Slowly but surely, the Nintendo Switch is amassing a respectable line-up of third party games, some of which happen to be based on popular anime properties. Later this month, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 Road To Boruto will debut on Nintendo’s hybrid console, making it the latest in a string of anime titles to be ported to the platform.
Even though anime games tend to run the gamut in terms of quality, each year usually produces at least a handful of great titles. Here are five of the best anime games currently available on the Nintendo Switch, along with five that should be ported.
Disclaimer: Only games based on anime licenses will be considering.
10 Best: My Hero One’s Justice 2
As perhaps the most popular shounen anime of the last few years, it was only a matter of time before My Hero Academia scored a video game adaptation. While the gameplay does not feel as polished as it should, My Hero One’s Justice 2 improves in many ways over its predecessors, especially when it comes to the amount of content and its story mode.
As a casual arena brawler, My Hero One’s Justice 2’s rock-paper-scissors system is simple enough to grasp, making this an easy title to pick up and play. The roster is also huge and allows for a decent amount of customization.
9 Want: Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise
Considering the Yakuza games have yet to debut on the Nintendo Switch, it seems unlikely that Sega’s Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise will be the first to make the jump. Nevertheless, the PlayStation 4 exclusive would be a perfect fit for the Switch, especially since the console is not overly stacked when it comes to action RPGs.
Although far from an ugly game, Lost Paradise should not be too taxing for the Switch, and its open-world is also relatively small.
8 Best: Attack On Titan 2
Attack On Titan 2 does a surprisingly fantastic job of capturing the anime’s visceral and death-defying action while also covering the first two seasons of the series. The Nintendo Switch version does suffer from some framerate issues, but it still runs quite well and looks pretty good thanks to the cell-shaded graphics.
The campaign’s mission-based structure complements the Switch’s portability, as Attack On Titan 2 is best played in short bursts.
7 Want: Gintama Rumble
Gintama Rumble is the most obscure entry on this list as it was only ever released in Asian territories despite being available with English subtitles. Based on the frequently hilarious and periodically devastating Gintama anime, Rumble follows in the hack n’ slash footsteps of the Dynasty Warriors and Sengoku Basara franchises.
Now, admittedly, the Switch is not usually the best platform for these types of titles; however, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 proves that it can be executed to a respectable degree. Gintama Rumble’s stages are also considerably smaller than most Warriors titles, so it might be an even better fit for Nintendo’s system.
6 Best: Steins;Gate Elite
Combining 2009’s Steins;Gate visual novel and 2011’s anime adaptation, Steins;Gate Elite is the definitive way to experience this story in game form. Visual novels are an acquired taste, but Elite is perhaps the best starting point for newcomers to the genre.
While the narrative remains mostly the same, Elite ditches the original visual novel’s static images for fully animated clips from the anime. Consequently, the remake merges two properties that are considered masterpieces in their respective mediums.
5 Want: .hack//G.U. Last Recode
Available on the PS4 and Microsoft Windows, .hack//G.U. Last Recode compiles remastered versions of the original .hack//G.U. trilogy on the PS2 and even throws in an additional volume that ties up the story. While individually the games are not particularly long for action RPGs, Last Recode is absolutely stacked with content.
Taking place within an in-universe MMORPG, .hack//G.U. takes its time establishing its world and characters while slowly expanding on a central conspiracy that covers all of the games.
4 Best: Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet
Although not the only video game based on the isekai anime available on the Nintendo Switch, Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet is definitely the best. While still taking place within an in-universe MMO, Fatal Bullet plays more like a third-person shooter.
As a result, it is by far the franchise’s most technically competent entry and can even be enjoyed by those unfamiliar with the series. The story’s lackadaisical pacing can be off-putting, but the gunplay is fun and rewarding.
3 Want: J-Stars Victory VS+
In somewhat surprising news, Jump Force has been confirmed to be coming to the Nintendo Switch. The game’s “realistic” visual style and choppy frame rate attracted the majority of the attention, but the crossover fighter does have a decent combat system.
An alternative could be 2015’s J-Stars Victory VS+, another arena fighter that arguably has a superior roster and a more digestible animation style. This is a title that should be played in brisk sessions and a few matches at a time, making it perfect for a handheld device like the Nintendo Switch.
2 Best: Dragon Ball FighterZ
Dragon Ball FighterZ is not only the best game based on an anime on the Nintendo Switch, but the same can also be said for pretty much any other modern console. When it comes to 2D fighting games, Arc System Works is in a league of its own, and FighterZ is the studio’s most accessible release.
The Nintendo Switch version is just as good as any of the others, even more so since it allows FighterZ to be played on the go. Be it the authentic art style, the fluid animation, or the intense gameplay; Dragon Ball FighterZ is a home run.
1 Want: Dragon Ball Fusions
Currently only available on the Nintendo 3DS, Dragon Ball Fusions is only a couple of quality-of-life improvements away from being amazing. The central gimmick – that nearly all of the Dragon Ball characters can be fused – goes a long way in papering over the game’s flaws, but the drawn-out and repetitive combat eventually takes its toll.
A Nintendo Switch remake that speeds up the gameplay and fixes some of the campaign’s difficulty spikes would elevate Dragon Ball Fusions into a masterpiece among anime games.
NEXT: DBZ Kakarot: 10 Weird References We Didn’t Get The First Time