Best Bandai Namco Games of All Time
Today, there are many great games to look forward to. Whether it comes from a small indie studio or a triple AAA developer, fans always get excited to explore new worlds brimming with incredible narratives, remarkable characters, and fun gameplay mechanics. To celebrate gaming, we’re here to shine a spotlight on the latest and greatest games to be developed or published by Bandai Namco.
This gaming company has a slew of properties under its belt. From the fun-filled brawler Tekken to the arcade classic Pac-Man, there’s sure to be a game here that will vibe with your interests.
Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below and we’ll get them added on!
Elden Ring
Although Elden Ring was developed by FromSoftware, it was published by Bandai Namco. This game claimed the hearts of many Dark Souls fans with its excruciating fights, memorable characters, and rich storytelling. It went on to become 2022’s Game of the Year victor at the Video Game Awards hosted by Geoff Keighley.
The locales wreak of dark fantasy and gothic aesthetic. Regardless if it’s your protagonist, a side boss, or death fodder, everyone has stunning designs that mesh well with the game’s gritty backgrounds. This game isn’t a walk in the park, either. It will challenge you with the utmost integrity. Some will find themselves raging nonstop at the boss fights the most.
Overcoming the game’s merciless bosses will make you cheer, though. If you’re looking for an exploration-heavy game that’ll make you feel like a proud, noble, and strong warrior, pick up Elden Ring.
Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom
Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom is a huge step up from the first game. This one features a revamped combat system that feels more action-centric compared to the previous game. Despite being developed by Level-5, this series was published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Studio Ghibli fans will admire this game for its similar art style and likable cast.
Revenant Kingdom features multiple tasks and activities for players to indulge themselves in. The game’s RPG mechanics can make players feel overwhelmed at times, but if you stick with it to the end, you’re in for a swell experience. The storyline follows a boy named Roland. He gets transported to another world after a missile goes off in New York.
Roland wakes up inside Ding Dong Bell’s chambers. He escapes the place and runs into a young king named Evan. Roland and Evan embark on a quest to build a new kingdom that’d rival Ding Dong Bell’s kingdom. Give this title a shot if you’re looking for an immersive JRPG to play.
Little Nightmares II
Little Nightmares II is a fantastic follow-up to the first game. It’s a prequel that has players control a paper bag-wearing individual named Mono as he traverses several spooky places with the first game’s protagonist, Six. It was developed by Tarsier Studios and
Supermassive Games but published by Bandai Namco Entertainment.
This game has fun puzzles to solve, glorious platforming sections, and engaging visual design. The stop-motion and Tim Burton-like character designs help the Little Nightmares series stand out from other horror-themed works. Little Nightmares 2 contains moments where you can defend yourself against large and small enemies.
However, these sections are few and far between. You can expect there to be more levels designed to have you flee from your enemies instead of combatting them, like Little Nightmares 1. With great plot twists, stellar platforming sections, and an eerie atmosphere, you’re bound to enjoy what this terrifying game delivers to you.
You can read our thoughts on Little Nightmares 2 in our video game review here!
Tales of Symphonia
Tales of Symphonia is a great action RPG with outstanding writing, characters, and gameplay. It was once a GameCube exclusive title but eventually made its way to the PlayStation 2 in Japan. Although this game received the remastered treatment and was released not too long ago, many critics cite the remastered version as being inferior to the PlayStation 2 version of the game.
Nonetheless, if you can withstand the remastered release’s weird technical problems then I suggest picking up that version instead of hunting down the original GameCube version. Anyway, Tales of Symphonia takes place in Sylvarant, a world that’s in danger of extinction due to an evil group exploiting it for its mana.
You’ll control a boy named Lloyd Irving. He embarks on a journey with The Chosen One, Colette, to save the world. In Tales of Symphonia, you’ll explore the game’s overworld, towns, and dungeons. It features real-time combat and allows players to attack enemies using different characters. It may feel stiff and repetitive, though. Therefore, it’s best to use different characters in your party to avoid the game growing tiresome. Give this a shot if you’re hankering for a slightly modernized JRPG to play.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is one of Nintendo’s best fighting games today. It features an enormous 80+ character roster, thousands of catchy jingles, many gorgeous stages, and excellent gameplay mechanics. Many competitive Super Smash Bros. players will admire the game’s training mode as it carries more depth and will help them develop intricate combos.
The game features stellar single-player content. From the iconic Classic Mode to its new World of Light adventure mode, you’re bound to put several hours into it. Furthermore, the game includes thousands of Spirits for you to collect to increase its replay value. Each Spirit comes with a different effect that will boost one of your character’s traits.
