorite anime to come out. The wait until the new season is often long, and in some cases, the anime is done, and there will never be more. Which is depressing, I know. Also there’s a good chunk of games that have that anime feel but don’t have anime adaptation. They’ll also be on the list.

Over the years I’ve played pretty much every anime game available on PC, Playstation, and on mobile. Some of them were just cash grabs playing on our nostalgia, some of them were just pure scams that got removed, few of them got shut down and can’t be ever played again (looking at you Black Clover M) but every so often there’ll be a game that’s worth investing time in. Here’s the list of best anime games that you should check out:

Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO

If you’ve been craving that classic Budokai Tenkaichi feel with a bit of a glow-up, Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is what you need. With over 160 characters, the roster is completely awesome. The visuals are stunning, the environments are fully destructible, and the combat feels great.

You can play it on PS5, Xbox, and PC, which gives you plenty of options. And I know, I know, that FighterZ is more popular (and arguably better), but I just love Sparking!Zero. If you’re looking for more Dragon Ball Z games, check out this full list.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R

If you’re a JoJo fan looking to dive deeper into the series, All-Star Battle R is a solid pick. It brings together over 50 characters from all eight parts of the manga, so you can pit all of them against each other. 

The art style is beautiful, exactly like in the anime. You can play it on PS5 & 4, PC, Xbox, PC, and on Switch. Sure, it’s a fighting game, which is pretty standard for anime-based games, and the story is not much, but you can still enjoy the combat and cutscenes. 

Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Franchise

Look, I’ll be honest, Naruto is probably my favorite anime ever. And no game will ever compare to it, so much so that I imagined what my ideal Naruto game would look like here. Now that would be #1 on this list (if any game developer wants to steal the idea, I’ll look the other way). 

But if you want a game that’s already out, let me point you to a series called Ninja Ultimate Storm. You can play all of them on pretty much any device (PC, PS, Xbox, Switch), and some of them are older, but all of them add something new. 

For example, the second Ninja Storm covered the story up to the Pain arc, and Ninja Storm 3 covered the war. In the Ninja Storm 4, you can meet some of the Boruto characters. 

It’s not exactly the best replacement for the anime, but it will scratch that itch and there are plenty of games to tide you over until the anime people decide to make a new Naruto series that covers the blank period (please, please do). 

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 & 4

If you’re a One Piece fan, and over a thousand episodes, plus a live TV show are not enough for you — well, first of all, congrats, getting fed all that content, unlike some of us.

I’d recommend the Pirate Warriors and I couldn’t really decide between 3 and 4, so here we are. Part 3 covers all of the early arcs, and even has a story campaign with full voice acting and cinematic elements. Part 4 covers arcs like Whole Cake Island and Wano, but with a few changes. 

So, you lucky duck, go enjoy even more One Piece content!

Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise

Okay, so this is an older anime, and not as popular as others, but the game is great. And if you’re a fan and haven’t played it yet, you should check it out. 

Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise is a mix of beat-’em-up action with RPG elements, but also bartending, baseball, racing, and even retro arcade games like Space Harrier and Out Run. The story is an alternate take on Kenshiro’s journey but with the same gritty aesthetic present in the show and manga. 

Unfortunately, it’s limited to PlayStation. 

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — The Hinokami Chronicles

Demon Slayer fans can play as Tanjiro and get to fight demons in a game that’s as beautiful as the anime is. It covers the first season and the Mugen train and you’ll get to experience the whole story again, complete with boss battles and emotional cutscenes. 

And if Tanjiro is not your favorite, don’t worry, the roster has more than 18 different characters and you can get all of their points of view from different battles. 

Plus, if you end up liking the game, you can play the second installment which expands the story and adds even more cool stuff. 

Attack on Titan 2

Attack on Titan 2 follows the events of the first two seasons of the anime, but it also allows you to create a custom character and join the 104th Cadet Corps. So, you get to experience all of it from a new perspective. 

There’s also some original content, but don’t worry, the production was supervised by Hajime Isayama, and it offers new insights and interactions with key characters like Eren, Mikasa, and Armin.

Plus, aside from fighting, you can do normal activities in the base and interact with other characters. And if you want even more content, you can get the Final Battle expansion which covers the third season. 

Solo Leveling: Arise

Solo Leveling, the anime, is strangely divisive — some say it’s the best anime of the year, while some find it overhyped and just pure aura farming with no character development. Which… fair, in both cases. Do I know the names of any characters other than Jinwoo? …Not really. But did I still enjoy the heck out of it? Yes, of course. 

If you ask me (and even if you don’t), I can tell you that while Jinwoo is supremely cool as he is, it would be way funnier if he retained his regular personality. Just imagine an S-class hunter that’s clumsy and shy but somehow still beats up the boss.

