For those of you who simply can’t get enough of geeking out over your favorite anime, never fear - there exists a whole realm of board games designed specifically for people like you. Each one incorporates elements of an anime into an immersive game that allows the player to experience being part of the story.
10. Sailor Moon Crystal: Dice Challenge
Go magical girls, go!
For fans of Sailor Moon Crystal, Sailor Moon Crystal: Dice Challenge was made for you. Players can select one of 24 included Sailor Moon Crystal series characters to play. You and an opponent then use those characters to battle each other in several rounds of combat using a number of dice. The winner of each bout gets a victory point while the loser levels up. The first to win three rounds wins the game!
Choose This Game If You Like...
- Combat Based Games; if you like having someone to defeat in a match of luck and dice-throwing prowess, this is the game for you.
- Flexible Numbers; while originally designed for 1v1 battles, the rules of Sailor Moon Crystal: Dice Challenge can be flexed to accommodate team battles and even tournaments of players.
- Sailor Moon Crystal Characters; this may be an obvious one, but if you’ve always wanted to take your favorite Sailor Moon Crystal characters into battle and see who comes out the other side, you’ll have loads of fun playing Sailor Moon Crystal: Dice Challenge.
9. Cowboy Bebop: Space Serenade
Space opera meets anime? Yes please!
Join the infamous Bebop crew in Cowboy Bebop: Space Serenade. Each player is aiming to prove that they are the best bounty hunter by racking up reputation points. They do this by capturing criminals wanted by the ISSP. Players can buy cards to build their deck, move from planet to planet (provided they have enough gas), and use their special abilities. Gameplay ends when Vicious is captured or has fled.
Choose This Game If You Like...
- Space Adventures; Even if you’re not a fan of the original work (heathen), anyone can rally behind a good space opera adventure.
- The Spirit of Limited Collaboration; Work with your fellow crewmates to capture criminals - but remember, you want to be the one with the most points at the end.
- Deck-Building Games; Build a deck to maximize your benefits in this card-based game.
8. Naruto Shippuden: The Board Game
A Naruto board game? Before my very eyes? Believe it!
Defeat the evil Akatsuki in Naruto Shippuden: The Board Game by taking on the roles of some of your favorite Naruto characters. Players aim to prevent the Akatsuki from extracting tailed beasts from their hosts and using them for their own nefarious deeds. The game board features nine villages that players will travel to in their attempts to stop the Akatsuki. This may involve the players attempting to divide and conquer when lots of ground needs to be traversed at once.
Each character is equipped with different stats and abilities, some common and some unique to the character. Fight the Akatsuki using shuriken and special abilities - especially if they start fighting back. Defeat the Akatsuki in the final battle at Hidden Leaf Village where they are equipped with the power of each tail they were able to steal along the way in order to win the game.
Naruto Shippuden: The Board Game features three levels of play and a large variety of enemies, making each game a unique experience.
Choose This Game If You Like...
- Replayability; with three levels of play and a variety of enemies, Naruto Shippuden: The Board Game has a high replayability score.
- Cooperative Games; Work with your fellow players against a common enemy instead of fighting each other in this collaborative game.
- Strategy; players have to decide on the best way to divide their assets and stop the Akatsuki from acquiring as many tails as possible before the final battle.
7. Tanto Cuore
Live out your every harem fantasy - I know you have one.
While not based on any one specific anime, Tanto Cuore draws some of our favorite anime tropes into a single, maid-harem based card game.
Players compete as the Lord of a mansion, hiring maids to become the King of Maids. Acquire victory points by employing different maids and playing “love” cards. Private maids come with special perks that can further catapult you to victory. You can also sabotage your fellow Lords by making their maids sick and giving them bad habits.
Choose This Game If You Like…
- Anime Tropes; With maids, a harem, Lords, and competition, Tanto Cuore hits all the necessary tropes to make this game a true anime experience.
- Light-Hearted Fun; Tanto Cuore is ridiculous in the best of ways, if you’re looking for something not too deep to have a good laugh about.
- Strategy; Yes, there is a decent amount of strategy in becoming the King of the Maids - hold onto the best cards, use them at the opportune moment, and take your opponents down as you do.
6. Tokyo Ghoul: Bloody Masquerade
What's this I'm craving? Maybe. . . human flesh?
For lovers of Tokyo Ghoul, Tokyo Ghoul: Bloody Masquerade follows the dark story of ghouls and humans in a dystopian-esque Tokyo. Play as one of fifteen characters from the anime in this bluff and deduction style game. Players can assume the role as a human, ghoul, or investigator on the streets of Tokyo. Investigators and Ghouls are attempting to find and kill each other, while the Humans attempt to find two or three of the same card. Take actions, keep your identity secret, and try to piece together the clues of the other players’ identities to win the game.
