Talking about games made into anime, you must have heard a lot, such as Fate/stay night, Azur Lane, Granblue Fantasy, Inazuma Eleven, The iDOLM@STER, and many more. But did you know that actually a lot of anime are also made into different game titles as well? Both are not surprising considering that either anime series or games can be a popular means of promoting the source material. 

But of the many video game adaptations of popular anime (say Dragon Ball, Naruto, and others) have you ever heard of game adaptations for Gurren Lagann and Oreimo? Let's take a peek at some of those forgotten games made from popular anime series below. 

1. Toradora! Portable

• Platform: PSP

Released in 2009, in this visual novel, you play as Ryuuji Takasu who suffered memory loss or amnesia. By exploring and interacting with people in school and town, you can get several different endings. There are also moments where you play as Taiga Aisaka who has to fend off people who are infatuated with her. If you're curious, luckily this game has got an English fan translation. 

2. Oreimo Portable ga Tsuzuku Wake ga Nai

• Platform: PSP

Like Toradora, the Oreimo game also uses a visual novel format. Oreimo Portable ga Tsuzuku Wake ga Nai features a different story from both the anime and the light novel and you can choose who you want to date in the end; be it Kirino, Kuroneko, or Ayase. This game was released in 2012 and is an upgraded version of the base Oreimo Portable. 

In addition there is also Ore no Imouto Maker EX: Imouto to Koi shiyo! Portable, a collection of short stories that turn all the female characters into Kyosuke's sisters. Both games have English fan translation. 

3. Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann

• Platform: NDS

Maybe you've controlled Gurren Lagann in the crossover series Super Robot Wars before. But the anime has its own game adaptation. This action adventure game was released in October 2007, just a month after the anime series ended in Japan. The game follows the same story as the anime while adding several new characters and alternate endings. The original release was therefore equipped with an OVA called Episode 5.5 to fill in the gap from both the anime and game stories. The game has an English fan translation. 

4. Inuyasha: Secret Of The Divine Jewel

• Platform: NDS

An RPG that was released in 2007, you play as a new character named Janis, a transfer student from the United States to Japan and Kagome's friend. One day, Janis gets involved with a monster attack and ends up going back in time to meet Kagome and Inuyasha. Janis later gained a special ability called Kamuitama after fusing with a Shikon Jewel fragment. They all then must face a new adventure to return Kamuitama to the god Datara. This game has an official English translation. 

5. Sailor Moon S: Jougai Rantou!? Shuyaku Soudatsusen

• Platform: SNES

Actually, the Sailor Moon series has received many game adaptations, especially during the SNES and SEGA Genesis days. But one of the most famous titles is the fighting game Sailor Moon S -- because of its absurd gameplay mechanics and is considered to be a very broken game. Even so, the chaotic balancing creates its own entertainment and the EVO Tournament often opens side events for the 1994-released title. 

5. Ranma ½: Hard Battle

• Platform: SNES

Similar to Sailor Moon, this action comedy series has also received a number of game adaptations in the '90s. The 1992 fighting game Hard Battle is the only Ranma title that has been translated into English. Another game, Ranma ½: Chougi Rambuhen, was going to be translated as well but the company that owns the translation license suddenly went bankrupt. 

6. Vampire Hunter D

• Platform: PS1

An anime series adaptation of a Japanese novel that was famous in the 90s and early 2000s. In this survival horror game we take the role of D, the vampire hunter who is half-vampire-and-half-human. This game was officially released in English.

Read More:

• Top 10 PS1 Anime Games You Should Play on ePSXe Emulator
• 14 Best Anime Games on Android For Weeaboos!
• 10 Anime PPSSPP Games Besides Naruto that You Must Try

7. Animetic Story Game 1: Card Captor Sakura

• Platform: PS1

This adventure game, launched in 1999, is a retelling of the anime's first season complete with anime scenes. Besides Animetic Story, there are also many other video game adaptations including Tomoyo no Video Daisakusen for the Dreamcast which invites you to play as Tomoyo instead and record Sakura's Clow Card-catching actions and Card Captor Sakura: Clow Card Magic with gameplay similar to a runner-puzzle game and you can play Sakura. or Shaoran. 

8. Akira

• Platform: SNES, Amiga

The anime film that became a huge hit in the animation industry had a game adaptation with the same title on SNES and Amiga. Unfortunately, it seems that these games only sell the Akira name because the gameplay was considered extremely terrible. Reportedly, THQ had planned to make a more interesting Akira game and it would be released outside of Japan, but unfortunately the plan was cancelled. 

9. Dr. Slump

• Platform: PS1, NDS

Everyone is familiar with Akira Toriyama's manga titled Dragon Ball. The games can also be easily played on various consoles from PS1 to PS4. But did you know that this particular Toriyama-made comedy series also had games? Yes, you can play Arale and explore Penguin Village in the PS1 and NDS games. 

10. Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica Portable 

• Platform: PSP

Some of you may know and have played the Magia Record gacha game. But have you ever tried this roguelike RPGs for the PSP? Here you take on the role of Kyubey who must choose a number of dialogues to give the mahou shoujo strength before entering battles. Game got an English fan translation. 

11. Kokoro Connect: Yochi Random

• Platform: PSP

Back to another visual novel again, launched into the Japanese market in 2012, Yochi Random features an alternative story that takes time between the Hito Random and Kizu Random novels, complete with various routes and endings. This game has an English fan translation. 

12. Toaru Majutsu no Virtual-On

• Platform: PS4, PS Vita

A sequel to the spin-off light novel of the same name, in the world of Toaru Majutsu no Virtual-On the arcade fighting game Virtual-On has become a popular esport title. Of the 13 characters you can play, the story mode focuses on only three: Kamijou Touma, Shirai Kuroko, and Kanzaki Kaori. For some reason SEGA decided to stop selling this game both physically and digitally since 2019. 

Stay tuned for information about other games and anime and don't forget to follow Dunia Games' Facebook and Instagram for more interesting updates. Don’t forget, you can also buy vouchers for Mobile Legends, Free Fire, Call of Duty Mobile and many other games at attractive prices only at Dunia Games Top-up! 

Read Next >> 15 Best Anime Games of Three Gaming Platforms, Otaku Gamers Have To Try These!

Written by Sidharta F. Rasidi: Twitter @StoPlayinGame