If you’ve ever finished an anime, loved every second of it, and immediately needed more, you’re not alone. But 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.
People keep recommending manga or fanfic, and that’s fine, but if reading is really not your thing, then how are you supposed to recapture some of that joy you got from watching?
Well, let me introduce you to anime-based video games. This is how I got over my devastation after finishing Black Clover and learning that there is no more and who knows when there’ll be. I picked up Black Clover M and it scratched that itch pretty well.
And same with Solo Leveling — I swear, every time I look on social media, the release date seems further and further away (right now, it’s 2028) — but Solo Leveling: Arise worked pretty well as a replacement.
So, if you’re like me, and you need that next anime fix faster than the artists can draw, check out some of these anime games. They might not be perfect, but if you’re a fan, I guarantee you’ll find at least some enjoyment in them.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO
If you’ve been craving that classic Budokai Tenkaichi chaos with a next-gen glow-up, Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is the wish Shenron finally granted us. This isn’t just another arena fighter slapped with a shiny coat of nostalgia — it’s a full-on revival of the chaotic, over-the-top battles that made the original Budokai Tenkaichi games legendary.
With over 160 characters, the roster is completely unhinged. The visuals are stunning, the environments are fully destructible, and the combat feels weighty and cinematic without losing that wild, fast-paced energy the series is known for.
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 All Star Battle
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 — 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 — but also, check out the One Piece games.
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
If you’re as impatient as me to watch the Infinite Castle movies, why not try this game? You’ll 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. Most places, you’ll find it described as 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 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.
Black Clover M
Here’s another gacha game — but I promise, it’s not bad. If you finished Black Clover and want more, but don’t want to read the manga, this is the next best thing. It follows the storyline faithfully and you can see all the key moments (complete with voice acting), but also fight all the bosses and enemies from the show.
Black Clover M features turn-based combat, and you summon the characters to create teams to fight with. This is the gacha element, because the summoning is luck-based. But, there’s a pity system which means you are guaranteed rare summons after a certain amount of attempts, and it doesn’t reset after you get a rare character.
It’s funny, for example, that Yuno is only a 3-star character while Asta and Noelle are much stronger.
You can play Black Clover M on your phone or on PC and it’s really not pay-to-win, so don’t worry about that. See my full Black Clover M review here.
Jujutsu Kaisen: Phantom Parade
I’ll be honest — I don’t get the hype. Sure, Jujutsu Kaisen is cool, but not my favorite anime, not even in the top five. That said, I quite liked the game.
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
Now, I’ll be honest again, I haven’t watched Fairy Tail yet, but it’s one of the top titles on my to-watch list, especially since I heard it’s similar to Black Clover. But I’m really excited that there’s a game as well.
So, 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.
Fairy Tail received mixed reviews upon release. Critics praised its faithful adaptation of the source material and engaging combat system but noted that the game heavily caters to existing fans of the series. Newcomers might find the story and character introductions lacking in depth. Additionally, some pointed out repetitive missions and subpar graphics as drawbacks.
For fans of the Fairy Tail series, this game offers an opportunity to immerse oneself in the world of Fiore, experiencing beloved story arcs and engaging in strategic battles. While it may have its shortcomings, the game provides a nostalgic journey for those familiar with the adventures of the Fairy Tail guild.
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 (even I don’t have that many). 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.
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