Kamigami Battles

von Eric Price

Anime Board Games - The Good, The Great, And The Must-Plays

Why We Love Anime Board Games So Much Ask most gaming enthusiasts and they’ll probably tell you that board games are a great way to have fun with your family and friends.  You get to sit together at the table, hovering over the board or shielding your deck of cards from prying eyes as you plot your next move, laughing all the while. You team up to fight your foes and erupt into cheer to celebrate your victories.  Anime board games take this experience to a new level. Not only do they bring you the best features of board game play; they also plunge you into the fantasy world of anime and manga, letting you bring your favorite characters to life — or create your own for your next adventure.  Whether you want to explore the magic of anime and challenge your gaming skills, or you just want to find an exciting game for your next game night, there’s an anime board game out there for everyone.  So keep reading to find the next one to add to your collection! The “Good” Anime Board Games of 2022  Attack On Titan: The Last Stand If you’re a fan of anime, you’ll most likely recognize this title.  This anime tabletop game lets you play as your favorite character from the hit anime series, Attack on Titan. Take on the role of a Scout — either Eren, Hange, Conny, or Levi — and protect the city of Trost from the Titans’ destruction. Or, if you’re feeling like causing some damage yourself, you can play as the Titan! The Titan and castle walls form a vertical playing surface, so you must position your Scout tactfully to succeed in this game. Players strategically move their characters up and down to avoid attacks and inflict damaging blows to weaken the Titan and bring it to its knees once and for all. If you’re a fan of strategic gameplay, you’ll love what Attack on Titan: The Last Stand brings to the table. With multiple tactical options and combinations available in this game, players won’t have to worry about boredom. Additionally, one of the main elements that makes this game so much fun is its fast pace. You have to be strategic and simultaneously think quickly on your feet to avoid the Titan’s attacks — so there’s rarely any time to hesitate!  Sailor Moon Crystal: Imposterous Fans of Sailor Moon will be over the moon for this board game. Based off of the popular anime series, Sailor Moon Crystal: Imposterous lets players venture into the world of the Sailor Guardians and use their powers to defeat evil forces. This time, you’re up against the Deathbusters, who have captured someone from the Guardians team and replaced them with a Daimon imposter. Thankfully, Artemis and Luna uncovered this evil ploy — and now you and your team must work together to identify the imposter in the group.  Throughout the game, players take turns asking a series of open-ended questions and comparing their answers in search of ones that don’t align with the rest of the group. Following every question, each player writes down the answer they think will match the one given by the other players. The more answers a player has in common with the others, the more points they earn. The player with the least amount of points — the one whose answers differ the most — at the end of each round might be the imposter, and their pawn moves down the game board. When a player — or many players — exit the last space on the game board, the team unmasks the imposter and rescues their captured teammate to end the game! The “Great” Anime Board Games of 2022  Tokyo Sidekick Every good Hero needs a Sidekick — and in this game, you get to play as both! Tokyo Sidekick is a 2-4 player game that combines the best elements of deck-building, board movement, and cooperative action. Each player controls one Hero and one Sidekick, equipped with their own unique backstories and abilities. As you move around the board, your teams must fight against powerful villains committing crimes across the city of Tokyo.  Throughout your gameplay, you’ll build your deck and use your cards to power every action and movement to gain the upper hand over your adversaries. Additionally, you’ll discover new gadgets, powers, and stronger abilities that enable you to level up your characters and start working with your fellow Heroes to defeat your opponents. But if you take too much damage, crime reaches dangerous levels, or you can’t beat the final boss, Tokyo will dissolve into chaos and the city will be lost for good.  