Anime has become popular these past decades and managed to enter the Western market. With popular titles such as Pokemon, Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece, anime has slowly started to garner interest in young and older audiences alike. As such, it’s no surprise that anime games have also seen a steady rise nowadays.
In this article, we’ll be looking at some of the best anime games for Android and iOS. We’ll also be looking at what anime games are popular and why you should consider playing them.
Anime Games: 15 Games to Play on Android and iOS
Without further ado, here are 15 of the best anime games to play on Android and iOS. Note that these games are arranged in no particular order. These games are mostly free-to-play but you can opt to purchase boosts if you want to.
1. Fate/Grand Order
Starting off the list is Fate/Grand Order – one of the most popular anime games to date. The game boasts an extensive gacha roster, creative storylines, and astounding visuals that will surely get anyone hooked. Fate/Grand Order is based on the well-loved Fate franchise that many fans know for its anime and games. The game is mostly played out in a narrative style that’s mixed with a turn-based combat system. It’s a great game for beginners because it’s easy to grasp.
To know more about the game, you can check out our beginner’s guide to Fate/Grand Order to help you get started.
2. BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!
BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!, otherwise known as BanDori, is a rhythm game that integrates anime and music elements together to give audiences a great game experience. The game features two game modes that allow you to play a variety of songs and progress through the game’s story that will unlock different songs and levels as you finish them. Additionally, BanDori is a gacha game that only makes things more exciting as characters will usually have performance boosts that will come in handy throughout the game. The game is part of a multimedia franchise that includes games, anime, CDs, and even live concerts.
3. Arknights
Arknights is a dystopian tower defense mobile RPG that boasts a unique storyline and challenging gameplay that many serious gamers will enjoy. Players will take on the role of “The Doctor” who works to rid the world of its deadly diseases. The game has extensive lore, great graphics, and superb gameplay and gacha elements that players will love. The game is very heavy on grinding, farming, and narrative which might be intimidating for new players.
For a glimpse of what the game has to offer, you can take a look at Arknights’ gameplay to help you manage your expectations.
4. Genshin Impact
Known to many as one of the most ambitious fantasy RPG games to date, Genshin Impact is one of the most anticipated anime games to come to mobile. Travelers are brought into the world of Teyvat where they must travel through the vast land to seek answers from The Seven – a pantheon of gods. The game mixes great visuals, an elemental combat system, and a massive world that’s just waiting to be explored.
For a rundown of what the game is and if it’s good or not, you can check out our article on Genshin Impact to learn more.
5. Utano☆Princesama: Shining Live
Based on the multimedia franchise of the same name, Utano☆Princesama is one of the most anticipated Japanese anime games to grace the international market. With elements of rhythm and otome games, Utano☆Princesama is the ideal game for those looking for a full-blown idol game experience. Here, players take on the role of a manager of a leading entertainment company where they’ll be tasked to create units, raise your bonds with the characters, and progress through the story mode to produce the best idol group in Japan. The best thing about this game is that it’s fully-voiced so you’ll be able to fully immerse yourself in their world of music.
6. Grand Summoners
Grand Summoners features a classic game design that will be nostalgic for veteran gamers. The game boasts a stunning pixel-style graphic design that will appeal to everyone. This Japanese role-playing game aims to impress players with its relatively simple controls and immersive gameplay that will surely get you hooked. The best part is that the game has collaborated with a famous anime series, One Punch Man which means that you can play as one of your favorite characters from the series in the game. Further, the game also has multiplayer support so that you can play with your friends and other adventurers across the globe.
In all, it’s a game to play if you’re looking to rekindle some old memories with this exciting game.
7. Bungo Stray Dogs: Tales of the Lost
Many anime fans love Bungo Stray Dogs for its compelling plot and lovable roster of characters and now, they’ll be able to play these characters in Bungo Stray Dogs: Tales of the Lost. The game is hailed as the first game to be based on the hit anime series and features the main story mode that will even give you new insights on the original storyline. Further, fans will be treated to never-before-seen footage and even game-exclusive outfits that their favorite characters can wear. This is a game that will surely prove to be exciting for everyone, even those who haven’t seen the anime series yet because it will only make them more curious to see the characters in action.
8. Bleach Brave Souls
For many veteran anime fans, Bleach is among the first shows that they might have seen. The long-running series has become a fan-favorite among anime fans for its compelling plot that will only pull you in as the story progresses. Bleach Brave Souls showcases the series’ famous characters in all their glory. Playing in teams of three, you’ll need to make character combinations that will help you progress and later complete the game. You’ll also be able to relive the story and compete against other players to become the best soul reaper that the Soul Society has ever seen.
9. Honkai Impact 3
From the same makers of Genshin Impact comes Honkai Impact 3r. The game is essentially an RPG with gacha elements where the player controls Valkyries who defend the Earth against Honkai (Alien) invaders. While many players are in the game for the gacha, the combat system and gameplay are where Honkai Impact is known for. The game features a combat system that’s similar to games such as Devil May Cry that allows the characters to create combos that will destroy the enemy. With its superb graphics, the game is reminiscent of console exclusives which will leave you playing it hard for hours on end.
10. Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius
Final Fantasy Brave Exvius is the mobile spin-off game that combines the Final Fantasy series with the game Brave Frontier. The game is a turn-roleplaying game where players are free to command their characters by simply choosing and tapping on their desired command. It is presented in a pixel-art style that’s common for most RPGs. With characters from both the Final Fantasy and Brave Frontier series, you can build a team of five to fight through stages and defeat bosses. The game is a great example of collaborations done right as the elements taken from both games prove to work great together. Brave Exvius is a great game to play if you’re looking for something new that’s easy to learn and get around.
11. Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links
Based on the anime of the same title, Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links is a mobile collectible card game where you’ll be able to create your deck and duel with other players and characters from the anime series. To build your deck, you’ll be able to pick from existing Yu-Gi-Oh! cards and you’ll also have access to newly released cards as soon as they come out. As it’s based on a popular series, many anime fans will surely love the game for the nostalgia that it brings.
12. Pokemon Go!
Whether you’re an anime fan or not, you will surely be familiar with Pokemon and it’s mobile AR game, Pokemon Go! The game allows players to live their dreams of becoming a Pokemon trainer where they will have to catch virtual Pokemon, battle gyms, and defend the creatures from the notorious Team Rocket. It’s a game that took the world by storm and while it looks like the game is slowly fading away, it’s here to stay and it will only get bigger as it expands to accommodate more pokemon and more trainers in the near future.
13. Naruto x Boruto Ninja Voltage
Another well-loved anime that makes its appearance in this list is Naruto. This anime has captured the hearts of many fans and will surely capture many more with Naruto x Boruto Ninja Voltage. The game is a fortress strategy game where you will have to create your ninja fortress, grow your village, and defend against enemy advances. You’ll be able to form your team with some of the series’ most popular characters and enjoy multiplayer missions that will tickle your fancy.
14. One Piece Treasure Cruise
One Piece is a well-loved pirate anime that has caught the hearts and the attention of many due to its epic plot and great characters. Its game version is no different. If you’ve ever fantasized about setting sail with your favorite characters, this game is the one for you. Not only will you be playing through an epic story mode, but you’ll also build a crew composed of your favorite pirate characters to journey through the world of One Piece. Now that’s a great way to relive one of the best anime series of all time!
15. Tales of Crestoria
Tales of Crestoria breathes a new life into the long-running Tales franchise. It’s the franchise’s first venture into mobile and features promising gameplay and superb graphics. Tales of Crestoria is an RPG with a turn-based combat style that’s reminiscent of other Japanese RPGs. However, the great thing about the game is that you’ll see the fruits of your labor rather quickly compared to other games. It’s a game to play for long-time fans of the Tales series and those looking for a new RPG to play. Check our Tales of Crestoria review to see if the game is for you too.
What Makes a Good Anime Game?
If you’re looking for a great anime game to play, here are some of the factors that you should consider before downloading the mobile game. These factors are often subjective and vary from player-to-player. Nonetheless, it still helps to have a quick guide to keep your expectations in check.
A.) Plot
It’s no secret that many developers and game creators like to push anime games to its full extent, especially when it comes to the plot. Worldbuilding is a very popular element of the genre and every game has unique plots and compelling twists. Plots are the main reason why many gamers find the genre gripping because they expand continuously and keep players glued to the game.
B.) Gameplay
Gameplay in anime games is varied. It’s not stuck to a singular game style and often, you’ll find different styles mixed to create the gameplay of a singular game. While it isn’t appealing, developers have managed to make these gameplays work together and not disrupt the harmony of the game itself. The varied gameplay styles in anime games are also a reason why they’re popular, as they don’t leave the players bored despite long hours of playtime.
C.) Graphics
Graphics are very important because this is what players see first before they even decide to play the game for the plot, gameplay, or the gacha. These days, games with 3D graphics have been rising in popularity but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are already good. Not all mobile phones have the capability to show 3D graphics and even gaming phones will fail to show the graphics to its full extent at times. That said, graphics play a very important element in anime games since it will either make or break the game even before the player decides to download it.
Nonetheless, many anime games manage to surpass this and despite the popularity of 3D graphics, make do without it yet still deliver a great game with exemplary graphics.
D.) Gacha
Lastly, a true anime game will not be complete without gacha. While gacha games have their niche, many anime games have gacha elements that are integrated into their gameplay. Many gamers often play games such as Fate/ Grand Order and Genshin Impact for the gacha because of the chance that they’ll get powerful and rare characters. But always remember, gacha games are usually games of luck and even if you decide to shell out money, there is no guarantee that you’ll be able to get popular characters.
Gacha elements are there to make the gameplay more interesting and more challenging for players. Often, they’ll only be able to use the characters that they get from gacha throughout the game, which means they’ll need to create strategies that revolve around their roster. Gacha makes the games more interesting and challenging as players will never know what or who they’re going to get.
Why Are Anime Games Popular?
Through the years, there have been many opinions brought forward regarding the popularity of anime games. Many have said that, no matter what the platform, anime games are, in a word, bad. This is because there are games that have flopped despite having a big fanbase. However, despite these negative opinions, anime games are still quite popular. But why exactly?
Anime has seen a rise in popularity these past decades. With popular titles such as One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach, anime has cemented its position in the global market. As such, anime games have also seen their fair share of popularity that comes with the anime genre. While not all games are popular, it’s no secret that there are more popular games that gamers fancy to patronize.
Anime games owe their popularity to the genre itself. Most anime games today are based on a popular series which, in turn, attracts the audience of the anime series to the mobile game version. While there are cases where the game came out ahead of the anime, it’s no surprise that the majority of the Western audience only discover the game when the anime is already released.
Another reason why anime games are so popular is because of variety. There is a game for everyone. Whether you’re a fan of the shounen or shoujo genre, there is a game for you. In all, anime games are here to stay and will continue to impress everyone as games continuously develop and emerge in the market.
Wrap-Up
Whether you’re a fan of anime itself or not, anime games will often pique the interest of any gamer. With its variety, gameplay, and graphics, it’s no surprise that numerous anime games have become popular over the years. Despite being considered to be a niche market, it is expected that anime games will only become more popular as the years go by. With new games being continuously released, it’s only a matter of time before they find their way to your mobile phones. Nevertheless, if you’re still not convinced, you can always check out our list of the best mobile games to play to help you in your search for the game for you.
