Anime! Who doesn’t love anime? No one who clicked on this list, hopefully, because these games are all anime.
We’ve compiled a list of the best anime video games on Nintendo Switch — games that take the action, charm, and/or personality of popular and beloved anime and manga series into a video game.
(We tried to narrow down the list to games based on anime and not vice versa, but it turns out that the waters are gaining really murky if the game is basically an anime already, well… we tweaked the rules a bit for Steins; Door. Please forgive us.)
Of course, we’ll try to keep this list up to date, so let us know which games we’ve forgotten and check back for new entries!
Publisher: Spike Chunsoft / Programmer: THE MAGICIANS
Kill! Conspiracies! A phone that can send messages to the past! All are good settings for a time loop game, and Steins;Gate has them all. This beloved visual novel, which received a major rework for the Switch, spawned an entire spin-off anime from its convoluted, decision-making, time-altering plot. It’s about a mad scientist who stumbles upon time machine technology, alerting a somewhat evil time-traveling corporation to his presence and abilities. It will take you around 25-40 hours to complete this, don’t forget!
Publisher: Bandai Namco / Programmer: Arc System works
The Switch version of the original FighterZ for PS4/Xbox One is simply stunning; in motion, it is truly a sight to behold. Arc System Works has done an amazing job bringing the anime to life, and if you haven’t watched the PS4 version side-by-side with the Switch version, you’d probably have a hard time finding the compromises of making such an impressive-looking game run on significantly less powerful hardware. Back in 2018, we called it “the best fighting game we’ve seen on the system so far”; even in 2023, it’s still on our list of the best fighting games.
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Publisher: Spike Chunsoft USA / Programmer: THE MAGICIANS
This sequel to Steins;Gate Elite, confusingly titled Steins; Door 0, is a worthy entry into the main series. Adopting the same format, world and style as the original Steins;Gate, those looking for a lengthy visual novel will not be disappointed. The story takes place during the events at the end of the original game, and runs away with an array of interesting characters and distinctive non-linear storytelling done incredibly well, thanks to Steins;Gate 0’s dynamic visual novel format.
Publisher: Bandai Namco / Programmer: CyberConnect2
Aside from Dragon Ball — which has gotten an RPG, a 2D fighter, and even a Dead By Daylight clone in the past few years — most anime series have been relegated to 3D arena fighting games like I Hero: One’s Justice or the Attack On Titan duology. Jojo’s bizarre adventure it’s no different, but that doesn’t mean it’s not good.
While you won’t find an Evo-caliber in-depth fighting game here, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure All-Star Battle R is miles ahead of your typical anime fighting game in a 3D arena. It would be hard to recommend this game to someone unfamiliar with the franchise, as without the fan service aspect you are left with a basic fighter with some barebones mods. However, for JoJo fans, it’s a great example of how to do fan service right, and an example where you can feel the love and adoration for the franchise’s 35-year history flowing through every part of the package.
Publisher: Bandai Namco / Programmer: The Omega Force
Although Pirate Warriors 4 is the newer, more polished release in the series, our pick is the third game, One Piece: Pirate Warriors. Why? This action game is, quite simply, a wonderful example of a licensed adaptation that does almost everything right; if you’ve ever read or watched One Piece and thought, “this would make a great video game!”, this is the game.
While it doesn’t spend nearly enough time on its story beats to fully immerse new players in its world, we’d still recommend it even if you’re new to the Straw Hat Crew — it’s got plenty of jolly elbow-throwing fun (and swords, clubs, and …) with Luffy and company, and longtime readers will fondly recall their earliest days. Recommended entertainment for fans of One Piece and Warriors.
Publisher: Bandai Namco / Programmer: Bandai Namco
At the end of the day, Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization is the kind of game you probably already know, whether you care or not. This is an anime-inspired, in-depth RPG that comes with all the trappings, good and bad, that your mind associates with that description. Fans of the series and complicated RPGs will no doubt find a lot to love here in the likable characters, complex character customization, and frenetic combat system. This is a good quality RPG – just do a little research beforehand to confirm it’s what you’re looking for.
Publisher: Bandai Namco / Programmer: CyberConnect2
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot may do little more than retell the story of dragon ball, but it does it well enough that existing fans will find joy in exploring the world and fighting the franchise’s iconic villains. Despite the lack of combat depth and a minor online technical annoyance to address, the game redeems itself by expanding the already vast amount of Dragon Ball lore available and giving fans the slice of life moments we so desperately need. Non-fans won’t find much to love here, but it’s a more than serviceable retelling of an iconic story.
Publisher: Bandai Namco / Programmer: Bandai Namco
Xenoverse 2 on Switch does a great job of replicating the frenetic battles from its anime source material in the style of an action game. He fully understands the spectacle of Dragon Ball, and as such his Ultimate techniques are incredibly flashy, eye-catching things that will impress onlookers. Even better, like its predecessor, Dragon Ball Xenoverseit allows you to create a custom character to enter the Dragon Ball universe, which is incredibly cool.
Brilliantly rendered cutscenes, deep character customization, and finely tuned combat mechanics make for a title that’s easy to pick up, but hard to put down. Fans of fighting games and Dragon Ball should rejoice in choosing this game.