Well, anyway — on to the game. You can play it on your phone (Android/iOS) or your PC. In most places, you’ll find it described as an action RPG. However, I would place it firmly in the category of gacha. 

And if you had bad experiences with those, the good news is that Arise is one of the best gachas out there. You start off as, obviously, Sung Jinwoo, from the weakest hunter in the world, to Shadow Monarch. It’s not an open world, but you can play in arenas and different areas  but really, are you playing for the world or the unbelievable coolness? And yes, you can do an “Arise” and turn defeated enemies into your shadows. 

Just mind the spoilers — the game follows the manga, and it won’t wait for the new season.

Read my full review of Solo Leveling: Arise here. 

Jujutsu Kaisen: Phantom Parade

I’ll be honest here, I watched JJK and I’ve read manga because I was curious what happens to my boy Gojo. I have mixed feelings about it, I don’t hate it but I also don’t love it. I would even go so far as to even say that I would have preferred if anime was solely about Gojo and Getou but that’s just me.

Phantom Parade follows the events of the anime, but adds new characters and storylines and expands the world. You can interact with all of your favorite characters like Megumi, Gojo, Nobara, or Yuji, and all of them are voiced by original Japanese actors. 

Plus, you can use all of them in turn-based combat, which is fun. Yes, it’s a gacha but it’s not the worst of them, and you can play it without in-app purchases. 

Fairy Tail

Fairy Tail is a turn-based RPG available on PS, PC, and Nintendo Switch. You start the game after the Tenrou Island arc, during the Grand Magic Games. The game lets you experience key moments, interact with characters and there are even side stories that aren’t available in the anime or manga. 

This one has mixed reviews, and most people say that it’s more for the fans, but the combat system is fun and it’s a faithful adaptation. 

Yu-Gi-Oh: Master Duel

If you ever collected and played Yu-Gi-Oh cards as a kid, here’s a great game for you. I still have my huge collection and now my daughters play with it (I’d say that’s parenting well done, but that’s just me). 

You can play Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel on PC, consoles, and mobile devices, and it even allows you to play on different platforms while keeping your progress. 

It follows all of the rules from the original trading card games and it has over 10k cards. You can play in ranked matches, casual duels or a solo mode which tells you more about the cards and deck-building, which is great if it’s been a while since you played or you’re new to this world. 

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 lets you create your own character and fight alongside Goku, Vegeta, and the rest of the famous gang. You’ll travel through different parts of the Dragon Ball timeline, all while fighting familiar enemies. It’s sort of an older game that will get a new part in 2027 but it still holds up pretty damn well. One thing worth noting is that if you’re going to play on PC, the multiplayer part of the game is practically dead. Though it’s a great option if you want 30-40 hours of Dragon Ball gameplay. 

DragonSword Awakening

I couldn’t praise this game enough. DragonSword Awakening was supposed to be a gacha game but developers decided to remove that aspect and give all the characters for free. Honestly it was such a breath of fresh air being able to play and not have to worry about my wallet. The story is set in the open world of the Continent of Orbis where you’ll have to fight various monsters, including some cool design dragons. 

This would be the first game that’s not based on anime that I would recommend anyone to try. If you’re interested in reading more about DragonSword Awakening and what I think about it, I’ve got a review here. 

Persona 3 Reload

There’s a big debate going on which Persona game should you play first and while the internet is sorta split on it, I highly recommend playing Persona 3 Reload. It’s a remake of Persona 3 and personally I feel like it’s easy to get into. It surprised me with how much I like the story and characters. It is darker than Persona 5 but I feel that’s the reason to like it even more. 

The gameplay is also really fun. You spend your days improving skills and building relationships then you go into Tartarus to fight enemies and build your Personas. Pair it with one of the best soundtracks I’ve heard in games and you get an experience worth your money and so much more. 

Granblue Fantasy: Relink

I didn’t have any expectations when I first saw Granblue Fantasy: Relink but it surprised me more than just once. I loved how colorful the world and characters were. And how easy it was to get into the game, it was welcoming and oddly familiar.   

The combat is where the game really shines, every character feels different and switching between them gives you tons of ways to play. The main story is around 20ish hours but the game offers so much more after that. You can easily squeeze 100+ hours easily with harder quests, farming better gear and unlocking new characters. 

This must not be mixed with their free gacha version called just Granblue Fantasy.

Umamusume: Pretty Derby

Umamusume is a training simulator mixed with gacha elements. There’s an anime that is less popular than the game but still worth watching if you have the time. The concept of the game is still something that I’m not used to but the gameplay is highly addictive and fun. 

