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Best Anime Board Game Gifts: Holiday Gift Guide 2022

Best Anime Board Game Gifts: Holiday Gift Guide 2022

Sleigh bells are jingling, carolers are caroling, and your shopping cart is overflowing. There's no denying it: the holiday season is here.

The holidays are a time to share with the people you love most, to express your appreciation and show them how much you care.

As a generous and devoted friend, you take your gift-giving seriously — and every year, you look forward to watching your friends and family unwrap what you've picked out for them. Nothing beats the smiles on their faces when they tear away the wrapping paper, the warmth that floods your body when they wrap their arms around you and give you a grateful squeeze.

This year, you've made it your mission to find the perfect presents for the people you love. 

Whether you're just getting started or are nearing the bottom of your list, chances are good that there is one person in your life whose gift you still need to find. This person is unique, a little competitive, and passionate about all things board games.

What is the perfect gift for such a person, you ask?

An anime board game.

The Perfect Gift for the Game Lover in Your Life 

Excitement, fun, strategy, and a little bit of friendly competition. 

These are the essential elements of every good board game; the features that capture your attention and keep you coming back to the table time and time again.

Anime board games have these features and then some. 

Through an endless stream of thrilling adventures and action-packed storylines, these board games plunge you into the fantasy world of anime and manga, where you must use the power of your imagination to bring characters to life, fight off enemies, and outwit your foes.

These board games bring the best of anime right to you — but you don’t need to be an anime expert to enjoy what they bring to the table. 

In addition to the creative element of anime, these games feature the fun of friendly competition and the familiar mechanics of classic gameplay, coming together to create a board game theme fit for everyone. 

With a variety of deck-builders, tabletop games, and even options for digital players, Japanime has a selection of anime-themed games suitable for players of all types and stripes — so you can find the perfect gift for the game-lover in your life, regardless of their skill level or anime knowledge. 

Best Anime Deck Building Games 

Tanto Cuore

Tanto Cuore is a deck-building game deserving of a spot in every gamer’s coveted collection. 

As a player, you act as the Lord of a mansion and hire maids with different skill sets to fill your house, trying to earn the title of the mightiest Master of the House in the game.

The game's goal is simple: acquire the most Victory Points by obtaining and employing a range of maid cards. Certain card combinations grant you different strategies you can use throughout your gameplay. With every turn, you can employ more maids and use their powers to your advantage. 

But keep an eye out for your competitors — they can hurt your maids or force bad habits upon them, which will lower your Victory Points and hurt your chances of winning!

Heart of Crown 

Heart of Crown is a deck-building game designed for 2-4 players. In this game, you play as an influential figure in a conflict-ridden empire. Your objective is to claim the throne as quickly as possible to unify the kingdom and return the realm to its former peace and glory. 

Accomplishing this goal, however, is no easy feat. You must nominate a princess for the title, garner support from the community, clash with rival candidates, and rely on your skills and strategy to get your princess her rightful position as ruler. 

Each player begins with the same deck of cards. You strengthen your deck by adding and playing cards according to your unique strategy. During the game, players take turns to gain Succession Points. These points represent the support of your subjects and other influential figures in the empire. The first player to earn 20 Succession Points ascends to the throne and wins the game!

Best Anime Tabletop Games

Attack on Titan: The Last Stand

In Attack on Titan: The Last Stand, players take on the role of their favorite Scout — either Eren, Conny, Hange, or Levi — to protect the city of Trost, the last remaining human city in existence, from the wrath of the Titans.

The Titan and castle walls create a vertical playing surface, so strategic positioning is critical in this game. Players must employ a range of tactical combinations to strategically move their characters along the playing surface, avoiding attacks and delivering devastating blows to bring the Titan down once and for all.

Cowboy Bebop: Space Serenade 

In Cowboy Bebop: Space Serenade, you play as a crew member of the infamous spaceship Bebop, traveling from planet to planet as you bring down criminals from all across the solar system.

