The best anime games of 2022 are just as varied and unique as the Japanese films, TV, and manga series they’re either based on or inspired by.
So whether you’re a fan of anime fighters, visual novels, JRPGs, or any other genre that lends itself to anime adaptations, we’ve got a game you’ll love.
In this list, we’ll highlight the best anime games to play in 2022, including the best anime games on Steam and the best anime games on Switch.
We’ll be updating this list in the future with new anime game titles, so make sure to check back and let us know if we missed any of your favorite anime games for PC and console!
Let’s kick the list off!
Table of ContentsShow
Scarlet Nexus
Platforms: Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
To get us started, Scarlet Nexus is a great choice for anyone who loves anime-inspired action RPGs with deep combat and progression systems.
In it, you take on the role of a member of a supernatural task force dispatched to fight evil mutants that plan to invade and consume human brains in a futuristic setting.
Story-wise, the game is a bit all over the place but does manage to do an excellent job building up its sci-fi-inspired world with atmospheric environments and plenty of eye-catching visual effects.
Additionally, characters can learn new abilities via a skill tree, unlocking new over-the-top combos that not only look cool but feel just as satisfying to pull off.
Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles
Platforms: Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Anyone who can’t get enough Demon Slayer should pick up The Hinokami Chronicles, a 3D fighter developed by CyberConnect2 based on the anime adaptation of Koyoharu Gotouge’s manga series.
The game closely follows the events of the first season of the anime in addition to the movie adaptation of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train.
In it, you take on the role of Tanjiro Kamado as he joins the Demon Slayer Corps and battles all sorts of powerful and unique demons while trying to turn his sister Nezuko back into a human.
While the single-player story places a big emphasis on exploration, there’s also a local/online multiplayer versus mode where players can form teams of two fighters from a roster of 18 characters.
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!
Platforms: Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, Mac
At first, Doki Doki Literature Club looks like you’re run-of-the-mill cute visual novel dating sim, complete with anime girls in tight-fitting school uniforms.
However, the further you dive into the story, the more you start to realize things aren’t as sweet and cheery as they appear, with each character’s backstory introducing increasingly dark elements.
Eventually, things get pretty morbid, depending on which characters you get to know intimately, resulting in three different main endings.
If it’s your first time playing, we recommend picking up Doki Doki Literature Club Plus, an expanded version that includes a host of visual upgrades, new music, images, and side content.
Tales of Arise
Platforms: Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Next up, Tales of Arise is an anime-centric action RPG developed and published by Bandai Namco for PC and console in September 2021.
The story follows two different characters that come from opposing worlds, the medieval world of Dahna and the advanced world of Rena.
Together, the pair embarks on a journey to bring both worlds together and stop the Renans from oppressing the Dahnan people.
Like previous Tales games, Arise uses a Linear Motion Battle System that emphasizes evading, countering, and performing destructive attacks with your party under certain conditions.
Genshin Impact
Platforms: Windows, PS4, PS5, Switch, iOS, Android
An anime game that needs no introduction, Genshin Impact has grown its popularity off the strength of its free-to-play structure, satisfying action-driven combat, and roster of compelling characters.
Developer/publisher Mihoyo has also done a fine job supporting the game post-launch with ongoing updates and new unlockable characters.
While it’s admittingly about as grindy as you’d expect a free game to be, some of that busy work can be bypassed by shelling out a few bucks and a bit of luck.
Lastly, Genshin Impact supports cross-platform multiplayer across PC, console, and mobile, allowing you to try out different combinations and find the best synergies.
Guilty Gear Strive
Platforms: Windows, PS4, PS5
Guilty Gear Strive is the latest title to come out of Arc System Works and has quickly set a new standard for 2D anime fighters going forward.
The game’s main draw is its vibrant cel-shaded art style, along with the flashy and technical combat Arc System is known to inject into each title.
If you’ve been following the studios’ work for some time, you’ll recognize familiar fighters like Sol Badguy, May, and Ky Kiske, alongside series newcomers like Happy Chaos and Jack-O’.
