Adaptations of Video Games (No VNs, Part 1 - JRPGs)
Anime
List of little lesser known anime closely based on or directly adapting video games, not including any visual novels or gacha. Mostly focused on JRPGs. In the case of video games with many anime, not all will be listed but will be mentioned in the notes. (In Progress)
OVA, 1989,
7 eps
Me:-
Author:7
Adaptation of Ys 1. Uses some music from the actual game which is great because the ost goes hard. Enjoyable if you've played and enjoyed the original game.
Ys: Tenkuu no Shinden - Adol Christine no Bouken
Ys II: Castle in the Heavens
OVA, 1992,
4 eps
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Adaptation of Ys 2.
Special, 1993,
1 ep
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Promotional anime made for Ys 4: the Dawn of Ys, not Mask of the Sun which are both essentially the same game but DoY released on the PC Engine (Turbographix) and MotS released on SNES. Also not an adaptation of Memories of Celceta. This was made essentially to see if any companies were interested in a YS 4 anime but no one was.
The Legend of Heroes: Sen no Kiseki - Northern War
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel - Northern War
TV, 2023,
12 eps
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A spin off of the Cold Steel part of the Kiseki (Trails of) series. I believe it takes place either far into the series or after all 4 CS games.
TV, 2008,
26 eps
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A completely original anime based on the Persona series of games with completely original characters and story. There are many other Persona anime adaptations, however, those are very well known. Persona 3-5 all have full adaptations and Persona 2 has an teaser for a cancelled anime adaptation.
Escha & Logy no Atelier: Tasogare no Sora no Renkinjutsushi
Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky
TV, 2014,
12 eps
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Author:-
Adaptation of Atelier Escha and Logy.
Ryza no Atelier: Tokoyami no Joou to Himitsu no Kakurega
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout The Animation
TV, 2023,
12 eps
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Author:-
Adaptation of the first Atelier Ryza game (Thighs.)
OVA, 1987,
1 ep
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Adaptation of the Megami Tensei Novel, not the video game but related enough to be mentioned here.
Shin Megami Tensei: Tokyo Mokushiroku
Tokyo Revelation
OVA, 1995,
2 eps
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Loosely based on the Shin Megami Tensei game.
TV, 2000,
50 eps
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Anime based on Shin Megami Tensei Children Franchise.
TV, 2002,
52 eps
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Sequel to Devil Children.
Final Fantasy
Legend of the Crystals: Final Fantasy
OVA, 1994,
4 eps
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A sequel anime to Final Fantasy 5 of all things. There are many other Final Fantasy anime such as the FF7 spinoffs, FF15 specials/movies, and the Spirits Within.
TV, 2001,
25 eps
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Straight up has nothing to do with Final Fantasy but it has chocobos in it.
OVA, 1996,
2 eps
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Author:-
Adaptation of the third Fire Emblem, Mystery of the Emblem. MAL also has like most of the cinematics from Fire Emblem Heroes as well as some little side animations or ads they'd have on Youtube for some reason.
Seiken Densetsu: Legend of Mana - The Teardrop Crystal
Legend of Mana -The Teardrop Crystal-
TV, 2022,
12 eps
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Adaptation of Legend of Mana, made to coincide with the remaster of the game released a year prior.
Tales of Phantasia The Animation
Tales of Phantasia
OVA, 2004,
4 eps
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Adaptation of Tales of Phantasia. There are a whole lot of Tales of anime, but a lot of them are pretty well known. There are pretty lengthy adaptations of Symphonia, Zestria, Abyss, as well as little crossover anime and the gacha game.
Tales of Eternia The Animation
Tales of Eternia
TV, 2001,
13 eps
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Adaptation of Tales of Eternia.
Sakura Taisen
Sakura Wars TV
TV, 2000,
25 eps
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Full adaptation of the Sega Saturn cult classic/game that was really big in Japan but nowhere else at all, Sakura Taisen. Only game in the series to actually have an English fan translation.
Sakura Taisen: Gouka Kenran
Sakura Wars 2: Return of the Spirit Warriors
OVA, 1999,
6 eps
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Adaptation of Sakura Taisen 2.
Sakura Taisen: Katsudou Shashin
Sakura Wars: The Movie
Movie, 2001,
1 ep
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Original Sakura Taisen movie that takes place between 3 and 4.
Sakura Taisen: Kanzaki Sumire Intai Kinen - Su Mi Re
Sakura Taisen: Sumire
OVA, 2002,
1 ep
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A cute original OVA made to celebrate the voice actor of Sumire's retirement. Takes place after the fourth game.
OVA, 2007,
6 eps
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Not an adaptation, but a sequel to Sakura Taisen 5, aka the one that was actually released officially in English on the PS2 and Wii which to this day I still find a kinda weird choice of consoles.
Shin Sakura Taisen the Animation
Sakura Wars the Animation
TV, 2020,
12 eps
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Adaptation of Shin Sakura Taisen, as in the the only chance Sakura Taisen had to make a comeback but failed so hard and now we'll never get official English releases of the games in the series that were actually good.
