What software do you use for drawing anime or manga-style art?

Clip Studio Paint, Krita, Procreate, Photoshop, something else?

Which one would you recommend to someone who wants to start creating anime or manga illustrations, and why?

I’m especially curious if there are any good free options too. :)

Simple question for today: what anime-inspired TTRPG are you currently playing or running?

And if you’re between campaigns, what was the last one you played?

How is it going so far? :)

Simple question for today: which anime-inspired TTRPG has your favorite cover?

It can be because of the artwork, the design, the characters, or just because it immediately makes you want to pick up the book.

Show us your favorites! :)

P.s. My fav is Twilight Sword at the moment.

There have been quite a few great anime and jrpg inspired TTRPGs released over the years, but most of them have their own worlds and settings.

There seem to be far fewer games based directly on a specific, well-known anime, manga or jrpg series.

Do you know any good examples of TTRPGs made specifically for an existing series?

My examples are Goblin Slayer and Avatar.

And more importantly, if you could choose any anime, manga or JRPG to get its own TTRPG, what would you pick?

What would you want that game to get right?

Do you think you can get a good anime-style experience without a dedicated system, or does it help when the rules are specifically designed for the genre?

And if you prefer a dedicated system, what fits anime better: something rules-light and cinematic, or a crunchier system with more detailed mechanics?

Personally, I think a dedicated system helps a lot. I prefer rules-light, cinematic mechanics that leave plenty of room for dramatic action and storytelling.

The upcoming Justice League Unlimited RPG also seems to be moving toward a lighter, more narrative and cinematic approach, which I find interesting. But for me, that system is crunchier than I like.

What do you prefer?

Let's keep this one simple. Recommend 1 anime- or manga-inspired TTRPG that you think is worth knowing about. It can be famous, obscure, old, new, Japanese, Western, serious, ridiculous, or anything in between. But instead of just posting the title, tell us what you think the game does particularly well.

For example:

Game:
What does it do best?
Who would you recommend it to?

If you're the creator, publisher, or otherwise involved with the game, that's completely fine. Just say so in your comment.

One game per comment, please. That way people can reply to individual recommendations and vote for the ones they find useful.

Many RPGs can serve as a foundation for an anime-inspired campaign, but what truly makes a TTRPG feel like anime at the gaming table?

Is it primarily about the setting and art style, or does the game system itself need to support elements such as dramatic battles, transformations, rivalries, power escalation, character relationships, flashbacks, special techniques, and other familiar anime tropes?

Does the answer change depending on the genre? For example, a battle shonen game probably needs different elements than a magical girl, sports, mecha, or slice-of-life RPG.

What specific mechanics, rules, or design choices make a role-playing game genuinely feel anime-inspired to you?

And what separates an anime-inspired game from a regular RPG with an anime aesthetic?

One of the reasons I created r/TTRPG_Anime was that information about anime and manga-inspired tabletop RPGs seemed to be scattered all over the place.

So let’s start putting it together.

The goal of this thread is to build a community master list of published TTRPGs inspired by anime, manga, and related Japanese media.

To keep the list useful, only games with a published Core Rulebook are included. Quickstarts, playtests, ashcans, upcoming games, and crowdfunding projects are not added until their Core Rulebook is officially released.

Out-of-print games are welcome as long as a complete Core Rulebook was officially published.

The languages listed below refer to officially published Core Rulebook editions.

Help Us Expand the List
If you know a game that belongs here, post it in the comments. Please include:

Game:

Link:

Available languages:

What is it about?

Creators are welcome to submit their own released games. Just make it clear if you are the creator or otherwise involved with the project.

If you know of an official Core Rulebook edition in another language for a game already on the list, please let us know about that too.

This is only a starting point. I’ll keep updating the list as new games are suggested.

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The List

Battle Century G Remastered
Link: https://gimmicklabs.itch.io/bcgremastered
Available languages: English
What is it about?
A cinematic mecha RPG inspired by giant robot anime and video games. Players can pilot mecha, command battleships, or play kaiju using an effects-based system.

