With virtual reality starting to become a mainstream gaming platform, it's no surprise that many people are looking for the best VR games to play. One of the sub-genres that you may be interested in are anime-themed games, and this genre extends to both games based entirely on individual animes and games that incorporate anime themes or visuals into the experience.

There aren't too many anime VR games, but there are a few that set a high standard for what players have come to expect from virtual reality games. Here are the best anime VR games and every platform they're available on.

Updated February 20, 2024 By Matthew McKeown: Anime VR games are a bit on the odd side because whilst there are plenty of mainstream VR titles to try out, there aren’t particularly a lot of anime-inspired ones. So it can get quite tricky to track down one that’s worth the headset's asking price.

Fortunately, they are out there if you know where to look, and there are some pretty great and unique titles worth taking for a spin from various big and small development teams. So to help you satisfyingly scratch that animated itch, here’s an updated look at some of the best Anime VR games out now.

Lofi Katana

Familiar in style to Beat Sabre, Lofi Katana is a brilliant Eastern rendition of the cult-classic rhythm game with its own unique style. In one hand you have a katana, the other a lovely hand fan. With the two you slice and swat to the rhythm as you shuffle, shimmy, and shake to the beat.

There’s tons of great tracks to pick and you can even load up your own custom tunes to add that personal musical touch. There are a number of difficulty levels to suit different styles and alternate modes of play such as Only Fans and Only Katanas for that added challenge.

Lofi Katana is highly recommended if you’re looking for a simple VR rhythm game with a lot of anime flavor.

Kizuna AI - Touch The Beat!

If you’re looking for a unique anime VR Rhythm game then check out Kizuna AI: Touch The Beat. This odd-sounding game features Kizuna AI, for those not familiar this is a popular AI Ambassador for the Japanese Board of Tourism, and she has her own game.

Wave around the iconic glow sticks as you take part in your own Holo Live-esque concert that features over 15 songs performed by Kizuna AI herself. Plus, if you want a break from all the dancing there’s a special View Mode that lets you hang out with Kizuna whilst enjoying the tracks.

You can learn more about Kizuna AI on her official website (here)

I Am Sakuya VR

A highly energetic and at times very cute anime VR first-person shooter, I Am Sakuya VR is bizarre yet satisfyingly violent to play. Uncover the mysterious origins of Sakuya Izayoi whilst infiltrating a strange macabre Mansion.

Within this abhorrent abode lies the Scarlet Vampires, a monstrous group that needs to be put down for good. Gameplay is surprisingly intense at times, there’s plenty of big boss battles to test your skills and an abundant supply of 3D-modeled weaponry to satiate that hunger for firepower. You’ve also got powerful abilities at your disposal and a long road ahead of you, so start shooting.

By far the most unique and fun-to-use weapon in the game is the quad-barrelled shotgun.

Food Girls - Bubbles’ Drink Stand

Help a poor girl run her shop in Food Girls: Bubbles’ Drink Stand. Available for both PC and VR headset wearers, Food Girls is great at keeping you busy and providing lots of opportunities to customize your shop and your co-workers as you go about your busy day.

There’s an adorable story that will play out as you go along and there’s lots to do as the shop is always kept filled by its next customer or a new chore to do. It’s a cute, simple VR game that’s perfect for a cozy evening with a few hours to kill.

Sushi Ben

If you’re looking for a VR Restaurant Simulator game with a boatload of style then Sushi Ben comes highly recommended. This manga panel-filled game is both exciting and downright hilarious as it has you manage a Sushi Bar with a cast of colorful and typically wacky characters.

There’s a brilliant narrative worth following as you go through the game and there are tons of great moments brought to life by the team behind Hatoful Boyfriend. So expect lots of pigeons. Though it’s technically not out yet, there is a demo that’s definitely worth checking out. There’s lots to do, fish to cut, people to meet and a business to run in Sushi Ben.

Sushi Ben can be played both in and out of VR. Plus, you can sit or stand so it’s easy on the legs.

Thank You For Sharing Your World

An artsy and heart-string-pulling VR experience from Kodansha, Thank You For Sharing Your World takes a delicate topic and puts a genuinely wholesome and gorgeous twist on it. This short experience attempts to portray what the world is like for those who are blind.

