TV & MoviesAnime

Top 5 best video game anime adaptations

Savannah Howard
Stills from Castlevania, Pokemon, and Cyberpunk: EdgerunnersNetflix/The Pokemon Company

It’s time to level up your watchlist. Anime and video games have been linked for decades, and these five adaptations took the world by storm.

Following the mainstream success of Netflix‘s Castlevania and the much-anticipated Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix, video game-based anime series are reshaping mainstream media.

In this list, we’re not going to set our time turners back to 1986, when the first anime adaptations of Super Mario and Star Soldier arrived. However, their release spawned an explosion of content.

So, from goofy RPGs to adventure mysteries, here are the top five video game-based anime series that have graced our screens.

Top 5 video game anime adaptations

The creation of one media can inspire another. However, these anime adaptations are more than just a nod to the gaming world. They’re an opportunity for fans to dive deeper into the characters and universes they adore, offering a fresh take on beloved stories and enticing fans from either world to try the other.

Let’s dive in (or unplug from your consoles) and get started on our top five picks for video-game based anime adaptations…

5. Danganronpa

Kicking off the list is the brainchild of Spike Chunsoft, Danganronpa.

Over three main game titles and an assortment of spin-offs, this popular Japanese video game series served up a tantalizing blend of mystery, suspense and dark humor.

The anime adaptation kicked off in 2013 with Danganronpa: Tripper Happy Havoc, followed by two more seasons in 2016 and 2017.

This high-stakes series follows 16 high school students locked inside the elite Hope’s Peak Academy by an anthropomorphic bear, Monokuma. Creeped out yet? The students have only one way out: murder another student and don’t be caught.

4. Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie

If martial arts, epic brawls, and non-stop action are more your scene, then you have to check out Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie. 

Released in 1994 and directed by Gisaburo Sugii, best known for Night on the Galatic Railroad, this action-packed anime perfectly celebrates the iconic Street Fighter video game from 1987.

Forget about the 1995 TV series (seriously, forget about it) or other multimedia offshoots; fans hailed the movie as one of the best video game movies ever made.

It throws us into the world of Ryu – our hero – and Bison, the classic villain. After Bison targets Ryu’s childhood friend, Ken Masters, on his mission to defeat the greatest fighter in the world, fans can expect unrelenting action, excellent animation (for the time), and a memorable music score. It’s a treat for die-hard fans and newcomers alike.

3. Castlevania

Castlevania isn’t just any video game adaptation. It may be THE video game adaptation. 

This standout series inspired by the legendary game follows the story of Trevor Belmont and his mission to stop Count Dracula’s reign of terror.

Drawing inspiration from classic horror tales and the classic video game, the anime takes the franchise’s most popular elements to weave an epic story from European history. Filled with drama, explosive action and stunning animation, it’s no wonder this critically acclaimed series is one of the most successful original animated shows on Netflix.

2. Pokémon

At number two is an anime and game franchise that needs no introduction. This adaptation has been going strong for over 20 years.

With the anime consisting of eight sequential series and 26 seasons and the games spanning multiple mediums, it’s safe to say that Pokémon is the most mainstream adaptation on this list.

But which series is the best? According to fans, it’s Pokémon XY&Z, with a more mature version of Ash as he explores the Kalos region, and gain a new perspective on this beloved childhood classic.

1. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Finally we’ve reached number 1, with Cyberpunk: Edgerunners! Created by Studio Trigger, this modern spin on video game adaptations was named last year’s best anime at Crunchyroll‘s 2023 Anime Awards.

But how did it beat the likes of Attack on Titan and Demon Slayer? Cyberpunk: Edgerunners brings you a standalone, 10-episode story about a street kid, David Martinz, who’s trying to navigate a body modification-obsessed dystopian city and a society torn by division and rampant crime.

The series exists in the same world as the Cyberpunk 2077 video game but doesn’t include any of the main characters. This means it’s an ideal way to introduce a non-gaming audience to this dystopian universe.

Whether you crave battles, mysteries, dystopian realms or something in between, a video game-adaptation anime is waiting to satisfy your interests. These might be our top five, but there’s many more out there.

So, did any of these series appear on your list? You can also check out our list of the best video game movies of all time here.

How to watch Crunchyroll from outside your location in 2023

Crunchyroll is the world’s best hub for streaming anime, whether it’s One Piece, Attack on Titan, or Jujutsu Kaisen – and thanks to ExpressVPN, you can access the platform’s full library even if you’re outside the US.

If you’re abroad, here’s what you need to do to access Crunchyroll’s full selection – and it really is this simple: 

  1. Sign up for ExpressVPN, which has ultra-fast servers and offers a secure, private connection wherever you are in the world.

  2. Connect to a location anywhere in the US. Express VPN allows you to choose from 24 different spots, from New Jersey to Santa Monica.

  3. Visit Crunchyroll online and start streaming all of your favorite animes – and perhaps some you’ve never watched.

Accessing Crunchyroll’s US roster makes a difference. For example, Hong Kong users only have access to less than 100 titles, while the US has nearly 1,000 movies and TV shows. 

You can also stream anime on Crunchyroll for free with an ad-supported plan. Or you can pay for a subscription – there’s even a 14-day free trial if you can’t quite make up your mind.

You can check out a few of our other lists below, our other anime coverage here:

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