10 best game anime you should try

Game anime has exploded into one of the most popular modern genres by immersing viewers in creative realms filled with high-stakes competition, dazzling animation, and characters fiercely chasing glory.

More than just idle entertainment, these game anime series compel audiences through the intricate rulesets and psychological gamesmanship that determine victory or crushing defeat. And the perils often extend beyond the play zone as well.

Whether it's lethal consequences for losing or being trapped in the game world, many game anime titles show that the stakes are much higher than friendly matches. For both gamers and anime fans looking for an exciting watch, here are 10 of the best game anime worth trying out.

10 best game anime that are a must-watch

1) Sword Art Online

Sword Art Online (Image via A-1 Pictures)

In the year 2022, the virtual reality MMORPG Sword Art Online turns into a terrifying prison for 10,000 players when they discover that dying in-game also kills them in the real world. To escape and return to reality, protagonist Kirito and his allies must conquer the floors of Aincrad, the world of SAO.

With its intense life-or-death stakes and emotional character growth, Sword Art Online perfectly balances gaming wish fulfillment and compelling human drama. It cemented the trapped-in-a-game premise as a hit game anime genre. The series also features gorgeous fight animation and a memorable score.

2) No Game No Life

Siblings Sora and Shiro make up the unbeatable gaming duo "Blank" in No Game No Life. After getting transported to a fantasy world ruled by games, they set their sights on conquering all of their nations by aiming for the top.

NGNL combines outrageous comedy and ecchi content with brilliant strategies. Every contest Sora and Shiro enter, whether chess or video games, turns into a thoroughly engrossing battle of wits.

Viewers will be constantly impressed with the duo's ingenious plans, making it a standout in-game anime.

3) Btooom!

Ryōta Sakamoto excels in the online combat game Btooom!, using bombs and traps to defeat enemies. But when he gets kidnapped and taken to an island, Ryōta discovers he must play a real-life version of Btooom! to survive.

With intense psychological thriller elements, Btooom! is a darker take on game anime that involves being forced to participate in a game. The stakes are lethal, and the "bombs" feel all too vividly real. Ryōta's knowledge serves him well, but allies are few.

4) Kakegurui

At Hyakkao Academy, the student hierarchy is determined not by academics but by high-stakes gambling. Its president Kirari Momobami and other members of the Student Council organize insane games of chance. Whoever accrues gambling debt becomes an obedient housepet.

But when compulsive gambler Yumeko Jabami transfers in, she threatens Kirari's order by challenging Council members to increasingly absurd wagers. Kakegurui depicts clever tricks, psychological plays, and an eccentric cast obsessed with risking it all on game anime.

5) Yu-Gi-Oh!

The original "King of Games," Yu-Gi-Oh! follows young gaming prodigy Yugi Muto and his alter ego Dark Yugi, the spirit of an ancient Pharaoh that resides in Yugi's Millennium Puzzle. By playing the fictional card game Duel Monsters, Yugi and the Pharaoh face various challenges and opponents.

Featuring hundreds of real playable cards, Yu-Gi-Oh! sparked the global phenomenon of children's card games. Its legacy continues today with spinoffs like Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V and new video games and card sets. This game anime remains a cultural icon.

6) Summer Wars

While assisting classmate Natsuki Shinohara during her great-grandmother's 90th birthday, Kenji Koiso helps solve a crisis in the virtual world of OZ. A rogue AI named Love Machine has gone out of control after being deliberately released by a malicious actor, and the lines between virtual and reality begin to blur.

Directed by Mamoru Hosoda, the 2009 film Summer Wars seamlessly blends an emotional family drama with cyberthriller tension. The digital domain of OZ with its avatars and quests serves as the perfect backdrop for tricksters threatening global networks. It is a unique entry in the game anime genre.

7) Accel World

In the future, the Neuro Linker augmentation enables access to the virtual internet. Haruyuki "Haru" Arita uses it to escape bullying in various virtual games, including Brain Burst, an augmented reality fighting game where his avatar can fly.

After Haru meets the Student Council Vice President Kuroyukihime, she introduces him to the world of Brain Burst and the "Accelerated World" where time is dilated by a thousand-fold compared to the real world.

Accel World explores friendships and romance blooming when gaming turns people into heroes instead of victims. The innovative concept of dilated time allows for intense clashes as fighters bring out their avatar's unique skills, adding a fresh twist to game anime.

8) Log Horizon

When the popular MMORPG Elder Tales receives a major update, 30,000 Japanese players and hundreds of thousands worldwide get trapped inside the game world.

Without skills like cooking or combat, protagonist Shiroe and veteran gamer friends Naotsugu and Akatsuki must learn how to survive in their new reality and help others.

Less focused on clearing the game, Log Horizon explores deeper themes of politics and community. Instead of lone wolf players, the characters cooperate using their knowledge and abilities to build thriving player-run cities. This makes it a thought-provoking game anime.

9) Beyblade

Passionate and determined Tyson enters regional Beyblade tournaments with his spinning top Dragoon to prove himself as a master Blader. Rivals like the Majestics and the Demolition Boys stand in his way using their own customized Beyblade tops enhanced with mystical spirit Bit-Beasts.

The iconic giant spinning top battles of the early 2000s anime Beyblade still capture imagination today. Vibrant characters, international tournaments, and emphasis on strategy and sportsmanship cement it as an influential game anime.

10) .Hack//Sign

Trapped in a virtual fantasy MMORPG The World, player Tsukasa finds he cannot log out. While the administrators and developers are aware of Tsukasa's situation, they are unable to directly intervene due to the complexities and mysteries surrounding The World.

As Tsukasa navigates his predicament, he searches for answers and a way back to the real world. A pioneering game anime that popularized gaming worlds, .Hack//Sign intrigues with atmospheric mystery instead of high action.

Tsukasa's poignant interactions in The World contrast beautifully against the setting's vibrant colors and dreamed-up magic.

Conclusion

Anime about video games, online worlds, and high-stakes competitions continue rising in popularity. From RPG adventures to sinister battles for survival, game anime provides both the thrill of play and emotional character depth that keeps viewers hooked and invested.

For newcomers, series like Sword Art Online, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Beyblade serve as perfect gateway introductions filled with adrenaline and wonder.

Meanwhile, all audiences can find relatable struggles and catharsis by watching determined gamers and players pitted against tremendous challenges and odds, yet never giving up on victory. Game anime continues to captivate audiences worldwide.