Heroes must defeat 2 Villains, 2 Supervillains, and the Final Boss — The Menace — to win the game and save the city in time.  Do you have what it takes?  Pick up Tokyo Sidekick today to find out! BESM 4th Edition  Hardcore anime fans and role-playing enthusiasts won’t want to miss out on the 4th edition of Big Eyes, Small Mouth. This revolutionary and action-packed roleplay game is set in the vast world of manga and anime. As a player, you get to create your very own anime character, delve into the depths of dungeons, tame monstrous creatures, and travel to new realms — all with the unlimited power of your own imagination.  One of the features we love most about RPGs is the freedom they bring to gameplay. But we recognize that this can feel overwhelming if you’re just getting started. Thankfully, this volume is a complete and robust system that consists of everything you need to get started — so you can jump right into the world of anime and BESM right away. This volume features over 100 stunning illustrations spread out across its 352 full-color pages, so it’s a dream for anime enthusiasts of all types and stripes, regardless of experience level or expertise. BESM is just the start of your next fantasy adventure — and the enthralling elements found in anime and manga will bring your journey to life. The “Must Play” Anime Board Games of 2022  Kamigami Battles: Rise of The Old Ones Kamigami Battles: Rise of the Old Ones is a fantastic deck-building game designed for 2-6 players. As a player, you take on the role of one of the Great Old Ones and recruit Disciples and Warriors to fight alongside you in your battles  against the gods trying to conquer your domain. This game has two modes you can play in: Team Match and Free-For-All. In Team Match, players partner up with each other to beat their opponents in battle. In Free-For-All mode, all bets are off — everyone fights each other at once! Whichever mode you choose to play in, your objective remains the same: destroy all of the opposing gods by reducing them to zero energy, or by being the first player to attain 25 energy. This is no easy feat, however. To achieve your goal, you must draw cards from your deck to boost your stats, or attack an enemy god directly. You also have Powers at your disposal. These special abilities give you an edge over other players during battle. Finally, you have Domain Cards, which grant you access to additional abilities based on the various domains they control. The versatility of Rise of the Old Ones paired with its compatibility with other games in the Kamigami Battles franchise make it a must-play for anime and board game enthusiasts alike. And if you want to expand your options within the base game itself, you can pick up some expansion packs to take your gameplay to a new level! Tanto Cuore The final game on our list is Tanto Cuore — another competitive deck-building game that you need to check out.  In this game, you play as the Lord of a mansion and hire maids to serve you as you fill your house (card deck), trying to become the most powerful Master of the House.  Your objective is to acquire the most Victory Points by acquiring and employing different maid cards. When combined, certain cards give you different strategies that you can use in your gameplay. At every turn, you have the chance to hire more unique and powerful maids, and use their skills to your advantage.  But keep an eye on your opponents — they can make your maids sick or give them bad habits, which will lower your Victory Points and hurt your chances of winning the game.  When the game reaches its end, the player with the most Victory Points is deemed the ‘perfect master’ and wins the game! Closing Considerations Anime board games combine the best features of anime and traditional board game play. You get the strategy and fun of friendly competition with the compelling and creative elements of anime, all wrapped into one.  Regardless of your skill level or anime expertise, there’s an anime board game out there for everyone to enjoy. So if you’re a gaming enthusiast looking for a game that gives you the best of both worlds, then you can’t go wrong with any of the games featured on this list! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  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! Did you enjoy this article? Good news - it was just Act 1.  For more tabletop wisdom, roll a D6: 1-2: The Best Anime Board Games To Play With Friends 3-4: Japanime Games, Crunchyroll & ZU Studios Partner on ZU Tiles and Fruits Basket 5-6: The Domina Anthology 2: Now on Kickstarter!

