Anime has been an influential medium for quite some time in gaming. We’ve seen the increasing popularity of anime video games in recent years, especially in western countries. Most of them are fighting games, primarily based on manga or anime series. 

Times, when a video game adaptation of an anime was only known in the Land of the Rising Sun, are long gone. This globally popular medium is a perfect foundation for video games due to its unmistakable aesthetic. That’s why it’s an excellent time to be an anime gamer. Many recent titles capture the visual flair that makes anime stand out but are also mechanically friendly for western players. 

At RoyalCDKeys, we’ve created a list of the most exciting games from Japan. Each of them excels in their own ways, celebrating a particular anime series or capturing their own style. If you’re a fan of Naruto, Fairy Tail, Dragon Ball, or One Piece, definitely check our list! 

Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4

• Release Date: 9 February 2016
• Developer: CyberConnect2
• Metascore: 80

The fourth installment of the renowned fighting game concludes the story of Naruto and his friends. That said, you won’t grasp the full essence of the story if you’re not familiar with its corresponding manga or anime. Nevertheless, it’s a classic representation of what a jRPG anime game should look like.

Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is very similar to its predecessors. It follows the story of a young boy named Naruto, whose biggest dream is to become Hokage – the most respected ninja in the village. It contains the whole storyline of Naruto, including the Shippuden series. That’s what separates it from the third game, as it only covered part of the story. Also, all playable characters are voiced by their original voice actors, which is more than welcomed.

There are over 100 characters to choose from, each with its own combos, abilities, and playstyle. We’re not even counting the multiple iterations of some characters, which easily doubles the amount. It’s an excellent competitive title when it comes to anime arena fighters.

Apart from fighting, you’ll participate in other activities like side-quests, shopping, item collecting, etc. It’s the most complete Naruto game on the market and one of the best video game adaptations of the series.

Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 Steam Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• The most complete Naruto game to date; evolution of Ultimate Ninja Storm 3.
• Story mode follows the entire series from the beginning until the very end.
• Original voice actors.
• Engaging combat system with unique finishers. 

Dragon Ball FighterZ

• Release Date: 26 January 2018
• Developer: Arc System Works
• Metascore: 85

There’s hardly anyone who hasn’t heard of the Dragon Ball universe. Golden-haired Son Goku using his iconic Kamehameha is widely known not only to anime enthusiasts. Dragon Ball FighterZ is suited for everyone simply because it’s one of the best fighting games ever. It was developed by the studio behind the excellent Guilty Gear series, which can be seen during gameplay.

The game perfectly mimics the look and feel of Dragon Ball Z and adapts the essence of the entire show. Every move, kick and punch looks and feels like taken straight from the anime. Speaking of fights, the game features a very responsive fighting system. Its pace is exceptionally fast due to the universal dash, which instantly closes the distance between opponents. Also, every character can teleport behind your back to catch you off-guard or continue a combo.

A few years have passed since its initial release, and FighterZ has greatly improved. There are a bunch of interesting DLCs, iconic characters, smart gameplay tweaks, and new game modes. One of them is a special dojo where you can practice advanced combos. Goku, Piccolo, or Buu – you can master all your favorite characters.

Dragon Ball FighterZ is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• One of the best fighting games in general.
• Adapts the essence of Dragon Ball and brings the best out of it in a video game form.
• A huge roster of playable iconic characters.
• Fast-paced combat system.
• Story mode with a gorgeous world ready to explore.
• Dragon Ball FighterZ is present in the competitive e-sport scene.      

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4

• Release Date: 27 March 2020
• Developer: Omega Force
• Metascore: 76

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 represents the same genre as the Naruto game above. However, the gameplay focuses on beating thousands of enemies simultaneously, rather than 1v1 fights. You could say it’s Devil May Cry with a different skin. Its fourth installment is the latest and greatest in the franchise. 

As a young man called Monkey D. Luffy, you’re embarking on a journey to find the mythical treasure, the One Piece, and proclaim himself the King of Pirates. You’re not the only one searching for it, obviously. You’ll meet many friends and foes along the way and engage in epic boss fights. It features a 15-hour campaign mode on top of 40 playable characters, so there’s great potential for replayability after beating the story. 

You’re also going to relive the key moments from the major arcs in One Piece. However, it’s hard to recommend as a substitute for watching 900+ episodes or reading 1000+ chapters of manga. It’s easy to get lost if you’re not familiar with the series, but the gameplay aspect is more than enough to keep you entertained.

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 Steam Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• A perfect representation of the Musou genre, where you take on thousands of enemies.
• Hundreds of combos and special moves.
• 15-hour campaign consisting of major characters, arcs, and villains from One Piece.
• Over 40 playable characters.
• Different game modes.

Scarlet Nexus

• Release Date: 15 January 2021  
• Developer: Bandai Namco Games
• Metascore: 78

Scarlet Nexus is the newest title on our list, which was nominated for the Best Role-Playing Game of 2021. It’s a perfect blend of Devil May Cry, Bayonetta, and Persona series. It takes plenty from the best jRPG games while adding its own spice on top. 

The story focuses on two protagonists – Yuito and Kasane. They are members of the Other Suppression Force (OSF) tasked to defend New Himuka city from creatures known as The Others. 

The game features two different campaigns, each focusing on a different protagonist offering 40 hours of gameplay. Their stories intertwine at some point, but you’ll meet different characters and enemies to understand its world and history better.

What makes Scarlet Nexus’s combat stand out is how your weapon-based attacks interconnect with telekinetic moves. Combine this with the environment around you to throw objects at your enemies. Mixing it all together leads to some really satisfying fights, leaving you craving for more — a must-have for all jRPG enthusiasts.

