The world of anime is expansive and offers many unique stories with compelling characters, engaging plots, and epic moments. While some anime come and go, many deliver unique and memorable experiences. Those types of anime typically contain well-written storylines and characters.
For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best anime, we’d like to highlight 10 video games we’d love to see receive anime adaptations. From Metal Gear Solid to Stardew Valley, it’d be interesting to see what an anime adaptation for these series would look like.
Feel free to leave your comments about our choices below.
Metroid
Metroid is a beloved Nintendo franchise that’d be great to see receive an anime adaptation. The series features a strong female lead with Samus Aran. An anime would deeply explore her character’s background, giving newcomers and diehard fans an engaging take on her character. Moreover, Metroid boasts a rich universe that’s partially explored in the games.
From planet Zebes to the Galactic Federation, there is much lore and world-building that can be expanded upon with an anime. Lastly, Metroid’s atmospheric and haunting tone lends itself well to an anime incarnation. While a live-action film or series wouldn’t be a bad option, an anime adaptation lends itself to more possibilities.
Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger is an iconic JRPG with a fascinating cast, beloved art style, and gripping narrative. The game’s protagonists from Chrono to Lucca have distinct personalities and abilities that’d translate well into animated characters. An anime could flesh them out in ways the video game medium couldn’t. Moreover, this title’s time-traveling storyline suits itself well for an anime series.
The game’s intertwining storyline could be skillfully expanded upon in an animated format. The layered plot, with its themes of destiny and sacrifice, would benefit immensely from the anime medium’s extended run time and visual storytelling. Considering the art for this game was designed by Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump creator, Akira Toriyama, one would expect there to already be a Chrono Trigger anime by now.
Dark Souls
Xenoblade Chronicles
Like Metroid, Xenoblade Chronicles is another Nintendo franchise that lends itself well to the anime medium. The game’s sprawling environments, unique creatures, and diverse cultures would look lively in vibrant animation. Moreover, an anime adaptation would allow the story writers to delve deeper into the game’s lore and cast, providing fans with artistically impactful content.
Considering each game delivers a self-contained storyline, it’d be amazing to see a series based on all three games. From Xenoblade Chronicles 1’s Shulk to Xenoblade Chronicles 3’s Noah, this series has the potential to be a long-running smash hit for longtime Xenoblade fans and anime fanatics alike.
Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts sought a merger between JRPGs and Disney. Imagine what would happen if you threw an anime mixture into the fold? You’d end up with a work that’d provide Kingdom Hearts with a larger fanbase than it has now. Additionally, an anime series would give Square Enix the opportunity to delve into Kingdom Heart’s storyline and flesh out characters who didn’t receive much spotlight.
Kingdom Heart’s distinct visual style and vibrant environments would come to life in an anime adaptation too. The Disney-inspired worlds, from Wonderland to Olympus, would be beautifully rendered in an anime art style. It’d recreate the charm and magic that’s been seemingly lost to time in recent Disney and Pixar films. Therefore, if Disney needs an idea that’ll help them obtain fans’ excitement for their projects like in the past, a Kingdom Hearts anime series is worth exploring.
The Legend of Zelda
As of this writing, Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator behind The Legend of Zelda property, has announced that the franchise will be receiving a live-action adaptation in the future. While some were thrilled by this news, others accepted that the franchise wouldn’t be getting the animated treatment that Mario did. However, that shouldn’t stop fans from demanding one.
Since The Legend of Zelda offers multiple storylines with different characters, it wouldn’t be farfetched to believe Nintendo won’t cash in on an anime for this beloved franchise. An anime adaptation would allow the company to explore Hyrule in a visually stunning and immersive manner.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is a beloved farming simulation game that’d make for a perfect anime adaptation. An anime series would explore the game’s quaint world of Pelican Town flawlessly. It’d offer viewers a chance to connect with the game’s residents on a personal level by examining their personal tales from an animated perspective.
Stardew Valley’s slice-of-life nature would translate well to an episodic anime format, providing fans with a weekly dosage of comfort and wholesomeness. If farming anime like Silver Spoon can captivate audiences with its grand storytelling, themes, and characters, Stardew Valley’s anime has the potential to produce similar results.
Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid would make for a great anime adaptation, especially if the studio took inspiration from sophisticated projects like Psycho-Pass or Ghost In The Shell. An anime series will provide Konami with an opportunity to dive into Metal Gear Solid’s multiple storylines which explore themes like warfare and politics.
Moreover, Metal Gear Solid features a stellar cast that anime fans would cherish. From Solid Snake to Liquid Snake, the series has enough charismatic and complex personalities to excite anime enthusiasts. Moreover, an anime series can explore these characters’ backgrounds, motives, and relationships further, allowing longtime fans to foster deeper connections with them.
In addition to bringing the game’s combat and stealth mechanics to life through animation, we’d love to see this Konami property in a new light.
Yakuza
Yakuza is a Sega series that’s garnered much praise for its gripping crime drama and compelling cast, both of which are suited for an anime adaptation. The game’s immersive storytelling, intense action scenarios, and deep exploration of Japanese culture make it a great candidate for an anime series. If Sonic can receive multiple adaptations, why not Yakuza, Sega?
Furthermore, Yakuza is known for having gripping crime-themed scenarios rooted in internal conflicts and emotional moments. An anime could expand upon the game’s storytelling, delving deeper into the nuanced character arcs, and the dynamic relationships that define the series. Considering mafia anime hasn’t been as popular as those found in the fantasy genre, a Yakuza anime would turn the tide significantly.
Bioshock
Bioshock is a dark and atmospheric game that we’d “kindly” love to see an anime adaptation for one day. The series’s unique mix of dystopian themes, immersive world-building, and morally ambiguous cast lends itself well to the anime medium. Exploring Bioshock 1, 2, and Infinite’s philosophical complexities in an animated format, could elevate this franchise to greater heights.
Moreover, anime fans will adore Bioshock for tackling complex themes like societal decay and the problems that arise from unchecked power. An episodic anime series would assist Bioshock in the pacing department, helping audiences rake in the larger ethical questions the games provide them. Coupled with how beautiful Rapture and Columbia would appear with an anime art style, a Bioshock anime would be incredible to watch.
So, there we have it, our picks for the 10 video games that we’d like to see receive anime adaptations!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!