20 Best Anime Fighting Games That You Should Know Update 04/2024

Best Anime Fighters

How about Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure? What is Dragon Ball Z? Naruto? There are fantastic anime fighting games in all of these games as well. Top tens in each category are included.

Fighting games like Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Street Fighter certainly come to mind for the majority of people when they think about them. There are a lot of terrific fighting games out there, but they’re not the only ones.

To top it all off, some of these characters are from an anime fighting series. What is a character in an anime known as a “fighter”? There are two kinds of anime fighting games: those with an anime art style, and those based on genuine animes.

It’s possible to classify certain games as both! We hope this list of anime fighters will be useful to both long-time fans and newcomers to the genre.

Juliet Childers updated the article on August 8th, 2021: It’s only natural to combine anime and video games because they both include action sequences that are both imaginative and chaotic. In order for fighting games to match the emotional impact of anime, they must also capture the drama and weight of the medium. There is finally a new console generation with tons of new content. When you’re about to unleash a powerful combo, make sure your thumbs are ready and your palms are stretched out. Still, it’s a different genre!

1. Melty Blood

Melty Blood

Tsukihime, a visual novel game for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, is getting a remake in 2021. Because of this, Melty Blood’s story is a little difficult to follow, but it doesn’t stop it from being a great anime fighting game. More than 30 characters from the Type-Moon series appear in the Melty Blood series.

Graphics and animation for each character sprite perform smoothly despite being in 2D. A wide variety of reversals and chains are incorporated into Melty Blood, making it a great choice for fans of combat games. Characters in Actress Again: Current Code have their own different fighting styles and the latest game features new characters, new paths and new endings.

2. One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 Deluxe Edition

One Piece is a long-running shonen anime series with over a thousand episodes, which is quite an accomplishment. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates have inspired a slew of video games, although many of them have been disappointing.

If you’re a fan of the One Piece series, you’ll love One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3. When playing alone or with a group of friends, gamers will be able to take on hordes of opponents in a style that seems real to the anime series.

3. Pokken Tournament DX

Pokken Tournament DX

Even though the Pokemon franchise has its roots in video games, Pokken Tournament DX has taken on a life of its own and is equally as popular as the video game counterpart (if not even more so).

Taking battle from the Pokemon series, Pokken Tournament DX transforms it into a fighting game that increases the action and eliminates everything else.

An intriguing development for the series, and a fun method to put Pokemon in the spotlight without trainers interfering with the action. The Magikarp track, in particular, is a sonic banger.

4. KILL La KILL- IF

Trying to sum up KILL la KILL in a few words might be a challenge. Satsuki Kiryuin, the student president of Honnouji Academy, seems to know the truth behind Ryuko’s father’s death, which the plot follows. KILL la KILL-IF continues the plot of the anime, but from the perspective of Satsuki Kiryuin.

The game is based on the anime’s graphical style and features the same voice actors (both Japanese and English). Players can mock and taunt their opponents to deliver more damage using a gaming concept called “Bloody Valor.”

5. BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle

BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle is a chaotic crossover of many fighting game series and, for the first time, RWBY. An Arc Systems-created 2 on 2 fighting game allows players to select two characters from four distinct series and combat against each other in order to gather “Keystone” shards that will return the characters to their home universes.

The special moves of each character have been transformed into Astral Finishes in the BlazBlue art style. At launch, the game featured 40 playable characters: 20 from the main game and another 20 from downloadable content. Neo from RWBY and characters from three other fighting game series will be added to the rooster as DLC, despite the game already having a massive rooster.

6. Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax

Video game developer French Bread and Ecole Software created Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax. Developed by Dengeki Bunko and distributed by Sega, this game is a mashup of all the light novel series. 14 popular characters from Sword Art Online, Durarara!!, Valkyria Chronicles, and Virtua Fighter are included in the game’s foundation roster.

Players have the option of selecting a primary character and an additional support character. To appeal to both novice and experienced players of fighting games, the game’s controls are easy to master, although complicated combos are possible. Sonic the Hedgehog is one of Sega’s best-known brands, so players can battle on courses inspired by their favorite characters.

7. Persona 4 Arena

Persona 4 Arena is the series’ first foray into the world of fighting games. A few months after the events of Persona 4, it features most of the major cast from Persona 3 who are now two years old. A contest organized by two people who resemble Teddie and Rise brings the Investigation Team and the former SEES members together.

A new character, a female who does not have a Persona, joins the ranks of Persona 3 and 4’s 13 primary characters. A special move is available to each character via their Persona, and the battlegrounds are based on locations from both games.

8. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure All-Star Battle

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a manga and anime classic because of its unique style and memorable characters. All-Star Battle, a video game, does an excellent job at capturing this vibe. More than 40 characters from all eight JoJo story arcs appear in this PS3 fighting game.

Each character in the series has a unique Battle Style based on their unique set of talents and abilities. Dio has the Vampirism Stye, which allows him to absorb the damage from his opponents while healing himself. Their Stands are instead used by characters such as Jotaro and Jouke. There are a variety of game modes to choose from as well.

Relive your favorite memories from the series in Story Mode, or face your friends in Campaign or Versus to collect Customize Metals or use your favorite characters.

9. Jump Force

Video games such as Super Smash Bros. have helped to popularize a sub-genre of games known as crossover fighters. Taking characters from some of the most popular Shonen Jump series and putting them in one game is a wonderful idea.

