8 anime for gamers available on Netflix

With its many popular and original titles, Netflix has been the top streaming platform for movies and TV shows. And with its growing anime catalog, it’s slowly becoming one of the best places to stream anime.

New shows are frequently added, not to mention the updates that ensure audiences know there are new episodes to catch up on.

Among the various titles and genres on Netflix, some shows could catch the eye of gamers who want to take a break from their playtime and watch anime related to what they love.

Without further ado, here are the top eight shows for all the gamers out there looking for something to start watching.

#1 DOTA: Dragon’s Blood

Defense of the Ancients, or DOTA, dates from the early 2000s and is known as one of the PC’s first multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA).

Later on in the year 2013, the game, which was originally a mod for Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos and its expansion, Frozen Throne, returned for a sequel as DOTA 2. This is where the 2021 animated show is based on.

Developed by Ashley Edward Miller and Studio Mir, Dragon’s Blood follows the story of one of the playable characters in the game—Dragon Knight Davion—who hunts dragons to keep their mystical world safe.

At one point, a dragon named Slyrak merges himself with Davion, allowing him the power to transform himself into a dragon. Along with Mirana, the sun princess, the two pursue Terrorblade, whose goal is to kill dragons but collect their souls.

The show has three seasons, and from the first episode of the first season, gamers will already feel the familiar thrill of watching the fictional land of DOTA unfold while at the same time keeping their eyes open for their favorite characters.

However, please note that the show contains adult themes such as blood, violence, and language.

#2 Arcane

Also known as Arcane: League of Legends, this is another adult steampunk animation released in 2021, created by Christian Linke and Alex Yee, produced by the French animation studio Fortiche, and supervised by Riot Games—the game developer itself.

Among the vast world of League of Legends, Arcane focuses on the story of Vi and her sister, Jinx, set between the progressing city of Piltover and the undercity—Zaun—who is under their oppression.

The conflict between the two cities also stems from differing opinions regarding the use of technology and arcane magic or even when combining both.

Amidst these clashing ideas, characters (Vi, Jinx, Jayce, and Viktor, to name a few) are struggling to fight for their beliefs and, at the same time, keep their personal lives together.

The show was greatly welcomed even by non-gamers who were curious about the Arcane hype. Its opening theme by the iconic band Imagine Dragons captured the hearts of different audiences.

#3 Tekken: Bloodline

Most people are already familiar with Tekken because it’s practically a household video game title that’s been around since 1994. There have been various movie adaptations even before this show too.

Created by Bandai Namco Entertainment and released in 2022, Tekken: Bloodline is loosely adapted from the 1997 Tekken 3 video game series.

The familiar plot is refreshed in the Netflix adaptation as viewers follow the coming-of-age of young Jin Kazama, who lives with his mother, Jun, where he first learned the Kazama fighting style.

When an ancient demon called Ogre attacks and kills his mother, Jin searches for his grandfather Heihachi Mishima who continues his martial arts training to exact revenge on Ogre. This meant having Jin enter the King of Iron Fist tournament Heihachi reopened.

With a roster of classic characters appearing on the chosen battlefield, Tekken fans will be delighted to relieve their days spent in the arcade. Again, viewer discretion is advised, especially when fighting genres such as Tekken.

While it currently only has 1 season, the ending makes fans wait when will the second one to come out.

#4 Castlevania

Classic video game Castlevania has also been adapted into a dark fantasy adventure series on Netflix created by Warren Ellis and produced by Frederator Studios.

This was initially planned to be a film but was continued instead as a series and promoted to Netflix in 2017.

The story starts when Count Vlad Dracula Tepes’s wife is burned at the stake on the grounds of witchcraft, which makes the Count declare the people of Wallachia shall pay with their lives.

Forced to live in darkness and despair against the army of demons, monster hunter Trevor Belmont was brought into the picture to defeat Dracula and his forces with the magician Sypha Belnades and Dracula’s son, Alucard.

Castlevania has four seasons, running from 2017 to 2021. There is instant nostalgia when it comes to watching the battle against the demons, but at the same time, there is something in store for general vampire and medieval fantasy enthusiasts.

#5 Yu-Gi-Oh

Who doesn’t love to play or at least collect these duel monster cards back in childhood? The good news is that the classic Yu-Gi-Oh episodes are now available on Netflix in their original Japanese voice-over.

Duel monsters, most commonly known as Yu-Gi-Oh, is a popular card-collecting, trading, and dueling franchise; there have been various titles of Yu-Gi-Oh games for various consoles.

To refresh you with the original storyline, Yu-Gi-Oh follows the adventures of young Yugi Muto and his alter ego (Yami Yugi) living within him.

When his grandfather’s soul is captured in Pegasus’s shadow game, Yugi and his friends travel to the Duelist Kingdom to restore his soul and discover much more than just the card game itself.

While Netflix doesn’t provide the whole season of the entire Yu-Gi-Oh series (which is pretty lengthy), it does provide a nostalgic trip back to this classic anime series.

#6 Sonic Prime

There have been many Sonic titles on Netflix. Still, their newest addition to the Sonic the Hedgehog series is Sonic Prime, launched only in December of last year with a promise of more episodes to follow this year, 2023.

Developed by Man of Action, Sonic Prime follows Sonic’s adventure through some multiverse after a battle with Dr. Eggman turns out wrong because Sonic shatters the Paradox Prism, which causes him to be transported into various versions of Green Hill Zone.

Sonic Prime is a fresh take on the video game franchise, and it’s interesting enough to see various versions of our favorite characters as Sonic tries to find his way back to his world.

While most Sonic the Hedgehog shows are primarily aimed at young audiences, this one is something that even avid fans of Sonic, no matter their age, could find fascinating.

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#7 Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

If you enjoyed something similar to Arcane with its dystopian setting and fast-paced action, why not give Cyberpunk: Edgerunners a go?

The series is based on the game, Cyberpunk 2077, created by Rafal Jaki and Cyberpunk’s universe creator, Mike Pondsmith.

Cyberpunk revolves around a hasty yet skilled protagonist named David, who suddenly finds he lost everything after an encounter with a drive-by shooting. This left him with a choice to survive as an “edgerunner,” those on the bad side of the law.

Viewers are captivated by the graphics and animation in this show. Even those unaware of the original video game from where it was adapted shared that it was a unique and unforgettable experience.

#8 Kakegurui

Finally, we have Kakegurui, a gambling-themed psychological thriller anime adapted by MAPPA in 2017. Kakegurui was originally a manga written by Homura Kawamoto.

The premise revolves around an academy—Hyakkaou—where Japan’s wealthiest and most influential students are. However, instead of determining a student’s rank and worth through academics, the school takes to gambling abilities.

Enter Yumeko Jabami, who recently transferred to the said academy. Compared to most students who gamble for prestige and power, Jabami does it for the thrill. Her skillfulness in gambling turned the student body’s attention to her, especially the Student Council president.

This is an interesting anime for those invested in a school setting with a psychological aspect put into it. Fans of the said anime may also mention Jabami’s creepy and even crazy antics that make her a familiar anime character these days.

There you have it, the top 8 animated shows for gamers and gamers-at-heart. These series pull on our nostalgia, make us itch to get our hands on a console, and all-in-all inspire us to get set gaming.

What are your favorite shows that you have watched so far? If we missed out on your favorite shows based on games, you might suggest them in the comment section below.

As always, we wish everyone a happy and safe gaming and anime series binging.