Games based on anime tend to be monopolized by certain recognizable brands. Dragon Ball Z drops a new fighter on an almost yearly basis, while Sword Art Online has generated five console games in the span of less than a decade. Anime amounts to far more than Weekly Shōnen Jump, but the magazine's licenses are the most likely to earn a video game. In just the last year, Black Clover and Gintama scored their own personal adaptations, while My Hero One's Justice is set to be released by the end of October.

Even though Bandai Namco seems willing to experiment with other properties, Naruto remains one of the publisher's most lucrative reservoirs. Masashi Kishimoto concluded his beloved manga in 2014, but the creation of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations kept the Hidden Leaf Village firmly planted on the world's radar. Dragon Ball remains the king of anime games, but Naruto sits at a close second. Published in 2003 for the WodnerSwan Color, Naruto: Konoha Ninpouchou opened the proverbial floodgates and ninjas refuse to stop flowing out!

Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 is rightfully considered among the greatest anime-based video games of all time, but Kishimoto's property has birthed many wonderful titles. On the other hand, Boruto's father has starred in his fair share of terrible adventures. Here are 15 Naruto video games fans pretend don’t exist (and 15 great ones everyone forgets about)!

30 Great: Naruto: Clash Of Ninja

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Overshadowed by the sequel, Naruto: Clash of Ninja deserves credit for proving Kishimoto's franchise could translate into another medium. Originally published in 2003, a Western port was not released until three years later; as a consequence, Clash of Ninja garnered average reviews. Admittedly, the gameplay is relatively basic, but the fast-paced combat successfully replicates the anime's exhilarating battles. Should fans attempt to seek this one out? Honestly, Clash of Ninja offers nothing that was not improved upon by later games, but its importance should not be discredited.

29 Trash: Naruto Shippūden: Legends: Akatsuki Rising

Naruto Shippūden: Legends: Akatsuki Rising

For a couple of years, the PlayStation Portable was nothing short of a must-own platform for anime fans. In comparison with Nintendo's handheld devices, the PSP possessed just enough processing power to produce experiences reminiscent of the PlayStation 2. Somewhat similar to CyberConnect2's Naruto: Ultimate Ninja series, Naruto Shippūden: Legends: Akatsuki Rising covered the Kazekage Rescue Arc and promised to allow players to game on the go. With so many Naruto titles on the market, the vast majority tend to be totally forgettable. Hampered by empty levels and an underwhelming combat system, Akatsuki Rising is a pale imitation of its home console brethren.

28 Great: Naruto To Boruto: Shinobi Striker

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Bandai Namco's most recent adaptation launched to mediocre reviews and a disappointing commercial return. Striving to replicate Dragon Ball Xenoverse's multiplayer formula, Naruto To Boruto: Shinobi Striker combines high octane combat with a class-based battle system. The combination works well, but the focus is squarely on competitive play. While sold on its multiplayer component, Xenoverse's single-player content was also heavily marketed and could entertain customers for dozens of hours. Shinobi Striker has solo missions, but they feel like glorified tutorials. Thankfully, the multiplayer element is quite a lot of fun.

27 Trash: Naruto: Path Of The Ninja

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Tired of fighters? Well, Naruto: Path Of The Ninja opted to traverse a different route. A traditional JRPG, Path of Ninja started out as a 2004 Game Boy Advance release, but a Western port was only made available for the Nintendo DS. To give credit when credit is due, Path of Ninja works well enough for the type of game it is trying to be; however, this might be one of the most derivative JRPGs on the handheld console. At times, the game feels more like a hack with Naruto sprites replacing some generic characters.

26 Great: Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Impact

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When discussing anything, context should always be taken into consideration. Stealing a page or two from Dynasty Warriors' book, Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Impact adheres strictly to the Musou formula. Littered with inept goons and culminating in a boss battle, missions boil down to sludging through countless enemies. Flawed and rather forgettable, Ultimate Ninja Impact still ranks among the better portable Naruto games. Even if the mechanics are rather simplistic, clearing out a whole battalion of ninjas with a single move is unbelievably satisfying.