As a player, you will obtain new abilities and characters each round, fueling the spaceship to continue journeying between planets. On this journey, you will capture wanted outlaws and earn rewards — known as Points of Renown — for bringing down space criminals. You will continue earning points until the final confrontation with your most dangerous foe, Vicious. 

The player with the most Renown at the end of the game will win and prove to their fellow crew members that they are the best bounty hunter in the galaxy.

Best Anime Board Games for the Whole Family  

BESM - Big Eyes, Small Mouth

Hardcore anime fans and roleplaying pundits won’t want to miss out on the 4th edition of Big Eyes, Small Mouth

This revolutionary and action-packed RPG plunges you into the vast realm of anime and manga. As a player, you can create your own anime character, traverse dangerous dungeons, tame monstrous creatures, and explore realms of your wildest imagination.

BESM (Big Eyes, Small Mouth) Fourth Edition Core Rulebook

This volume features over 100 beautiful illustrations spread across its 352 full-color pages, making it a dream come true for anime fans and gaming enthusiasts alike, no matter their experience level or expertise.

Anime 5E 

Creative thinkers and anime enthusiasts will love what Anime 5E brings to their gaming experience. 

This 2-5 person RPG allows players to use the endless capabilities of their imagination to explore the fantasy world of anime. As a character of your creation, you will fight monsters, tame dragons, and discover paths that take you to entirely different worlds.

Anime 5E is just the beginning of your gaming journey — and the enthralling elements found in anime and manga will bring your biggest fantasy adventures to life.

Take Advantage of Our Anime Board Game Winter Sale!

There you have it: a variety of anime-themed board games suitable for gaming enthusiasts and anime fans of all types and stripes. With the games featured on this list and the selection available on our site, we’re confident that you will find the perfect gift for the game-lover in your life.

That said, you’re not the only one in the spirit of giving…

This holiday season, we want to spread the love to you, our loyal Japanimaniacs and devoted friends — and what better way to show how much we care than a discount?

From now until December 25th, you can get 50% off all select titles — from hidden gems and sought-after classics to games you’ve been itching to buy but haven’t had the chance, now listed at their lowest price ever.

Consider it a gift — from our family to yours.

Browse the Winter Sale collection now!

Closing Considerations

If you’re looking for a gift for the gaming enthusiast in your life, you can’t go wrong with an anime-themed board game. Combining classic board game mechanics, unique characters, and action-packed storylines, anime board games bring the best of anime to your table. 

Board games are a great way to bring people together — and spending time with the people you love is what the holidays are really all about. With an anime-themed board game, you can show the game lover and anime fanatic in your life how much you care while gifting them a gaming experience you can enjoy together.

Not sure what game to get for the Japanimaniac in your life? 

No worries, you can still give the gift of gaming this holiday season — with a Japanime gift card! 

Grab a gift card today and take a look at our selection of amazing anime-themed titles. We’re confident you’ll find a game fit for all kinds of fun!

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Japanime Games Brings Japan To You

For over a decade Japanime Games has been dedicated to bringing you the finest games from Japan and beyond! We're committed to uniting the wonderful world of anime with the classic comfort of tabletop games — a fusion that brings the best of Japanese culture right to your table. 

Become a Japanimaniac to get behind-the-scenes details on all our ongoing projects, our upcoming releases,  access to our private discord channels, a monthly gift card for 10% off all purchases, free shipping over $50, one-of-a-kind variant covers, promo packs, and much more!

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Tanto Cuore

Tanto Cuore

Regular price $49.95 USD
Regular price Sale price $49.95 USD
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Attack on Titan: The Last Stand

Attack on Titan: The Last Stand

Regular price $49.95 USD
Regular price Sale price $49.95 USD
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Cowboy Bebop: Space Serenade

Cowboy Bebop: Space Serenade

Regular price $59.95 USD
Regular price Sale price $59.95 USD
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by Eric Price – December 09, 2022