It’s been 27 years since Sony released thefirst PlayStation. Games have changed a lot in the last two and a half decades, but it’s hard to argue that Sony’s flat gray box didn’t have a lasting effect on the brand and pop culture as a whole.
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Still far smaller than it is now, the market foranime video gameswas expanding. By the point it was discontinued in 2006, the PlayStation had a plethora of noteworthy anime-themed games that anybody could enjoy. Back then, anime lovers would play everything they could get their hands on. But now, if a gamer is returning to a platform that’s over 20 years old, they will want to concentrate onthe actual gems.
6Captain Tsubasa J: Get In The Tomorrow
Captain Tsubasa J: Get In The Tomorrow, developed by Bandai, is a 1996 action videogame. The game is divided into two modes: storyline and friendly match mode. The plot initially begins with the International Jr. Youth Tournament championship match, and then continues with the Captain Tsubasa J plot (there’s even a special plot to try out).
Moreover, there are two sets of teams to choose from, divided into Junior Youth teams (Japan, Italy, Argentina, France, and Germany) and Youth teams (Japan, Chinese, Taipei, Thailand, and the Netherlands).
5Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend Of Steel
Shinji is already emotionally fragile, so surrounding him with female characters like an alcoholic Misato, a scary Asuka, and an emotionless Rei can only result in tragedy. What if, however, there was someone more reliable who could provide him with the affection that he so well deserves?
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In this dating sim/visual novel Shinji meets Mana Kirishima. The player will have the opportunity to play asthe anxious EVA pilot Shinjiand attempt to get the attention of the new girl at school. Mana Kirishima’s personality is kind of a mix of Asuka and Rei. She isn’t as outgoing as Asuka, but she’s also not as quiet as Rei. Furthermore, Mana looks a bit like a mix between Rei and Asuka (she has the reddish-brown hair of Asuka, but it is cut short like Rei’s).
4Macross VF-X2
Piloting a giant robot has always been the fantasy of anymecha anime fan, so whenMacross VF-X2was introduced, Macross fans might have gone wild. This Japan-exclusive third-person shooter puts the player in charge of Aegis Focker, an ace Valkyrie pilot assigned by the United Nations (as part of the VF-X Ravens squadron), to crush disturbances and rebellions.
In addition to the intense 3D action that merits this game a place on the list, the game’s narrative mode is a notable standout. The plot is compelling, and the gamer’s decisions may affect its progression.Macross VF-X2had a completely unique storyline, but most of it was eventually included in theMacross Frontieranime, so gamers shouldn’t be shocked if they see striking similarities.
3One Piece: Grand Battle! 2
Developed by Ganbarion and released by Bandai,One Piece: Grand Battle! 2isa fighting gamebased on the anime television series. The sequel toGrand Battle!, it holds almost all of the original’s elements while incorporating new content from the Arabasta Saga and integrating several new gameplay techniques.
Grand Battle! 2keeps the 2.5D fighting mechanics of its prequel, with 3D character sprites interacting with a 2D axis. On the battlefield, player characters can jump, double jump, crouch, run, block, and pick up (as well as throw and catch) items. The major fighting attributes are Offense, Defense, and Agility, with each character differing on a scale of A through E; variationsamong preexisting charactersare generally unaltered. Furthermore, health is less standardized than it once was, with certain characters clearly outperforming others.
2Gekitou! Crush Gear Turbo
An action-adventure game developed and published by Bandai, there’sGekitou! Crush Gear Turbo. Based on the chariot-fighting from ancient Rome, Crush Gear is a fighting machine sport featuring customizable battle devices roughly the size of a hand. Gameplay takes place within Gear Fight games, where the victor is whoever’s Crush Gear pushes its opponent off the battlefield.
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Every kid in the 1990s had a Crush Gear, and they topped it off by playingGekitou! Crush Gear Turbo. Even though the game is in Japanese, it wouldn’t be too difficult for non-Japanese speakers to get started. It’s enjoyable, and it’s pretty simple to command the controls.
1Naruto: Shinobi No Sato No Jintori Kassen
Naruto: Shinobi no Sato no Jintori Kassen(literally,Naruto: Ninja Village Jintori Battle) is a PlayStation game that was launched on June 29, 2025.It is remarkable in that it is the only Naruto game producedon the PlayStation 1and was never distributed outside of Japan. Moreover, the game, based on the popular manga and anime series, was released unusually late in the PlayStation’s lifespan (the PlayStation 2 had already been available for three years).
The gameplay is comparable to that of a strategy board game; the goal is to take the opponent’s home base. Furthermore, due to the appearance of classic characters from the original story,Haku and Zabuzafans will be pleased with this game.
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