Best Games That Started As Manga

Summary

• Some JRPGs started as manga before becoming popular video games, like the hidden gems in this list.
• Fairy Tail's world and characters are captured beautifully in the turn-based JRPG by Gust, a must-play for fans.
• Dive into one of the best fighting games based on manga, like Sailor Moon S by Arc System Works, a gem worth tracking down.

With there being a metric ton of fantastic JRPGs out there, it can be incredibly easy to overlook the fact that some of them got their start as a manga series before getting adapted into a killer anime or video game. While there are the enormous IPs you're likely aware of, some rare ones are also worth checking out.

Great JRPGs Without Turn-Based Combat

Turn-based combat is synonymous with JRPGs, but the genre has proven to be more than willing to focus on real-time action. These games highlight that.

Whether it's a fighting game, JRPG, or even a card game, many manga-based series have incredible video game adaptations that any fan should check out, leaving us no choice but to shine a spotlight on the ones that deserve the most attention!

8 Sand Land

Platforms

• PlayStation 4
• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series X/S
• PC

Release Date

April 25, 2024

Developer

ILCA

Publisher

Bandai Namco Entertainment

The sudden and devastating passing of the great Akira Toriyama left fans and industry veterans stunned. His legacy and works have inspired many of our favorite media pieces, especially in the gaming and anime spaces.

Sand Land, one of the last pieces of media Akira Toriyama was involved with, makes it more than a fitting entry for this list, especially since it was initially a manga over 24 years ago. If you're looking for a game to dive into that captures what you love Toriyama and his works for, this is it!

7 Fairy Tail

Platforms

• PlayStation 4
• Nintendo Switch
• PC

Release Date

July 30, 2020

Developer

Gust

Publisher

Koei Tecmo

Say what you will about the Fairy Tail series and its often played-out tropes and over-the-top fan service. Still, its world and characters have always been very personal and lovable, which is captured expertly in the turn-base JRPG by Gust, aptly named 'Fairy Tail.'

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If you love what Gust has done with the Atelier games, then Fairy Tail will be everything you're looking for and then some, especially since it takes place during the Grand Magic Games and Tartaros arcs when things start heating up in the manga and anime!

6 Laid-Back Camp - Virtual - Lake Motosu

Platforms

• PlayStation 4
• Nintendo Switch
• PC
• Android
• iOS
• Meta Quest 2

Release Date

February 21, 2021

Developer

Gemdrops Inc.

Publisher

Gemdrops Inc., Clouded Leopard Entertainment

Do you want to just vibe without worrying about any sort of combat? Want to do that while being incredibly cozy and overwhelmed by unadulterated cuteness? Then look no further than Laid-Back Camp - Virtual - Lake Motosu, one of the calmest manga-based games you could ask for.

This game has you assume the role of Nadeshiko at the base of Mount Fuji, where you will get to interact and take scenic photos of yourself and the rest of the Laid-Back Camp cast. It's short, simple, and to the point, but it is a must-play if you're a super fan of the series!

5 Sailor Moon S

Platforms

• Super Famicom

Release Date

December 14, 1994

Developer

Arc System Works

Publisher

Angel

Now it's time to dive deep into our bag and pull out one of the best fighting games ever made that's based on a manga series. This, of course, is Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Jougai Rantou!? Shuyaku Soudatsusen, which is - thankfully - almost always abbreviated to just Sailor Moon S.

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Sailor Moon S is a fighting game developed by the legendary fighting game developers over at Arc System Works, which pre-dates their explosive Guilty Gear series by an entire year. If you're a fan of Sailor Moon and the excellent games ArcSys has been pumping out, then we cannot recommend tracking this gem down enough!

4 Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4

Platforms

• PlayStation 4
• Xbox One
• Nintendo Switch
• PC

Release Date

February 4, 2016

Developer

CyberConnect2

Publisher

Bandai Namco Entertainment

It's no secret that Naruto is an incredibly massive manga series that has exploded into an immensely popular anime, leading to many games, spin-offs, and more. However, we're here to simply remind everyone of Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, which is arguably the best Naruto game ever made.

Despite Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections having the potential to reach this status after some massive updates, Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 currently still offers the best story modes, animations, and combat encounters of them all, making it still worthwhile to check out while we wait for the latest entry to get patched up!

3 Toradora! Portable

Platforms

• PlayStation Portable

Release Date

April 30, 2009

Developer

Guyzware

Publisher

Bandai Namco Entertainment

Switching paces again, it's time to draw our focus on a game lost to time that most of you likely won't even remember existing, and that's Toradora! Portable, a fantastic visual novel from the folks over at Guyzware. And, despite Toradora! being a light novel first, it got its anime adaptation before this game was released, so it counts!

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Nonetheless, if you cannot get enough of Ryuuji and Taiga, this visual novel has you more than covered with a decently-lengthed game with tons of different endings for you to track down and watch unfold. It's surprisingly funny, charming, and absolutely worth playing if you love the light novel, manga, or anime of Toradora!

2 K-On! After School Live!! HD Ver.

Platforms

• PlayStation Portable
• PlayStation 3

Release Date

• September 30, 2010 (PSP)
• June 21, 2012 (PS3)

Developer

Sega

Publisher

Sega

Staying on the adorable side of things, K-On! After School Live!! HD Ver. is our penultimate listing, offering a tremendously fun and cute rhythm game for the PlayStation 3, which is an HD Remaster of its PlayStation Portable version.

There are 19 tracks total for you to play through, and many cutscenes from the show and new moments between the Ho-kago Tea Time girls that will have any fan clamoring for more. Some of the tracks can also be pretty challenging, and a fan-translated version of it does exist in the wild, so whether you choose to import it or get your hands on it via... other means, you should play it if you're a fan of the series!

1 Dragon Ball FighterZ

Platforms

• PlayStation 4
• PlayStation 5
• Xbox One
• Xbox Series X/S
• Nintendo Switch
• PC

Release Date

January 26, 2018

Developer

Arc System Works

Publisher

Bandai Namco Entertainment

Finally, we have Dragon Ball FighterZ to bookend this list with the legacy of the legendary Akira Toriyama. Much like our Naruto entry, the Dragon Ball IP is too massive to try to skirt around, as everyone likely knows its manga roots and how immensely popular and inspirational it has been throughout pop culture.

Still, when you have a game as solid as Dragon Ball FighterZ, it's hard not to include it in a list such as this. If you're looking for one of the best modern team-based fighting games, this will more than have you covered, and it even offers a unique story and a new character set in the Dragon Ball universe. Even if you're not too into fighting games, we cannot recommend this game enough!

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