[AnimeGamer]

With summer now in full swing and the temperature rising to its peak for the year, it is the best time to stay inside and chill out with some of the finest anime games that have come out recently.

These games will not only keep you engaged with a thrilling story, narrative and spectacular gameplay but will also be highly replayable and offer you enough content to last you the remaining summer. They are available on steam, PS4/5 and the Nintendo switch So, let’s begin with a title that has been in development for four years and has had fans anticipating it with bated breath;

1. Digimon Survive



Digimon has struggled to find its place in the current media landscape, to be known as something other than the Pokémon clone. And with the recent revitalization of the Digimon adventure brand, Digimon Survive is precisely what the franchise has needed to carve out its place in the minds of the general populace while also appeasing its long-term fans.

Survive is a unique story different from any other Digimon game that has come before it. The game follows the main cast of characters as they are stuck in the digital world and have to survive the harsh new world with the help of their Digimon. Your choices will affect who will survive and who will meet their demise. The game’s plot is darker and more accurate as the main cast is tested physically and mentally. In addition, the game asks questions that change the franchise’s foundation as we have come to it.

The story portion of the game is told in a beautiful visual novel art style, which brings the character and Digimon to life. While the combat portion plays out in grid-style S-RPG format, the Digimon can evolve to gain the upper hand in battle. The most refreshing aspect of the Digimon was that they have distinct personalities, which would change concerning their evolution. Other than the main characters, Digimon, all the different casts of Digimon were new and had unique Digivolution, which we have never had playable before in a game. 

With an engaging plot with actual stakes, likable characters, and a highly replayable combat system, Digimon Survive is sure to bring new fans to this beloved franchise and fulfill the fans’ dreams for a mature story.

2. DNF Duel



Fighting games have come a long way, from the arcades of the 80s and 90s to the grand-scale esports events such as EVO. This change has also brought many changes to this beloved genre which has gone from a slow-paced methodological game to a fast-paced reaction-based game in which the skill ceiling never seems to end. This new wave of fighting games has been pioneered by one sole company “Arc Systems.” Yes, the very same Arc which brought us the much-acclaimed Dragon Ball Z Fighters, and now they bring us a brand-new game called DNF Duel.

DNF Duel is a fighting game set in the universe of the popular Dungeon & Fighter series, a multiplayer beat ’em up role-playing action game (yes, they exist). The combat in the game has a relatively low bar for entry, but the skill ceiling is as high, if not higher, than the rest of the Arc system catalog.

The playable roster is full of 16 unique individuals dripping with character, each with a unique design and move set that compliments them. The game is based on two main mechanics that help it differentiate from the crowd: conversation and awakening. Awakening is the mechanic triggered when the character is at the last leg with only thirty percent HP; this allows them to trigger awakening attacks and provides a unique bonus based on whom you choose. While conversion is the mechanic that will need the skill to master as it trades your HP for MP to make your combos last longer, it also stops all moments when activated.

The game melds stylish combos with hyper-fast combat wrapped up in Arc systems’ stunning signature anime art style. This game will provide you with hours on end of enjoyment, and who knows, maybe you may be the next champion of the game at EVO.

3. Tales Of Arise



The Tales series has been a fan favorite since the first game was released. It has been one of the first game series to adapt the action RPG formula to provide an alternative to those who did not like the turn-based RPGs of the 90s, like Final Fantasy. Nowadays, it is one of the only series that doesn’t pull any punches and delves into darker subject matters. In addition, it has had fantastic characters and storylines with twists that had you thinking for days. The only downside was the lackluster graphics, but now those are no longer the issue with the release of the latest game in the series called Tales of Arise.

Tales of Arise is built on the Unreal engine, which gives better graphical fidelity than the previous games. Bandai Namco has superbly mixed the flashy overtop special effects with the tide and true Tale’s art style. The game starts in a slave camp as our main character is part of an oppressed race. The story is about him gaining allies and revolting against their oppressors; at least, that’s the impression you get at the start, but as you play, the web of lies is untangled. You find yourself self-questioning every aspect of the game, even the mechanics themselves. The story depicts the struggles of an oppressed minority and how hope is slowly given back. It has epic moments with the side characters, which help develop the world even more, and the trademark skits of the Tales series are ever present in the game, which gives its character even more development.

Combat is based on an Artes System that has been refined to perfection, and it also introduces elemental reactions which help spice up the already perfected combat system. It will take some time to learn the strategy and unlock all the skills, but the end reward is a long string of combos that will leave you wanting to do even more. Tales of Arise is the perfect entry point for newer fans that want good graphics and stellar combat and story.

4. Neon White



Some games in recent times have been moving away from the simple trend of world games to making games based on a single core element and perfecting it. Neon White is that kind of game, it may be described differently by someone that plays it, but at its core, it is an FPS based around movement.

Neon White’s story has you playing as an individual from hell, competing against others to gain a spot in heaven. Why you might ask? Well, because heaven is being invaded, and they need some extra firepower. The game is divided into different stages, and your goal is to beat the enemies and get to the finish line. That is where the normality ends, and the sheer absurdity of this game begins. Your weapon system is a mechanic from a deck-building game, and the mobility in this game is a speed runners’ paradise. Not only do your weapon cards help you take down enemies they can be used to gain different mobility options. This gives players the incentive to think before using their cards while a timer runs down. You are rated on how long you took to beat the game and how stylish you were while doing it. It might seem wacky and over the top when you first start, but as you begin to get the mechanics and the levels open up, you get into the rhythm of the game, and it all works together in harmony. And you will be restarting levels again and again to get the perfect score.

If you want to play a game whose movement system gives insomniacs spider man a run for its money interspersed with a good story told in an anime visual novel style, then Neon White is the game for you.

5. Rune Factory 5



With the rise of relaxing indie games and the massive success of Stardew valley, the market has been flooded with games of a similar nature, and many might have forgotten about one of the two leading franchises which pioneered this style of games. However, Rune Factory 5 has returned with a fresh coat of paint and a better story to retake its place among the best.

The best way to describe the type of game rune factory is by calling it a capitalistic farming simulator, as you own the only farm in your town and grow your farming monopoly. The only difference is that it has a fully-fledged combat system that plays like a dungeon crawler. Some aspects of dating sim are also present as you play and befriend different types of colorful and lively characters that inhabit the town and eventually go on to marry them. The game is presented in a beautiful anime style with great 2D sprites and 3D models for the characters. You have the choice between a boy or girl to play with.

The core loop of the game revolves around planting crops and harvesting them. You also go into dungeon-style areas to fight monsters and mine for minerals. The game has a balance of all the different mechanics, and they work seamlessly together. The story revolves around mysterious events around the town of Rigbarth as you, an amnesiac, move into the city and soon become a SEED member, protecting the citizens. Slowly you will progress through the story, reawaken your memories, and untangle the game’s main plot. If you want a chill farming and dating sim with a healthy serving of combat, then this is the game for you.