Rockman Hoshi ni Negai wo
MegaMan: Wishing upon a Star
OVA, 2002,
3 eps
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Essentially 3 special episodes of the Mega Man cartoon that were scrapped because the cartoon's art style was changed from cool epic anime to yucky american cartoon. However, they were officially released by capcom for Rockman's 15th anniversary (in both english dub and sub!).
Irregular Hunter X: The Day of Sigma
Megaman X - The Day of Sigma
OVA, 2005,
1 ep
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A one episode special that essentially is a prequel to Mega Man X.
Rockman.EXE
MegaMan NT Warrior
TV, 2002,
56 eps
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Adaptation of the Mega Man NT Warrior manga that's based on the world of Mega Man Battle Network. It's okay, but many probably have memories of watching this on Teletoon and other similar channels.
Rockman.EXE Axess
MegaMan NT Warrior: Axess
TV, 2003,
51 eps
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Second Season to Rockman.EXE
Ryuusei no Rockman
Megaman Star Force
TV, 2006,
55 eps
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Similar to Rockman.EXE, this is an adaptation of a Rockman manga loosely based on Mega Man Starforce. Also just ok.
Ryuusei no Rockman Tribe
Megaman Star Force Tribe
TV, 2007,
21 eps
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Second season to Ryuusei no Rockman that's actually based on the second Starforce game.
Dragon Quest: Yuusha Abel Densetsu
Dragon Warrior
TV, 1989,
43 eps
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A loose adaptation of Dragon Quest 3.
Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibouken (TV)
Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai
TV, 1991,
46 eps
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Anime very loosely based on Dragon Quest but mostly just takes the setting. Very popular in Japan. There was also a remake in 2020.
Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibouken
Dragon Quest: Great Adventure of Dai
Movie, 1991,
1 ep
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Part of the Dai no Daibouken series. There were also two other movies:
https://myanimelist.net/anime/7436/Dragon_Quest__Dai_no_Daibouken_Tachiagare_Aban_no_Shito
https://myanimelist.net/anime/7364/Dragon_Quest__Dai_no_Daibouken_Buchiyabure_Shinsei_6_Daishougun
https://myanimelist.net/anime/7436/Dragon_Quest__Dai_no_Daibouken_Tachiagare_Aban_no_Shito
https://myanimelist.net/anime/7364/Dragon_Quest__Dai_no_Daibouken_Buchiyabure_Shinsei_6_Daishougun
Dragon Quest Retsuden: Roto no Monshou
Dragon Quest - Emblem of Roto
Movie, 1996,
1 ep
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A prequel anime to a completely original Dragon Quest anime.
Movie, 2019,
1 ep
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A not so well recieved adaptation of Dragon Quest 5, a very beloved entry in the series.
Makai Senki Disgaea
Disgaea
TV, 2006,
12 eps
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Author:7
An adaptation of Disgaea 1. As one of the few things on this list I actually watched, it wasn't too bad but don't expect too much. Only watch if you're a fan of the first game.
Special, 2006,
1 ep
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A trailer with original animation for the Disgaea anime.
Movie, 2019,
1 ep
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A completely original movie that takes the setting and elements from the Ni no Kuni games.
Growlanser IV: Wayfarer of the Time
Growlanser IV: Wayfarer of Time
OVA, 2005,
1 ep
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I'm gonna be real I have no clue, but I think it's an adaptation of Growlanser 4 of some sorts although it's just a single episode that was used as promotional media. They made 4 Growlanser games? What happened to Langrisser? Honestly probably doesn't matter.
Movie, 2001,
1 ep
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When Shenmue 2 released in North America, it was exclusive to the Xbox due to the Dreamcast being shot several times in the head. Thus they released this short movie bundled with Shenmue 2 on the Xbox to recap the story.
TV, 2001,
26 eps
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An adaptation of the first chunk (disc 1 I believe) of Star Ocean: The Second Story (not remake (play the remake it goes hard)) from the perspective of Claude.
ONA, 2016,
17 eps
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Not an adaptation, but a series of trailers? for Star Ocean: Anamnesis which is the Star Ocean gacha.
Wild Arms: Twilight Venom
Wild Arms
TV, 1999,
22 eps
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Semi original adaptation of Wild Arms 1 with some crossover with Wild Arms 2.
OVA, 2006,
1 ep
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A kinda chopped up adaptation of Ar Tonelico: Melody of Elemia that adapts just the first bit of the game.
Choujigen Game Neptune The Animation
Hyperdimension Neptunia
TV, 2013,
12 eps
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Pretty original adaptation of the first Hyperdimensional Neptunia game.
Choujigen Game Neptune: Hi☆Light
Hyperdimension Neptunia: Hi☆Light
Special, 2020,
2 eps
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Compilation of the anime.
Choujigen Game Neptune The Animation OVA
Hyperdimension Neptunia OVA
OVA, 2019,
3 eps
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Ova for the anime
