Although many people cherish watching anime, they often forget that most anime serve as adaptations of the original source material. While there are some instances where the anime is better than the manga, those instances are few and far between.
With the amount of manga released on a daily basis, it could be hard to cut through all those books to find the “Best of” for any chosen topic. Well, we’re here to help celebrate and shine a spotlight on some of the latest and unforgettable manga through the years.
For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best manga, our attention this time turns to those with a strong focus on gaming. From hilarious isekai to charming romances, there’s a good choice to whet your appetite.
Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below and we’ll add them!
Hi Score Girl – Rensuke Oshikiri
Hi Score Girl is a remarkable manga that delves into the deep world of gaming. In it, we examine the lives of Haruo and Akira. They’re rival gamers whose relationship gets better and more romantic over time.
One of the manga’s best features is its authentic portrayal of gaming culture and its ability to resonate with readers who share a love for video games. The series features loads of game references and strategies. You’ll love seeing Haruo and Akira compete in various competitive games with each other as their bond gradually grows over time.
This series excels at giving viewers a chance to witness Akira and Haruo evolve from children to teenagers. This is a rare sight in most romance series as typical anime in the genre tends to stay within a specific timeframe.
If you’re looking for a splendid romance manga with a lot of gaming references and aspects, check this out.
New Game! – Shoutarou Tokunou
New Game! is a phenomenal manga with a strong emphasis on game development. It excels at showcasing the problems and successes that unfold with our characters’ gaming-themed careers. In it, we follow Aoba who starts her career in the gaming industry. Aoba’s journey as a character designer allows readers to gain a behind-the-scenes look at the creative and difficult process of the career.
Aoba will encounter numerous setbacks, learn new skills, and overcome obstacles alongside her co-workers. Aoba’s relationship with her co-workers showcases how video games can open up a path of camaraderie. Whether it’s discussing gaming trends or bonding over shared experiences, the manga shows how video games can lead to people fostering wholesome connections.
On top of having a delightful art style, New Game is a great gaming-themed manga that’ll entertain folks.
No Game No Life – Yuu Kamiya
How TO Not Summon The Demon Lord – Yukiya Murasaki
Log Horizon – Mamare Touno
Log Horizon is a great manga series that captures the spirit of classic MMOs. This manga centers around a group of players who find themselves trapped in a popular game called Elder Tale. What sets this manga apart is its focus on complex game mechanics, strategic planning, and the dynamics of a player-driven society within a virtual ecosystem.
The manga offers an in-depth look into the complexities of playing an MMO. Mamare Touno touches upon features like character skills and class dynamics to demonstrate his knowledge of gaming. He applies these aspects exceptionally throughout the story, and readers will enjoy seeing the characters utilize their distinct traits to overcome difficult hurdles.
On top of delving into the various social, political, and economic aspects found in Elder Tale’s world, Log Horizon is a great gaming-themed manga with nuance and depth.
Gamers – Sekina Aoi
Gamers is a slice-of-life series that follows the lives of high school gamers as they struggle to balance their passion for gaming and personal relationships.
This manga offers a nice depiction of gaming culture. It showcases the joys and frustrations that come with being a gamer. From competing in tournaments to dealing with game bugs, you’ll love Sekina Aoi’s handling of these gaming topics.
Through the characters’ dialogue and interactions, readers can experience the competitiveness and dedication gamers often possess. Additionally, the characters in this manga differ in preference, making things feel more realistic and relatable.
If you’re looking for a delightful gaming manga with slice-of-life aspects, check out Gamers.
The Recovery of an MMO Junkie – Rin Kokuyo
The Recovery of an MMO Junkie delivers a heartfelt exploration of the pros and cons of gaming. The story follows a 30-year-old corporate worker named Moriko. She quits her job to become a full-time gamer in the MMO world of Fruits de Mer. Through Moriko’s journey through Fruits de Mer, she finds solace and comfort.
Readers will empathize with Moriko’s desire to abandon her realistic living situation in favor of the life she lives in this virtual realm. Furthermore, many people who are older gamers will love Rin Kokuyo’s handling of Moriko’s character. In Fruits de Mer, she meets and befriends numerous people and forges romantic relations with a specific person by the end of it all. Her development highlights the transformative power gaming can have on a person, making it a must-read for anyone who loves gaming just as much as Moriko.
Accel World – Reki Kawahara
Accel World delves into the realm of gaming in a unique way. It’s set in a futuristic-like era where VR gaming has become a popular pastime. It centers around Haruyuki Arita, a socially isolated teenager who finds solace in the virtual game Brain Burst.
This manga delivers adrenaline-pumping action battles and showcases Reki Kawahara’s vast knowledge of virtual reality. The battles are elaborate and strategic. The characters use unique abilities and techniques to defeat their opponents.
The manga’s artist, Hiryuki Aigamo, brings Accel World to life through dynamic panel layouts and breathtaking artwork. These factor in greatly to bring audiences an immersive read with satisfying visuals.
On top of exploring themes of personal growth and acceptance, Accel World is a must-read for gaming fanatics.
Summer Wars – Mamoru Hosoda
Summer Wars, created by Mamoru Hosoda, is a captivating story that beautifully explores the connections between gaming, family, and the power of teamwork. It’s set in a world where a virtual world called OZ has become universal. It follows a school student named Kenji as he becomes embroiled in a high-stakes virtual battle.
This manga offers a nice depiction of VR gaming. OZ is a creative and immersive environment where players can interact with each and engage in multiple activities. Through detailed illustrations and stellar paneling, Summer Wars effectively conveys the allure and excitement a vast virtual world can offer gamers.
Kenji’s battles with the AI that tries to harm OZ are interesting to follow. Readers will enjoy seeing him rally friends and family together to defeat this major threat. It’ll remind readers of the satisfactory feelings they receive teaming up with their friends to defeat a powerful boss or overcome a challenging hurdle in a game.
If you’re looking for a splendid manga with great messages and characters, check out Summer Wars.
Gamerz Heaven – Maki Murakami
Gamerz Heaven is a fun manga with a fascinating portrayal of VR gaming. The manga introduces readers to the virtual setting of Game Heaven, where our characters duke it out. Through detailed artwork and imaginative world-building, Gamerz HGeaven brings the virtual reality experience to life. This allows readers to feel like they’re a part of the world with its characters.
The manga places its characters in exhilarating scenarios. They’ll need to battle, solve puzzles, and strategize if they hope to become victors in this world. Gamerz Heaven also showcases how people can form valuable bonds over gaming by examining the developments between its protagonist, Kazuma, and his fellow gamers.
If you’re looking for a simple and pleasing manga with a read that’ll make you appreciate being a gamer, check out Gamerz Heaven.
So, there we have it, our picks for the best gaming-themed manga 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!