You play as Takashi, a young boy who lost his sight in grade school and recreates the world around him using his imagination. However, it takes a more abstract and stylistic approach as Takashis vivid imagination twists and reimagines ordinary things like encounters with dogs, trains, and more. It’s short, sweet, and well worth experiencing at least once.

The game's direction was guided by Yu Sakudo, a Japanese screenwriter who worked on a number of films, so enjoy a well-written and gorgeous experience.

Behind The Frame: The Finest Scenery VR

If you love Studio Ghibli visuals and enjoy a cozy experience in VR then Behind The Frame by Akupara Games should be at the top of your list. An absolutely gorgeous passion piece, you play as an artist painting their masterpieces made from memories from throughout their life.

There are large, jaw-dropping panoramas to explore and a unique, yet deeply evocative and immersive story laced throughout. The game can be played at any pace, so feel free to just recline and bumble around the studio, or paint however you like. It’s a slow-paced, low-stakes painting game that is easy to wind away a few hours in.

For bonus Ghibli points, try playing the game with your favorite Miyazaki soundtrack in the background.

The Tale of Onogoro

An action-packed VR game that isekai’s you into another world but with lots of lovely violence, the Tale of Onogoro from AMATA is a sprawling puzzler that meets FPS with a lot of visual charm. You’ve been summoned to the island of Onogoro and it’s up to you and your new best friend Haru to defeat the giant monsters called Kami that have been plaguing the land.

It’s reminiscent of Portal but with massive boss fights and a lot of cooperation with your buddy to get through the various challenges that lie ahead. There’s a lot of classic Japanese architecture to enjoy, big bosses to gawk at, and a surprising amount of lateral thinking required with some of the puzzles.

Swarm

A fast-paced swinging shooter from Greensky Games, Swarm is advertised as Spiderman with guns and that’s exactly what you’re getting. This adrenaline-spiking FPS game is great for those who have the space to swing their arms wild and soar over bots whilst dual-wield blasting from above is incredibly satisfying.

Swarm wears its arcade inspirations on its sleeves as all you have is a grappling hook and a set of pistols of your choice. Perfect for quick sessions or long winding workouts, Swarm can be surprisingly challenging at times and just simply reacting without thinking won’t get you far. Plan your swings, build up momentum, and avoid those bullets with this intense VR Anime action game.

Last Labyrinth

A haunting and at times deeply horrifying Anime VR game, Last Labyrinth is another surprising sleeper hit from the AMATA team. Described by the developers as “SAW meets ICO”, it’s a pretty challenging escort quest through a horrific mansion filled with traps, pitfalls, puzzles, and all sorts of otherworldly nightmares.

Work with Katia, a girl who speaks in a fictional unknown language as the two of you complete puzzles using non-verbal communication and gestures as the two of you try to stay alive as you attempt to escape. The game runs at around ten hours in total, so you’re getting quite a long runtime for your investment, and it can be deeply unsettling in some of its horror sections.

There are a lot of surprisingly gruesome ways for Katia to die, so try your best to keep her alive.

Zone Of The Enders: The 2nd Runner

Revisit a cult favorite from a new perspective with Zone Of The Enders: The 2nd Runner. This Konami classic lets you climb onboard the godlike mech JEHUTY once again but this time you get to see all the action from inside the cockpit.

Gameplay is still the same and you can go through the entire story again from the new perspective so it’s ideal for fans of the originals that were looking for a bit more immersion. However, make sure you can handle the potential motion sickness from zipping around at full burn in the mech, especially in some of the more chaotic later levels.

Laid-Back Camp-Virtual-Fumoto

Another satisfying installment in the Laid-Back Camp games, this time your partner in the great outdoors is different as you’re taking a pink-haired, adorable friend called Nadeshiko with you into the wilderness.

Featuring a range of unique situations the two of you can tackle whilst exploring, this short adventure game is about the length of an average anime episode. So you can blow through it fairly quickly if you’re looking for a quick relaxing session. Plus, all the roles have stellar voice acting and you can quickly lose yourself in this anime-inspired adventure game.

