Over the past decade, anime has surged in popularity, breaking through cultural barriers and captivating global audiences. Once considered a niche form of entertainment, anime is now a mainstream phenomenon, influencing everything from fashion to music—and most notably, video games. As more game developers seek to capture this rapidly growing market, the question arises: How can designers create games that tap into the anime aesthetic, appeal to its dedicated fanbase, and take advantage of the unique storytelling and visual language anime offers?

A Brief History of Anime’s Global Evolution

Anime originated in Japan, with its roots going back to the early 20th century. Early pioneers like Osamu Tezuka, often referred to as the “Father of Manga” and “God of Anime,” were instrumental in shaping the form. Tezuka’s Astro Boy (1963) was one of the first anime series to reach international audiences, setting the stage for the genre’s growth.

Through the 70s and 80s, anime became a staple in Japanese entertainment, with series like Mobile Suit Gundam and Macross capturing widespread attention. The 90s brought the medium into the global spotlight, particularly with Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon, which gained popularity in Western countries.

The 2000s saw an even greater expansion, with series like Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach leading a new wave of international anime fans. Major anime films like Spirited Away (2001), directed by Hayao Miyazaki, won global acclaim and even prestigious awards, such as the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, further legitimizing anime in the eyes of a global audience.

This steady growth has continued into the 2010s and beyond, where streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Crunchyroll have made anime more accessible than ever. Today, anime is no longer confined to niche communities—its influence is felt across mainstream pop culture, gaming, and even art. As a result, its impact on the gaming industry is becoming increasingly undeniable.

How Anime Is Affecting Game Design

The impact of anime on game design is becoming increasingly evident. Players are no longer just looking for fast-paced action or competitive mechanics—they are drawn to deep narrative experiences, stylized visuals, and emotionally charged characters. These are all hallmarks of anime storytelling.

Visual Style: The distinctive aesthetic of anime—vivid color palettes, exaggerated expressions, and dynamic action sequences—has started influencing game art design. Many successful games, like Genshin Impact and Fire Emblem: Three Houses, adopt this art direction.

Narrative Depth: Anime is known for telling intricate stories that blend fantasy with real-life struggles. Games influenced by anime often focus on character-driven plots, exploring themes like friendship, sacrifice, and personal growth. Titles such as Persona 5 offer complex character arcs, where players can experience personal stories that mirror some of the emotional resonance found in anime.

Character Design: One of the most attractive elements of anime is its ability to create memorable, larger-than-life characters. From their unique visual appearance to their exaggerated personalities, anime characters stand out in ways that resonate with fans. By designing characters with distinctive traits, abilities, and backstories, game developers can create the same type of attachment and engagement that anime fans have with their favorite shows.

Fantasy and World-Building: Many anime series take place in fantastical worlds filled with elaborate lore, complex political systems, and rich cultures. Anime-inspired games can build expansive worlds that encourage exploration, like Ni no Kuni and Tales of Arise.

Why Game Developers Should Lean into Anime Aesthetics

The integration of anime into video games is not just a trend—it’s a reflection of where entertainment is headed. For game designers, there are multiple reasons to consider creating anime-inspired games:

Tapping into a Dedicated Fanbase: The anime community is passionate, vocal, and fiercely loyal. Games that successfully capture the essence of anime are likely to attract an existing fanbase that is always hungry for new content. Additionally, many anime fans are already familiar with game mechanics found in JRPGs, visual novels, and action games, making the crossover seamless.

Opportunities for Storytelling: Anime’s narrative structures allow for deep emotional investment. Fans are drawn to shows that make them care about characters, even in fantastical worlds. Games that embrace this storytelling style can build stronger emotional connections with players, leading to increased engagement and replay value.

Cultural Fusion: As anime continues to influence Western pop culture, the blending of Western and Eastern aesthetics opens up creative possibilities. Developers can merge anime aesthetics with other genres, as seen in games like Hades and Transistor, which fuse anime-inspired character design with unique, Western narrative techniques.

Merchandising Potential: One unique advantage of anime-inspired games is the merchandising potential. Anime fans often engage with the content beyond the screen, collecting figurines, art books, apparel, and more. Game developers can take advantage of this by offering in-game purchases (skins, cosmetics) or physical collectibles that resonate with fans.

How Designers Can Incorporate Anime Influence into Game Design

For developers looking to create games with an anime aesthetic, there are several strategies to consider:

Focus on Visual Novel Elements: Visual novels, a popular genre in Japan, are highly influenced by anime and can be a great entry point for incorporating anime-style storytelling into games. By including dialogue-driven gameplay, multiple-choice narrative paths, and anime-inspired character art, designers can provide players with an interactive anime experience. Games like Doki Doki Literature Club and Steins Gate are examples of this format done well.

Anime-Style Animation: Invest in creating dynamic, anime-style cutscenes to enhance storytelling and deliver emotional impact. These animated sequences can draw players into the world and give the game a more cinematic feel, similar to watching an anime episode. Studios can look to anime production houses or animation techniques to elevate their in-game storytelling.

Setting and World-Building: The game’s setting might include fantastical worlds or futuristic environments that are reminiscent of anime settings, often with detailed world-building that aligns with anime-style storytelling.

Character-Centric Design: Anime fans are drawn to unique, memorable characters. Designers should focus on developing characters with distinct appearances, abilities, and personalities, giving players heroes they can connect with and follow. Games like Final Fantasy and Xenoblade Chronicles stand out not just for their gameplay, but because of their emotionally compelling character design. There might be extensive options for character customization, allowing players to create avatars that fit anime-inspired aesthetics, including hairstyles, clothing, and accessories.

Music and Audio: The game may feature a soundtrack or voice acting that echoes the style of anime, including J-pop, anime-style compositions

Marketing and Branding: The game might be marketed or branded in a way that aligns with anime fandoms, including collaborations with anime studios or being based on an existing anime series. Designers should consider collaborating with anime studios or working with popular anime voice actors to lend authenticity to the game. Additionally, engaging with anime communities online—through Reddit, Twitter, or even anime conventions—can help build anticipation and loyalty before a game’s release.

The Future of Anime in Gaming

The future of anime in gaming looks incredibly promising as the boundaries between these two mediums continue to blur. Anime’s distinctive art style and narrative depth are increasingly influencing game design, leading to innovative and immersive experiences. With the rapid growth of both the anime industry and the gaming market, developers are leveraging the rich storytelling and vibrant aesthetics of anime to create games that captivate a global audience.

Advancements in technology, such as improved graphics and animation tools, are enabling more detailed and fluid anime-inspired visuals in games. This allows for more authentic recreations of anime art styles and complex character animations, which enhance the player’s immersion in the game world. As game engines become more sophisticated, we can expect even more seamless integration of anime elements, including dynamic camera angles, cinematic cutscenes, and lifelike character expressions that closely mimic anime aesthetics.

Moreover, the increasing popularity of anime culture worldwide is driving demand for anime-themed games. This trend is not only fostering collaborations between game developers and anime studios but also leading to the creation of original IPs that blend anime storytelling with interactive gameplay. Games based on popular anime series are likely to become more common, offering fans a chance to engage with their favorite characters and stories in new and interactive ways.

Overall, the future of anime in gaming is poised to be a dynamic and exciting landscape, characterized by innovative art styles, storytelling techniques, and immersive technologies.