Top Anime Game Collabs to Explore in 2023 Posted May 29, 2023

The video game and otaku subcultures have long shared deep sympathies. This is not the least the case because many of the industry’s biggest and best loved developers and producers, from Square Enix to Sony, Sega to Nintendo and Capcom, all hail from the land of the rising sun.

And while there are more games out there today with an anime aesthetic than you can shake a stick at, finding truly memorable and high quality collaborations between popular anime IPs, and video games, can at times be a real challenge. But fear not, for here we have done the impossible and brought together the definitive list of anime game collabs for you to sink your teeth into in 2023.

Mobile Suit Gundam x MSG: Extreme Vs. Maxi Boost ON

Few anime-derived power fantasies can match the experience of watching giant mecha – especially of the Gundam variety – blast and crush their way through hordes of enemies while trampling cars and cities underfoot.

The scale of the giant mecha genre tells you everything you need to know about the enduring appeal of its most popular proponents, from Gundam to Macross and Neon Genesis Evangelion.

There has been no shortage of games based upon Gundam, after all the franchise is incredibly well lived with its initial entry, Mobile Suit Gundam, airing in 1979. Since then, there have been over 50 series, as well as countless OVAs and movies.

At present, however, Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Maxi Boost ON represents the finest example of what a Gundam game can aspire towards. Launched on the PlayStation 4 in 2020, Extreme Vs. Maxi Boost ON is but the latest in a long line of PvP robot battle games that have become associated with the franchises’ gaming catalogue.

Take your pick from Gundam from throughout its storied history, and face off against your friends or online opponents in the closest thing you can get to piloting a Gundam this century.

Sailor Moon x Moon Princess

Few anime have enjoyed such widespread success or western breakthrough appeal as Sailor Moon. From its spellbinding theme song, to its colourful cast of planetary-powered superhero school girls, Sailor Moon did much to craft the Magical Girl genre we know and love today.

How fortunate then, that fans of the series can dive into a game of top quality that wears its adoration for Sailor Moon on its sleeve. Play N’ Go’s Moon Princess is a 5 reel, 5 payline rollercoaster ride of a digital fruit machine, and one of the most popular offerings served up by industry mainstay Vegas Slots Online as part of their enormous directory of this enduringly appealing genre.

While we can’t promise an appearance by the enigmatic Tuxedo Mask, there’s more than enough celestial action here to keep you coming back for more.

Dragonball Z, Naruto and One Piece x Battle Stadium D.O.N

Simply put, Battle Stadium D.O.N. is the stuff that otaku fighting gamers’ dreams are made of. While there are plenty of new and more comprehensive examples one can point to in the beat 'em up space today, this classic 2006 title is a true oddity and one that is a unique product of its time.

The D.O.N. in the title refers to the three intellectual properties from which it draws its rich playable character roster – Dragonball Z, Naruto and One Piece. This makes a game of Battle Stadium D.O.N. feel like a nostalgic journey into the inner sanctum of shonen combat.

Prep your kamehameha, don your ninja headband, and experience a slice of unadulterated platform fighting fun.

Initial D x Initial D Arcade Stage 8 Infinity

While the more novice tier of drift media fans are content with watching reruns of The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, true drift-heads know there’s only one show in town worth your time and attention. We are, of course, referring to the 90s eurobeat sensation, Initial D.

This masterclass of high energy music and gripping automotive storytelling concluded back in 2014, though it remains a fan favourite. What’s more, Takumi Fujiwara’s iconic panda Trueno AE86 has been unquestionably placed among the pantheon of great fictional cars.

There have been a number of great Initial D games, but Sega’s 2017 arcade game – the 8th in the series – Initial D Arcade Stage 8 Infinity stands as the clowning glory thanks to its compelling visuals, amazing haptic feedback, stunning catalogue of eurobeat hits and huge array of vehicles and courses to explore.