Samurai Slaughter House

Show off your sword-spinning skills with Samurai Slaughter House from Tab Games. This stylish VR game lets you become the ultimate warrior as you wander around an edo-inspired open world. To encourage exploration there's also a Metroidvania-inspired approach to your game loop, and it's unobtrusive as each area is absolutely gorgeous.

To keep you on your toes, throughout this samurai sandbox are wandering ronin, bandits, and demonic legions all waiting to take their own slice out of your skin. There's helpful gear to gain from vendors, companions that will provide backup in brawls, and a range of pointy-edged weapons that will let you get intimate with your enemy's insides. If you like stylish VR sword games, Samurai Slaughter House should be on your list.

Make sure to clear a play space as this game is very physically intense.

Zenith: The Last City

Channel your inner Sword Art Online protagonist energy with Zenith: The Last City. This VR MMO puts a wide world at your fingertips and there are plenty of activities to keep you busy and above all, immersed.

From action-packed quests to unique combat, player housing, tameable animals to catch and collect, plus multiple methods of causing mayhem including magic, Zenith: Last City has a lot of toys in its box. Whether alone or with friends, there's always an adventure waiting just around the corner.

DEEMO -Reborn-

A remake of the original by Rayark, DEEMO -Reborn- is a VR Adventure rhythm game that’s wrapped up in a fascinatingly bleak art style. You control a small girl trapped in a huge house, your only way out is to play the piano to reveal more of the story.

With each new track mastered by you and your dark companion, the tree at the heart of the house grows a little more. There are over 60 songs to unlock and play with some being more challenging than others. It’s a pretty relaxing experience that also has quite the challenge if you decide to go looking for it. A rare oddity, DEEMO -Reborn- is an Early Access title with a lot of room to grow.

One Piece: Grand Cruise

One Piece is one of the most popular anime ever to exist, so, naturally, many video games have used the series as a base for their gameplay and stories. In One Piece, the pirate Luffy sets out on an adventure with his friends to become the King Of The Pirates.

Within One Piece: Grand Cruise, you'll have the opportunity to meet Luffy and many of the members of his crew. You also have the chance to defend the Thousand Sunny from threats. Although One Piece: Grand Cruise is a short experience, it's a great entry to VR for One Piece fans. You can play One Piece: Grand Cruise on the PSVR.

Airtone

Airtone is similar to other rhythm games like Beat Saber; however, you can join Neon as you tap the correct moving objects to progress through the level. You'll primarily hear upbeat music while playing levels in Airtone, so it's a great rhythm game if you enjoy listing to happy tunes.

Unlike most rhythm games, Airtone features a story mode that revolves around Neon, your anime-themed companion. Airtone is a fantastic introduction to VR rhythm games for anime fans. You can play Airtone on the PSVR and PCVR headsets.

Tokyo Chronos

As you may assume, Tokyo Chronos takes place in Tokyo. You join a group of anime characters as they solve the mystery of their surroundings, which is a lot of fun if you enjoy anime graphical styles.

One of the best parts of Tokyo Chronos is that it features choices during the main storyline, which makes it more replayable than many other VR games. You can experience Tokyo Chronos on the PSVR, PCVR headsets, and the Oculus Quest.

VR Tennis Online

VR Tennis Online is an Oculus Rift game that you should play if you enjoy sports and anime aesthetics. You can play as eight characters, each with their own unique designs. The characters have anime-themed appearances, which is the main reason VR Tennis Online is an anime game.

There aren't many sports games with an anime art style, especially in virtual reality, so it's worth trying VR Tennis Online if you enjoy both. Additionally, the tennis gameplay itself is a lot of fun, especially if you want to compete against other players online.

VR Tennis is a great game to work out in, so consider it for your next sweat-inducing fitness session.

Sairento VR

Technically Sairento VR isn't an anime game; however, it incorporates many concepts that anime fans enjoy, especially in its combat system. The combat in Sairento is fast-paced, ninja-themed, and relies heavily on advanced maneuvers. However, it isn't difficult to learn the controls and jump straight into the action.

You can use both swords and guns in Sairento which makes it a diverse game in terms of weaponry. There's a campaign mode; however, you can also choose non-story missions if you want to play around with the mechanics. Sairento VR is available on most major VR headsets, including PCVR headsets, the PSVR, and the Oculus Quest.