1
King’s Rally
Publisher: Vespa Inc
Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: RPG
While a cascade of ill-conceived updates has left King’s Raid in ruins, we thankfully have Successors of the Will to remind us of the game’s glorious days. The story retains the original cast and recaps key plot points. We follow a motley crew consisting of the knight apprentice Kasel, the healer Frey, and the mismatched duo Cleo and Roia as they set out to subdue the villains threatening the peace of Orvelia.
One addition that adds more tension to the story is the shadowy elves Riheet and Ripine’s vengeful secondary plot that sometimes clashes with the interests of the main squad. In addition to the one-dimensional characters, there is also a bulky reliance on flashbacks to drive the narrative forward.
In an alternate timeline where the game’s financial situation is still well, the anime would have done well to adapt the tragic storyline where Kasel and Frey turn to the shadowy side.
2
Azure Lane
Developer: Yostar
Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: Strategy

With its lively and casual tones, Azur Lane has always been considered the antithesis of Kancolle. However, unlike its edgy cousin, plot consistency has always been Azur Lane’s Achilles heel, which limps in the anime adaptation.
With all the pacing, ultimately leading to an ambiguous ending, the plot follows the antics of Azur Lane and Red Axis (Imperial Japanese and Kriegsmarine), with the Sirens occasionally joining the party. The series has some positives, most notably the decision to abandon the character interceding for him in favor of the Enterprise as the main character. You’ll also be spared of any imperialist rhetoric integral to Kancolle, while also perhaps learning a few frosty facts about naval warfare.
If your motto is “make love, don’t war,” there’s another spin-off titled Slow Ahead that focuses on a quartet of leaders who are tasked with filling the void.
3
Onmyoji
Publisher: NetEase
Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: RPG

Netease’s Onmyoji is one of the few titles to receive a live-action adaptation, as well as several animated spin-offs. Starting with Yinyang Master, this standalone film combines the iconic aesthetic of the Heian era with the oriental fantasy motif of wuxia films. The plot centers on the reluctant alliance between the disgraced Boya and Qing Ming (romanized as Seimei), who must race against time to save the capital from the invading Cimu with the assist of cordial Qing Ming yokai from the neighborhood.
While popular shikigami like Ootengu and Tamamonomae didn’t make the list, it’s still frosty to see some outsiders like Kamaitachi, Red Imp, Umibozu, and Yama Usagi get some screen time. His repertoire of animated spin-offs is more light-hearted in Heian Monogatari, where you stop and smell the roses while experiencing the daily lives of a shikigami.
At the same time, a series of parodies is being broadcast, highlighting player issues with certain elements of the game, such as the unintuitive grind and unbalanced PvP mode.
4
Monster Strike
Publisher: Walking
Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: Card, Casual, Puzzle

Remember when Tamagotchis, or simply digital pets, were all the rage? While it became a passing fad, Monster Strike continues that essence and uses it as the foundation for its anime adaptation.
It follows Ren Homura, who finds himself in trouble after launching Monster Strike on his repaired device. Along with Oragon, a shy mascot who is secretly a prince, the pair must embark on a journey to solve a series of anomalies related to the game in the city. The story continues into a second season, split into two storylines, the first of which takes a detour with Mana Livingston and returns to Ren in the second.
Both games have the same goal: solving the energy points responsible for the monster explosions and discovering Madarame’s sinister motives. It’s definitely a missed opportunity that we don’t get to see pool play in the fight scenes, but we can always count on Oragon’s exuberant energy to never let us get bored.
5
Ark Knights
Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: RPG, Strategy

The visual novel format of the storytelling is great, but it doesn’t do justice to the immersive world-building that some games like Arknights offer. Since a movie series paints a thousand words, thankfully there are three seasons of the anime adaptation that double as a point of entry for newcomers to the series.
Prelude to Dawn adapts the prologue and chapter three; Perish of Frost continues chapters four through six, while the upcoming Rise of Ember concludes the first chapter.
Set in the fictional world of Terra, afflicted with the deadly disease Oripathy, the story follows the Doctor, a mysterious director on Rhodes Island, as he searches for a cure while clashing with Reunion. Top-notch production values reimagine Terra, and the decision to spread the story across three seasons gives it enough time to tell a good story without breaking the momentum. These factors make this a labor of love.
6
Touken Ranbu ONLINE
Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: Card Battle Game, Collection, Simulation, Strategy

Touken Ranbu is the antithesis of Azur Lane, anthropomorphizing legendary swords throughout Japanese history by having an all-boy cast clad in feudal-era armor plates. Likewise, both adaptations contrast in tone.
Hanamaru explores the daily routine of swordsmen, known as tsukumogami, from the perspective of the Yamatonokami and Kiyomitsu in a slice-of-life manner. Katsugeki, on the other hand, takes a more earnest tone with an all-out war between the tsukumogami and the “Time Retrograde Army” from the perspective of Izuminokami and Horikawa.
The camaraderie between the characters, the mesmerizing duels, and the symphony of clashing blades make for an enjoyable ride, but the series could benefit so much more if it took the time to dive deep into the characters’ motivations, including the antagonists’ desire to change the past.
7
Bahamut’s Fury
Developer: Cygames
Publisher: Moblog
Available on: iOS + Android
Genre: Adventure

Rage of Bahamut: Genesis and Virgin Soul meet all the criteria for a functional fantasy anime. Both seasons take place in the diverse realm of Mystray, where gods and demons walk alongside humans.
In Genesis, the story begins with Favorre, an arrogant bounty hunter, who is unwittingly forced by Amira, a demon, to travel to Helheim. A decade later, in Virgin Soul, Nina navigates a turbulent world where humanity has thrived at the cost of suppressing demons.
The main focus of these two seasons is to keep Bahamut, the all-encompassing doomsday device, dormant. While the show often leaves you in a moral quandary due to his characters’ conflicting agendas for the good of the world, stick with him and you’re in for a treat from MAPPA’s finest talent.
8
Seven Knights
Available on: iOS + Android + Switch
Genre: Action, Multiplayer, RPG

Where King’s Raid failed, Seven Knights succeeds. Not only does it have a sequel and a ready-made remake of its first game, but there’s also the obligatory adaptation in the form of Hero Successor.
The story stars President Granseed Faria and Nemo, with a good vs. historic evil theme at the heart of the story, in a quest to end the Physis forces that are usurping the peace of Gaia. The fanservice aspect is also intriguing, as iconic champions like Eunomia are not directly involved in the story. Instead, they appear as heroes of the past whose powers can be inherited by characters through “Succession.” Additionally, Nestra’s choice to reprise her role as the brains behind Physis is a welcome one.