There has been a lengthy history of Jump Ultimate Stars, but Jump Force is the newest and most exciting addition to the series. Having characters from Dragon Ball, Naruto, and One Piece all fighting each other is satisfying.

10. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst

Boruto, the long-running successor series to Naruto, has only made Naruto fans more fanatical in recent years. There have been a lot of bad Naruto video game adaptations over the years, and they’ve all been clumsy and boring to play.

Even though some prefer Ninja Storm 4, the third installment in the Ultimate Ninja Storm series is just as strong and has a better-developed story on top of all that. Even more stuff is included in the Full Burst edition, this time in high definition.

11. My Hero: One’s Justice 2

My Hero One's Justice 2

This latest sequel to My Hero Academia, one of the most popular anime shows on television, surpasses the previous installment One’s Justice in every way.

My Hero: One’s Justice 2 expands on what worked in its predecessor, whether it’s new characters or an expanded story and mission mode, and then crams it with more content.

Destructible landscapes and new Team Final Smashes elevate One’s Justice 2 to a new level of excellence.

12. Dragon Ball FighterZ

A Dragon Ball game is an absolute must-have for any list of the top anime fighting games. Many excellent games have been made, but the one that most embodies the spirit of the show is Dragon Ball FighterZ.

Arc Systems, the studio behind BlazBlue, is behind this one. Most fighting games use the same basic fundamentals, and the base game features a 21-character roster, with three characters unlockable through playtime.

DLC characters such as Vegito and Andriod 17 are available for purchase, allowing players to expand their rosters. A new Android, 21, utilizes the Dragon Balls to resurrect several of the series’ villains and seal the power of Earth’s greatest heroes in an original story mode. This is based on the Dragon Ball series.

13. Under Night In-Birth

Developed by French Bread, Under Night In-Birth is a 2D fighting game similar to Dengeki Bonku and Melty Blood. There have been horrific monsters who feed on an energy called “Existence” for millennia because of the so-called “Hollow Night. Violent attacks from these creatures, known as Voids, can grant humans who survive the attack the ability to fight them and become In-Births.

In-Birth, like Melty Blood, includes a wide array of fighting game mechanics that allow players to cancel and counter their opponents’ assaults in many ways. In addition, each character has their own unique combos and special trades with other characters.

14. Guilty Gear Xrd

Guilty Gear Xrd

After more than a decade, Guilty Gear Xrd is the fifth main entry in the Guilty Gear series. To make it more aesthetically appealing, the game’s graphics and animations have been fine-tuned. Additionally, a new Tutorial mode has been incorporated into the game as an action to assist newbies even further.

Story mode delves into the game’s mythos and gives players a taste of what happened in previous games. In total, there are 20 characters on the roster: I-No, Sol, and Millia are among them. It’s a great way to pass the time until Guilty Gear XII comes out in 2020.

15. Dead Or Alive 6

With its debut release in 1996, Dead or Alive is a franchise noted for its…physics. It’s hard to keep up with the fast-paced combat, but the cast simply keeps getting bigger and better.

The sixth iteration improved gameplay and featured lessons for newcomers, but suffered a bit with multiplayer functions at the start.. For those who are fans of the series and anime fighting games in general, this is a worthwhile purchase.

16. Fate/Unlimited Codes

It was initially released in Japanese arcades in 2008, produced by Cavia specifically for the TYPE-MOON segment. From Saber, Rin, and Archer to PSP and PS2-only characters like Zero Lancer, all of the fan favorites make cameos.

Fate/Stay Night’s own plot is referenced throughout the game’s tale, but it’s delivered from the perspective of the player. Despite Sony’s announcement that it will be closing its PS Vita, PSP, and PS3 retail locations, the company has since changed its mind in response to popular demand. A few titles will still be available on the PS Vita and PS3 digital marketplaces, but the PSP shop is now closed.

17. One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4

One Piece Pirate Warriors 4

The 2020 release, which is a direct sequel to the 2015 title previously noted on this list, changes several plots but also advances them. Despite the addition of a few new multiplayer modes, gameplay has remained substantially untouched.

The plot, on the other hand, is what really matters here, as it has a unique finish all its own. If you’re looking for a change of pace from the canon story, the manga is an excellent option.

18. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4

In video games like this one, the quest of the cat-like ninja with swift hands never appears to stop. Sadly, Bandai Namco has stated that this will be the final installment in the Ninja Storm series.

It’s hard to match this Naruto title, which is available for Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, for gripping gameplay and a compelling plot. Fascinating fact: one of the earliest Naruto games released on the PlayStation 2, demonstrating the series’ longevity and ongoing appeal

19. Guilty Gear Strive

One of the best anime fighting games currently available is Guilty Gear Strive from the Guilty Gear series. Many fighting games don’t use dolphin mechanics, so why not?

All of the character designs, from the swaying witch I-No to the tough U.S. Defense Secretary Goldlewis Dickinson, are fantastic. I highly recommend it to everyone who is a fan of anime-based fighting games.

20. The King Of Fighters XIII

The King Of Fighters XIII

The King of Fighters XV won’t be released until 2022, but in the meantime, fans can play XIII, one of the best anime fighting games ever. It’s currently available on a variety of platforms, including PC, iOS, and Android, after first appearing in Japanese arcades in 2010.

Both new and old fans will find something to like in this game, which is a break from the series’ usual fare while yet delivering fun on a par with Street Fighter 4.