Summary
- Anime-style video games like Genshin Impact, Tales of Berseria, and Forgotton Anne immerse players in colorful worlds filled with meaningful stories and emotion.
- Mainstream video games like Persona 5, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and Ni no Kuni II offer anime-like experiences with deep stories, vibrant visuals, and character-focused plots.
- Games such as Scarlet Nexus blur the lines between video games and anime by exploring themes like friendship, loss, and societal impacts in fantastical settings.
Anime has something special about it that gets every viewer addicted. It tells stories that matter, makes viewers go through all kinds of feelings, and lets them feel for the characters. Now, imagine actually being there, experiencing all the exciting things that happen in those colorful places, not just watching from the side of the screen. That’s exactly what some video games do, by letting gamers feel like they're in that role.
With their colorful artstyles, fun characters, and amazing stories, these games are mostly about having a good time and making gamers feel relaxed. Whether off on an adventure, battling enemies, or solving little mysteries, these games make players care about their characters, story, and appearance. It's like an anime where players have control over what happens.
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1 Genshin Impact
A Fantasy World Pretty Enough To Distract From The Constant Grinding
Genshin Impact
- Released
- September 28, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Teen / Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action, Adventure, Gacha, Open-World
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- X|S Optimized
- yes
In Genshin Impact, players can move and battle in the wide world of Teyvat. The players assume the role of a Traveler, searching for their sibling and discovering what makes each of the seven distinctive nations special. The game includes a variety of characters, and gamers can play, battle, and solve puzzles and collect a wide arsenal of weapons and characters along the way.
With its colorful anime appearance, action-packed combat, and character-based plot, the game makes a player feel like they're part of an impressive anime show. With the voice actors bringing emotions to the script and breathtaking scenes, players can easily feel like they're part of the massive universe and notice every little interaction between the characters. The emotions and relationships between the characters help give Genshin Impact a real anime feel.
2 Persona 5
Turn-Based Combat Has Never Been This Flashy Or Personal
Persona 5
- Released
- September 15, 2016
- ESRB
- m
In Persona 5, players take on the role of a Phantom Thief to help out people and fight corrupted adults. Taking place in Tokyo, the game mixes fighting with role-playing ideas, letting players keep up with their everyday routine and still get into some action during the game.
The way the game presents itself, what it stands for, and how it portrays its characters are a lot like stories found in anime. The game looks at real-life issues and shows both the good and bad parts of people, making it interesting for anyone who likes playing something a bit deeper and anime-like.
3 Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Choose A House, Shape History, Break Some Hearts
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
- Released
- July 26, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Intelligent Systems
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a strategy role-playing that takes place in the world of Fódlan. Players become a professor at the Garreg Mach Monastery, helping out with lessons and cheering the students on as they guide them through their studies, then get caught up in a big action-packed battle. The game makes players really think about what they're doing, ask for help from friends, and figure out the best thing to do.
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Its anime-style characters, changes in the plot, and emotional moments make players feel like they're watching a popular Japanese anime. The game is all about how well the protagonist get along with their squad. There are plenty of different ways the story can go based on the player's choices, which means it’s fun to play over and over.
4 Tales of Berseria
Velvet Crowe’s Tragic Journey Is Peak Anime Drama
Tales of Berseria
- Released
- January 24, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Partial Nudity, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Studios
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Action
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Tales of Berseria follows Velvet Crowe as she struggles to get even with those who turned her hometown into a place filled with monsters. The game lets players fight in real-time battles while they also take on a story about feelings, making decisions, and figuring out what’s the right or wrong thing to do.
Its lively character interactions, emotional backstory, and big plot ideas are a lot like what is seen in anime. The game’s main themes of dealing with loss, wanting to get back what was lost, and searching for forgiveness are things that many anime shows also talk about.
5 Scarlet Nexus
Unique Plot, Cool Powers, & Anime Artstyle
Scarlet Nexus
- Released
- June 25, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Developed by Bandai Namco, Scarlet Nexus is an RPG set in the future in an alternate timeline. The player's task is to fight off harmful enemies, and work to stop them from stealing people's minds as the whole society is based around them. Players get to pick which character they want to play, either Yuito or Kasane. Both have their own story and special abilities that they can use to solve puzzles and get through different challenges together as a team.
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The game's cel-shaded graphics, its anime-like characters, and even the story use a lot of ideas from popular anime. Its exploration of things like memory, who we are, and how society shapes us feels similar to common themes in anime. It also mixes in some good gameplay with a story that feels more like an anime movie than a video game.
6 Forgotton Anne
Animated Storytelling That Feels Straight From A Film Festival
Forgotton Anne
- Released
- May 15, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
- Developer(s)
- Throughline Games
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Puzzle
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Forgotton Anne is a fun platformer where players play as Anne, a girl who can go to a world where all lost items end up: the Forgotten Lands. Anne has to keep things in check while also looking for a way back home. The game mixes puzzles with choices one makes in the story, which changes how things end. The game's hand-drawn animation and musical accompaniment make the game look and feel like a Studio Ghibli movie, turning it into a game where the player feels like part of the story.
The game’s story and tough choices make players care about the characters just like they would in an old anime. The detailed environments make everything seem real, helping players feel attached. The game’s use of choices and how they affect the story makes players think about what they do and the results that come from their actions.
7 Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
Ghibli-Inspired Magic Kingdom-Building
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
- Released
- March 22, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Adventure, Fighting
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is a story about helping Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum, the young king, to rebuild his kingdom after he was overthrown from his own kingdom. The game allows players to act quickly in battle and to build their own kingdom, while also telling a heartwarming story. Players must make the most of their supplies, plan moves ahead, and offer support to each other to build up their kingdoms.
With colorful graphics, intriguing characters, and a core theme about friendship and always being there for each other, the game feels similar to an anime. The style of this game and its story are similar to those found in Studio Ghibli’s movies or an emotional shonen anime, making the experience very much like entering a fairy tale land. Joe Hisaishi’s music plays an important role in helping the story evoke powerful emotions. An interesting story and living, breathing characters makes Ni no Kuni II feel like the adventure of every anime fan's dreams.
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