von Emma Recher

Madness, Myth, and Madness... Welcome to Kamigami Battles – Rise of the Old Ones

The stars are wrong. The oceans churn. Something ancient has awakened—and it's looking to deck you.   In Kamigami Battles: Rise of the Old Ones, the gods of madness and myth have decided it’s their turn to rumble. The elder gods have risen, and rather than causing the immediate collapse of civilization, they’ve chosen a much more refined method of domination: divine combat with a deck of cards and a flair for the dramatic. Cthulhu? Present.Nyarlathotep? Absolutely.A disturbingly strategic octopus in formalwear? You know it. Deck-Building with a Hint of Madness At its core, Rise of the Old Ones is a deck-building battle of cosmic proportions—except instead of noble gods or martial heroes, you're commanding Lovecraftian horrors and eldritch champions who'd rather drive you mad than shake your hand. Each player chooses an elder god and builds a deck around that entity's twisted strengths. You'll recruit Champions, collect Artifacts, and tap into Domain Power—a unique resource system that fuels your growing influence. Artifacts aren’t just shiny extras—they’re potent tools that can tip the balance of power, offering passive buffs, nasty surprises, or combo synergy that makes your deck hum (or howl, depending on your deity). Gameplay is all about balance: do you ramp up your domain and tech into long-term power, or rush your opponent with overwhelming force before they can summon that unspeakable abomination hiding in their deck? Champions bring tactical variety, while Artifacts and Domain Power add layers of timing, tempo, and delicious dread. You'll need to adapt, exploit synergies, and know when to go full tentacle. And when the stars are right? Well, let’s just say your opponents won’t know what hit them. (Or which dimension it came from.) So: ready to shuffle the unknowable and deck the divine? Of course not. But you’re going to try anyway. Madness makes it fun Want more tentacules? We’ve got expansions for that. Into the Dreamlands adds the full surreal horror of dreams turned sideways. The Stars Are Right unleashes even more cosmic chaos, introducing powers that might cost you your lead—or your grip on reality. Mix and match them with the core game, or throw them in with other Kamigami sets for a battle of mythological proportions. Eldritch Beauty, Anime Bravado   It’s spooky. It’s stylish. It’s surprisingly colorful for a game about world-ending nightmares. The card art blends otherworldly horror with dynamic anime-inspired action—and you’ll either love it, or it will love you back from beyond the veil. (Same difference.)   Still on the fence? Check out this review from Board Game Heaven for a closer look at the gameplay, mechanics, and just how much existential dread can fit into a deck-builder. So, if you’re ready to channel madness, command mythic beasts, and possibly sacrifice your sanity for a shot at victory—this is your divine invitation. Shuffle the unknowable. Draw from the void.And above all: play to win, even if it costs you your mind.

