Sometimes we can grow to love a game, especially for its story, but don’t have the time or attention to devote to another complete playthrough of it. With that being said, what if the remedy to this dilemma is simply turning that game into an anime? Hence, a list of games that would be ripe for the anime picking. Did we leave out your favorite? Have a cool idea for a different video game anime? Sound off in the comments!
Skies of Arcadia
Skies of Arcadia is an RPG that was released in 2000 on the Dreamcast. It follows the adventure of Vyse, an airship pirate who must stop an evil empire from utilizing powerful weapons to destroy the world. With the elaborate steampunk world of flying pirates and political intrigue, Skies of Arcadia would be a perfect setting for a grand adventure akin to shows like One Piece or even Dragon Ball. Who knows, maybe even an anime adaptation can spur Sega to finally make that sequel we’ve been begging for?
Psychonauts
Very few video games have an atmosphere that rivals the wacky and colorful campus of Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp. Thanks to the strange, strange mind of Tim Shafer, we got the zany adventures of the Raz, a young psychic whose task it is to save the world from a mad dentist with a penchant for sucking peoples’ brains out of their noses. If this plot doesn’t scream, “anime adaptation,” I don’t know what would. Its could either follow the main plot of the game or even depict a “normal” summer at Whispering Rock. Who knows, with the school/camp setting, the Psychonauts anime could be the next Assassination Classroom or Soul Eater.
Bloodborne
Few video games have the terrifying effect that FromSoftware’s Bloodborne has, an action RPG that places you in the dark city of Yharnam, where terrible beasts and creatures of unimaginable horror haunt the night in search of blood. Bloodborne would be the perfect setting for a horror anime, a genre that often gets overlooked in the medium. Director Hidetaka Miyazaki draws a lot of inspiration for his games from the incredibly violent anime Berserk, so the transformation of Bloodborne into a 90s-esque horror anime would not be very far fetched. Man, I’m getting excited just thinking about the Chalice Dungeon filler episodes.
Mass Effect
Mass Effect is an action RPG that explores the farthest reaches of space where every choice matters. Not only do your actions determine the fate of the galaxy, they also shift the way characters will interact with you throughout the game. The ability to foster personal relationships are the backbone to a successful playthrough, meaning an anime adaptation would have to balance both massive battle scenes and deep character development. This type of dynamic is always interesting and has been essential to Science Fiction series like Mobile Suit Gundam and Neon Genesis Evangelion. Although Mass Effect has already technically proved itself as an anime in Mass Effect: Paragon Lost, it would be nice to see a longer series that goes even deeper into the sprawling universe of Mass Effect.
The Legend of Zelda
This year marks the 30th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, and with the popularity of its recent HD remasters, as well as the upcoming NX title, the Zelda franchise has never been bigger. What better time to introduce an anime adaptation? The obscure timeline of the series provides plenty of space to have a show, while each title has its own distinct look and feel, meaning the creators could use different styles for each adaptation. Imagine each season covering a different game in the franchise, Twilight Princess could be done like Record of Lodoss War and The Windwaker could be done in the style of The Seven Deadly Sins. There have already been manga adaptations of the series, so an anime wouldn’t be too far fetched. Plus, anything would be better than the original Zelda cartoon.
The Elder Scrolls
The Elder Scrolls, along with Warcraft, is one of the largest, most fleshed out fantasy worlds in all of video games. With several story arcs including the Oblivion Crisis and the Legend of the Dragonborn, there is no end to what stories an Elder Scrolls anime could tell. Even side stories that don’t focus on the plot of the games would be a nice look into Tamriel, and I don’t know about you, but an exploration of Valenwood or the Summerset Isles would be infinitely enjoyable.
Shadow of the Colossus
There aren’t enough atmospheric anime, there, I said it, andShadow of the Colossus could be a refreshing break from the world of over-explanation in anime. Imagine a director like Hayao Miyazaki or Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira) bringing the Forbidden Lands to life through masterful animation and beautiful artwork. The Colossi would all have grand reveals, and the lack of dialogue would make for an interesting, quiet experience that separates itself from the exposition heavy world of anime. Shadow of the Colossus asks its audience to think, something I think would transfer perfectly into anime if done correctly.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
On the other end of the spectrum from Shadow of the Colossus is the king of exposition, the Metal Gear franchise. But why, you may ask, do Metal Gear Rising? The use of fast paced combat, Sci Fi nanomachine plot points, and government conspiracies make for an adrenaline fueled dystopian adventure. Imagine a show with the epic endeavors of Attack on Titan and the philosophical questions of Ghost in the Shell and you would have an anime that’s both fun and challenging. Plus, Kojima has stated he wants to work in film, so why not an animated one?