What I liked the most is that there’s so much more than just racing. Each character has her own personality and story. Training them is more complex and rewarding than you would think. It takes some time getting used to it but once you do, the game becomes exponentially more enjoyable. 

With that said, it’s not the game for everyone. If you don’t like gacha mixed with horse-girls racing, then just ignore this one. If you can get past that, you’ll enjoy it immensely.  

Limbus Company

Limbus Company is a dark turn-based RPG where you get to play as the Executive Manager of Limbus Company. You’ll have to lead a group of strange characters called Sinners. One thing that we players who played can agree is that this is a gacha game that failed at being a gacha game. And we mean it as a positive thing. Besides being one of the most F2P friendly there’s also amazing character design and great story behind it all. 

It’s one of the few games where I can freely recommend without fearing that I’ll set someone on a path of losing their house due to predatory gacha mechanics. 

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game

Avatar Legends is  based on the famous beloved anime/cartoon Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legends of Korra. It’s a fast-paced 1v1 fighting game where you’ll have a chance to play as Aang, Korra, Zuko, and many other beloved characters. The animations are simply beautiful, good voice acting, diverse character playstyles, and faithful representations of the said characters. 

The initial release of the game felt rushed and filled with few bugs that were unpleasant but the developers were quick to address it and immediately started on fixing problems. Don’t let that keep you from getting it because at the end of the day, it’s a great game that just needs a few polishes. 

The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin

I’ve played the game since day one and while I wouldn’t classify it as one of my favorite games or close to being perfect, I still think it’s getting some undeserved hate. It’s a great game for people who liked watching The Seven Deadly Sins anime and it’s a great contender to compete against big titles like Genshin or Wuthering Waves. If you’re interested in learning more about the game, here’s my review on it. 

Digimon Story Time Stranger

As someone who has more nostalgic feelings toward Digimon than to a Pokemon franchise, this game hits close to home. It’s a turn-based RPG where you can travel between different worlds and time periods, all while raising and battling Digimons. 

It has a great story, great characters, iconic digimons, and the overall experience was pleasant to say the least. With that said the bar wasn’t high to begin with, so make of that what you will. 

Also, fair warning to Pokemon fans though, it will show you how much you’re missing out and how badly you’re treated.

Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker

This is an online multiplayer Naruto game where you can create your character and fight other players in 4vs4 battles. There’s no story behind the game, mostly it’s just fighting. What I liked the most about it is the option to build your own characters with a unique fighting style and skills. The game has so much potential but it needs someone with a clear vision and who actually likes Naruto, to take it to the next level and get it what it can be. Someone like me? Maybe, I won’t oppose it. 

Bleach: Soul Resonance

I’ve had a hard time believing that mobile games can look this good but Bleach: Soul Resonance showed that it is possible. It mixes anime style gameplay with a sprinkle of gacha elements, all while staying true to the anime’s story. If you’re a fan of Ichigo and the rest of Soul Society, then I highly recommend trying it out. 

If you need more convincing, you can check out my full review here.

One Piece Odyssey

One Piece Odyssey is a RPG based on, you guessed it, One Piece. It’s set on a mysterious island after the Straw Hat crew gets caught in a storm and shipwrecked. You’ll get a chance to play as Luffy, Zoro, and other members. To be perfectly honest with you, the game is heavily geared towards hard fans of the anime. I believe that if you’re not a fan, you’ll find this game extremely disappointing and boring. 

NieR: Automata

NieR: Automata is an RPG game set in the future where humanity has left the earth and machines have taken over. You get to play as an android who fights machines and in process slowly discovers what happened to humanity. I know it sounds pretty real considering what’s happening in real life but this is one of the must play games if you’re into this sort of stuff. 

Re:ZERO — Starting Life in Another World — The Prophecy of the Throne

RZSLiAWTPotT is a visual novel made exclusively for heavy fans of the anime. It features a ‘what if’ story, rather than focusing on an original story from the show. I’ve had a fairly okay time with it but if this is your first time hearing about Re:ZERO, then I highly suggest picking any other game on this list. Since we’re having a moment of honesty, I strongly believe that 60 bucks price is unjustifiable, straight rip-off. If you can wait for some sort of sale, do it. 

Final Fantasy

And the final game (see what I did there?) on this list is the Final Fantasy franchise. To be honest with you there are 16 main parts and probably well over 100 spin-offs, so telling you to play just one would be insulting. And honestly I wouldn’t even know which one I would pick as a solely must play. There are few stinkers but most of them are fun, interesting and worth checking out. My best advice would be to either go on reddit and see what people say about them or just check trailers for them and see which ones peak your interest the most. Good luck.