Anime video games are a dime a dozen these days, with countless adaptions for the biggest series out there. Despite that, though, there are still a few fantastic anime series that never received a video game adaption, and boy do they deserve it.
Mob Psycho 100
Mob Psycho 100 has all the makings of an all-time classic anime, and it’s already well on its way to being one. What that means, of course, is that it’s ripe for a video game adaption as well.
Mob Psycho tells the story of Shigeo Kageyama, nicknamed Mob. He’s an inconspicuous middle school boy in every way, except for the fact that he’s a powerful esper with immense psychic powers.
If you’ve watched Mob Psycho you know it’s best known for some utterly gorgeous animation and ridiculously over-the-top fight sequences. We’ve had a recent wave of fantastic stylistic fighters lately with games like Dragon Ball FighterZ, Kill la Kill, and My Hero One’s Justice.
Mob Psycho 100 could function perfectly as an over-the-top fighter, or even better, let players explore a massive open world using Mob’s psychic powers, a la One Piece: World Seeker.
There are countless possibilities, but one thing is certain, players would love to explore the world of Mob Psycho 100.
Any Studio Ghibli Movie
This shouldn’t even have to be said, really, but why in the world haven’t we ever gotten an official Studio Ghibli video game? There are countless Ghibli anime films that would translate perfectly into a charming video game world, but the closest we’ve ever gotten is Ni No Kuni, the collaboration between Level 5 and Studio Ghibli.
Just imagine being able to explore the bathhouse in Spirited Away, completing tasks and working a daily job. Or roaming around a fascinating fantasy world in Howl’s Moving Castle, or staving off the terrifying horde of demons in Princess Mononoke.
More than anything, Studio Ghibli’s art style would translate into a video game so well, with some gorgeous cel-shaded animation. We’ve already seen this in Ni No Kuni and Ni No Kuni II, and Yo-Kai Watch also sports a similar style.
The problem, of course, is that these are all original titles, and we don’t have any way to explore a digital world within one of Ghibli’s wonderfully imaginative creations.
Ni No Kuni was a great example of what Ghibli can do when collaborating with a game developer, and let’s hope it’s not the last we see of them.
One-Punch Man
I know what you’re saying, there’s really not a One-Punch Man game already? The answer is no, but there should be. The insanely over-the-top superhero anime is just begging for an adaption, and could utilize a multitude of genres.
Of course, a One-Punch Man game does present one problem; how do you deal with an invincible character? After all Saitama can’t be killed, so what kind of stakes do you create for a game. There are a few different options.
For one, you don’t necessarily have to abide by that rule for a game, as any fighting game could simply use Saitama as a character with a stamina bar. On the other hand, a different type of game could totally play with this idea, having you be invincible but restricting the powers you have access to if Saitama becomes bored.
Then there’s the third option, play as a different character, like Genos. No matter how you look at it, there are options for a One-Punch Man Game, and the series would best be suited to a high-octane fighter or an open world superhero game. It’s gotta happen at some point.
Fire Force
Fire Force’s anime adaption technically hasn’t released yet as it’s premiering later this year, but the writing is already on the wall for it to be a hit, considering the strong reception to the manga and the talent of its creator. The series is created by Atsushi Okubo, the mind behind the beloved Soul Eater series, and it sports a similar style.
The manga, and anime, take place in Tokyo, in year 128 of the Solar Era. The city has created special fire brigades that fight against a phenomenon where humans are turned into malevolent fire creatures called Infernals.
Later versions of Infernals have retained the power to control flames while maintaining their humanity, and Shinra Kusakabe is one such person, as well as a member of the Special Fire Force Company 8.
It’s a very cool setup, and one that already seems like prime real estate for a video game adaption. Again, an open world title like One Piece: World Seeker could work wonders here, letting you explore Tokyo while taking down Infernals that pop up, both randomly and through the story.
Considering each character in Company 8 can control fire in a different way, there’s also a lot of potential for multiple playable characters.
Of course, thinking this big for a new series is a bit of a stretch, and things would likely start small. However, Fire Force is the perfect candidate for a game adaption, no matter what type of game it is.
Knights of Sidonia
Mech action games used to have a prominent place in the industry, but over the years they’ve been relegated to indie titles or smaller projects trying to pay homage to the past greats. It’s been far too long since we’ve had a title like Zone of the Enders, and Knights of Sidonia is the perfect anime heir to that mantle.
Set in the year 3394, Knights of Sidonia takes place when humanity has been forced to flee Earth after it’s been destroyed by a race of shape-shifting aliens known as the Gauna. The series is heavy on sci-fi, and the only defense humanity has from the Gauna are giant robotic suits called Gardes.
There’s a desperate but hopeful tone that permeates all of the show, and a Knights of Sidonia game would be as much about storytelling and action, as it is about mecha action. Of course, that’s exactly what fans love about games like Zone of the Enders, or Armored Core.
Knights of Sidonia is yet another one of those animes that make you ask, why don’t we have a video game of this already?
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