For those who like playing online, Ultimate has decent online matchmaking. To avoid laggy matchups, Nintendo and Bandai Namco suggest purchasing an ethernet accessory for a more stable connection. With its multiple game modes and an endless array of content, you’re in for an incredible time with this fighting game.
Katamari Damacy Reroll
Katamari Damcy REROLL is a third-person puzzle action game that takes place in a magical kingdom. Its ruler accidentally destroys all the stars in the sky. He orders his minuscule son to recover all the stars to restore the sky’s beautiful lights.
This game promises players that they’ll enjoy its disorderly premise and frenetic gameplay. It involves players rolling Katamari around their environment to collect specific objects. The controls seem simple, but players may need to devote some time to mastering them. The Katamari grows in size as a response to how many items you gather.
If you run into an obstacle, your Katamari will explode into tiny pieces. Although the gameplay’s fast-paced, you’ll want to steer clear of any potential hazards. This game will certainly boost your cognitive and precision skills, though. If you’re searching for a fun puzzle game to play, consider picking up Katamari Damacy REROLL.
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Dragon Ball FighterZ is a great 2.5D fighting game. This game captures the heart and soul of the Dragon Ball franchise. It introduces new characters, a gripping premise, and stellar graphics and animation. In it, players can compete in standard one vs one match-up or take their fights to the next level in three vs three fights.
Many prefer the latter since it can lead to some insane and unpredictable outcomes. Furthermore, the game’s soundtrack is as heart-pumping as the anime’s. Each character feels well-balanced and unique. The game includes characters from Dragon Ball Z to Dragon Ball Super. Dragon Ball FighterZ also includes some excellent offline and online modes for you to tackle. With its enormous roster, polished gameplay and visuals, and exhilarating OST, Dragon Ball FighterZ offers players a definitive Dragon Ball experience.
Dark Souls 3
The Dark Souls series is notorious for being utterly challenging and dark. It has you explore a world filled with cunning enemies, brutal monstrosities, and fitting OST. It’s an action RPG developed by FromSoftware but published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Although every entry has its highs and lows, many argue Dark Souls III is one of its best entries.
As you traverse the game’s gritty landscape, you’ll be equipped with a sword, bow, shield, and various other weapons. Each weapon has two different attack types that vary between feeling light or heavy. Dark Soul III’s combat and movement feel more fluid than in Dark Souls II. This helps players perform more damage to their targets in shorter periods.
Considering how challenging the game’s enemies and beasts are, you’ll be thanking the developers for implementing this. The enemies are lively and charismatic. They all display different behaviors, so they don’t come across as mindless drones to players. With its subtle improvements, satisfying conclusion, and glorious visuals, Dark Souls III is worth your time.
Pac-Man Championship Edition DX
Pac-Man is solely responsible for putting Namco on the map. From his classic arcade games to his 3D platforming adventures, Pac-Man’s been through it all and is one of the most recognizable gaming icons. Despite all he’s been through, Pac-Man Championship Edition DX is one of his better outings.
In it, players assist Pac-Man in gobbling up all the dots in the maze while avoiding his ghostly enemies. Once you’ve collected all the dots, a bonus item will appear and cause the game’s layout to change. The developers aimed for this game to capture the soul of the original Pac-Man and did so with great integrity.
The game had a satisfying gameplay loop, an electronic soundtrack, and sharp visuals to pull people into it. Therefore, if you’re looking for a fabulous Pac-Man game that captures what made the first game such a classic for casual and retro fans alike, consider buying Pac-Man Championship Edition DX.
Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series
Klonoa is a colorful platforming Namco mascot. He’s not as well-known as Pac-Man but his charming personality and appearance will warm your heart. Furthermore, Klonoa is one of Namco’s dormant properties. This is why fans were shocked to see his first and second games receive an HD reimagining for modern audiences in the form of the Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series.
This comes jam-packed with better visuals, a compelling soundtrack, and two gripping narratives. Both entries feature 3D graphics set on a 2D plane. You’ll leap over platforms, grab and hurl enemies, and interact with the game’s foreground and background elements. You can hurl enemies at each other or use them to propel yourself upward to reach higher platforms.
This remake introduces several new features, though. For instance, this bundle comes with selectable difficulty levels, a two-player co-op mode, a stopwatch mode, and better resolutions and framerates. It’s the definitive way to experience Klonoa’s greatest platforming journies. If you want to know why people value his games as much as Pac-Man’s, consider picking this HD collection up.
So, there we have it, our pick for the best Bandai Namco video games through the years!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!