von Eric Price

Our Favourite Anime Board Games Of 2022 So Far

It’s no secret that anime is woven into the very fabric of modern pop culture.  With multiple series releasing year after year, it’s no wonder that so many anime lovers also find themselves interested in other aspects of Japanese culture and entertainment. In addition to many other facets of popular media like video games, manga, and music, there are also a number of amazing anime board games available on the market today.  Whether you’re an adventurous anime enthusiast looking to delve further into the worlds you already know and love, or a board game fan wanting to add new games to your collection, we guarantee there’s a game out there you’ll enjoy.  So keep reading and come with us as we journey through five different board games inspired by beloved anime series and fan-favorite characters.  The Best Anime Board Games to Bring People Together Attack on Titan: The Last Stand  If you’ve ever browsed the anime section on Netflix, then you’ll probably recognize this title.  In Attack on Titan: The Last Stand, players take on the role of their favorite Scout — either Eren, Levi, Conny, or Hange — to defend the city of Trost, the last remaining human city in existence, against the wrath of the Titans. The Titan and castle walls create a vertical playing surface, so strategic positioning is key in this game. Players must tactically move their characters around to avoid attacks and deliver devastating blows to weaken the Titan and bring it down once and for all.  We enjoyed the various tactical options and combinations within this game. The gameplay itself pairs well with the thematic world of Attack on Titan, so if you’re a fan of the anime series — or just strategic gameplay in general — then you’ll love what this game brings to the table. BESM 4th Edition  If you’re already a hardcore anime fan — or a Japanimaniac, as we like to call ourselves — you’ll want to check out the 4th edition of Big Eyes, Small Mouth! Set in the vast world of anime and manga, this innovative roleplay game lets you create and play as your own anime character, delve into the depths of dungeons, tame wild creatures, and explore the realms of your own imagination.  We love the freedom of RPGs, but recognize how overwhelming they can be when you’re just getting started. Thankfully, this volume is a complete system that includes everything that you need to play, so you can dive right into the world of anime and BESM with ease.  With over 100 gorgeous illustrations spread out across its 352 full-color pages, this game is a dream for any and all anime enthusiasts, regardless of their experience level or expertise. Kamigami Battles: Rise of the Old Ones  Kamigami Battles: Rise of the Old Ones is a deck-building game for 2-6 players. You play as one of the Great Old Ones, recruiting Warriors and Disciples to assist you in your battles against the gods who wish to conquer your domain. The game is playable in two distinct modes: Team Match and Free-For-All. In Team Match mode, players partner up with one another to defeat their opponents. In Free-For-All mode, everyone battles each other at once. Regardless of the mode you play in, the goal of this game is simple: destroy all opposing gods by reducing them to zero energy, or by being the first to reach 25 energy. To accomplish this feat, you must draw cards from your deck to boost your stats, or attack an enemy god directly. You can also use your Powers — special abilities that give you an edge over the other players during battle; and Domain Cards —  which give you access to more abilities based on the domains they control.  We really enjoyed the versatility of Rise of the Old Ones and its compatibility with other games in the Kamigami Battles franchise. Picking up some expansion packs will give you more options within the base game itself — and help you take your gameplay to the next level! Heart of Crown: Fairy Garden  Fairy Garden is a standalone expansion for the original Heart of Crown deck-building game. You can play it on its own or combine it with any of your favorite Heart of Crown sets. Like other games in the Heart of Crown franchise, you serve as a powerful figure in a conflict-ridden empire, and must nominate a princess and garner the support of your subjects to claim the throne and reunite the kingdom. To do this, you’ll first need to build your personal deck through strategic card play and collection — earning you Succession Points along the way. These points represent the support of your community and other influential figures in the empire. The first player to obtain 20 Succession Points wins the game! We enjoyed the multiple card combos, exhilarating gameplay, and range of strategies that Fairy Garden has to offer. If you’re looking for a fresh and exciting deck-building game, but still want to enjoy the familiarity of the Heart of Crown base game, then you’ll want to check this one out on our store! Mangaka: The Fast & Furious Game of Drawing Comics  Mangaka: The Fast & Furious Game of Drawing Comics is a creative and fast-paced card game where you play as an aspiring mangaka: a manga artist.  The game begins with 4-8 players pulling Theme Cards, which represent their character’s artistic passions. Over the span of 4 timed rounds, players earn points called ‘Fame’ by drawing comic stories that reflect these themes and trends. The player with the most Fame at the end of round 4 wins the game!  We love this game because it’s fun for all ages — even parents can enjoy playing it with their kids since there are no complicated rules or mechanics involved. We also like how fast-paced it is — there’s never any downtime between turns because everyone has something important they need to do during the next play!  As an added bonus, this game comes with 64 comic pages, and features beautiful anime-style art on each and every card — so it’s a must-have for every home collection! Closing Considerations We hope you had fun exploring our favorite anime board games — and if you want to learn more about any of these titles, be sure to check them out on our website! Our goal is to create an exhaustive guide for fans who want an immersive experience with their favorite series and characters, and we’re always looking for new and exciting games to add to the Japanime selection.   So if there’s a game that you think deserves mentioning, please let us know! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  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! Did you enjoy this article? Good news - it was just Act 1.  For more tabletop wisdom, roll a D6: 1-2: The Best Anime Board Games To Play With Friends 3-4: Japanime Games, Crunchyroll & ZU Studios Partner on ZU Tiles and Fruits Basket 5-6: The Domina Anthology 2: Now on Kickstarter!

von Emma Recher

The Best Deck Building Anime Board Games

Anime deck building games have the perfect combination of fun and strategy — making them some of the most popular multiplayer games on the market. Anyone looking for a fun and fast-paced gaming experience will find no shortage of anime-themed deck builders to choose from!

