Anime RPGs

main page: Game Recommendations

This is list of anime/manga-inspired rpgs, or those who give similar vibes.

Our Martial Arts/Kung Fu/Wuxia-suggestions include games that might also work for
playing anime-inspired games.

You might also look at our game suggestions by genre (sci-fi, superhero, fantasy,
mystery etc.) to look for a game that fits the genre of your anime/manga, rather
than starting with the assumption that the system needs to be designed with anime
in mind.

Games
The Anime Hack - based on the Black Hack RPG
Big Eyes, Small Mouth (BESM) - The Anime and Manga Role-Playing Game - BESM 4E free
primer
Exalted - high fantasy inspired by a mixture of world mythologies as well as
Japanese Anime
Fate
Mecha vs Kaiju - Fate Core game
Golden Sky Stories - slice of (magical) life in rual village, japanese creator
GunFrame: Anime Mecha Battle Game
HeartQuest - shoujo theme
Kaizei 5 - anime-themed cyberpunk setting using the HERO system
Love &Justice - magical girls hack of "Lasers & Feelings"
Maid: The RolePlaying Game
Mecha Aces
Mekton Zeta - mecha pilot rpg
OVA: The Anime Role-Playing Game
Over Arms - rules-light Game designed for people familiar with series like JoJo’s
Bizarre Adventure, Persona, Fate, Shaman King, etc.
Play Manga d20 - an anime roleplaying game option for the Pathfinder Roleplaying
Game
Ryuutama : Natural Fantasy Roleplay - It is set in a world where the "NPCs" of the
village--the bakers, farmers, shopkeepers and healers--set off on a wonderful
adventure exploring a fantasy world together. Japanese Designer
Savage Tokusatsu - Kaiju, Mechs, and Heroes for Savage Worlds
SHINOBIGAMI - Modern Ninja Battle RPG
Shonen Final Burst - fighting anime RPG, card based mechanics free preview
Teenagers from Outerspace
Tenra Bansho Zero: Heaven and Earth Edition - original japanese ttrpg translated to
English
Thrash - inspired by anime and fighting games
Valor: The Heroic Roleplay System - says it has an "anime" feel
Wasuremonogatari - the Anime & Manga RPG (PWYW)
Zen and the Art of Mayhem
Specific Suggestions
Here we can list specific animes/mangas, and suggestion for what game might suite
it well.

Goblin Slayer:

(mediocre fit) Dungeons & Dragons 5E is a big influence on Goblin Slayer, on how
spells, different type of adventurers, and the world works. The Adventurer Guild's
Registration form seen in the series is also clearly based on D&D 5E's character
sheet.

D&D 5E is a popular game, and works fairly similarly to Goblin Slayer, so 5E would
be an above-average fit for it, while most other fantasy animes should likely use
some other system.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

Over Arms - rules-light Game designed for people familiar with series like JoJo’s
Bizarre Adventure, Persona, Fate, Shaman King, etc. It is specifically designed
with JoJo in mind, so should be a really good fit. Quickstart rules are free on
DTRPG, and it has a Kickstarter going.

Avatar:The Last Air Bender/Legend of Korra

Legend of the Elements is likely a good fit. It's a supernatural martial arts rpg
that seems to mostly take inspiration from cartoons such as Avatar: The Last
Airbender, Samurai Jack and Full Metal Alchemist, but also wuxia.

Recent threads with Anime-themed RPG suggestions

https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/comments/eqfmk3/rpg_for_those_who_love_anime/
https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/comments/g775dw/anime_themed_table_top_systems/
Last revised by VonAether
- 2 months ago