Fans of magical girl anime can also choose from a wide range of video games that are just as magical and have a lot of girl power.
There are a lot of Magical Girl anime shows out there. They are so old that they are almost as old as the medium. Sailor Moon is a great model for those who don’t know what they are. Most shows like that one are about young or teenage girls who can change into magical creatures. Imagine a genre like Power Rangers where most of the characters are women.
Most of these anime have situations like “monster of the week” mixed with “slice of life” humor. That’s a broad statement, but it does the job. Fans of this type of anime may have been wanting to play computer games for a while. There are a lot of good games for a lot of different platforms and types.
Hyperdimension Neptunia
Hyperdimension Neptunia is the first game in a line of magical girl JRPGs with tight gameplay and tons of fanservice. This game is a joyride in every way, making sure that players have as much fun as possible while leaning heavily on the magical girl genre. Still, the games are not at all progressive, and how they show women is at best questionable. This is clear from how strange some of the clothes are for the people who wear them.
But if you can get past how old-fashioned the way women are portrayed, you’ll find a fun JRPG with a great gameplay loop. It may not be the most innovative game in the genre, but Hyperdimension Neptunia does a good job with its ideas and is fun for fans of the magical girl genre to check out.
Blue Reflection
People who like the Persona games will like what Blue Reflection has to offer. The game is mostly about Hinako Shirai, a schoolgirl who used to be a ballet dancer but stopped when she hurt her foot. Then she got the skills of a Reflector and could dance again.
But with this kind of power comes a set of duties. Hinako has a double life. In the real world, she is a normal high school student who makes good friends. In the other world, she is a magical girl who fights monsters with her friends. This is where the similarities to Persona become clear. Players have to build ties that give them access to passive skills that can be used to fight these monsters with the Reflectors.
This Way Madness Lies
Shakespeare and the “magical girl” type seem to go together in a strange but interesting way. The skill with which This Way Madness Lies pulls off this mix will surprise a lot of people. Indie games like these are a great example of how creative and amazing the indie gaming scene is, making experiences that most people didn’t think were possible.
The game has almost no filler. Instead, it leads players through a number of set pieces with great comic writing that makes the experience even better. This short and sweet game is a must-play for fans of different JRPGs who want to try out a happier setting in this genre.
Bayonetta
The Switch is the best way to play both Bayonetta games. This is because the Nintendo versions have outfits from well-known Nintendo games like The Legend of Zelda. The main character in these games already has a Magical Girl vibe, since she kicks a lot of angel butt.
Adding things like being able to dress up as Link takes things to a whole new level. Fans will hopefully be able to play Bayonetta 3, which was suggested a long time ago.
Castlevania: Order Of Ecclesia
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia was one of the few games in the series where the main character was a woman. Shanoa is just as strong as Castlevania characters like Alucard and Trevor Belmont.
She is one of a kind because a special rune on her back, which is almost like a tattoo, lets her take on monster skills. Even though she can’t change into a Magical Girl, this girl has enough power to keep evil away. It is the series’ last full 2D Metroidvania game.
Final Fantasy 10-2
Final Fantasy 10-2 is the best example of a Magical Girl. At the time, it was different because it was the first game in the series with a number after its name. Most other games are adventures that take place in new worlds and feature new personalities.
Yuna, Rikku, and Paine have lots of girl-powered adventures thanks to a fun Job system that lets them dress up in all kinds of crazy outfits. Given what the game was about before, it was a very big surprise. The only bad thing about blitzball was that it was different.
Genshin Impact
There are some male figures in Genshin Impact, but there are also a lot of strong female heroes. When it was first shown, no one thought this copy of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild that was based on anime would be any good.
It was a game that was free to play but had a bad reputation. It goes without saying that the comments and developer support have been great since Drive Mad game came out. This is the most anime-like game on the list, and fans of Magical Girl will enjoy it.
Momodora: Reverie Under The Moonlight
Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight is a Metroidvania game that is played in 2D. Even though the reviews were good, it didn’t get a lot of attention when it came out. It has a group of bad guys who are all women, and the hero looks and acts like Little Red Riding Hood, down to the weapons she uses. It was hard to get good at the game, but patches and other versions have made it easier for people who don’t play it all the time.
Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir
Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir is an HD remake of the original game, which was only for the PS2. It’s a beautiful 2D action RPG that follows several characters. Each character’s campaign is its own journey, but it is also linked to the others.
There are both male and female heroes, but there are more female heroes. The different missions are great, but what’s even better is that they all play differently. Gwendolyn is a Valkyrie with a spear, Mercedes is a flying fairy with a crossbow, and Velvet is a witch with a chain whip.
Sakuna: Of Rice And Ruin
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin didn’t get as much attention in 2020 because it came out around the same time as the new consoles. It’s a 2D action RPG where Sakuna, a goddess, loses her godly powers and has to do good things for humans to get back to where she belongs. It’s mostly an action game, but there are simulation parts that are as fun as farming. It’s a great mix of styles, and the main character is a lot of fun.
Sayonara Wild Hearts
Sayonara Wild Hearts is a game that doesn’t last long. What’s there is a great trip that’s well worth the cost of entry. It’s almost like a CD because players go through a number of fights with different gangs that feel like dreams.
The music is catchy, and even though the graphics are simple, they really stand out on any platform, like the Switch. After the first hour, there are reasons to play it again, but it’s also good enough to play once and be done with it.
Senran Kagura: Estival Versus
Senran Kagura: Estival Versus is one of a series of games about a magical school for girls who want to become ninjas. The game is action-based, and players face waves of enemies on small maps.
There are a lot of different girls to choose from, and each one has her own skills and weapons. They fight in regular clothes, but they can also use magic to change into superpower states with new, even more revealing clothes.
Shantae And The Pirate’s Curse
This series has a lot of games, but Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is one of the best. It’s a tight Metroidvania action-platformer where the half-genie hero is the main character. You can hop from island to island, discover new areas with different powers, and fight a lot of bad guys.
It’s a fun way to play that any Metroidvania fan will love. The colorful group gives the whole show a strong girl-power vibe. This game is great, but you should check out all of them.
