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A far less common source for anime adaptations are games, especially if visual novels are taken out of the equation. Obviously, exceptions do exist in the form of Pokemon, Devil May Cry, and the Persona series, but they are a rare commodity. Nevertheless, there are quite a few games set to receive anime adaptations in the future. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Note: Netflix’s Devil May Cry: The Animated Series and Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix have not been included since they toe the line between anime and western animation. Still, these shows are exciting prospects as their creator is Adi Shankar of Castlevania fame.
Dolls’ Frontline
Winter 2022
Girls’ Frontline has already spawned two anime seasons, but Dolls’ Frontline is its own thing. The Chinese mobile game debuted in 2016 and went global two years later. A gacha game about T-Dolls that are used in war, Girls’ Frontline revolves around players collecting soldiers who can then engage in automatic battles. The game does have a decent amount of lore, so the anime has storylines to build upon.
While the original anime was primarily a comedy, Dolls’ Frontline looks set to be a more serious adaptation of the source material.
Fantasia Sango
Japanese Title: Gensou Sangokushi: Tengen Reishinki Winter 2022
A Taiwanese RPG series that has not enjoyed much crossover success, Fantasia Sango debuted in 2003 and has produced five mainline games overall. The series takes place within China’s Three Kingdoms era, a period known for its conflict stemming from various warlords trying to take over the land.
Gensou Sangokushi: Tengen Reishinki will probably be the first exposure to this series for most people. The anime is being handled by Geek Toys, the same studio working on Date A Live’s season 4.
Cue!
Winter 2022
A Japanese mobile game that debuted in 2019, Cue! is a management sim where players are put in charge of developing voice actors. The game has yet to debut outside of Japan, and that seems unlikely to change considering Cue! has already celebrated its two-year anniversary.
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Yumeta Company and Graphinica are creating the anime, the latter of which has experience adapting games since the studio released the Chain Chronicle titles. Yumeta Company has a solid track record when it comes to anime based on visual novels, with the Kiniro no Corda being their standout franchise.
Deemo: Memorial Keys
Japanese Title: Deemo Movie: Sakura no Oto - Anata no Kanadeta Oto ga, Ima mo Hibiku February 25, 2022
Deemo is a Taiwanese rhythm game that has enjoyed its fair share of success since debuting in 2013. Originally released on mobile devices, the game eventually made its way to the PS Vita and Nintendo Switch. A 3D remake called Deemo -REBORN- was even released worldwide for the PS4, PC, mobile, and Nintendo Switch.
Rhythm games might not be typically known for their stories, but Deemo is quite impressive in this area. The anime movie’s visual style might take a bit of getting used to, but the story appears set to be quite a moving experience.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
2022
CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 will be making its way to Netflix in the form of an anime series. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners focuses on a street kid who turns to the mercenary life to survive in Night City’s dangerous society.
A 10-episode standalone anime, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is being created by Studio Trigger, a company that can be relied upon to, if nothing else, deliver incredible animation. And, just to be clear, Trigger usually delivers much more than just pretty visuals.
The Legend Of The Heroes: Trails Of Cold Steel
Japanese Title: Eiyuu Densetsu: Sen no Kiseki 2022
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel is the perfect pick for an anime adaptation. Lasting for four entries, the RPG series is story and character-driven, centering around a group of students stuck in a world defined by political tension. Each game offers 50+ hours of content, and the series boasts fantastic world-building.
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The anime will be telling a brand new story set within the same region as the games. As such, this release could be an accessible entry point for newcomers to the franchise. That being said, any turn-based JRPG fan should put aside the time to try The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel.
Legend Of Mana: The Teardrop Crystal
Japanese Title: Seiken Densetsu: Legend of Mana - The Teardrop Crystal TBA
Not much is currently known about the anime adaptation of Legend of Mana. Entitled The Teardrop Crystal, this series was announced in mid-2021 during Square Enix’s 30th-anniversary livestream celebration dedicated to the RPG franchise, and it is also not clear when the anime will debut.
Graphinica will be handling this video game anime adaptation, with Yokohama Animation Lab serving as co-creators. The latter is predominantly known for the Miru Tights ONA series.
Disney: Twisted-Wonderland
TBA
Disney: Twisted-Wonderland provides a bizarre twist on Mickey Mouse’s iconic villains. A mobile game with gacha elements, Disney: Twisted-Wonderland is an isekai series that teleports players into a school with seven dormitories filled with alternate takes of legendary antagonists.
The game is popular in Japan and benefits from the presence of Yana Toboso, the creator of Black Butler. Disney+ subscribers can look forward to experiencing a very different take on some of their favorite animated characters.
Tales Of Luminaria: The Fateful Crossroad
TBA
In November 2021, Bandai Namco released Tales of Luminaria on mobile devices, the latest release in the Tales of franchise. While far from a perfect game, Tales of Luminaria is a respectable entry in the long-running RPG series and features quite an engaging narrative that highlights its strong roster of characters.
Tales of Luminaria: The Fateful Crossroad will animate one of the most significant moments in the game’s lore. Kamikaze Douga is in charge of the anime, the same studio that handled 2018’s Ninja Batman.
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