While Netflix’s adaptation of Castlevania may have helped mainstream video game anime, anime adaptations of video game series have been around for about as long as consumer video games themselves. Hundreds have been made since the late 1980s and several have amassed a huge following.

On the other hand, Castlevania’s popularity has paved the way for adaptations of some of the more obscure video game titles. This year, Netflix has announced a slew of anime titles that will appear one after the other on its platform.

This shows that anime adaptations are no longer limited to bestsellers or graphic novel games, which will only benefit gamers and anime viewers alike. Here is a list of some of the most popular anime shows adapted from video games.

1. Steins;Gate

The Steins;Gate franchise has arguably had much greater success in anime than in games. Several anime adaptations have been released over the years, all of which have been quite popular, but no more than the original series: Steins;Gate.

A mix of science fiction and cautionary tale, Steins;Gate is based on a graphic novel of the same name in which the protagonist travels through time. It is an adaptation of the first in a series of visual novels that follow the members of the Future Gadget Lab as they investigate time travel.

Steins;Gate is funny, dramatic and exciting, but above all it is a series that focuses on the people and their problems in unique and engaging ways.

2. Virtua Fighter

Virtua Fighter is a prequel to the first part of the series, with each character appearing as a younger version of themselves. In his quest to find the “Eight Shining Stars”, mythological artifacts that only true masters can obtain, martial artist Akira Yuki forges new relationships in each episode.

The anime has a straight forward story with lots of action scenes, featuring characters from both Virtua Fighter and Virtua Fighter 2. Fans of Virtua Fighter and other classics like Tekken and Street Fighter will enjoy the fast paced battles.

3. Castlevania

As mentioned before, Castlevania is a Netflix original series set in a world of vampires, vampire hunters and wizards. When Count Dracula seeks revenge for his murdered wife and causes chaos, such forces unite to restore order. An endless series of violent escapades follows.

The first two seasons focus on Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, while the latter features characters and storylines from Castlevania spin-off games such as Curse of Darkness. The Netflix anime series replicates the over-the-top violence of the games, providing more in-depth backstories for characters like Trevor Belmont and Alucard.

4. dragon quest

With the first game released in 1986, Dragon Quest is one of the most popular video game franchises of all time. The series has now been turned into almost every genre imaginable, including manga, anime, and a few movies. Released in 1991, Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibouken was the best of the anime spawned by the franchise.

Many consider the series produced by Toei Animation, the company behind the Dragon Ball anime, to be the studio’s best work. Fans of Dragon Ball will recognize its visual style and pace, but the plot and the wonderful character development it promotes will keep viewers captivated until the very end.

5. pokemon

No list of video game franchises is complete without talking about Pokémon, a cultural phenomenon that has characterized an entire generation of children. The great father of anime, Pokémon is one of the reasons why dozens of anime conventions are now held every year, Netflix is ​​introducing huge amounts of anime content, casinos often offer no-deposit bonuses in the form of free slot spins, which are often an anime- theme, and there are now even anime themed workout routines based on many popular anime characters.

The anime, which premiered in 1997, follows ten-year-old Ash Ketchum on trips to hunt, capture, and train the titular animals. He learns several life lessons in his quest to become the best Pokémon trainer in the world.

Pokémon was released a year before the anime with Pocket Monsters Red and Green on the Nintendo Game Boy (marketed as Red and Blue in the US). The game has become so successful that it has been included in every iteration of Nintendo portable systems. The Pokémon trainer Red, the character that inspired Ash, was the focus of these Generation I Pokémon video games.

6. Inazuma Eleven

The plot is remarkably rich for a series largely about football. The show is based on the video game series of the same name. Mamoru, Shuuya, and Yuuto are all fantastic personalities, and their relationships with the supporting cast provide some of the most memorable scenes in the series.

The art style is appealing and the use of bold colors really helps set the series apart. The display of football matches, on the other hand, is where it really shines. The images and edits together create an amazing atmosphere during the sequences, keeping the spectators on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.

7. Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works

Over the years, the Fate series has expanded into various genres, but most of its popularity has come from its multiple anime series, specials, and movies. Some features on MyAnimeList have a nine, but Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works is the most popular multi-episode series.

It premiered in late 2014 and has a rating of 8.19 based on more than half a million user reviews. It tells the story of the Holy Grail War through a mage named Rin, who actively participates in it over a single run of 12 episodes. She must fight a succession of more formidable opponents with the help of her servant Archer and classmate Amiya to get the final reward.

8. Senjou no Valkyria

Senjou no Valkyria is a popular anime series that has done an excellent job of replicating the spirit of Sega’s legendary game. It’s a slow burn at first, but once you get past the first few episodes, it’s an interesting watch with a story that does its best to stay true to the original material.

The graphical style is remarkably similar to that of the game and the characters all have unique personalities. As the series progresses, much of the comedy is gone, but considering this is a war drama, this is to be expected.

9. Fin fantasy

Many people believe that the Final Fantasy franchise is one of the best in gaming. With 15 games from the main series and several spin-offs, it’s no wonder that a lot of effort has gone into turning the franchise into anime. They have not always been successful, but there are many excellent customizations available.

Best of all is Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete, which contributes to the theatrical edition in several ways. It includes a deeper look at some of the characters’ backstories and an expanded representation of Cloud and Sephiroth’s battle sequence.

This OVA is a must-see for anyone with even a casual interest in the Final Fantasy VII compilation.

10. The Dogma of the Dragons

Ethan is a fierce warrior on a mission to defeat the dragon that stole his heart. However, every step he takes to exact revenge unleashes his own inner demons. The protagonist’s mental battles give reality to his character, and there is plenty of excitement for lovers of medieval fantasy.

The open-world landscape seen in the Netflix anime series is explored more deeply in the 2012 video game, which also has a richer plot. While the visuals in the video game are still cutting edge, they are heavily influenced by more traditional aesthetics. On the other hand, the Dragon’s Dogma anime uses a more advanced CGI concept due to the advancement in visual rendering technology.

11. Devil May Cry

While Devil May Cry is best known as a video game, it did inspire a one-season anime series. The series, entitled Dante, stars the favorite private detective Dante, who has his own devil-hunting agency.

The story seems to be based on the first two games in the franchise, and it brings back characters like Trish and Lady, while also adding new characters like Dante’s buddy Morrison and Patty, a girl he rescues and bonds with. . As you might expect, the anime is packed with action sequences that pay homage to the classic hack-and-slash game.

12. Digimon Adventure

Digimon Adventure, the first Digimon anime, follows a Pokémon-like path with its young heroes caring for “digital dinosaurs.” Unlike Pokémon monsters that occur in nature, Digimon monsters appear on computer screens. They seem to live in a parallel realm known as the ‘digital world’.

Digimon got its start with the Namcai line of products of the same name, which included digital pets similar to Tamagotchi. These toys generated the video game Digimon World, which provided an important backstory to the fictional history of the virtual dogs.

Digimon Adventure has aged nicely and embraces growing up and societal issues that the game never brought up.

Honorable Mentions:

  • street fighter
  • Mega Man
  • Professor Layton
  • god eater
  • stories
  • danganronpa
  • Persona
  • Stories of Vesperia
  • gun grave
  • Angels of Death
  • Makafushigic
  • Dragon’s Nest

To be fair, the list is endless and includes many titles that you are likely to come across while continuing to watch anime.