6 Best Anime Board Games to Play in 2025
Looking for the best anime board games? We picked titles that bring your favorite anime worlds to game night with friends.
6 Best Anime Board Games For Newbies and Otakus Alike! Ready to bring your favorite anime worlds to the table? We hunted high and low for the best anime board games that capture the spirit, art, and wild antics of classic series. Our picks focus on easy-to-learn rules, fun player interaction, and the right amount of chaos—because who doesn’t like a little friendly backstabbing? Whether you’re new to anime board games or a veteran otaku, this is the place to start your next tabletop adventure. Let’s see how many friendships survive these wild showdowns!
On this list:
6 Naruto: Ninja Arena
We couldn’t resist starting with Naruto: Ninja Arena. This game let us channel our inner ninja, yell ‘dattebayo’ at each other, and toss plastic shurikens around (please use the ones in the box, not your kitchen knives). Fast-paced and frantic, it’s a real-time dice rolling battle where you try to out-ninja your friends. Most of our group ended up giggling more than actually fighting, but that’s part of the fun. The anime theme shines through in both art and mechanics, so fans will feel right at home. It may take a round or two to get used to the chaos, but once you do, it’s pure ninja mayhem.
5 Attack on Titan: The Last Stand
Who hasn’t wanted to scale a giant cardboard Titan and poke it in the eye? We sure have, and this game lets us live that weird dream. One player plays the Titan, others are the brave scouts trying to take it down. The theme is spot on—right down to swinging on the 3D board. There’s a real tension as your friends start shouting orders while the Titan flicks them off the tower. The rules are clear, and it’s easy to teach, even to people who only know Attack on Titan from memes. We like it because it actually feels like the show—chaotic, desperate, and a little silly.
4 Cowboy Bebop: Boardgame Boogie
Jazz, bounty hunting, and anime? Sign us up! Cowboy Bebop: Boardgame Boogie makes us feel like actual space cowboys. Each game, you chase bad guys across planets, eat questionable noodles, and try to outsmart your friends. The characters have special powers that call back to the anime (Jet is always reliable, Faye is always… sketchy). The game is more strategic than some other anime board games, but it doesn’t get too heavy. We found ourselves talking in terrible Spike impressions the entire night. If your group likes more planning and less luck, this one’s a solid pick.
3 Sailor Moon Crystal Dice Challenge
If you love Sailor Moon, or just shiny dice, this one is a blast. It’s light, quick, and has that ‘just one more round’ feel. We spent a good twenty minutes picking our favorite Sailor Scout, and another hour throwing dice and making transformation poses. The rules are simple, so you can pull in new players or younger fans. There’s not a ton of complex strategy, but that’s not the point. The focus is on fun moments and magical nostalgia. Plus, every game night could use more moon tiaras and less drama.
2 Dragon Ball Super: Heroic Battle
Ever wanted to scream ‘Kamehameha!’ at your friends and have it actually mean something? Dragon Ball Super: Heroic Battle delivers. This is a quick, tactical game with lots of power-ups, and a good amount of take-that. We loved the art, and the fact that literally everyone at our table had a Vegeta impression. It’s easy to learn, and the combo system gives you reasons to plan moves. Battles are short—so no chance to gather all the Dragon Balls and wish for snacks (sadly). Great for a group looking for an energy boost and some anime flair.
1 Tragedy Looper
This is our top pick for anime board games, hands down. Tragedy Looper is like being stuck in your own anime time-loop episode, and we mean that in the best way. One player is the evil mastermind, the others are time travelers trying to stop disasters. Games get intense fast—there’s deduction, wild guesswork, and lots of frantic table talk. We always end up with at least one friend accusing another of betrayal. The mechanism of going back in time and trying things differently feels super fresh. Out of all anime board games we played, this one kept us talking about our crazy theories for days afterwards. If your group loves deduction, twists, and a real anime experience, this is the game.
