Top 10 Anime Games of 2021 [Best Recommendations]
Watching anime is great, and you probably already saw our lists for the best shows of 2021. But do you know what else is great? Gaming! If you love video games and anime, then we have a list of recommendations for the best anime games of 2021. It's never too late to play a cool game with anime aesthetics!
10. Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker
Why is the best MMORPG expansion of the year (and to some players, the best expansion in the history of FF XIV) in the #10 position? Well, although Endwalker just released a few weeks ago, Final Fantasy XIV has been around for quite some time, so it's not a "new game." Regardless, we couldn't afford not to include it in our 2021 list for anime-themed games. Final Fantasy XIV is arguably the best MMORPG out there, and Endwalker shows it's still alive and kicking, releasing new content to make old fans happy while attracting new players as well. Sure, new players will need to play for a few weeks before getting access to Endwalker's content, but playing a game is never a bad thing!
9. New Pokémon Snap
Pokémon Snap, originally released as a Nintendo 64 game, was one of our favorite games back in the day. Pokémon battles are fine and dandy, but the idea of chilling with your favorite monsters and taking pictures sounds way better to the casual audience. New Pokémon Snap brings back the magic but, most importantly, it updates the roster of available pokémon while also adding a few new mechanics, like the Illumina variants. All in all, New Pokémon Snap is the best Switch game for casual Pokémon fans, and we're not talking about kids alone!
8. NEO: The World Ends With You
NEO: TWEWY is not your typical JRPG. Instead of summoning monsters or using your own magic skills to fight against evil beasts, it relies on collecting pins and using them to have real-time battles against other users...and all in the context of an exploration game taking place in modern Japan. But hey, NEO is way more than just a game about collecting pins. It's full of puzzles, pop-culture references, and it's a dark sequel to the already dark The World Ends with You, released in 2008. Can it be played as a standalone adventure? Sure, but you'll miss all the nostalgia blows and plot twists of the second half of the game.
7. Shin Megami Tensei V
Speaking of dark JRPGs, let's jump into Shin Megami Tensei V, a more classic take on the genre and arguably the best title in the SMT series (which, in case you don't know, follows the same formula of the Persona games). With improved graphics and a brand new storyline, Shin Megami Tensei V is everything a SMT fan would expect...and more. If you manage to survive the slow start, you'll find yourself submerged into monster fusions and the grind to strengthen your team's skills and synergy. Shin Megami Tensei V is not what we'd call a short game, but be sure you'll need dozens of hours just to grind for perfection!
6. Scarlet Nexus
Scarlet Nexus was one of the most hyped-up games of the year, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to the exaggerated expectations. It's a cool anime game, and the story is okay for a modern JRPG. The only issue we could mention is how repetitive the gameplay gets and how useless some mechanics are (some you unlock them near the endgame, and others—like bonding—are there just to increase game time). For what it's worth, Scarlet Nexus is a fantastic JRPG, and it comes with stunning graphics and a killer soundtrack. Not all people are fans of modern practices in JRPGs, but at least give it a try! The two protagonists offer two available yet different-in-playstyle routes, so hopefully, you can adapt.
[ad_middle]
5. Tales of Arise
Continuing our JRPG journey, we have Tales of Arise. Unlike Scarlet Nexus, Tales of Arise is indeed a classic JRPG, with an equally attractive plot but a different, more traditional approach to things. This is the story of a slave who wears an iron mask, and how he befriends a group of rebels to dethrone the evil rulers who are terrorizing the land. In our experience, Tales of Arise felt fun and rewarding, and game mechanics and how they're introduced made much more sense. That being said, you'll find several JRPGs in this list, and all of them are somewhat different takes on the same genre, so...to each their own!
4. Bravely Default 2
So yeah, another JRPG. Unlike all the others in our Top 10, Bravely Default ditches the third-person semi-open world approach in favor of a top-down, old-school style. Graphically, it shines thanks to the painting-like environments and the use of chibi 3D models, but the best thing about Bravely Default 2 is still the gameplay. Although the story is pretty straightforward, Bravely Default 2 is full of hidden bosses and other challenges that invite you to add dozens of hours to your run just to min-max your party, and we're not complaining. The post-game is quite enjoyable, but the whole adventure is worthy of your time.
3. Melty Blood: Type Lumina
Are you a fan of old-school fighter Melty Blood? Are you a fan of Type Moon's visual novel Tsukihime? Then Melty Blood: Type Lumina is your dream come true. Well, if you're a fan of those two games, you most certainly already played Type Lumina? This is an arcade anime fighting game that's easy for people who don't find themselves playing more technical titles. It can get overwhelming at times, but the gameplay is pretty straightforward and the graphics are really good. Sadly, lag issues caused by Type Lumina's netcode didn't allow us to enjoy this game at its best when it was released, but the devs are committed to fixing these game-breaking problems.
2. Guilty Gear -Strive-
So if you're into more hardcore anime fighting games, then your very best option has to be Guilty Gear -Strive-. We're talking of one of the most popular anime fighting franchises out there, and one that will offer a challenge for rookies and veterans alike. GG Strive comes with a wonderful soundtrack, brand new characters, and flashy graphics that will make your jaw drop, as well as an in-game encyclopedia for those who want to learn more about the lore and a built-in animated series that adds to the game's narrative. Yes, Arc System Works did it again, and Guilty Gear -Strive- quickly became our go-to fighting game last year!
1. Persona 5 Strikers
Persona 5 Royal was our favorite 2020 game, and Persona 5 Strikers is our favorite anime game of 2021. Bias much? We don't know how they do it, but Atlus keeps milking P5 without dropping the quality. Props to them! Although Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal are classic JRPG titles, Persona 5 Strikers is a musou game set in the same universe but offering some brand new gameplay mechanics to freshen things up. Fighting against hordes of foes is incredibly fun and it totally suits the spirit of Persona 5. This spin-off can be taken as a standalone adventure, but we recommend you start with Persona 5, then Persona 5 Royal, before playing Persona 5 Strikers. Considering the success of this storyline, do you think we will see the Phantom Thieves of Hearts again this year?
Final Thoughts
It wasn't the best year for anime games, but we definitely received several titles worth checking out, especially if you are a JRPG person. Although several cool visual novels were released (Olympia Soirée being our favorite), we think most of them are kind of niche—it makes us happy nonetheless, so here's hoping we can get more, better anime games in 2022! The question is, what are your favorite anime games of 2021? Have you played the ones on our list? Leave us a comment and let us know!
[recommendedPost post_id='314899' url='' title='' img='' class='' widget_title='']
About Anime News
![Top 10 Masochist Hentai Anime [Best Recommendations]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vYhfCNb_cl0RbUjmDbL43svA0RCUOv72g7qXRRhWbTQjxkLsF40V9r0_4TD9-QAvp0jlJEAs2zBwioze9iWhCHoSq_nb3t2hT6YIr6bHRWbmOyuhK-ZEwRn00HjLnNX49plmC0akNyUBpXpGnqAw7IqHfQVdCFWA9h4itWeO2cK5rEMoU7dgx9dUb2Dcg=w72-h72-p-k-no-nu)
No comments