Scarlet Nexus Steam Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• A perfect blend of Devil May Cry, Bayonetta, and Persona Series.
• Two protagonists, each with its own campaign.
• 40 hours of gameplay.
• Dynamic combat forces you to chain together different abilities.

Ni No Kuni – Wrath of the White Witch Remastered

• Release Date: 20 September 2019
• Developer: Level 5, QLOC
• Metascore: 86

Any fans of Studio Ghibli around here? If so, Ni No Kuni is a must-play for every fan of Hayao Miyazaki’s movies. It’s also an excellent title for those tired of violence and a dark atmosphere. The influence of Ghibli’s animations can be seen everywhere. It features an exquisite art style, emotional storytelling, and well-written characters.

Ni no Kuni is a textbook example of a jRPG genre. There’s a vast world for you to explore, towns to visit, cinematic cutscenes, and turn-based gameplay. Whether you’re keen on anime games or don’t play them at all, this one is suitable for everyone. Although it doesn’t have any innovative mechanics, it excels in how expertly-crafted each element is. 

For example, progressing through the story requires minimal grinding, which is a major flaw in most jRPG games. Also, the remastered version proves that Ghibli-drawn art is ageless and will continue to impress for years to come.

Ni No Kuni – Wrath of the White Witch Remastered Steam Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• Ghibli-inspired art style.
• Classic jRPG title with well-known mechanics but free of its major flaws.
• Well-written characters and emotional storytelling, suitable for people of every age.
• The remastered version gives a second life to this title.

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!

• Release Date: 6 October 2017 
• Developer: Team Salvato
• Metascore: 78

Looking at the cover, you probably think it’s just another visual novel dating sim. Well, don’t judge the book by its cover. As the official description says, it “is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed.” 

This harem of cute 2D girls has several disturbing dark layers underneath. It’s a horror game, by all means, offering a violent, distressing experience as you progress through the story. The plot deals with deep, psychological themes such as depression, suicide, insanity, and grotesque. 

It’s undoubtedly one of the best anime games for PC thanks to its dynamic narrative – one that’s best if not spoiled. Additionally, the “Plus” expansion adds some new content and expands the original. If you have a few hours to spare, give it a go. Doki Doki Literature Club tells a story worth the scary trip if your mind and stomach can handle it. 

Key Features

• Similar mechanics to dating sim games.
• One of the best horror games underneath the cute surface.
• Scary and disturbing story, focusing on deep, psychological topics.
• The Plus expansion adds additional content and expands the story.  

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

• Release Date: 27 August 2013
• Developer: Square Enix
• Metascore: 83

Final Fantasy has always been a gold standard for the jRPG genre. The gameplay, mechanics, well-written characters, and emotional storylines gathered a vast community of fans worldwide. However, with Final Fantasy XIV, developers decided to take on the MMO genre, due to its ever-increasing popularity in Japan. And guess what, it happens to be one of the most polished and consistently evolving MMOs of all time!

Traversing around a vast, Final Fantasy open world with other players is more appealing than ever. Especially since the remake – A Realm Reborn released in 2013. The game was highly acclaimed for its endearing story, visuals, and innovative approach to class leveling. When you reach level 10, you can start leveling a different class. This means you don’t have to start all over if you want to try out a different playstyle.

Final Fantasy XIV is constantly receiving regular updates and large expansions like Endwalker. Also, there are a ton of activities besides standard MMO leveling. There are wedding ceremonies, distinct regions with a mix of sci-fi and fantasy, lengthy story campaigns, etc. Square Enix did a fantastic job bringing its iconic RPG elements to Final Fantasy XIV.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn + 30 days US Official Website Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• MMORPG based on the Final Fantasy franchise.
• Beautifully crafted, vast open-world ready to explore.
• Innovative class leveling system.
• Regular updates, including large expansions.
• A ton of other activities besides leveling.
• Advanced custom character creator.

Tales Of Arise

• Release Date: 10 September 2021
• Developer: Bandai Namco Games
• Metascore: 87

Last but not least, here’s a proud winner of the Best RPG Game of 2021. “The Tales of”  franchise has been around for many years, but Arise proved to be the best among other games. It makes several changes to its original formula while maintaining the familiar mechanics. Now it’s a full-blown action RPG with all the bells and whistles, including its iconic fighting system. 

It’s an excellent opportunity for newcomers to get used to the series combat while following its multi-layered storyline. The story takes on difficult topics like slavery, horrors of war, colonization, and the challenges of rebuilding after all of that. The game handles these topics with care and avoids exaggeration. 

But it’s also a Tales story, full of light-hearted interactions between characters peppered with humor. In summary, Tales Of Arise is a love letter to the veterans of the series while adding a ton of improvements to attract new players.

Tales Of Arise Steam Key is available for purchase on RoyalCDKeys.

Key Features

• Unique visuals inspired by anime and watercolor painting.
• A vast, open world that feels alive and changes its appearance based on the time of day.
• Iconic combat system.
• A multi-layered story taking on difficult topics.
• Major changes to the gameplay aspect while retaining the series' original feel. 

Honorable Mentions

Here are some other great anime games that we couldn’t include on this list. The reason behind this is not the quality of these titles but their accessibility. Most of them are only available on Playstation, Xbox, or handheld consoles like Game Boy Advance or Nintendo Switch. That said, if you’re a console gamer, it’s worth checking them out:

• Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
• Astro Boy: Omega Factor
• Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise
• Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom
• Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front
• My Hero Academia: The Strongest Hero
• Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1 + 2