von Eric Price

Tips & Tricks: Deck Builder Games

Each Deck In A Deck Builder Game Is As Unique As You Are In a deck builder game, each deck is as unique as the player building it. The game typically provides a pool of cards for players to choose from, allowing them to create a customized deck that reflects their playstyle and strategy.  Players can experiment with different card combinations and synergies to find the perfect balance of offense and defense. The beauty of a deck builder game is that no two players will have the same deck, making each match a new and exciting challenge.  The variety of cards and options available means that the possibilities are endless, making the game endlessly replayable and providing a sense of personalization and ownership over the deck. Each deck is a reflection of the player's choices and creativity, making it truly unique and special. Deck Builder Tips & Tricks Don’t Stress - Adapt and change your strategy to counter your opponent One of the most important deck building tips to remember is not to stress and instead adapt your strategy to counter your opponent. In any deck builder game, there will be a variety of opponents with different strategies and playstyles. It is important to remember that no single deck can be the best against all opponents. Instead, it is better to focus on building a deck that can adapt to different situations and be flexible enough to handle different opponents. This means that if you encounter an opponent with a strategy that is particularly effective against your deck, don't stress about it. Instead, take a step back and consider how you can adjust your strategy to counter their moves. This might mean swapping out some cards or changing the way you play. The key is to be flexible and adaptable, which will help you to stay ahead of your opponent and come out victorious in the end. Try Something New - if you play the same build too much, your opponent will counter it Playing the same build for too long can make you predictable to your opponents and they will start to counter your strategy. This can lead to a stale gameplay experience and make it harder for you to win matches. To avoid this, it is important to try new things and experiment with different card combinations and strategies.  This can be as simple as swapping out one card for another or trying a new theme for your deck. You can also try playing in different formats or tournaments to see how your deck performs in a new environment. By trying something new, you can keep your opponents guessing and stay ahead of the curve. It also allows you to discover new ways to play the game and can make the experience more enjoyable. Remember, a good deck builder is not afraid to take risks and try new things, so don't be afraid to experiment and see what works best for you. Play Towards Your Strengths Playing to your strengths is an important strategy when building a deck in a deck builder game. Each deck has its own strengths and weaknesses, and it is important to identify and focus on what your deck does best. This will help you to create a deck that is powerful, consistent, and can effectively execute your chosen strategy. For example, if your deck excels at creating a large number of creatures quickly, you should focus on building a strategy that takes advantage of that strength. This might mean including cards that buff your creatures or give them special abilities. On the other hand, if your deck is weak in creature control, you should include cards that can deal with opposing creatures or prevent them from attacking. Playing to your strengths also means understanding the matchup and sideboarding accordingly. It means knowing what cards in your deck are good or bad against certain opponent's decks and swapping them out accordingly. By playing to your strengths, you can create a deck that is tailored to your playstyle and can effectively handle the challenges that you may face in the game. This will help you become a more successful player and enjoy the game more. Have Fun! At the end of the day, a deck builder game is a game and should be enjoyed as such. A crucial aspect of building a successful deck is to have fun while doing it. The process of deck building can be challenging and rewarding, but it's important not to get too caught up in the details and to remember the joy of playing the game. When building your deck, don't be afraid to take risks and try new things. Experiment with different card combinations and strategies, or even different deck builder games, and don't be afraid to make mistakes. The process of trial and error is an important part of learning and improving your skills as a deck builder. Also, don't be too hard on yourself if things don't go as planned. Every player has losses and bad runs, and it's important to learn from them and use them to improve your game. Most importantly, remember that the goal is to have fun and enjoy the experience. Whether you're a casual player or a competitive player, the most important thing is to find what you enjoy and do it to the best of your ability. Our Favorite Anime Deck Builder Games Heart of Crown Heart of Crown is an exciting deck-building game for 2-4 players where you take on the role of a powerful figure in a conflict-ridden empire. Your objective is to claim the throne as quickly as