10 Action Anime Games Better Than SAO: Echoes of Aincrad

Despite the overarching success of the main show and spin-offs themselves, Sword Art Online's video game adaptations haven't really received the same amount of star-studded fanfare as the former. And it's ironic, right? Considering what kind of thing the main universe is supposed to be, you can honestly just wonder when SAO will get a game that truly embraces all the potential.

And then we get to Echoes of Aincrad this past week, which finally graced audiences, and while my time exploring the two floors it had to offer was filled with mixed feelings, the game just fell far short of being a good ARPG and SAO title with its short-sighted depth.

So it got me thinking: "Just how many similar games in its nature get the job done with superiority?" Well, you came to the right place because, with this list, we're going to discuss the best anime-like action games that are far better than SAO and, in some cases, offer some of the best Action RPG elements in their gameplay mechanics and presentation.

10 Tokyo Xanadu Ex+

Dungeon Crawling and Teenage Angst

Unlike the confined floors of Aincrad, Tokyo Xanadu eX+ takes place in the bustling city of Morimiya, where you balance everyday student life with your dungeon-crawling adventure. And when you think about it, the whole game can be generally summarized as Persona's day-time social elements infused with the combat style from the Ys series, both games that are also featured on this list.

Although Kou Tokisaka is the MC on this journey, Xanadu spends considerable time developing its supporting cast. Plus, the game's Eclipse dungeons repeatedly feature unique mechanics, gimmicky environmental puzzles and varied enemy encounters that help prevent exploration from becoming repetitive. The game might look sillyish, but I implore you to give it a fair chance before assuming things, since it is the perfect form of an action-anime RPG with a high school setting for all those Persona fans.

9 Code Vein

Anime Dark Souls Anyone?

Now I know the sequel has made its rounds this year, but surprisingly enough, the OG Code Vein still feels like the superior game, mainly because of its linear direction and the tight, anime-inspired souls-like formula that was unnecessarily doubled down on in the next iteration. Also, I mean that character customization is still one of the best anime character-creation tools I've seen, even though EoA features it on a smaller scale.

And although it may not be a game that caters to everyone specifically, somehow it feels more engaging than Echoes of Aincrad. Yeah, I said it, fight me. You've got a variety of weapon types to try, as well as a whole cast of different AI-Controlled NPC characters that can aid you on your journey through its ruinous world. The level design can be jarring and, later, convoluted, but the positive aspects manage to slightly outweigh these elements.

8 The First Berserker: Khazan

The DNF Universe's Brutal Action Soulslike

Look, I know The First Berserker: Khazan doesn't technically have those anime-like visuals, but if you can spare a bit of technicality, it distinguishes itself fairly well with its striking cel-shaded art style. Most importantly, I can confidently say it is a very rare game that feels like the perfect bridge between an ARPG and a Souls-like. The latter is evident through the level design and progression, with tightly crafted stages packed with shortcuts, hidden rewards, and meaningful exploration.

And yet, the main course is the brutal combat. Every fight is built around precise timing and maintaining an aggressive offense, one that'll reward you especially when overcoming the game's boss fights. I genuinely wish the demo did a better job of explaining the depth that the combat system offers to newer players, considering the options that open up when you experience the full game past the opening hours.

7 One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4

A Musou Game With Luffy in Gear 5

This one may not technically fall into the RPG genre, but the action that One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 offers is one that's both immensely satisfying and full of giving you a heavy dose of power fantasy. And honestly, it is simply a more satisfying action game for the franchise, too, because it knows what makes the One Piece series fun.

See, rather than trying to recreate every mechanic from the anime, it focuses on delivering this fast musou-style, over-the-top combat where players can wipe out hundreds of enemies using Devil Fruit abilities and other signature attacks. It may not offer the exploration or RPG aspect of a game like Echoes of Aincrad, but as a pure action anime game, its variety of playable characters and nonstop spectacle make it a worthwhile experience.

6 Persona 5 Strikers

Alexa, Play Counter Strike by Lyn Inaizumi

We're continuing the Musou game chain here with Persona 5 Strikers, a spin-off sequel title to the original game that turns the turn-based JRPG that we all know into an action-packed summoning fest. You're slashing through crowds of enemies one second, then pausing to summon a Persona and exploit an elemental weakness the next. And if you're going for the Platinum Trophy and are playing it on harder difficulties like Merciless, you need to strategically use everything instead of button-mashing, as one might assume.

