Sony’sPlayStation Plussubscription service has hundreds of games spread across a wide spectrum of genres. The library includes RPGs, shooters, platformers, fighters, racers, action, stealth, and many more.PS Plushas projects from both Western and Eastern developers, which naturally utilize unique art styles that reflect their place of origin.
While most releases by Japanese developers do not have anime visuals, they are not particularly rare either. PS Plus Extra and Premium showcase this fact by containing quite a few titles that are either based on Japanese properties or adopt an anime aesthetic. What are thebest PS Plus anime games?
Assuming a listing exists, a link to a game’s Amazon page will be included in case someone prefers to pick up a physical copy.
Amazon Listing Page
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Dragon Ballis among the most popular shonen anime of all time. Even though its peak was during the ’90s, the franchise has never stopped producing games; in fact, many might argue that thebestDragon Ballgamedid not come out until 2018. As Arc System Works has mastered the art of over-the-top 2.5D anime fighters, the developer was the perfect choice to transform Akira Toriyama’s iconic series into a legitimate eSports option.
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Dragon Ball FighterZcaptures the spirit of the source material through its gorgeous visuals and tight gameplay. Unlike most of Arc’s projects,FighterZis quite accessible to newcomers to the fighting genre, all the while still offering depth to keep veterans engaged.
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4
For the most part, PS Plus does not have many games that are actually based on anime; however, the service’s few options are reasonably big projects.Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4brought CyberConnect2’s beloved series to a close in epic fashion, delivering a 3D arena fighter that prioritizes spectacle above everything else.
Ultimate Ninja Storm 4is primarily for fans of Masashi Kishimoto’s manga and its anime adaptation since the story mode does not do an especially great job of easing in the uninitiated. While the combat system is quite simplistic, it does complement the story being told.
Megadimension Neptunia V2
HyperdimensionNeptuniais the definition of a niche JRPG series, and that holds true for 2015’s entry. The franchise revolves around four goddesses who rule over nations inspired by consoles, with a war fueling the first few games. As time went on, the goddesses became friends and started to work together to take on outside threats, which is essentially what happens inMegadimension Neptunia V2.
Along with packing in as many gaming references as possible,Neptuniascreams “anime” out of every pixel. The franchise even spawned an anime adaptation at one point. While polarizing,Megadimension Neptunia V2is one of the better entry points into the series, mainly due to a revamped and satisfying battle system.
Nippon Ichi Software’sDisgaeahas consistently produced fun tactical RPGs for the best part of two decades. The franchise’s grid-based combat system is not too far removed from projects likeFinal Fantasy Tactics, althoughDisgaearuns everything through an anime filter. This translates to ridiculously high damage potential, colorful class options, and self-referential storylines.
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As silly as these releases can get at times,Disgaeatakes its battle system very seriously, with each entry fine-tuning the core mechanics while introducing fresh ideas. Allthe games on PS Plushave their positives, butDisgaea 5is the best from a gameplay perspective.
While Gust’s franchise has never quite broken through to the mainstream like the biggest JRPG franchise,Atelierhas regularly served as a source of comfort since 1997. These games cast players as alchemists who are, typically, running a shop in a fantasy town or city. Consequently, the gameplay loop primarily revolves are collecting resources for crafting, a process that involves taking part in turn-based combat.
Atelieris a great pick for those who want laid-back and slow-pacedanime games. All the PS Plus entries are decent in their own right, but if forced to pick a starting point,Atelier Rorona Plusshould suffice.