25 Trash: Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles 2

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A couple of years after its inception, Naruto's anime amassed a substantial Western fanbase. Seeking to take advantage of the hype surrounding the property, Namco Bandai unleashed an onslaught of ports on the public. In 2006, players could purchase more than ten new Naruto titles; unsurprisingly, this unrelenting schedule quickly started to overwhelm the market. Attempting to be more of an action-adventure title than a straight fighter, Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles 2 failed to be much of anything. Worsened by a dull combat system, the extremely repetitive and easy missions were fitting for a story mode that lacked any flair or excitement.

24 Great: Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3

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When it comes to Naruto video games, CyberConnect2 is the definitive developer. Overshadowed by the Ultimate Ninja Storm series, the studio perfected 2D battles before adding an extra dimension. A convincing argument can be presented for Ultimate Ninja marking the franchise's peak. Injected with some RPG elements and a combo system boasting a respectable amount of depth, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3 has aged like a glass of fine wine. Despite landing on the PlayStation 2, CyberConnect2's visuals remain impressive to this very day. If Ultimate Ninja Storm's battles always felt a tad rigid, then Ultimate Ninja 3 should be deemed a must buy.

23 Trash: Naruto Shippūden: Ninja Destiny 2

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What factors should be considered as vital when analyzing licensed games? As a title for fans, Naruto Shippūden: Ninja Destiny 2 offers a decent roster of characters to keep customers distracted for a couple of hours. As a fighting game? Ninja Destiny 2 leaves quite a lousy impression. Published on the Nintendo DS, this is a 2D fighter that seems to actively reward button mashing over combos. Without a discernable move list to reference, learning new tricks depends solely on trial and error. Split into three modes, the overly long campaign showcases the combat's shallow depth.

22 Great: Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations

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In hindsight, CyberConnect2 did not exactly hit the ground running with Ultimate Ninja Storm. The first two games looked the part, but their battle systems were frequently too frustrating to be all that entertaining. Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations marked this particular series' turning point. Combining elements from both its predecessors, CyberConnect2 intensified the combat to create a system capable of being accessible and visually pleasing. Up until 2012, Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations was comfortably the best arena fighter based on Kishimoto's property. Due to the success of the later entries in the series, this one has largely been forgotten.

21 Trash: Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles

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Among the earliest spin-offs based on the franchise and published at the perfect time, Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles might hold a special place in the hearts of many gamers. Following a filler storyline and boasting a hub world to explore, this action-adventure title was too ambitious for its own good. Once the shine wore off, we were left with a minimalistic brawler in desperate need of some variety. Uzumaki Chronicles deserves praise for striving to push the franchise out of the fighting genre, but the content is rather underwhelming.

20 Great: Naruto: The Broken Bond

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Weirdly enough, Ubisoft adapted Kishimoto's property into a pair of Xbox 360 exclusives. Surprisingly, the French studio delivered the most complete gaming experience based on Naruto. A sequel to 2007's Naruto: Rise of a Ninja, The Broken Bond is billed as a fighting game, but the sum of its parts amount to a far more memorable package. Even though combat is the game's main selling point, The Broken Bond boasts various immersive environments to explore. Other releases have attempted to replicate this formula, but none have come close to surpassing Ubisoft's effort.

19 Trash: Naruto: Ninja Council

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A Game Boy Advance sidescroller ported to the west after production commenced on the Nintendo DS, Naruto: Ninja Council has good animation and an okay battle system, but the painfully short campaign hinders the package's overall potential. Split into eight levels, Ninja Council is essentially a Mega Man game featuring Naruto characters, and this extends to the challenging boss fights. Taking into consideration the platform's limitations, Ninja Council is arguably the best "worst" entry listed on this article. Nevertheless, only huge fans will find some enjoyment.

18 Great: Naruto: Clash Of Ninja Revolution

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A Wii exclusive, Naruto: Clash Of Ninja Revolution combines elements from Clash of Ninja 2 and the Japanese-only Gekitō Ninja Taisen! 3. After the first two Clash of Ninja games and the fact the English dub was far behind the original version, Tomy's franchise began producing separate iterations for Japanese and Western fans. For those who appreciated the GameCube releases, Clash of Ninja Revolution is merely more of the same, albeit with a larger roster and a Wii-mote. Packed with content and among the console's better fighters, Clash of Ninja Revolution remains a blast to play.

