Cyberpunk: Edgerunners ticks all the boxes for many anime fans, but the series also manages to do the original game well-deserved justice, keeping both fandoms significantly satisfied in the process. While Edgerunners is far from being the first RPG anime adaptation, not all attempts have successfully represented both industries and survived the obvious money-making publicity stunts.
The following examples do not necessarily all match the same visual style or contemporary settings as Cyberpunk, however, their domination in the industry of RPG-inspired anime adaptations makes them a worthwhile watch. The studios involved ensured to maintain the integrity of the original source material while simultaneously creating a compelling and entertaining narrative, and proving that anime does not always need roots in Manga to be successful.
6 The FATE Franchise
Arguably one of the most prosperous RPG adaptations comes in the form of the FATE franchise, which has released seven successful seasons since 2014. While the gameplay follows more of a visual novel structure, it is still considered an RPG and holds firm to its position on this list!
Each of the Fate seasons is centered around the Holy Grail War, with a total of fourteen Noble Masters each fighting for their claim on the elusive wish-granting prize. They summon and control reincarnated heroes, known as Servants, who are used as pawns as they battle the opposing team. Each installment can be viewed as a stand-alone storyline with a unique set of heroes and villains.
5 Dota: Dragon's Blood
While Dota: Dragon's Blood has not been as successful at fan service as some of the other options mentioned when viewed objectively as an animated adaptation, not many viewers can deny the stellar entertainment factor of this series. With a slight Game of Thrones vibe, Studio Mir managed to create a dramatic narrative that maintained its connection to DOTA Lore, while adding several new unique characters for the sake of the series.
As the name suggests, this hommage to DOTA 2 takes a more "knights and dragons" approach to storytelling, with Davion and Mirana as the lead Heroes who attempt to stop Invoker and Terrorblade from spreading their destruction. Seeing that there are three seasons to tuck into, there's no time like the present!
4 Tekken: Bloodlines
Tekken combines ninjas with cyborgs in the most epic way, and, while the gameplay fits more in line with arcade fighting simulators, the franchise is involved in "The King of Fighters: All-Star" mobile RPG, so it gets a free pass!
This particular Tekken-inspired story revolves around the legendary Jin Kazama, who is on an all-out war to avenge his mother's untimely death and subsequently teams up with his abrasive and notorious grandfather, Heihachi Mishima, for some much-needed training. A grand Iron Fist Tournament is set up to lure in the best fighters around (and Jin's intended target); now if only everything could just go according to plan!
3 Castlevania
Another epic RPG based in an alternate era is Castlevania, which currently has a fifth installment on the horizon. Netflix and Powerhouse Animation Studios had so much faith in their expected success that the renewal was confirmed before Season 4 was even released, and, considering Castlevania's impressive track record, they are unlikely to disappoint!
Within a medieval world, a monster hunter, a scholarly mage, and a vampire-hybrid form an unlikely fellowship as they attempt to protect the innocent from Lord Dracula and his demonic army (so, just another day's work then.) But can they stop butting heads long enough to save the world, now that's the big question!
2 Persona
Persona emphasizes robotics and technology much like Cyberpunk: Edgerunners does and is even placed in a modernized setting while simultaneously exploring the popular school theme that was present at the beginning of David's story. Persona's protagonist, Yu Narukami, also feels responsible for saving the world, after discovering a hidden TV World and awakening his dormant abilities.
The bold new-age RPG battle system is efficiently translated into the narrative, whereby the Persona User's psyche is transformed into a combat-ready physical manifestation. Each season honors a different classification of mythologies, ranging from the classic Greek and Japanese deities to historical figures and more.
1 Arcane: League of Legends
While Arcane may share many visual similarities to the Edgerunners, the MMORPG inspiration changes the storytelling style and worldbuilding somewhat, giving more steampunk than Cyberpunk vibes. Regardless, not many could fault the thrilling narrative and astute attention to detail, satisfying most League of Legends fans worldwide.
The award-winning Arcane focuses predominantly (but not exclusively) on Jinx and Vi's sisterly feud, which is aggravated extensively when they become supercharged with mystical powers and technologically advanced weaponry. While caught in a war between Zaun and Piltover, the girls must decide if blood truly is thicker than water.