Over the last decade, anime has steadily become more mainstream, and a side effect of this increase in popularity is that game adaptations are more likely to be localized. Now, there are still plenty ofanime gamesthat never leave Japan, especially ones based on non-shonen properties, but things are certainly better than during the PS2 era.
That said, there aren’t all that manyPS4 anime games, at least if the selection is limited to licensed titles rather than just projects with an anime aesthetic. Let’s take a look at some of the best video games based on anime on thePlayStation 4that can be picked up for cheap on Amazon.
At the moment, new or used copies of these games cost less than $20, but please note that prices fluctuate constantly.
Genre
Fighting
Permitting someone loves 2.5D fighters,Dragon Ball FighterZis thebest PS4 anime game. Arc System Works has a long track record of crafting anime-style fighters likeGuilty GearandBlazBlue, however, the company’s releases tend to have steep learning curves. While the developer’s most recent entries in their established properties have eased their entrance barriers,Dragon Ball FighterZis still comfortably Arc’s most accessible title, a change that the developer accomplished without diminishing the gameplay’s potential for complexity.
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Dragon Ball FighterZcaptures the epicness of the shonen anime through its stunning visuals, fluid combat, and theatrical flashes. The story mode is fun albeit repetitive, butFighterZ’s online scene is still quite active; even when the fanbase moves on, the game has enough single-player content to be worth a budget investment.
There are quite a fewNarutogamesavailable on the PS4, includingNaruto Ultimate Ninja Storm TrilogyandShinobi Striker. The former offers a decent bang for your buck, but there is not all that much reason to play the first two entries overNaruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst. Consequently, it might be better to buy thedigital version of the third entry from the PS Storesince it is cheaper than a physical copy of the trilogy. While reasonably priced,Shinobi Strikeris a poor man’sDragon Ball Xenoverseand should only be picked up by die-hardNarutofans who want to experience everything the franchise has to offer.
From all the games available on Sony’s console,Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4is the pick of the bunch. The last entry in theUltimate Ninja Stormsubseries, this game boasts stellar visuals, a streamlined but engaging combat system, and a lot of fanservice. As an arena fighter,Ultimate Ninja Storm 4prioritizes accessibility and spectacle over complexity, a decision that works well for this type of game.
Farming Sim
BlendingStory of SeasonsandDoraemon, this crossover succeeds in bringing out the best of both worlds. Nobita and Doraemon are teleported to a new world where they cannot depend on futuristic technology to get things done, and they are given a farm that needs a bit of work. Like mostfarming simulators,Doraemon: Story of Seasonsis a relaxing experience that revolves around grinding for materials, maintaining a daily structure, slowly amassing riches, and developing relationships with NPCs.
All the ingredients present here can be found in other genre offerings, but that does not take anything away fromDoraemon’s charm. The visuals are also quite beautiful.
Turn-Based JRPG
Digimon Surviveis set to drop at the end of July 2022, hopefully continuing the franchise’s run of quality recent titles. TheCyber Sleuthsubseries are amongDigimon’s greatest creations and do a stellar job of highlighting the elements that have allowed this property to exist for more than two decades.
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Despite being the second entry,Hacker’s Memorystands on its own quite well and delivers an engaging narrative that has its share of dark moments. The 3v3 turn-based combat is intuitive, reasonably fast-paced, and emphasizes the importance of putting together a balanced team. The game has an awesome Digivolution system and over 300 Digimon.
Third-Person Shooter RPG
There aresixSword Art Onlinegames on the PS4, most of which fall within the action-RPG genre. Unfortunately, most of them are not all that great, and their value depends entirely on how invested someone is in the light novels and anime. The one exception is the only project to deviate from the series' basic formula;SAO: Fatal Bulletis set in Gun Gale Online and, consequently, plays like a third-person shooter. It has the strongest gameplay out of these titles.
While the story is a bit stop-and-start and the environments lack diversity,Fatal Bulletis still an entertaining shooter-RPG hybrid and a solid recommendation for fans of the franchise.
OK,Persona 5’s anime adaptation isn’t great, but it still counts for this article. Following the release ofPersona 5 Royal, the JRPG’s vanilla version became somewhat obsolete, causing it to be available for peanuts nowadays. While the expanded version includes a new character, an additional semester, and quality of life improvements, these changes hardly make 2016’sPersona 5not worth owning. After all, the original release is stillthe seventh highest-rated PS4 game on Metacritic.
This is a fantastic JRPG with a campaign that can last for 100+ hours, awesome characters, dazzling visuals, and an unbeatable soundtrack. The turn-based combat system is a bit uninspired, but even that is presented with such style that it is still fun.
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