Gameplay-wise, Guilty Gear Strive controls and plays just as smoothly as one would hope while introducing new combos and dynamic stage transitions.
Super Robot Wars 30
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Switch
Released to celebrate the series’ 30th anniversary, Super Robot Wars 30 is the third entry in the long-running tactical JRPG to receive a Western release.
It features a wide selection of characters and robots based on various mecha anime properties such as Mobile Suit Gundam and Code Geass as they join forces to battle their mutual foes.
Battles alternate between ally and enemy phases, with players determining a course of action before carrying out their attacks.
Despite the game’s turn-based design, it does a great job of keeping you engaged with expressive animations, character dialogue, and eye-catching upgrades for your favorite machines and pilots.
One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 is an over-the-top 3D fighting game inspired by Dynasty Warriors that adapts Eichiro Oda’s manga series One Piece.
Serving as the fourth installment in the Pirate Warriors spin-offs, it tells an original story based on the Wano arc from the anime but modifies certain plot elements.
Gameplay is best described as a hack and slack action game, with players able to harness different heroes’ abilities to smash through hundreds of enemies at once.
Pirate Warriors 4 features an impressive number of maps, environment and enemy designs, and bossfights that require determination and strategy to overcome.
Akiba’s Trip: Hellbound & Debriefed
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Switch
Serving as a precursor to Akiba’s Trip: Undead & Undressed, Hellbound & Debriefed is a remastered version of the original action RPG first released in 2011.
In it, players explore the glittering streets of Tokyo’s Akihabara district during its golden age, going around the area completing quests, battling bad guys, and meeting new characters.
Anyone who’s played previous Akiba’s Trip games will vouch for the series’ unique storylines, cool character designs, and nods to Japanese culture.
It’s worth picking up if you never got to experience the original or want to revisit it with an official English adaptation and modernized HD graphics.
My Hero One’s Justice 2
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
My Hero Academia is one of the most successful anime properties and has already seen several video game adaptations released since becoming popular in the West.
It makes a lot of sense considering the potential of a shonen about people with superpowers that go around looking for reasons to fight one another.
My Hero One’s Justice 2 is a sequel to the original 3D fighter and introduces an even bigger roster of recognizable characters from the anime/manga.
The battle animations are top-notch, the controls are easy to learn but tough to master, and two story modes allow you to play the game from either the hero or villain’s perspective.
Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One
There have been a significant number of Naruto video games released throughout the years compared to other anime series, resulting in some truly great titles as well as a few stinkers.
However, the franchise has been on a roll recently, dropping back-to-back hits with games like Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 and Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker.
The second game is the one we’ve chosen to include here simply for the fact it’s more recent and features a unique stylized look not found in any of its predecessors.
In it, teams of up to four players can join up and compete against other players online using a wide range of ninja-based weapons and attacks with room for personalized playstyles.
Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet is a third-person shooter/action RPG based on the popular Sword Art Online “light novel” series and anime.
It’s presented as a successor to 2016’s Hollow Realization and takes place in a future world where people have become fully immersed in video games to the point of losing themselves.
The story follows a group of characters as they become obsessed with the latest hit virtual reality MMORPG called Gun Gale Online.
Unlike previous installments, Fatal Bullet allows you to customize your character and wield a wide variety of weapons, including both firearms and melee weapons that can be upgraded over time.
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Also developed by Arc System Works, Dragon Ball FighterZ adapts the iconic anime franchise into a frenetic 2D fighter worthy of the series’ namesake.
As you would expect, this includes all of the visual hallmarks of the DBZ universe along with the distinct Arc Systems visual flair the studio is known for.
Characters are rendered in 3D with overlaid 2D sprite textures, giving them a unique hand-drawn look that looks stunning in motion.
Pulling off combos is equally as dramatic and mesmerizing as players assemble teams of three fighters before heading into battle against the CPU and other players.
Crystar
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Switch
Although it may not necessarily be a new game, first released in October 2018, Crystar was recently ported to the Nintendo Switch in 2022.
