Playing a video game is fun, but watching anime based on the video game is even more fun. The bond between both the mediums is quite strong and acknowledging their impact on the audience, from time to time makers have introduced games to the world of anime. There are plenty of successful anime adapted from a video game and have a pretty large fanbase out there.

Video games and anime go hand in hand as both mediums rely heavily on engaging art styles and visual storytelling. On top of that, many anime fans are also passionate gamers which makes it easy for the franchise to reach a wider audience by offering an anime centered around their favorite game. While many video games don’t follow this method, some used it and succeeded in it.

And, in today’s article, we’ll take a look at some of the best anime adapted from a video game that has spawned successful shows. So, without any further ado let’s get started.

10. Persona 4

Focusing around a series of role-playing video games, Persona is a spin-off from Atlus’ Megami Tensei franchise. The game series made its debut in 1996 with the release of ‘Revelations: Persona’ on PlayStation. Since then, the franchise released several more games with the latest entry being 2019’s Persona 5 Royal.

Out of various anime sequels adapted from the game, Persona 4 was the most successful one. The story revolves around Yu Narukami, a young teenager who moves to the town of Inaba, where a mysterious string of murders is taking place. Upon discovering a distorted TV World and acquiring a mysterious power known as “Persona”, Yu and his friends decide to investigate the murders and save others from being killed.

9. Final Fantasy

Gaming geeks are very well aware of Final Fantasy as it’s one of the most classic video game series with over 15 main series games and countless spin-offs. Makers have attempted to turn this game into an anime TV series and they did so as well; first in 2001 with a 25-episode anime series, Final Fantasy: Unlimited, and then in 2005 with a feature-length CGI film, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.

Final Fantasy is an anthology series of role-playing games, each with different settings, plots, and main characters. Each plot centers on a particular group of heroes who are battling a great evil but also explores the characters’ internal struggles and relationships. Many consider the Final Fantasy series to be one of the very best anime adapted from a video game.

8. Dragon Quest

Dragon Quest is one of the longest-running anime and video game series with the first game released way back in 1986. Since then it has been adapted into various media formats especially anime with the major one being released in 1991 titled “Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai”. Produced by Toei Animation, the studio behind One Piece and the Dragon Ball anime, the series is praised for its fabulous story-telling.

The anime follows Dai who lives on a remote island in the southern seas and dreams of becoming a great hero. After hearing about an ancient demon’s revival, Dai and his friends take it upon themselves to stop him and the evil force that revived him. Along the way, Dai discovers the identity of “the hero,” the truth behind the evil force who revived the demon, and his own hidden powers that surface in times of peril.

7. Pokémon

Pokémon is a widely recognized anime in the world and almost every person has come across this franchise once in his/her lifetime. Video games, trading cards, television series, movies; the franchise holds a lot of media departments to spread its market all over the world which is why it’s the most cherished Japanese franchise around the globe.

Debuting in 1997, the anime has been running for 25 years now and is centered on fictional creatures called “Pokémon”. The series follows the 10-year-old Ash Ketchum who embarks on a journey to find the titular creatures, capture them, and train them. In his quest to be the best Pokémon trainer in the world, he also learns several life lessons.

6. Nier: Automata

Nier: Automata is the latest addition to the list of anime adapted from a video game as on the 5th anniversary of the game it was announced that an anime TV series will be premiered soon made by A-1 Pictures. The series is a 2017 action role-playing game developed by PlatinumGames and published by Square Enix.

The game is part of the Drakengard series and is a sequel to the 2010 video game Nier. Set during a proxy war between alien-created machines and human-crafted androids, the story follows the trials of combat android 2B, scanner android 9S, and rogue prototype A2.

5. Danganronpa

Danganronpa is a very popular video game franchise developed by Spike Chunsoft. The orginal scenario was written by Kodaka, who aimed to create a dark adventure game. Later, the game spawned into a franchise that includes manga, anime, and novels. Thanks to the wholly unique experience, it turned out to be Spike’s most successful anime adapted from a video game.

The series primarily surrounds various groups of apparent high school students who are trapped for the rest of their lives by a robotic teddy bear named Monokuma. The only way to return home is by killing another person and avoiding being found guilty during the class trials. The video games’ narratives are connected by related media, expanding the story between titles.

4. Castlevania

Castlevania is an American anime-influenced dark fantasy action television series by Netflix. The anime is set in a world of vampires, vampire hunters, and magicians. When Count Dracula desires revenge for his dead wife and wreaks havoc, such forces come together to restore balance. What follows is a constant series of violent adventures.

Based on the Japanese video game series of the same name by Konami, the first two seasons follow Trevor Belmont, Alucard, and Sypha Belnades as they defend the nation of Wallachia from Dracula and his minions. The rest of the seasons uses characters and plotlines from Castlevania spin-off games like Curse of Darkness.

3. Inazuma Eleven

Inazuma Eleven first started out as a sports role-playing game for the Nintendo DS. Later, it inspired numerous anime sequels which made the franchise very popular among teenagers, especially the sports enthusiasts. Japanese people always adore sports anime and Inazuma Eleven received the same level of recognition and positive critics from the audience.

Based on the video game series of the same name developed by Level-5, this football-themed story follows Mamoru Endō, a very talented goalkeeper in Raimon Jr High, who lacks a real soccer club in his school. But as soon as the club receives a challenge from the 40-year Football Frontier championship holder, Teikoku Academy, the young goalkeeper sets out to find and recruit members for his soccer team.

2. Fate/Stay Night

The Fate series is comprised of numerous spin-offs, sequels, and movie adaptations which sometimes makes it difficult for fans to understand the timeline. However, this is also the biggest reason behind the franchise’s success over the years. And, the anime adaptation of Fate/Stay Night by Ufotable has contributed a lot to this.

Originally released as an adult game for Windows, the series focuses on a young mage named Shirou Emiya who becomes a warrior in a battle between “Servants” known as the Holy Grail War. Through each route, Shirou bonds with a heroine and confronts different mages who participate in the war to get their hands on the ultimate prize.

1. Steins;Gate

No matter how many anime adapted from a video game has gone viral, none of them have been more successful than the sci-fi thriller original series, Steins;Gate. The anime focuses on the antics of self-proclaimed mad scientist Rintarou Okabe and his friends who figure out a technique to send messages to the past.

When his activities draw the attention of an evil organization, the unlikely hero becomes the only chance to balance all timelines. The anime serves as a continuation of the visual novel game of the same name that was also a part of the “Science Adventure” series by Japanese video game developer, 5pb. Besides, the anime is also claimed to be based on a real-life story! Click here to know.

Which one of the following anime adapted from a video game is your favorite? Feel free to comment down your thoughts and make sure to recommend some other anime like the ones listed above, also don’t forget to share this article with your fellow otaku friends.

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