If you want the best anime games for PS5 in 2026, start with Persona 3 Reload for turn-based depth, Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO for explosive versus combat, and Metaphor: ReFantazio for a huge modern JRPG. Granblue Fantasy: Relink is the best co-op pick, while One Piece Odyssey is the most approachable licensed adventure. This ranking weighs combat quality, PS5 performance, story, replay value, and how well each game uses its anime identity.
The list focuses on games playable on PS5 rather than upcoming announcements. Editions, patches, and availability can change, so check the official PlayStation games catalog before buying. For broader hardware advice, Steamoz also covers the best open-world games for Steam Deck, but the recommendations below are specifically selected for Sony's console.
S-Tier: The best anime games on PS5
1. Persona 3 Reload — Best anime JRPG overall
Persona 3 Reload is the strongest all-round recommendation because its calendar system, Social Links, and turn-based battles constantly reinforce each other. You play as the unnamed protagonist, attend Gekkoukan High School, and enter Tartarus during the Dark Hour. Each in-game day forces meaningful choices: raise Academics, Charm, or Courage, spend time with a Social Link, or explore the tower for experience and treasure.
Combat is built around exploiting the four core weaknesses: Slash, Strike, Pierce, and elemental or Light/Dark damage. The protagonist's ability to change Personas makes him the flexible core of every party. Yukari uses healing and Wind, Junpei specializes in physical and Fire damage, Akihiko brings Strike and Electric attacks, and Mitsuru focuses on Ice. Knock down every enemy weakness to gain an All-Out Attack, but watch your SP because Tartarus floors become much less forgiving when recovery items run out.
The best early priorities are the Growth 1 and Invigorate 1 skill cards, a Persona with Tarunda for boss attack reduction, and a healer carrying Media. During full-moon bosses, use buffs and debuffs before spending Theurgy gauges. Reload also adds direct commands, improved social episodes, and a smoother user interface, making it easier to recommend than the original Persona 3.
2. Metaphor: ReFantazio — Best fantasy anime RPG
Metaphor: ReFantazio earns S-Tier status through its flexible Archetype system. The protagonist can switch between Seeker, Mage, Healer, Warrior, Knight, and later advanced lineages. Each Archetype has inherited skills, so a Warrior can carry a healing spell or a Mage can retain a defensive utility skill. That makes party construction more interesting than simply equipping the highest-level class.
Its Press Turn-style combat rewards preparation. Hitting a weakness grants an extra action, while missing, blocking, or striking an immunity can cost turns. Fire, Ice, Electric, Wind, Light, and Dark weaknesses should be identified quickly with analysis skills, then exploited with synthesis attacks. The Knight's Proclamation can redirect enemy attacks, the Mage's Kande line punishes Electric weaknesses, and the Healer's Patra removes status conditions that can otherwise ruin a dungeon run.
Travel time matters. Completing optional quests before their deadlines improves Royal Virtues and unlocks better followers, while the Runner lets you reach distant settlements and dungeon areas. Buy elemental consumables in Grand Trad, stock MP recovery before long expeditions, and avoid entering a major dungeon with untrained Archetypes. The official Metaphor: ReFantazio site explains the world and Archetype premise, but the game itself rewards experimentation more than a fixed party guide.
3. Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO — Best anime fighting game
Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is the clear choice for players who want anime spectacle rather than a long RPG. Its 3D arenas support flight, vertical movement, destructible scenery, beam clashes, transformations, and team battles. The roster includes Goku, Vegeta, Frieza, Cell, Broly, Gohan, Piccolo, Future Trunks, and many more, with forms such as Super Saiyan Blue and Ultra Instinct changing how characters feel in battle.
Its most important mechanics are Skill Count, Revenge Counter, Super Perception, and Sparking Mode. Build Skill Count by fighting effectively, then spend it on transformations, fusion, or defensive techniques. Super Perception can catch incoming attacks but consumes Ki, while Revenge Counter interrupts pressure at the cost of Skill Count. To enter Sparking Mode, charge Ki after creating distance; the temporary boost enables rapid rush strings and powerful ultimate attacks.
Do not mash teleport recovery. Vanishing Assaults and Sonic Sways are strongest when timed against a predictable rush, and a well-positioned Afterimage can punish repeated melee pressure. Team battles also reward switching before a character is defeated because recovering reserves can turn a losing match around. The official Sparking! ZERO page is the best source for current updates and platform information.
A-Tier: Excellent anime games with a narrower appeal
4. Granblue Fantasy: Relink — Best anime co-op action RPG
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is the PS5's best anime-style co-op RPG. Its main story supports four-character parties, while online quests let up to four players fight enormous bosses together. The starting crew covers useful roles: Gran and Djeeta are balanced sword users, Katalina provides Ice damage and defensive support, Io casts ranged spells, and Rackam handles sustained gunfire from a distance.
Combat is real-time and built around link attacks, Skybound Arts, dodges, blocks, and character-specific cooldowns. Coordinate a Link Time burst after filling the Link gauge to slow the battlefield and create a large damage window. Endgame progression revolves around Sigils, weapon upgrades, and mastery nodes rather than traditional levels alone. Prioritize Critical Hit Rate, Damage Cap, Stun Power, and the character's preferred elemental weapon, but do not ignore survivability in Proud-difficulty quests.
Relink is especially good with friends, although solo players can issue commands to AI companions. Its main weakness is repetition: the best Sigils require farming the same high-level quests. Still, quick missions, readable telegraphs, and short four-player battles make it an excellent pick for anyone who enjoyed Monster Hunter-style progression but wants a more anime presentation. See the official Granblue Fantasy: Relink website for character and update details.