Presented as an anime action RPG, it sees you taking on the role of a young girl named Rei after an attack from an evil revenant causes the death of her sister Hatada.
Desperate for revenge, Rei strikes a deal with the demonic leaders of purgatory to take out designated targets in exchange for her sister being brought back to life.
Gameplay is split between dungeon crawling, real-time battling, and navigating Rei’s daily life outside of the demon realm.
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, 3DS
Dragon Quest XI is the most recent installment in the long-running JRPG franchise created by Square and casts players as a young man who discovers he’s a reincarnated legendary hero.
Armed with this new knowledge, he embarks on a magical adventure that takes him to strange new lands where he’ll encounter a host of characters and uncover mysteries from his past.
While the story mostly centers on the hero’s journey, players can also spend time getting to know the rest of their party, honing their skills, and crafting new equipment to bring into battle.
The game offers a staggering number of side quests, mini-games, and other side content that will keep you busy for upwards of a hundred hours.
Attack on Titan 2
Platforms: Windows, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Switch
Another popular anime that needs no introduction, Attack on Titan has been increasingly represented in gaming, with the latest release being Attack on Titan 2.
The story follows after the hack and slash title Attack on Titan: Wings of Freedom, which was first released in Japan back in February 2016.
Players take on the role of a nameless character as they join humanity’s ongoing fight to exterminate the terrifying titans once and for all in an emotionally-charged narrative.
Attack on Titan 2 features several refinements over the original, including more polished gameplay and variety that’s sure to appeal to both newcomers and fans of the series.
Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness
Platforms: Windows, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox One
The Psycho-Pass series is worth looking into if you like anime set in dystopian worlds where people struggle to hold onto their precious freedoms.
Mandatory Happiness is set in 22nd century Japan where the government has implemented software to monitor every aspect of citizens’ lives, including their mental state and potentially criminal activities.
You play as a police inspector who harnesses this technology to track down criminals and solve cases based on the original anime.
While existing fans are likely to enjoy all the references to the series, newcomers will feel at ease knowing the game features completely new characters and forgiving visual novel gameplay.
Battle Chef Brigade
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Switch
Next we have Battle Chef Brigade, an anime-inspired indie game that combines side-scrolling action with tile-matching cooking puzzles to create a one-of-a-kind gameplay experience.
Players take on the role of an aspiring chef named Mina as she enters a cooking competition to prove her worth and wow judges with delicious meals.
Gameplay is split between exploring 2D platforming levels where you hunt for rare ingredients to incorporate into dishes and tile-matching mini-games that determine the end result.
The game offers a lot of flexibility to experiment with different flavor profiles, though your main focus is creating a meal that meshes with each judge’s unique flavor palette.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
Platforms: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, 3DS, iOS, Android
Ace Attorney is regarded as one of the best visual novel detective series around, and you can pick up the first three entries in a remastered collection for PC and consoles.
The story follows the titular lawyer Phoenix Wright along with his various peers, as they investigate legal cases and defend clients in court.
Each case functions like a multi-layered puzzle whose solution can only be discovered by collecting evidence, cross-examining witnesses, and finding inconsistencies in their testimonies.
While the series is best known for its eccentric cast of characters and witty writing, it also does a great job at executing its detective gameplay to the point you’ll feel genuinely invested in each case.
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
Platforms: Windows, PS4, PS Vita, Switch, Linux, iOS, Android
Another detective-driven visual novel we’d like to put on anime fans’ radars is Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair, a standout entry in the adventure series that was originally released in July 2012.
In it, you control Hajime Hinata, a prospective student with dreams of attending the prestigious Hope’s Peak Academy and becoming one of its ultimate pupils.
However, soon after his arrival, Hajime finds himself entangled in a murder mystery after his classroom transforms into a tropical island his teacher a pink bunny.
Anyone familiar with the franchise will know just how zany Dangonronpa stories can get while still finding ways to keep players engaged with its investigative gameplay.
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