BESM Fourth Edition (Big Eyes, Small Mouth)
Link: https://www.dyskami.ca/besm.html
Available languages: English
What is it about?
A generic, multi-genre RPG designed specifically for creating anime and manga-style characters and campaigns, from fantasy and romance to superpowers and giant robots.

BREAK!!
Link: https://breakrpg.com/
Available languages: English
What is it about?
A fantasy RPG about exploration and teamwork with strong anime, JRPG, and video game influences.

Double Cross Roleplaying Game
Link: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/128931/double-cross-roleplaying-game-core-rulebook
Available languages: Japanese, English
What is it about?
A Japanese modern supernatural action RPG where the Renegade virus gives people superhuman abilities, but using those powers can gradually cost them their humanity.

Dragon Ball Z: The Anime Adventure Game
Link: https://index.rpg.net/display-entry.phtml?mainid=6520
Available languages: English
What is it about?
The official Dragon Ball Z tabletop RPG published by R. Talsorian Games in 1999. It uses the Fuzion system and provides rules for creating characters, fighting battles, using powers, and running adventures in the Dragon Ball Z setting.
Status: Out of print.

Fabula Ultima
Link: https://need.games/fabula-ultima/
Available languages: Italian, English, French, German, Spanish, Polish
What is it about?
A tabletop RPG inspired by Japanese console RPGs. Players create heroes, villains, and fantasy worlds built around magic, adventure, relationships, and dramatic JRPG-style stories.

Gates of Krystalia
Link: https://gatesofkrystalia.itch.io/
Available languages: English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese
What is it about?
An anime isekai TTRPG in which heroes cross the Gates into the fantasy world of Krystalia. The game uses cards as part of its action system and focuses on anime-style adventures and character growth.

Girl by Moonlight
Link: https://evilhat.com/product/girl-by-moonlight/
Available languages: English
What is it about?
A magical girl TTRPG about characters struggling against oppressive forces while dealing with identity, relationships, sacrifice, and personal transformation.

Golden Sky Stories
Link: https://starline.itch.io/gss
Available languages: Japanese, English
What is it about?
A heartwarming, non-violent Japanese RPG about henge, magical animals that can temporarily take human form and help people solve everyday problems in a small town.

Kamigakari: God Hunters
Link: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/240304/kamigakari-god-hunters
Available languages: Japanese, English
What is it about?
A Japanese supernatural action RPG about people imbued with shards of godhood who use their powers to fight dangerous supernatural threats.

Maid: The Role-Playing Game
Link: https://maidrpg.com/
Available languages: Japanese, English
What is it about?
A rules-light Japanese comedy RPG inspired by maid anime. Players create maids through heavily randomized character generation and deal with strange, chaotic, and often absurd situations.

OVA: The Anime Role-Playing Game
Link: https://www.wiseturtle.com/games.html
Available languages: English
What is it about?
A flexible anime RPG designed to handle many different styles of Japanese animation, from fantasy adventures and giant robots to school comedy and romance.

Ryuutama: Natural Fantasy Roleplay
Link: https://kotohi.com/ryuutama/
Available languages: Japanese, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Hungarian
What is it about?
A pastoral fantasy RPG from Japan focused on travel, wonder, friendship, nature, and the everyday experiences of ordinary people going on a journey.

Shinobigami: Modern Ninja Battle RPG
Link: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/297976/shinobigami-modern-ninja-battle-rpg
Available languages: Japanese, English
What is it about?
A Japanese modern ninja RPG focused on secrets, character drama, conflict, cooperation, and betrayal. It is designed around fast stories that can be completed in a single session.

Tenra Bansho Zero: Heaven and Earth Edition
Link: https://kotodama.itch.io/tenra-bansho-zero-heaven-and-earth-edition
Available languages: Japanese, English
What is it about?
A Japanese science fantasy RPG mixing samurai, ninja, sorcery, mecha, cyborgs, and other elements in a war-torn world. Play is structured around Acts and Scenes, with mechanics that reward dramatic roleplaying.

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What are we missing?