Top 10 Must-Watch Anime Adapted from Video Games

[00:00] Hey guys it's Ashi with WatchMojo and these are the top 10 anime based on video games.

[00:22] For this list we'll be looking at the animated adaptations that best captured the story or spirits of video games. There are any games you want to be turned into anime, pitch it to us in the comments below. And if there's another anime list you want to see,

[00:35] go to my twitter at ashi.bo and let me know. If you like what you're hearing be sure to check out the full song at the link below.

[00:57] 10. Sonic X. Sonic the Hedgehog series.

[01:13] The blue blurs side-scrolling adventures through the Green Hill Zone are more remembered for their speed than their story. But thankfully Sonic X escaped from the city of convention and crafted its own contributions to the series lore.

[01:36] While the show's original arcs brought some much-needed character developments, the adaptation really went supersonic in its retelling of the adventure games. The benefits of a story-focused anime helped it live and learn as it fully fleshed out the ambitious

[01:50] narratives in a way the games couldn't. Though even if Sonic X never really picked up speed, it'd be worth checking out for that rocking theme song alone.

[02:13] 9. Danganronpa the animation. And Danganronpa 3 the end of Hope's Peak High School. Danganronpa series. Every murder mystery comes with a twist and this anime adaptation

[02:34] is no difference. The first season did just its by its bloody source material, but just as the series' body count grew so did its ambition. Instead of adapting another game in the series for Danganronpa 3, the sequel served as a continuation to the original story

[02:50] that could only be told through animation. It walked the nice edge of respecting the series lore while bodily expanding upon it,

[03:06] and the result is an adaptation that's practically to die for. It's more than just an excuse to see the characters murdered all over again. It's a worthy next chapter for the full franchise.

[03:20] 8. Sengoku Basura Samurai Kings and Sengoku Basura End of Judgment.

[03:41] The story here is simple. In the fictionalized Sengoku period, Japan is overrun with feudal lords who passed the time sharpening swords and conquering land. However, what the plot lacks in complexity, it makes up for which she a cool factor.

[03:57] The game series exploded onto the scene with the distinct thrill of hacking and slashing through legions of enemy troops. Somehow each anime season has captured the same

[04:13] visceral sense of power through some grandiose fight scenes. There's just nothing that can stop the unbridled epicness of a guy fighting with six swords at once, adding moody scenery and kick ass music, and it's safe to say this franchise can't

[04:28] get more than it expected.

[04:54] The biggest compliment we can give this show is that it doesn't feel like it's based on a video game at all. Part of the reason why is because it technically wasn't. The anime and the first game were developed concurrently with plans for a joint release. As a result, the show is lesser straightforward

[05:10] adaptation than it is a thoughtful companion. The anime brings in an original main character,

[05:22] a methodical pace, and a surprising cerebral touch to its twisted journey. It may lack the same energy of the game's real-time combat or overworld exploration, but that's the point. Signed succeeds because of its differences, not in spite of them.

[05:39] If this is the guardian, then I'm not impressed. 6. Persona 4. The Animation. Shin Megami Tenze Persona 4

[06:02] For a game all about time management, it's fitting that it's anime somehow turns a 70-plus hour JRPG into a gratifying 25 episode series. The show succeeds by reaching out to the truth

[06:16] of what makes Persona 4 work in the first place. The characters. The impeccable cast chemistry and hilarious English dub make the investigation team feel like a gang

[06:33] of old friends. That's not to say there's no high stakes drama or climactic fights, though. There's still a murderer to catch after all, but the streamlined pace means the story can hit those beats without compromising on the game's cozy spirits. Plus, what other show can boast it

[06:50] turned a silent protagonist into its best character.

[07:03] 5. Cyberpunk Edge Runners. Cyberpunk 2077. From its flashy action sequences to its killer soundtrack, all the way down to its striking

[07:22] character designs, this show has more style than it knows what to do with. The game's innovative aesthetic is harder authentically captured, but Edge Runners didn't just meet that challenge, it utterly smashed it. Better yet, it status as a prequel helped it break

[07:46] away from the confines of its source material. The show offered a sharper look at its chic world through an engaging thrill ride with plenty of twists, action and fun. All in all, it's just one more

[07:58] chance to visit Night City, and it's hard to complain about that.

[08:11] 4. Pokemon. Pokemon Series. His name is Pikachu. Oh, it's so cute, it's the best of all. Yoursy. Oh, hi, Pikachu. Pikachu.

[08:25] Action may not be the very best like no one ever was, but his franchise is pretty damn close. It's hard to think of any series, well, ever, that has reached the levels of brand recognition

[08:37] that Pokemon has. While the games are certainly a part of that, it's impossible to mention the series without bringing up a certain one-of-y Pokemon master.

[08:58] Asha's journey isn't just about catching them all, it's about characterising the world and critters in a way that the RPGs never could. The anime was spent over 25 years assembling a full

[09:10] pokedex of iconic moments all to itself, with no sign of it using rest anytime soon.

[09:26] 3. Dragon Quest, The Adventure of Die. Dragon Quest Series.

[09:41] 4. This iconic franchise has been better known for its time on gaming consoles than on television screens, but in 2020, the series finally got its due in animation with a new adaptation of the manga.

[09:56] The sublime production values, excellent character writing and palpable sense of adventure perfectly sum up why the series is still popular to this day.

[10:10] It exudes the classic charm of the best fantasy anime, but with enough Easter eggs and

[10:23] callbacks to make it feel distinctly Dragon Quest at the same time, whether you're a series veteran or not, Die's adventure is still totally worth following.

[10:43] 2. Stine's Gate. Hey, master! Hey, a mess, scientist! It's so cool!

[10:55] Time travel can be confusing even at the best of circumstances. Thankfully, this anime has the benefits of being based on one of the greatest visual novels in modern memory. Law aside, the games intriguing mysteries and dense narrative are uniquely suited for the kind

[11:12] of exciting plotting that a series like this demands. But the empowering story has so much more to offer than just painful cliffhangers.

[11:29] Though rest assured there's still plenty of those, know the show's real strength is how it takes that story and translates it to a different medium. The way it condenses the source material without foregoing the series identity is a prime example of how to do an adaptation right.

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[12:10] Night series. Fates day night. Just who the heck are you? Must you even ask that? I am a saber you're servant. As I recall, you were the one who summoned me. The tale of the Holy Grail War is one of the most popular and best-selling visual novels of all time,

[12:28] so it's not like there was any pressure or anything for the anime. Thankfully, there was no need for reservations since the resulting adaptations are some of the best series out there, period. Maybe. Maybe not. It could be an axe. Or not. Maybe I have something completely different like a bow.

[12:47] Get real saber. Let alone for something based on a game, across three different interpretations for each of the visual novel's roots, the anime continuously gives the story the respect it deserves. Whether it's the deep

[13:03] themes of the original or the jaw-dropping fights in unlimited blade works, there's no corner of this franchise that's anything less than stellar.

[13:25] So do you agree with our picks? Let us know in the comments. And hey, if you're a fan of the song playing right now, be sure to check out the music video for it right here.