5. The First Descendant — Best free-to-play anime-inspired shooter
The First Descendant is not a licensed anime adaptation, but its character designs, melodramatic science-fiction story, and flashy abilities make it a natural recommendation. The free-to-play third-person shooter includes descendants such as Bunny, Ajax, Viessa, Freyna, and Gley. Bunny is built around high-speed Electric damage, Viessa freezes targets with Ice, Ajax specializes in barriers and crowd control, and Freyna spreads poison through contaminated zones.
Build quality depends on Modules rather than simply raising level. Increase capacity with Module upgrades, then match defensive stats to the activity. HP and DEF are safer general choices than stacking shields, while skill cooldown and range improve Bunny and Freyna's clear speed. Against Colossi, bring the correct ammunition type, shoot weak points, and use the grappling hook to hold exposed parts rather than wasting heavy rounds on armored sections.
Its monetization and repetitive farming prevent an S-Tier placement, but the gunplay is responsive and the roster provides distinct playstyles. Players sensitive to stutters should use Performance mode on PS5 and disable unnecessary motion blur. For Android and PC optimization habits, Steamoz's guide to optimizing gacha-style games offers useful general principles, although The First Descendant is a console shooter.
6. Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! — Best party-game option
Sweep the Board! is a lighter recommendation built around Demon Slayer's characters, board-game movement, and minigames. Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Hashira characters compete across themed boards based on locations such as Mount Fujikasane. It is ideal for local multiplayer sessions, not for players seeking a deep combat system or a long campaign.
The appeal is presentation: cel-shaded models, voice performances, and recognizable attacks translate the anime into a family-friendly party format. Choose characters according to movement and minigame strengths, save useful items for the final rounds, and prioritize board spaces that increase your resource count before the objective phase. It ranks below Relink because its replay value depends heavily on having friends available.
B-Tier: Good licensed picks for dedicated fans
7. One Piece Odyssey — Best story-focused anime RPG
One Piece Odyssey is the most accessible RPG on this list. The Straw Hat crew is stranded on Waford and must recover their abilities by exploring Memoria, where familiar story arcs are recreated. Turn-based combat uses a four-area layout: Power, Speed, and Technique form a weapon triangle, while enemies can occupy separate zones that affect targeting and movement.
That triangle is the key to efficient fights. Luffy and other Power characters counter Speed enemies, Speed counters Technique, and Technique counters Power. Sanji's Party Table Kick Course can hit groups, Nami's Thunderbolt Tempo applies Electric damage, and Chopper's Monster Point provides a powerful late-game option. Swap party members instead of forcing a bad matchup, and use status effects such as burn or confusion when a boss resists direct damage.
Odyssey is visually polished on PS5 and its turn-based system is easy to learn, but the dungeon design and side content are less ambitious than Persona or Metaphor. Buy it for the Straw Hats, relaxed pacing, and retelling of beloved arcs. Players looking for a more competitive experience should choose Sparking! ZERO instead.
8. Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections — Best arena fighter for Naruto fans
Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections brings together characters from Naruto and Boruto in fast 3D battles. Team composition matters because support characters can interrupt pressure, extend combos, or create space for a substitution. Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, Kakashi Hatake, Madara Uchiha, and Boruto each bring familiar Ultimate Jutsu and awakening states.
Learn the substitution gauge before attempting advanced combos. Spending every substitution immediately leaves you vulnerable to a long punish, while conserving it can stop an opponent's Ultimate Jutsu setup. Chakra dash pressure is powerful but predictable, so mix in throws, shuriken, and support calls. The game is less technically demanding than a traditional 2D fighter, yet it remains an entertaining couch multiplayer option with a huge fan-service roster.
How to choose the right anime PS5 game in 2026
Choose by the gameplay loop rather than the license alone. If you want a 60-to-100-hour single-player journey with social systems, pick Persona 3 Reload. If you prefer modern fantasy, deadlines, and class experimentation, Metaphor: ReFantazio is the better fit. For quick competitive matches, Sparking! ZERO offers more mechanical variety than the Naruto fighter. For online teamwork, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is the obvious choice.
PS5 owners should also check the performance options before starting. Persona 3 Reload and Metaphor: ReFantazio are comfortable at their intended console settings, while action games benefit most from a stable 60 frames per second. In Sparking! ZERO, favor the performance-focused option for responsive vanishes and counters. In Relink, prioritize frame stability during four-player boss fights. Avoid judging anime games solely by resolution: input latency, camera behavior, and readable effects matter more during combat.
Storage is another practical concern. Keep extra room for patches and downloadable content, especially for live-service games such as The First Descendant. If a game feels sluggish after a system update, compare results with Steamoz's troubleshooting guides for lag and low FPS and performance settings; the menus differ, but the testing approach is useful.
Final ranking for PS5 anime fans
S-Tier: Persona 3 Reload, Metaphor: ReFantazio, and Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO. These three cover the strongest turn-based RPG, fantasy RPG, and anime fighter experiences on PS5.
A-Tier: Granblue Fantasy: Relink, The First Descendant, and Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! They are excellent when their specific co-op, shooter, or party-game formats match your preferences.
B-Tier: One Piece Odyssey and Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections. Both are enjoyable and polished, but their best qualities are aimed squarely at fans of their source material. Start with Persona 3 Reload if you want one recommendation, then choose Sparking! ZERO for multiplayer or Relink for co-op.