Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an enormous amount of people are experiencing a long bout of mandated or self-imposed quarantine. Naturally, most citizens are not accustomed to such extended periods stuck at home devoid of face-to-face socialization, and many are finding it harder and harder to cope with the responsibility of doing so.
Fortunately, reclusive solace can always be found in games and television. With the mobile gaming market continually expanding, there are more and more mobile games combining these media, creating epic interactive adventures with engaging storylines.
Below is a list of mobile games inspired by popular anime series. The best part? They’re free-to-play, making these options great for this trying time with kids stuck at home and so many people laid off of work.
5. Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle
Published by BANDAI NAMCO and developed by Akasuki, Dokkan Battle is a unique mobile title, based on the Dragon Ball Z series. It blends a board game-style mini-game with ‘bubble pop’ gameplay mechanics.
The biggest downfall of Dokkan Battle is its copious and sizeable downloads. There are multiple downloads required during the game’s initial start-up and periodically thereafter upon further log-ins.
In return for the amount of data this game commands, it delivers quality dialogue that will have fans of the original anime enthralled in its comic-book style storytelling.
4. Fate/Grand Order
Inspired by the Fate/ Stay Night anime series, Fate/ Grand Order is an RPG by TYPE-MOON! It thrusts players into the throes of an apocalyptic threat and a company running a time-travel experiment to try and prevent the catastrophic events.
The game utilizes a card-based chain of command battle mechanic and offers up a new storyline in the Fate universe, making it great for returning fans and newcomers alike.
3. Digimon ReArise
Digimon ReArise is a digivolving RPG developed by BANDAI NAMCO and inspired by the popular anime, Digimon Adventures. The game incorporates both Digimon team battles and interactive mechanics, such as nurturing Digimon and watching them interact with each other.
A completely original storyline involving an unknown digital monster appearing on your smartphone draws players into the digital world right off the bat. The blend of nuances and familiar faces will strike a strong sense of nostalgia in long-time fans while being easily digestible to newcomers.
An additional feature called Digiwalk further blurs the barrier between the digital world and reality. Digiwalk allows players’ partner Digimon to accompany them using a pedometer-enabled smartphone. It earns the player rewards if they pass by other players out in the real world. While Digiwalk is terrific, we highly encourage players to wait until COVID-19 dies down, and social distancing becomes less imperative before testing it out.
2. Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross
Published by Netmarble, Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross is an RPG consisting of modest open-world mechanics and a strategic card command battle style. The story follows the plot of the Seven Deadly Sins anime, allowing fans to relive the chain of events in a more engaging fashion.
Grand Cross is packed with additional features such as equipping and upgrading fighters, cooking food, and maintaining the Boar Hat Tavern. There’s even an AR-like mini-game that allows players to explore the various levels of the tavern for further rewards.
1. Sword Art Online: Integral Factor
Another title from BANDAI NAMCO and the most full-fledged RPG on this list with open-world style gameplay, real-time fighting, and crafting or upgrading equipment. The battle mechanics include various weapons with three types of attacks best suited towards different kinds of enemies.
Integral Factor follows the original Sword Art Online storyline. Only this time, players will experience the game of life or death through their point of view, with a fully customizable avatar to boot!
Sword Art Online: Integral Factor also encourages multiplayer gameplay, suggesting it will be hard to advance in-game using only solo play methods. During a time when face-to-face interactions are considered a detrimental health risk, what better way to join up with friends than having a free-to-play MMO at your fingertips?
These anime series are exceedingly compatible with gaming formats, given their high-fantasy worlds, heroic characters, and overall popularity. Taking advantage of their already game-like qualities allows anime fans to relive their favorite stories and expand the universes they love.
The titles mentioned above are available for Android and iOS, aside from Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross, which is a Google Play exclusive.
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