Story and characters
Do you want to know what happens next? Do the characters have their own motives and personalities, or are they only there for pretty pictures? A living story keeps you hooked better than any reward.
How to judge
How to judge an anime-style game yourself
We don't give scores or compile lists of the best games. Instead, we offer questions that help you decide for yourself whether a game is worth your time and money. They're useful both for adult players and for parents being asked to install something new. They're easiest to answer after spending a few hours with a game.
A good anime-style game is remembered for its characters and story, not for how many times it asked you to pay.
How this section works: no scores, rankings or titles. Just questions and signs you can check yourself.
Questions to ask about a game
Ask yourself these after you've first tried the game.
A fair payment model
Is it clear what the purchase includes and what's sold separately? Can you finish the story without spending on random rewards? A fair game doesn't hide prices behind currency or rush you with timers.
Translation
Are the interface, dialogue and skill descriptions translated? Does text get cut off in the boxes? If there's no translation, consider whether you're ready to play with subtitles in a language you know.
Accessibility
Can you enlarge the font, slow down the dialogue, remap buttons or lower the difficulty? A well-made game adapts to the player instead of making the player adapt to it.
Length
How long will the story take, and does the game expect you to log in every day? Daily quests are handy when they fit into your life and tiring when they turn into a chore.
Good signs and red flags
| What you're judging | Good sign | Reason for caution |
|---|---|---|
| Story | Characters grow, and choices affect the story | The story is just a backdrop between purchases |
| Payment | It's clear what the price includes, and purchases need confirmation | Prices only in in-game currency, "act now" timers |
| Translation | Text is complete and fits in the boxes | Broken sentences, untranslated menus |
| Accessibility | Font, text speed and difficulty can be adjusted | Tiny text and no settings |
| Time | You can play at your own pace | Penalties for a missed day |
Why we do without rankings
Anime-style games often run for years: updates add chapters and events and change the payment model and translation. A verdict given today may no longer hold after a couple of major updates.
Besides, what grips one person may bore another. Your own questions are more reliable than someone else's list: they work for any game, including ones not yet released, and help you notice red flags in time.
Related reading
- Mechanics
Party and roles, weaknesses and elements, story choices, affinity, save files and a cap on random rewards.
- Updates
Seasonal events, limited-time characters, new translations and subtitles, and how not to give in to the rush.
- Questions
Answers about this reference, genres and branching stories, purchases, spending limits and parental controls.
- Genres
Japanese-style RPGs, action RPGs, visual novels, rhythm games, life sims, fighting games and story-driven puzzle games.
What we rely on
- Federal Law No. 436-FZ of 29 December 2010 (in general terms)
- Game rules and user agreements (in general terms)
- Anime4 editorial materials
We describe genres and mechanics in general terms. Interfaces, rules and payment options vary from game to game and can change after an update, so check the game's official help pages for exact details.