17 Trash: Naruto Shippūden: Kizuna Drive

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A fine line separates a challenging but rewarding experience from one riddled with frustration and anger. Prioritizing team-based gameplay above solo missions, Naruto Shippūden: Kizuna Drive scores a couple of points in its favor. Unfortunately, the flawed battle system turns even the most mundane encounters into an unenjoyable slog. New characters are locked behind the story missions, so too much time is spent repeating the same levels to try and score a reward that might eventually lead to some entertainment.

16 Great: Naruto: Rise Of A Ninja

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Anime's reach extends beyond Japan, but Western companies seldom encroach upon this particular industry. Recently, the likes of Netflix produced a couple of live-action films based on popular manga, but games tend to remain in the hands of Japanese developers. Ubisoft's Naruto: Rise of a Ninja is better than most anime-based games on the market. Incorporating RPG elements into a traditional fighter, Rise of a Ninja features a fully realized hub world for fans to explore. Suddenly, we could stroll through the Hidden Leaf Village's streets and live the life of a shinobi!

15 Trash: Naruto Shippūden: Ninja Council 4

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Naruto Shippūden: Ninja Council is the living embodiment of stagnation. At the very least, sequels should attempt to expand upon the mechanics introduced by the earlier releases. If analyzed as a franchise, the third entry was probably the best of the bunch; nonetheless, none of the games are particularly deserving of much attention. The spin-off series' pen-ultimate release, Ninja Council 4 does not even attempt to upgrade upon its predecessor. Boasting a smaller roster than the third entry, Ninja Council 4 is an unambitious sidescroller that would have benefited greatly from some originality.

14 Great: Naruto: Powerful Shippūden

Via IGN.com

Based on Naruto Spin-Off: Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals, a parody series led by the optimistic taijutsu master, Naruto: Powerful Shippūden oozes personality during every well-animated cutscene and level. Split between Naruto and Rock Lee, the gameplay varies depending on the character being controlled. For example, Lee is limited to only physical attacks. Brawlers always risk growing monotonous, but Naruto: Powerful Shippūden introduces a level-up system that helps resist the onset of boredom. Available on the Nintendo 3DS, the anime's chibi art style compliments the handheld platform.

13 Trash: Naruto Online

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On paper, an MMO set within the world of a popular shounen anime sounds almost too good to be true. For the most part, this has proven to be the case. Naruto Online is a browser-based MMORPG and launches with a character creator that enables a player to join one of five clans. Recreating both the manga's main arcs and some filler content from the anime, the squad-based battle system is genuinely engrossing and deserves to be stuck to a much better product. Like most free to play MMOs, Naruto Online frequently drops a huge wall that limits progression. Is it the worst game on the internet? No, but MMORPGs are a dime-a-dozen and few are actually worth the time.

12 Great: Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3

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With six titles released over a period spanning less than a decade, Kishimoto's manga was born to grace the PlayStation Portable's screen! The Nintendo DS could never hope to replicate Clash of Ninja or Ultimate Ninja's gorgeous graphics or frantic combat, but the PSP opened up an entire realm of possibilities. Personal preference aside, Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3 came the closest to capturing the brilliance of the console titles. Created by CyberConnect2, this entry's gimmick was the implementation of four-player battles.

11 Trash: Naruto Shippūden: Naruto vs. Sasuke

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Desiring to spice things up after dropping four mainly underwhelming sidescrollers, the Ninja Council brand rose back to life with a fresh name. Unfortunately, Naruto Shippūden: Naruto vs. Sasuke's creativity starts and ends with its title. As far as action-platformers go, the Ninja Council games are more mediocre than downright terrible, but the formula wore thin after the third entry. Naruto vs. Sasuke's levels are relatively expansive and impressive, but everything else feels like a clone of the previous games.