Anime and gaming have always gone hand in hand, with many different anime stories being made into games and vice versa. As for anime-based MMORPGs, many games take inspiration from anime, such as the Phantasy Star Online (2012) series and the more recent Final Fantasy 16 (2023) release.
However, there are not too many MMORPGs that are direct adaptations of anime, despite there being many anime concepts that actively talk about or use the MMORPG format in their stories, with Sword Art Online (2012) being a prime example.
7 Sword Art Online
Sword Art Online is an anime series which has always split opinion among the anime community. One thing most fans agree on regarding Sword Art Online is that the VR concept is an interesting one that would work well as an MMORPG, obviously without the whole part where players die in real life.
There are many Sword Art Online games already, such as SAO: Alicization Lycoris (2020) and SAO: Fatal Bullet(2018) to name a couple. However, there isn't a game which fully gives the Sword Art Online experience. A VR game which is as close as possible to the VR game in the show would be amazing, just as long as the VR set isn't deadly.
6 Attack On Titan
One of the most popular anime of all time, Attack On Titan (2013) surprisingly doesn't have an MMORPG adaptation yet, as of June 2023. Another concept which would thrive as an MMORPG, Attack On Titan has a great layout for game developers to work from.
Attack On Titan games are a thing, with Attack On Titan (2016), Attack on Titan 2 (2018), and Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle (2019), however they are all mission based games that restrict players to single player or 4-player multiplayer. A free-roam type of MMORPG set on Paradis Island with a level up system and co-op capability is definitely an idea that game developers could look into.
5 Vinland Saga
Vinland Saga (2019) is an anime that focuses on the Viking age and the infamous raids of Northern Europe and beyond. This automatically is a great backdrop for an MMORPG, with Vikings always being an area that intrigues gaming and media fans.
A game where players take on the persona of their own Viking character and work together online with players from around the world is an intriguing concept which could turn out to be popular. Obviously, the game would have to lean towards the Vinland Saga storyline, with Thorfinn, Thors, and Askeladd all being characters that could appear along the way.
4 Jujutsu Kaisen
Seeing the recent success of Street Fighter 6 (2023), with the fighting element being combined with an online space, a Jujutsu Kaisen (2020) game could take inspiration and launch an MMORPG fighting game.
With the large variation of curses and abilities shown in the anime, players could be given large personalization when it comes to building their own Jujutsu Kaisen character. A game could take the shape of Warframe (2013) in the sense of having players work together in taking on a common enemy, in Jujustu Kaisen's case, taking down curses and leveling up along the way.
3 Tokyo Ghoul
An anime based on ghouls and quite a dark theme, a Tokyo Ghoul (2014) MMORPG would most likely be an acquired taste for fans, with younger gamers maybe finding the concept a bit too gruesome. Nonetheless, a Tokyo Ghoul MMORPG could be a very intresting idea.
A game where players have their own ghoul powers and factions, navigating the vast city of Tokyo whilst defeating other ghouls and the authorities could be fun. The players could have a choice of being part of Kaneki Ken's team at Anteiku, the CCG alongside Kisho Arima, or simply as a street ghoul taking on the world. This game would no doubt be tough to make, but it could be a very fun idea for a game.
2 One Piece
Pirating games are ones which have seen much success, with MMORPG game Sea Of Thieves (2018) being an example that springs to mind. One Piece (1999) is a story which could work perfectly in a Sea Of Thieves style.
An MMORPG game where players and their friends team up in a bid to find the One Piece has the potential to be very popular indeed. Players could fight other players, level up their characters and crew, and take down valuable enemies to increase their finances all in the bid to be the best pirate crew, all whilst being set in the vast seas of the One Piece universe.
1 Black Clover
When thinking of how a Black Clover (2015) MMORPG game would work, Elder Scrolls Online (2014) is probably the closest concept which could be replicated to an extent for a Black Clover themed MMORPG game. Set in a world full of magic, varied weapons, and powerful enemies, the similarities are there between the Black Clover world and the Elder Scrolls world.
Obviously, there are huge differences, however, the game could work with players joining a Magic Knight squad at the beginning of the game, before embarking on their quest to defeat the devils and become Wizard King. The game could have its own storyline away from the Wizard King goal to incorporate the MMO element of the game, throwing in some noticeable characters like Asta and Yuno as NPC's.