OUR FAVOURITES FROM JAPAN
The hit games that started as manga
Japan has been the birthplace for many videogames that have gone on to become worldwide phenomena. Some started out as games from the beginning, while others had their origins in manga or anime.
In honour of our favourite games from Japan, we’re exploring their history, looking back on their first appearances in their home country and celebrating the characters and storylines that became so popular with players around the world.
Today, it’s the turn of the hit games that are based on beloved Japanese manga and anime.
Dragon Ball
The world was first introduced to the superhuman strength of Goku in 1984 when Akira Toriyama’s manga Dragon Ball was serialised in Weekly Shōnen Jump. Goku, a Saiyan who was raised on Earth, became a fan favourite thanks to his special moves such as Kamehameha and Genki Dama.
As the series grew in popularity it evolved from manga to anime, toys and games. On mobile, this much-loved world was brought to life in the epic Dragon Ball Legends, where players can control Goku, Vegeta, Frieza, Son Gohan and Trunks for fast and fiery battles. In 3D, the characters have been faithfully reproduced so that even their movements and dialogue will stir up all the nostalgia of their first appearances.
Captain Tsubasa
The football-loving Tsubasa Ozora became a bona-fide star (and even ignited a football boom in Japan) when the manga series Captain Tsubasa was first serialised in Weekly Shōnen Jump in 1981. Honing his remarkable football skills while at school, Tsubasa goes on to become a superstar pro player.
On mobile, Captain Tsubasa: Dream Team is the ultimate Tsubasa experience, with the star’s rivals and friends gathered and ready to play in heated matches. Form your team and join games that feel just as passion-filled and dramatic as they were in the original manga.
One Piece
It was 1997 in Japan when Monkey D. Luffy first set sail in his little boat, but the course of this great adventure continues to this day. The path that Luffy and his friends took in search of the legendary treasure One Piece was long and arduous, but the drama of their adventures has never failed to thrill fans of the series.
In One Piece Bounty Rush, things step up a gear in awesome 4-v-4 battles featuring the Straw Hat Pirates (the name Luffy and his pals go by that was inspired by his signature hat). Creating your pirate crew is fun, as is strategising about which characters and moves you’ll need to engage to claim that famous loot.
The Seven Deadly Sins
This heroic, dark fantasy manga masterpiece was first serialised in Japan in Weekly Shōnen Magazine in 2012, and was soon published around the world. It’s proven particularly popular in France and Korea, and the mobile game The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross is produced by Korean game developer Netmarble.
Grand Cross lets you experience the original story in all its glory on mobile. Set during ancient times in the land of Britannia, the legendary order of knights known as The Seven Deadly Sins set out to clear their names after being framed and take back the kingdom they were expelled from.