The Best Anime Games to Play on PC

Best anime games at a glance

How these anime games were selected

An anime art style alone is not enough. The strongest games use presentation, characters and mechanics together, whether that means party relationships in Persona, fast animation in a fighting game or a story structured like a serialized mystery.

The final ranking considers:

• How well the visual style supports the game
• Story and character quality
• Combat, progression or other mechanical depth
• Variety across RPGs, fighters, horror and rhythm games
• Availability on PC
• Whether each game serves a distinct type of player

Licensed games are judged by how well they work as games, not only by familiarity with the source material.

1. Persona 5 Royal

Best overall anime game

Persona 5 Royal follows the Phantom Thieves, a group that enters supernatural Palaces shaped by corrupted desires. The campaign alternates between dungeon exploration, turn-based battles and daily life in Tokyo.

Combat rewards exploiting elemental weaknesses, passing extra actions between party members and fusing Personas into stronger combinations. Outside the Metaverse, school days, part-time activities and relationships consume limited calendar time.

That structure makes planning part of the role-playing. Improving a relationship can unlock combat or exploration benefits, while poor time management may delay an important social or character goal.

Royal is an expanded version with additional story content, another party member, new locations and previously released downloadable items included in the PC release.

Choose Persona 5 Royal for the most complete mixture of anime presentation, party-focused storytelling and strategic combat. Its campaign is long, so Persona 4 Golden or MiSide is easier to fit into a shorter schedule.

2. NieR:Automata

Best anime-style action RPG

NieR:Automata follows androids 2B, 9S and A2 during a war against machine lifeforms on an abandoned Earth. The story changes perspective across several routes, with later sections revealing information that redefines earlier events.

Combat combines melee weapons, ranged Pod attacks, dodging and character upgrades. The game also shifts into other formats, including side-view action, aerial shooting and hacking sequences.

Its open areas are smaller and more directed than a conventional open-world RPG. Side quests provide context for the machines, androids and wider conflict rather than existing only as equipment rewards.

Choose NieR:Automata if responsive combat and philosophical science fiction matter equally. Completing the first ending is not the end of the main narrative, so continue when the game offers another route.

3. Persona 3 Reload

Best dark supernatural JRPG

Persona 3 Reload rebuilds the story of a student who joins S.E.E.S. to investigate the Dark Hour, a hidden period when Tartarus replaces the school and Shadows emerge.

The daily structure divides time between school, relationships and Tartarus exploration. Social Links develop characters and improve Persona fusion, while prepared parties climb Tartarus and fight through turn-based encounters.

Reload modernizes presentation and combat with direct party control, Shift actions, character-specific Theurgy attacks and a redesigned interface. It also expands dorm activities and side stories around several characters.

The official version preserves the original story while updating graphics, quality-of-life systems and combat. Additional post-game story content is separate from the base campaign.

Choose Persona 3 Reload if you want a darker and more focused Persona story. Persona 5 Royal offers greater dungeon variety, while Persona 4 Golden emphasizes its central mystery and friendships.

4. DRAGON BALL FighterZ

Best licensed anime fighting game

DRAGON BALL FighterZ turns the speed and spectacle of Dragon Ball battles into a three-character team fighter. Arc System Works uses 3D models and camera work to reproduce the appearance of hand-drawn animation during attacks and cinematic finishes.

Teams are built from point, middle and anchor characters. Assists extend combos, protect approaches and give each team a different rhythm even when one character remains the main fighter.

The controls are approachable enough for new players to perform recognizable attacks, but competitive play adds movement, defense, team construction and long combo routes.

Single-player modes provide a way to learn the system, while local and online competition are the main reasons to keep playing.

Choose DRAGON BALL FighterZ if controlling familiar Dragon Ball characters matters as much as fighting-game depth. GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- is the stronger original series for players who want one-on-one matches.

5. GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE-

Best competitive anime-style fighter

GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- is a one-on-one fighting game with original characters, dramatic animation and a soundtrack tied closely to each fighter’s identity.

Its roster supports very different approaches. Some characters dominate close range, others control space or use unusual resources, and learning a matchup can matter as much as executing a difficult combo.

The Roman Cancel system allows players to interrupt actions, extend pressure, escape danger or create new routes. It gives advanced players freedom without preventing beginners from learning through simpler character plans.

The game remains actively supported. Version 2.03 arrived in September 2026 with ranked matchmaking improvements, server communication changes and additional content, following the Season 5 additions earlier in the year.

Choose GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- for competitive play and strong online support. DRAGON BALL FighterZ is the better choice for licensed characters and three-person teams.

6. DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition

Best traditional anime-style JRPG

DRAGON QUEST XI S follows the Luminary, a hero whose expected welcome turns into persecution. The journey develops into a large party adventure across towns, kingdoms and wilderness regions.

Turn-based combat is easy to understand. Each party member has a clear role, while skill panels, equipment and party composition add enough depth for longer encounters.

The Definitive Edition includes character scenarios, an orchestral soundtrack and a 2D mode that reinterprets the journey in a classic visual format. Players can move through the story without mastering a complicated real-time system.

Choose DRAGON QUEST XI S if you want a welcoming entry into long JRPGs. Persona 5 Royal adds stronger social simulation, while Ni no Kuni II uses real-time combat and kingdom management.

7. Persona 4 Golden

Best anime game for mystery and friendships

Persona 4 Golden begins when a series of deaths affects the rural town of Inaba. A group of students investigates a supernatural television world that appears connected to the cases.

The campaign combines dungeon exploration, turn-based battles, school life and relationship building. Social Links provide character stories and strengthen Persona fusion, while the calendar creates meaningful choices about how to spend each day.

Compared with Persona 5 Royal, the environments and systems are older and more compact. The smaller setting helps the cast feel closely connected, and the central mystery gives the long campaign a clear question.

Choose Persona 4 Golden if group chemistry and mystery matter more than modern presentation. It also has lighter PC requirements than Persona 3 Reload or Persona 5 Royal.

8. NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 4

Best Naruto story game

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 4 adapts the final major conflict of Naruto Shippuden through cinematic story battles and arena combat.

Teams contain several characters, with support actions and mid-battle switching adding flexibility. Large finishers and boss sequences focus on reproducing the scale of the source material rather than strict simulation.

The roster covers a wide range of characters and combat styles. Story mode is the best starting point for fans who want to revisit the major battles, while online and local matches support continued competition.

Choose Ultimate Ninja STORM 4 for a story-focused Naruto experience. NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER is the better choice for custom characters and online four-player teams.

9. CODE VEIN

Best anime action RPG for co-op

CODE VEIN is a post-apocalyptic action RPG built around deliberate combat, character customization and flexible Blood Codes.

Blood Codes function like swappable classes. Changing one alters statistics, Gifts and equipment options, allowing the protagonist to move between melee, ranged and support roles without creating a new character.

A computer-controlled partner can accompany solo players, while online co-op allows another player to help with exploration and bosses. The structure makes CODE VEIN more approachable than a completely solitary action RPG, although mistakes remain costly.

Choose CODE VEIN if you want anime character creation and Souls-like combat with a cooperative option. NieR:Automata is faster and more story-driven, but it does not provide the same online co-op structure.

10. Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom

Best colorful fantasy anime RPG

Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom follows Evan, a young ruler who sets out to establish a new kingdom after losing the throne.

The game combines real-time party combat with exploration and kingdom building. Recruiting citizens unlocks facilities and research, connecting side quests to the development of the new realm.

Large-scale skirmishes add another mode, while the main battles use direct movement, attacks and abilities. The visual style is bright and welcoming even when the story addresses political conflict.

Choose Ni no Kuni II for a lighter fantasy adventure with visible settlement growth. DRAGON QUEST XI S offers stronger traditional turn-based combat, while Persona focuses more on daily life and relationships.

11. MiSide

Best anime-style psychological horror game

MiSide begins with a familiar character-care game before moving the player into its world. The bright anime-inspired presentation gradually gives way to a more unsettling first-person narrative.

Exploration, interaction and puzzle sequences drive the experience rather than extensive combat. Its effectiveness comes from contrast: ordinary rooms and playful visual elements become less reliable as the game reveals more about the setting.

MiSide is compact compared with the JRPGs on this list and requires little storage. It is therefore easier to complete over a few sessions without committing to a long party-building campaign.

Choose MiSide if you want a short psychological mystery rather than a traditional anime adaptation. Players sensitive to disturbing themes should review the official content information before starting.

12. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R

Best JoJo roster game

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R brings characters from several parts of JoJo into one fighting game. Stands, Hamon and other abilities create styles tied to each character’s source material.

The game emphasizes recognizable poses, interactions and dramatic attacks. Matchups that could not occur in the original story produce unique dialogue and fan-focused scenarios.

Its combat is easier to enjoy when the player already understands JoJo’s characters and references, although the fighting systems still support casual and competitive matches.

Choose All-Star Battle R if roster representation and JoJo presentation are the priorities. GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- offers the stronger long-term competitive structure, while DRAGON BALL FighterZ provides faster team-based combat.