Compare that to the signature stylized presentation of a game like Echoes of Aincrad, and I really don't have to point out the specifics here, given the latter's bare-bones engagement and direction. Two different games on the surface, sure, but at least one manages to keep most of the playtime feel refreshing.

5 Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana

Definition of a Sleeper Hit

While Echoes of Aincrad successfully recreates the early arcs of SAO with flashy combat and fan service, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana stands out because it feels like a complete action RPG first and an anime game second. A combat system that actively rewards you for pulling off perfectly timed Flash Guards and Flash Moves, along with exploration on a mysterious Isle that is sure to hook anyone who enjoys fighting optional bosses or grinding out materials.

Oh, and did I mention that Ys VIII also offers far more gameplay variety? You can rescue castaways, expand their village, and then defend it during raid battles and slowly unlock new tools and abilities to help you access previously inaccessible stuff. It all results in an adventure that delivers satisfying action while constantly introducing new mechanics, making it one of the strongest action RPGs of the last decade.

4 Tales of Arise

Rebels Turned Family

Rather than relying on the appeal of an established anime license, Bandai Namco's Tales of Arise stands with a much more memorable adventure from beginning to end, even if the third act became sort of a drag for me personally. However, the biggest difference lies in combat, as Arise features fast-paced battles that constantly encourage you to switch between party members, chain aerial combos and unleash Boost Attacks and Mystic Artes to keep things flowing smoothly.

Most importantly, its Shone-esque story and cast leave a lasting impression through their character development, with relationships evolving naturally through party banter, skits and campfire conversations, creating genuine chemistry among everyone. Oh, and it should be noted that Tales of Arise also has a purchasable SAO collaboration DLC, just in case any "hardcore" fans want a nostalgic reunion with Asuna or Kirito.

3 Scarlet Nexus

Two Sides to Every Telekinetic Tale

Yet another Bandai Namco game, but this one also rightfully deserves its underappreciated praise for its psychokinesis-based combat. In Scarlet Nexus, while you do have the traditional melee action as the base foundation, you can (simultaneously) hurl cars, signs, and chunks of the environment at enemies without interrupting the flow of battle.

As new party members join, their psionic powers can be temporarily borrowed through the Struggle Arms System (SAS), allowing you to combine abilities like teleportation, duplication and invisibility. And it results in a combat loop that stays engaging for dozens of hours because every new teammate lets you try out new possible combinations.

And the cherry on top is Scarlet Nexus' dual protagonists, Yuito Sumeragi and Kasane Randall, each of whom experiences different sides of the same conflict, encouraging a second playthrough that reveals entirely new things rather than you simply replaying the same campaign.

2 Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot

Fan-Service Done to Perfection

Hope you don't mind me glazing every bit of DBZ Kakarot today because after well over 100+ hours across both my PS4 save in COVID and my recent 2nd playthrough with all the DLCs on PS5, I can confidently conclude that it is one of the best forms of anime fan service done right, and that's saying something considering the long lineage of video game adaptations in the DBZ franchise.

As a game itself, it obviously has flaws; the fetch side quests can be annoying, and most of the RPG elements are pretty basic, but that's exactly what makes this game feel so darn good because it isn't bloated to hell with them.

You've got a diverse roster of DBZ characters, all of whose transformations and abilities you can fine-tune from the ginormous skill trees. And, generally speaking, the team at CyberConnect2 has done a marvelous job of recreating the show's special moments while also sprinkling in newly created ones to give the game its own special sauce. It honestly makes me wish the game gets another slate of storyline DLCs that cover more arcs from the series.

1 Granblue Fantasy: Relink

Monster Hunter's Heart with an Anime Soul

It finally brings us to Granblue Fantasy: Relink, which is definitely considered the best ARPGs on the market, and you can discount that "A" for both Anime and Action. One of Relink's greatest strengths is its combat, where every playable character feels genuinely special, with distinct weapons, abilities, and playstyles that go far beyond simple stat differences.

Whether you're controlling the agile Lancelot, the aerial Yodarha, or the powerhouse Vane, mastering each character requires learning different combos, knowing their cooldown management, and creating the optimal party setup for them. And if you're anything like me who's played Monster Hunter or just loves a great spectacle, then Relink's boss battles are among the best in the genre.

And finishing the campaign is just barely scratching the surface because all your playtime will mainly consist of tackling everything that the endgame has to offer. Well, and if you're looking to up the stakes even more, then consider checking out the recently released Endless Ragnarok expansion, which will give any min-maxed player a run for their money with the added content.