Choose This Game If You Like...
- Secret Identities; If you thrive off games like Clue and Mafia where you try to deduce others’ identities through the powers of observation and wit, this may be the game for you.
- Tokyo Ghoul World Building; Join the world of ghouls, the CCG, and normal humans to experience living in the Tokyo Ghoul world.
- Investigating; Collect clues to discover who your enemy is and win the game.
5. Attack on Titan: The Last Stand
Take a stand with your faves, and try not to let the Titans eat you.
In this Attack on Titan inspired board game, one player assumes the role of a Titan while the others play as human heroes fighting it. Hero game pieces climb the vertical Titan piece in an attempt to take it down.
The Titan has broken through Wall Maria and is headed for the supply depot. The Hero team needs to stop the Titan before the depot falls, losing humanity all hope in the restoration of mankind.
Choose This Game If You Like...
- Unique Gameplay; with a vertical board, players need to move up and down to dodge attacks and strikes from the Titan, making playing a unique strategy experience.
- Variety of Characters; Play as a whole host of Attack on Titan characters or even as the Titan to switch up gameplay enough to make replays as enjoyable as the first time.
- Tactics; Watch your positioning, use Tactics Cards, and move around strategically to deal blows to the Titan and win the game!
4. Dragon Ball Super Card Game
Alright so, who's defeating Goku?
Play as your favorite Dragon Ball characters in this card game! Super is the newest series of the Dragon Ball collectible card games, featuring similar mechanics and game play from the earlier iterations, while introducing new features such as a combo system and the ability to “power up” after taking damage.
Players build a deck of 50 to 60 cards filled with characters from the show and battle them head-to-head against their opponent.
Choose This Game If You Like…
- Deck-Building; Build a winning deck filled with the best characters to defeat your opponent and answer the age old question of who can beat who.
- Magic the Gathering; Gameplay mimics other deck building games like Magic the Gathering for a fun and immersive battle experience.
- Dragon Ball Lore; use your knowledge of Dragon Ball characters and abilities to build the best deck possible.
3. Death Note: Confrontation
Outwit the wittiest detectives or die trying.
Players assume the role of either L or Kira, in this Death Note inspired game. As L, the player needs to locate and capture Kira, while Kira punishes those they deem deserving. Each player has a specified notebook. L reveals criminal targets to try and narrow down where Kira is, while Kira eliminates targets for victory points. Kira wins when a certain number of points are achieved, while L wins when they catch Kira.
Choose This Game If You Like...
- Deduction; bring out your best detective cap in this systematic deduction game as L, making strategic moves to corner Kira into a spot they can’t get out of.
- Small-Player Games; this is a game designed for only two players - perfect for when everyone else has plans but you and the second least favorite friend (jokes).
- Cat and Mouse; join L and Light in their cat and mouse style game in a fight to the ultimate finish.
2. Sword Art Online: Sword of Fellows
Remember - die in the game, die in real life.
Join Kirito and friends as they enter and subsequently have to battle their way out of the VRMMPORG they get stuck in. Each character has skills they can use, and attacks can be chained together with Kirito to make them more effective. Players roll dice to make these attacks, pulling off combos, and using special skills to defeat their enemies. Defeat enough foes to make it to the end of the game, where players have to face a final boss in order to win.
Choose This Game If You Like...
- Challenging Gameplay; while the dice-based game is easy to learn, the challenge lies in effectively coordinating attacks with your companions and special skills in order to triumph.
- Short Rounds; each game takes about 30 minutes to complete, making it easy to squeeze in multiple rounds.
- Small Games; designed for only 2 to 4 players, Sword of Fellows is perfect for a cozier, more intimate game night.
1. Masmorra: Dungeons of Arcadia
Don't let the cuteness fool you - the danger is real!
While similar to Tanto Cuore in that Masmorra is not specifically inspired by any one anime, it deserves its spot on this list now for a multitude of reasons. With adorable anime and cartoon style art, storylines, and hero quests, Masmorra has all the hallmarks of an incredible anime game.
For fans of Arcadia Quest, Masmorra: Dungeons of Arcadia is set in the same universe where Heroes explore three levels of dungeons rife with monsters, traps, and treasure. Amidst several twists and turns, only one Hero can be the first to reach the final level and become the champion of the Realm.
Choose This Game If You Like…
- Dungeon Crawler Games; the board is set with a series of tiles (familiar for fans of Betrayal at the House on the Hill) that players can move through and explore, triggering different events and special abilities along the way.
- Quests; Enjoy exploring the gameboard and accomplishing quests as you make your way to the final level.
- Sabotage; Opponent heroes can use their cards to disrupt other players’ plans and place themselves in the frontrunning for Champion.