13. Muse Dash

Best anime rhythm game

Muse Dash combines a two-lane rhythm system with side-scrolling action. Notes arrive as enemies or obstacles, and the player uses a small input set to match ground and aerial targets.

The basic controls are easy to understand, but higher difficulties demand timing, pattern recognition and sustained accuracy. Characters and companions can alter scoring or survival conditions.

Its songs and stages are suited to short sessions, making it a useful contrast to the lengthy RPGs on this list. Additional music expands the available library, but the core loop remains immediate.

Choose Muse Dash if music, score chasing and replaying compact stages matter more than story. It also has modest memory and storage requirements compared with most modern anime RPGs.

14. NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD

Best anime-style management game with multiple endings

NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD is a management and narrative game about guiding an aspiring online personality through a month-long schedule.

Daily choices affect activities, audience growth and the direction of the story. The interface imitates a desktop filled with messages, social posts and planning tools, turning routine decisions into the main form of interaction.

Multiple endings reflect how the schedule and decisions develop. Success is not defined by one simple audience target, and apparently useful choices can create unexpected outcomes.

Choose NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD if you want a compact choice-driven game rather than combat. The story includes disturbing psychological themes, so review the official content information before playing.

15. NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER

Best anime game for four-player online teams

NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER focuses on online four-player teams. Players create a custom ninja, select a combat role and combine techniques with teammates across objective-based matches.

Attack, ranged, defense and healing roles encourage team composition rather than four independent fighters chasing eliminations. Wall running and vertical arenas make movement an important part of every objective.

The game differs from Ultimate Ninja STORM 4 by emphasizing a created character and repeated online matches instead of retelling the anime’s final story arc.

Choose SHINOBI STRIKER if a regular group wants coordinated Naruto action. Choose Ultimate Ninja STORM 4 for cinematic story battles and a larger focus on established characters.

Which anime game should you play first?

Choose based on the experience you want:

• Best all-round JRPG: Persona 5 Royal
• Action and story: NieR:Automata
• Dark supernatural RPG: Persona 3 Reload
• Licensed fighter: DRAGON BALL FighterZ
• Competitive fighter: GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE-
• Traditional fantasy JRPG: DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition
• Mystery and friendships: Persona 4 Golden
• Naruto story battles: NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 4
• Co-op action RPG: CODE VEIN
• Colorful fantasy: Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
• Psychological horror: MiSide
• JoJo roster: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R
• Rhythm action: Muse Dash
• Management and multiple endings: NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD
• Online ninja teams: NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER

Persona 5 Royal is the safest first recommendation for a long anime-style RPG. DRAGON BALL FighterZ is better for short competitive sessions, and MiSide is easier to finish quickly.

Licensed anime games versus original anime-style games

Licensed games use characters and settings from an existing anime or manga. DRAGON BALL FighterZ, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R and the Naruto games are strongest when the player values recognizable attacks and story moments.

Original anime-style games create their own worlds. Persona, NieR:Automata, CODE VEIN and MiSide do not require knowledge of a television series before playing.

Newcomers should not assume an original game is less representative of anime storytelling. Persona’s calendar structure and character arcs can feel more like living through a long series than a direct adaptation focused on famous battles.

Best anime RPGs

Persona 5 Royal is the best complete recommendation, Persona 3 Reload offers the darkest central story, and Persona 4 Golden has the most intimate small-town mystery.

DRAGON QUEST XI S is better for traditional fantasy and straightforward turn-based combat. NieR:Automata and CODE VEIN suit players who prefer direct action, while Ni no Kuni II adds kingdom building.

Best anime fighting games

DRAGON BALL FighterZ is best for licensed spectacle and three-character teams. GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- offers deeper one-on-one competition and remains actively updated. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R is the fan-focused roster choice.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 4 is an arena fighter rather than a traditional side-view competitive game. Its cinematic story and large roster are more important than strict tournament structure.

For anime-style cosmetic ideas outside dedicated anime games, see our CS2 anime skins guide.

Final anime game recommendations

Persona 5 Royal is the best anime game on PC for most players. NieR:Automata is the strongest action RPG, DRAGON BALL FighterZ is the best licensed fighter, and GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- is the competitive choice.

Choose DRAGON QUEST XI S for a welcoming traditional JRPG, MiSide for a shorter horror story, Muse Dash for rhythm play, or CODE VEIN for online co-op action.

The right choice depends on whether “anime game” means controlling familiar characters or entering a new world with anime-style art and storytelling. This list supports both without treating one format as inherently better.