Shonen anime fighters have a very bad reputation, and it’s clear to see why. Most of the games are practically copies of each other with little to no inspiration or imagination. Fortunately, a handful of these games manage to do something new and land among the best anime fighters on the PS5, whether it’s introducing a new combat mechanic that switches things up or something new.
Today, we’re here to go through our picks for the best shonen anime fighters that you can play on the PS5. From the ever-reliable Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections to the surprisingly fun Bleach Rebirth of Souls, these are the shonen anime fighters that you definitely don’t want to miss.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO
The Dragon Ball Budokai Tenkaichi series was the cream of the crop for many fans who grew up with Dragon Ball. The three games in the trilogy had insanely large character rosters and gameplay that was excellent for their time. The couch co-op aspect was awesome, and there were a lot of story missions to get through.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO sees the return of the Budokai Tenkaichi series with a few key changes. The game looks and feels much more modern, and there are new combat mechanics that make things more competitive. While the story aspect could have used some more work, Sparking Zero is an awesome game that fans of the Dragon Ball franchise should try.
Bleach Rebirth of Souls
The Bleach anime made an awesome comeback that left fans extremely excited. However, what most didn’t expect was that the series would also come out with a game that’s surprisingly fun. The game is completely built around 1v1 combat, with the overall combat system revolving around managing health and finding openings to use against the enemy.
Every character has a unique ability that mirrors their manga and anime counterpart, which means that a single attack could change the course of a match. Not to mention, the game’s presentation is awesome, with the essence of the anime being perfectly converted into the video game format.
Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections
The Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm games are considered the holy grail of shonen anime fighters, and for good reasons. The games are an excellent way to experience the anime and manga’s story, while actually being part of the action in the process. Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections takes things a step further by including the entire Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, and a good bit of the Boruto storylines.
The game also has a whopping 130+ playable characters, but a big selling point is the combat. The Ninja Storm series is known for having flashy moves, fast-paced combos, and characters with unique abilities that make things enjoyable. While most would likely argue that Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 was a better game, Storm Connections still has a decent bit to offer PS5 players.
My Hero Ultra Rumble
My Hero Ultra Rumble is a shonen battle game for the PS5, but it isn’t exactly an arena fighter. Instead, it’s a free-to-play 24-player battle royale featuring characters from the extremely popular anime and manga series. This is one of the few anime games to actually support proper co-op instead of just having multiplayer action.
As for how the game works, it’s pretty straightforward. It’s essentially playing a battle royale such as Fortnite or PUBG, but instead of using weapons, you’re using the quirks that make every character stand out. From Deku having insane strength to Todoroki being able to control fire and ice, the game takes advantage of every unique character’s abilities to ensure every match feels different.
Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash
The anime Jujutsu Kaisen took the world by storm when it first came out, primarily because of its awesome fight scenes. Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash takes much of what makes the anime and manga series so great and attempts to translate it into video game form. While it does fall short in many aspects, it’s is still a decent game to experience.
Being another typical shonen anime arena fighter, players fill the shoes of recognizable characters. From the powerful Gojo to the unpredictable Yuji, the game has a healthy character roster. Not to mention, there’s a decent story mode that players can use if they want a new way to experience the anime and manga’s story.
