Anime games have had an interesting past few years. Usually, these games are relegated to arena fighters or action titles, while occasionally dipping into RPG territory. However, there has been a push to do something different with these licenses, resulting in some weird games that I appreciate seeing.
The main culprit for this article is Baki Hanma: Blood Arena, which was just announced at the time of writing. If you read the title, it would be easy to assume that this is just another fighting game, given how bloody this anime is. Surprisingly enough, this game is heavily influenced by Super Punch-Out, of all things.
I repeat, we’re getting a new Super Punch-Out experience thanks to an anime game based on Baki the Grappler on Netflix. What a wonderful world we live in.
Considering how fans are still craving for a remaster of the Wii Punch-Out game, and they’re correct to want one, seeing this licensed title use that gameplay formula is surreal. No one had the Baki Punch-Out game on their bucket list, but that’s what makes this announcement so interesting.
Is the new Punch-Out Baki game not weird enough for you? How about that Among Us-style Death Note game?
Death Note Killer Within was an interesting game no one expected to see, just because it had been literal years since the series was relevant. It is an excellent story and fans talk about it to this day, but imagining this franchise as a video game must have been mind-boggling. Thankfully, Among Us showed up and gave these devs an interesting idea.
Killer Within doesn’t have a ton of hype behind it, likely because Among Us is a lot cheaper, but trying to decipher who the killer is feels like a perfect use of the Death Note license. Even if it’s not the best multiplayer experience out there, the fact they tried something unique with an anime game should be commended.
At least combining Death Note and Among Us makes sense, but we want to know who decided we needed a Dying Light clone with Dragon Ball characters.
Probably the most popular title in this list, Dragon Ball: The Breakers has to be one of the weirder video game entries in this franchise. Instead of fighting Frieza and Cell as Goku, you’re running away from monstrous villains as normal people. You can play as a custom character, a farmer with a shotgun, or fan-favorite Bulma, but you are constantly being hounded by these villains.
The Breakers has an interesting legacy, with some fans enjoying this Dying Light clone while others think it’s a scam, given all the DLC it has. While the execution has led to mixed results, it’s still cool seeing the franchise try something that isn’t just a fighting game.
I do hope that this trend of weird gameplay mechanics for anime games continues, even though I don’t mind arena fighters. Games that recap anime stories are totally fine, look at the Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm series or that new Bleach fighter, but doing something completely different is cool too.