Netflix’s adaption ofCastlevaniamay have helped to bring video game anime into the mainstream, but anime adaptations of video game series have been around for almost as long as home video games themselves. There have been hundreds of them since the late eighties, many of which have gone on to garner huge fanbases.
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Castlevania’s success has, however, paved the way for adaptations of some of the more niche video game series. ADragon’s Dogmaanimepremiered on Netflix just last year, andaShenmueanime is currently in productiontoo. This shows that anime adaptations are no longer reserved for best sellers or visual novel games; which can only be a good thing for both gamers and anime fans alike.
Updated June 14, 2025, by Thomas Bowen:Anime has been around in Japan for decades now, but it’s only in recent years that it has become popular in the west. Part of this is down to sites like Crunchyroll and Hulu which have made the medium far more accessible than it once was. The rest, however, is down to the growing number of anime adaptations of popular video game franchises. What many might not realize though is that there are countless excellent adaptations like these just waiting to be discovered, some of which are arguably even better than the games on which they are based.
15Street Fighter - 7.06
Much like each and every entry in the video game franchise, there have been quite a few differentStreet Fighteranime series over the years. The pick of the bunch, however, is perhapsStreet Fighter II V. It currently holds a 7.06 rating on MyAnimeList based on scores from over 12 thousand users and beats out the competition by some margin.
Despite first broadcasting more than a quarter of a century ago, it still looks pretty good and features many of the series' most iconic characters. The main narrative centers aroundlong-time rivals Ryu and Kenand their quest to become better fighters; a journey which eventually leads them tothe villainous M. Bisonand the mysterious Shadowlaw organization.
14Virtua Fighter - 7.11
Considered by many to be one ofthe most influential fighting game series of all time, it’s perhaps not too surprising thatVirtua Fightergot its own anime. It consists of 35 episodes and aired between 1995 and 1996. Sadly though, it didn’t quite perform well enough to earn itself a second season.
The story centers aroundseries protagonist Akira Yuki, whoserved as the inspiration for Ryo Hazuki from theShenmuegames. Like Ryo, Akira leaves home to fulfill his destiny, but soon comes up against an evil scientist named Eva whose only goal is to create the perfect robotic soldier.
13Mega Man - 7.16
There are quite a number of anime series based onCapcom’sMega Man, but the most successful isRockman.EXE Axess. Airing between October 2003 and September 2004, the series consists of 51 episodes and holds a rating of 7.16 based on more than 6,500 user ratings.
The show features a fantastic techno-inspired soundtrack and some wonderful battle scenes. As with most shows, the story has its ups and downs, but there are definitely more highs than there are lows. It’s a great watch, although a lack of consistency in the animation and voice acting perhaps hold it back a little.
12Professor Layton - 7.25
A puzzle-based series might not seem like the best candidate for an anime adaptation, but theProfessor Laytonanime works surprisingly well. 2018’sLayton Mystery Tanteisha: Katri no Nazotoki Filerepresents the best that it has to offer, and holds an impressive 7.25 rating on MyAnimeList.
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Fans responded well to the story as well as the art-style, which remained faithful to the original games. The series might not quite be up to the high standards set byDetective Conan, but its charm makes it a show worth investigating.
11God Eater - 7.27
Based onthe popular video game series of the same name,God Eaterfirst aired between 2015 and 2016. Despite solid ratings and reviews, however, a second season has yet to arrive. That hasn’t stopped fans from requesting one though and many remain hopeful that Bandai Visual will someday oblige.
The first season is set in a dystopian future in which humanity is on the brink of extinction. The planet’s new rulers, the Aragami, can only be defeated with specially designed blades known as God Arcs and, much like the games, those who wield them are known as God Eaters. The anime tells the story of a teenage boy named Lenka who sets out to become a God Eater after his family are eaten by Aragami.
10Tales - 7.48
TheTalesseries has almost as many anime adaptationsas it does games, with the best of the bunch beingTales of Symphonia The Animation: Sekai Tougou-hen. Serving as the third and final OVA in the series, animation studio Ufotable definitely saved the best for last.
The animation is fantastic throughout, and, after a slight blip in the second OVA, the music is once again top-notch. Most importantly, it wraps the story up perfectly and gives each of the show’s characters a satisfying conclusion.
9Danganronpa - 7.53
Danganronpanever really took off in the West as it did in Japan, which is a real shame. The series blends together multiple genres to create a wholly unique experience. It’s perhaps thismish-mash of genresthat lead to the decision to adapt it for television.Danganronpa 3: The End of Kibougamine Gakuen - Zetsubou-henis undoubtedly the best thatDanganronpaanime has to offer.
It serves as something of a prequel, filling in a lot of gaps and answering some of the questions posed by the games that preceded it. It’s always great to see an animeexpand on a series' lorerather than simply retreading old ground, but this does mean that only those who’ve played the games will be able to fully appreciate it.
8Persona - 7.54
It took quite a while for thePersonaseries to really gain traction in the West, but, after nearly a quarter of a century, the series is finallygetting the recognition it deserves. As well asa host of great gamesfor new fans to go back and enjoy, there are plenty of anime adaptations that are worth checking out.
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The highest-rated of thePersonaanime isPersona 4 the Animation, which currently holds a 7.54 rating after nearly 100,000 user ratings. The series is incredibly faithful to the game on which it’s based, although this can at times be to its detriment. Pacing issues aside though, all of the main characters are well written, and the last few episodes are of the very highest quality.
7Inazuma Eleven - 7.58
Sports anime are surprisingly popular in Japan, andInazuma Elevenis one of the better examples of it. Based on the video game series of the same name, the story is surprisingly deep for a series that’s primarily about soccer. Mamoru, Shuuya, and Yuuto are all great characters, and their interactions with some of the supporting cast provide some of the series' best moments.
The art-style is endearing, and the use of vibrant colors really helps to give the series its own distinct style. Where it really excels, though, is in its depiction of the soccer games themselves. The visuals and the use of cuts help to give the scenes a frantic feeling which will keep viewers on the edges of their seats right through to the final whistle.
6Valkyria Chronicles - 7.64
Senjou no Valkyriawas made up of two cours and did a fantastic job of capturing the essence of Sega’s classic game. It’s a bit of a slow burner, but, once the first few episodes are out of the way, it’s an enjoyable watch with a story that tries its best to stick to the one laid out in the source material.
The art-style matches the one found in the game surprisingly well and the characters each have their own distinct personalities. A lot of the series' humor is lost as the series progresses, but, given that this is a story about war, this was perhaps to be expected.
