What are the best anime games on PS5? Whether you’re looking for games based on specific manga and anime properties, or you’re simply a fan of anime aesthetics, this list is designed to pick out the best of the best on PS5.
But before we begin, let’s just clarify what we mean by ‘anime games’. As alluded, we think an ‘anime game’ is chiefly defined by its visual style. If you’re into the art direction of something like Tales of Arise, you’ll probably appreciate the likes of Scarlet Nexus, or even Guilty Gear Strive. That’s not to say all of these games look the same — they most certainly don’t — but there’s a throughline there for people who enjoy the broader ‘anime’ look.
Taking all of this into account, it’s fair to say that this list features a wide range of gaming genres. From RPGs and fighting games to visual novels and even puzzlers, there’s something for everyone.
As with our other PS5 game lists, this list is decided by readers of Push Square. You can rate the included games by clicking the star icon next to each entry, and you can use the search box below to find games that aren’t featured on this list.
Please note that a game needs at least 10 votes to make it onto this page. So if your favourite anime-styled game is missing, be sure to give it a ranking.
With all of that out of the way, let’s dive in to the Best Anime Games on PS5, as voted by you.
15. Genshin Impact (PS5)
Publisher: Mihoyo / Developer: Mihoyo
Genshin Impact earned an estimated $2 billion during its first year on the market, and has gone on to become something of a cultural touchstone. Also available on smartphones, the PS5 version of this staggeringly popular RPG truly brings developer MiHoYo’s vision to life, with vibrant visuals and a slick, responsive refresh rate. Those not caught in its gacha trap may lament is pricey microtransactions and demanding investment levels, but this is unquestionably a signature service game with a huge and dedicated fanbase to boot.
14. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot (PS5)
Publisher: Bandai Namco / Developer: CyberConnect2
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot takes the entire story of Dragon Ball Z and spreads its across a kind-of-open world, complete with side quests, optional activities, and RPG mechanics. And thanks to developer CyberConnect2’s clear appreciation for the property. it all works out a lot better than you might think. Kakarot actually manages to expand certain story beats and add some fun touches to many of the series’ secondary characters, making it a must for fans of Akira Toriyama’s timeless work.
13. Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel (PS5)
Publisher: Konami / Developer: Konami
If you enjoy the Yu-Gi-Oh trading card game, odds are you’ll love Master Duel. This is a nicely presented digital version of the card game you know and love, letting you battle it out against rival duelists in free-to-play online bouts. It also supports cross-play and cross-progression, meaning you can play against others on any platform, and carry your progress over to other machines. With over 10,000 cards included, you’re able to rebuild your real-life decks and put them to the test in numerous tournaments. It’s obviously a game for fans, but it also includes tutorials for beginners if you want to try Yu-Gi-Oh for the first time.
12. Doki Doki Literature Club Plus (PS5)
Publisher: Serenity Forge / Developer: Team Salvato
A seemingly cute, anime visual novel may look like the odd one out on this list, but play beyond its opening couple of hours and you’ll quickly come to understand why Doki Doki Literature Club Plus ranks so highly. What starts off as regular trips to a — you guessed it — literature club speedily distorts into a house of horrors. Not for the faint of heart, the game is equipped with multiple content warnings and notifications to alert you to upcoming disturbing scenes. It may look cutesy on the outside, but Doki Doki Literature Club is anything but sweet.
11. Scarlet Nexus (PS5)
Publisher: Bandai Namco / Developer: Bandai Namco
An intriguing action RPG from Bandai Namco, Scarlet Nexus is a largely solid and stylish romp with a relatively unique combat system. Utilising psychic powers, you can hurl chunks of the environment at your opponents and pull off flashy team attacks alongside your allies. Some of the characters are a bit wishy-washy, but the game’s core premise of evolving human brains and the ever-present threat of nightmarish creatures is enough to drive the experience.
10. King of Fighters XV (PS5)
Publisher: SNK / Developer: SNK
King of Fighters XV is very much a return to form for the long-running SNK series. The three-on-three fighter boasts a sizeable character roster and a respectable suite of gameplay modes, complete with smooth rollback netcode, should you decide to test your skills online. A pleasingly robust fighting game package.
9. Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy (PS5)
Publisher: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Gust
The game that many consider to be the peak of the Atelier Ryza series, Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy is your typically colourful RPG, packed with endearing characters and enjoyable alchemy-based questing. The story’s not bad either, keeping you hooked with some surprisingly mysterious plot points.
8. Star Ocean: The Divine Force (PS5)
Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: tri-Ace
Square Enix and tri-Ace’s Star Ocean franchise has been hit and miss for years, but if you’re looking for a solid action RPG and don’t mind the noticeably rough edges, you could do a lot worse than Star Ocean: The Divine Force. A satisfying combat system holds this star-faring adventure together, while large environments encourage enjoyable exploration.
7. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion (PS5)
Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Square Enix
Crisis Core remains as cheesy and cringy as ever on PS5, but it’s a much more approachable game now thanks to this remaster from Square Enix. With a refined combat system and gameplay mechanics, alongside much-updated visuals, the Final Fantasy VII prequel is well worth playing if you’re a fan of the series-within-a-series. Just try not to take the storytelling too seriously.
6. Soul Hackers 2 (PS5)
Publisher: Atlus / Developer: Atlus
Soul Hackers 2 is a Shin Megami Tensei spinoff that takes obvious cues from the Persona series, promoting social links with a ragtag cast of weird characters. Primarily, though, this is a turn-based dungeon crawler with some cool ideas. And even though some of these ideas don’t quite come together at times, it’s easy to appreciate the style and swagger of this often odd RPG.
5. Guilty Gear Strive (PS5)
Publisher: Arc System Works / Developer: Arc System Works
The PS5’s first native fighting game has set the bar very, very high. Guilty Gear Strive is a superb brawler, bolstered by jaw-dropping visuals and the best online netcode that we’ve ever experienced in a fighting game. A relatively small but brilliantly diverse character roster allows for a deep and hugely rewarding experience, while accessible gameplay mechanics on a base level pave the way for new players. A stunning beat-’em-up backed by an incredible heavy rock soundtrack.
4. Tales of Arise (PS5)
Publisher: Bandai Namco / Developer: Namco Tales Studio
Bandai Namco went big budget with Tales of Arise, and delivered a fantastic action RPG. Taking place across a wide range of vibrant locations and boasting an endearing main cast of characters, there’s an awful lot to like about the desperate adventures of Alphen. As you’d expect of the long running series, the real-time, combo-based combat is a highlight — but a twisting story also strings things along to great effect. For our gald, Tales of Arise is one of the PS5’s strongest Japanese RPGs.
3. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (PS5)
Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Square Enix
There’s no denying that Final Fantasy VII Remake is one of the best Final Fantasy games in years, and Intergrade is the icing on the cake. Yes, it’s only one part of the story, and yes, a few of the, er, changes are going to annoy some fans forevermore, but there’s a healthy helping of Final Fantasy VII magic at the heart of Remake. Whether it’s in the way that the characters have been re-realised or the outstanding boss fights (and excellent combat system), charging through Remake is a rewarding experience — especially if you’re big on nostalgia.
2. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana (PS5)
Publisher: NIS America / Developer: Falcom
A Falcom fan favourite, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is a fantastic action RPG. The whole game takes place on a seemingly abandoned island, as protagonist Adol washes up on its shore after a shipwreck. To survive, he teams ups with his fellow passengers, but it’s not long until the island’s many mysteries begin to unravel. Typically slick combat and a great sense of adventure make Ys VIII one of Falcom’s finest.
1. Persona 5 Royal (PS5)
Publisher: Atlus / Developer: Atlus
Persona 5 Royal is the definitive version of an outstanding RPG — and it hits a silky smooth 60fps on PS5. The original Persona 5 was already a masterpiece for many, but this greatly enhanced and significantly expanded re-release is basically Persona perfection. Balancing elements of everyday life simulation with amazing turn based combat and a lot of cool dungeon crawling, it’s a truly immaculate title. Brilliantly cohesive, refined, and quite possibly the most stylish game in existence.
So, do you agree with the games on this list? Again, you can influence this guide by rating the games yourself, so be sure to give that a go if you haven’t already. In the meantime, feel free to tell us what your favourite anime games are, and dish out some recommendations in the comments section below.
