Best Anime Games

Why it's here: The best game on this list and the one that earns every replay. PlatinumGames' combat is fast and fluid, but the real reward sits in the multiple endings, where each route recasts the story you thought you finished. Players call it a masterpiece, and the only real gripe is that later routes reuse environments and the early pacing sags. Treat the repeat runs as the point, not padding, and there is nothing here I would skip.

Why it's here: The definitive Naruto game and the easiest way to relive Shippuden's ending. CyberConnect2's 3D arena battles favor spectacle over deep execution, so the cinematic jutsu land whether or not you drill combos, and the huge roster keeps side battles worth combing through. Fans flag a rushed story mode and difficulty spikes, and the online pool is thin now. As a solo tour of the anime with plenty to collect, it holds up.

Why it's here: The one to play if you want to live the DBZ saga rather than just fight through it. It wraps an easy-to-learn combat system around an open-world retelling packed with side quests, collectibles and Z-Fighter bonding, which is a lot of ground to comb. Players love the faithful recreation but call the fetch quests repetitive and warn of the odd save-file bug. For reliving the story with side content to chase, it delivers.

Why it's here: The Budokai Tenkaichi revival fans waited years for, with over 180 fighters and battles that look ripped from the show. The combat is fluid and the roster is enormous, so there is endless material to explore. But player sentiment is genuinely divided: the online experience and AI balance draw heavy fire, and the DLC pricing has soured a lot of the base. Buy it for the offline roster and spectacle, and temper expectations for ranked play.

Why it's here: The most rewarding fighter here for anyone willing to put in the lab time. Arc System Works made it faster to read than past entries while keeping Roman Cancels deep enough to chase for years, and the Wall Break mechanic makes pressure feel earned. Players praise the roster, animation and music, but call out heavy DLC reliance and monetization. If you want a fighting game with real ceiling and are fine paying for characters, this is it.

Why it's here: Frame for frame it looks like the anime, and under the spectacle sits a genuine three-on-three tag system built for practice. Assists, sparking combos and swaps reward the hours you sink into training mode, which is exactly the grind competitive players want. Reviewers love the visuals and depth but flag online desyncs, a lackluster story mode and costly DLC. For high-level team fighting on PS5 and PS4, it is still the anime benchmark.

Why it's here: Pure musou comfort food, and the best pick when you want to clear an island of hundreds of enemies with the whole Straw Hat crew. The huge roster and added aerial combat give you plenty of movesets to test, and it is genuinely addictive in short bursts. Players warn the mission loop turns repetitive and the story mode skips arcs. As a fan-service brawler to dip into, not a deep RPG, it is a good time.

Why it's here: The most beginner-friendly game on the list and a gorgeous one at that. Its arena combat is accessible enough to pick up in minutes, and the story mode follows Tanjiro's journey faithfully, which makes it an easy entry point for anyone new to anime fighters. Players adore the visuals but note the roster is small and the story mode is short with limited combat depth. Come for the presentation and an approachable fight, not long-term grind.

Why it's here: An original anime action-RPG worth a look for its combat above all else. The psychokinetic powers make fights inventive, and the dual-protagonist structure gives you two routes to explore. Player sentiment is split, though: the combat and character bonds land, while the story execution and heavy cutscene load frustrate as many people as they win over. If you prioritize a stylish battle system and can forgive uneven writing, it is a rewarding one-off; story-first players should go in wary.

Why it's here: The soulslike for players who want anime style with their stamina bars. Its Blood Code system lets you hot-swap entire builds mid-run, and the AI companion softens the usual difficulty wall, so there is a lot to tinker with across a playthrough. Players love the customization and look but flag inconsistent hitboxes and a maze-like Cathedral level. If you want a FromSoftware-flavored world with real build variety, it is worth the rough edges.

Why it's here: The best way to feel like a Scout, thanks to ODM Gear combat that turns zipping between titans into the whole appeal. It follows seasons one through three with deep character customization and enough modes to keep completionists busy. Players call the movement satisfying but flag targeting struggles, the odd bug and a repetitive mission structure. If the swinging traversal is what you are after, it nails the one thing that matters and gives you plenty to unlock.

Why it's here: A third-person shooter-RPG built for SAO fans who want to build a character and lose hours to loot and customization. The Gun Gale Online setting and deep character creation give explorers plenty to sink into, and progression is genuinely moreish. Sentiment is mixed: the story lands for series fans but the missions repeat, AI teammates falter in tough fights, and bugs surface. Worth it if you are here for the customization grind more than a tight shooter.

Why it's here: The pick for One Piece fans who prefer a turn-based RPG to a brawler. Its positional battle system rewards party composition over raw damage, and the nostalgic story sends the powered-down Straw Hats across a full island to explore. Player feedback is divided, with praise for the visuals and story set against complaints about slow pacing, too many cutscenes and easy combat. Come for a relaxed, good-looking adventure to comb through, not a demanding fight.

Why it's here: The most fan-serving Bleach game in years, and a real return for a franchise starved of console fighters. The roster is larger than fans expected and the combat clicks once you master switching and combos, with Ichigo's story retold from the start. But sentiment is polarized: the movement feels clunky, inputs register inconsistently, and the story leans hard on cutscenes over play. Die-hard Bleach fans will find plenty here; newcomers should expect friction before it opens up.