possible in order to reunite the kingdom and restore peace and glory. To achieve this goal, you must nominate a princess for the title, earn the support of your subjects, compete with rival candidates for the throne, and use your skills and strategies to secure your princess's rightful place as ruler of the kingdom. Each player starts the game with the same deck of cards, but you can build your personal deck by collecting and playing cards according to your unique strategy. By doing so, you will earn Succession Points throughout the game, which represents the support of your subjects and other influential figures in the empire. The first player to earn 20 Succession Points will ascend the throne and win the game. A thrilling and challenging game awaits you in Heart of Crown. Kamigami Battles Kamigami Battles: Rise of the Old Ones is a thrilling deck-building game for 2-6 players where you take on the role of a Great Old One, a powerful God from the Cthulhu Mythos. You will recruit Disciples and Warriors to join you in your battle against rival gods trying to conquer your domain. You can play the game in two different modes: Team Match and Free-For-All. In Team Match mode, you team up with another player to face your opponents together. In Free-For-All mode, all players fight each other at the same time. The objective of the game remains the same in both modes: defeat all the enemy gods. Each god has a pool of life force called energy. The game can be won by reducing a god to zero energy or by being the first player to attain 25 energy. To achieve this goal, you will draw cards from your deck to boost your stats or attack an enemy god. Additionally, you have access to Powers, special abilities that give you an advantage over other players during the game. Lastly, you have Domain Cards, which give you access to additional abilities according to the different domains they control. With the right skillset and strategy, you can triumph over the evil gods and secure your place as a powerful ruler of the domain! Tanto Cuore Tanto Cuore is an exciting deck-building game that is a must-have in your collection. You play as the Lord of a Mansion and hire various maids with different skill sets to fill your house (card deck) with the goal of becoming the most powerful Master of the House in the game.   The objective of the game is straightforward: earn the most Victory Points by acquiring and employing different maid cards. Different card combinations give you different strategies that you can use against your opponents in your gameplay. Each turn offers an opportunity to hire more maids and use their powers and skills to your advantage. However, it's important to keep in mind your opponents, as they can make your maids sick or give them bad habits, which will lower your Victory Points in the long run and hurt your chances of winning. At the end of the game, the player with the most Victory Points is deemed the 'perfect master' and wins the game. Tanto Cuore offers a thrilling gameplay experience that will keep you engaged and challenged. Closing Considerations Ultimately, the choice is yours if you're looking for an exciting new deck building game to bring to the table. Finding a game that matches your playstyle, whether it's combat-heavy or more laid back, and then collecting the cards to build that deck is a process that can be enjoyed by a variety of gamers. Whether you're just starting out or if you've been playing deck builder games for years, there's something here for everyone. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  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! Did you enjoy this article? Good news - it was just Act 1.  For more tabletop wisdom, roll a D6: 1-2: The Best Anime Board Games To Play With Friends 3-4: Japanime Games, Crunchyroll & ZU Studios Partner on ZU Tiles and Fruits Basket 5-6: The Domina Anthology 2: Now on Kickstarter!

von Eric Price

Why We Love Anime Deck Builder Games

Growing up is hard.  Whether you're trying to balance school and friends or battling a quarter-life crisis, the various stages of adulthood come with immense pressure. Things can become overwhelming quickly, and you need an outlet to escape your problems now and then.  Enter anime deck-building games. In deck-building games, players begin with small decks of beginner cards, adding new ones to their decks throughout the game. Players pull cards from a central pool with each turn, building their decks around specific characters and themes. Ultimately, the goal of the game is to create the strongest deck and to use that deck to gain advantages over  your opponents. Deck-building games are immersive and addictive — but anime deck builders have features that make them stand out from the rest. Deck Building Games Bring People Together Ask almost any dedicated gamer, and they’ll tell you that board games are a great way to bring people together. Anime-themed deck-building games are no exception. Thanks to their simple mechanics and straightforward gameplay, these games are easy to learn — so you don’t need to be an experienced gamer or anime expert to enjoy them with your peers.  Additionally, these games are a fun way to spend time with friends and family, whether you’re introducing them to anime or just want to explore the magic and mystery that anime-themed games bring to the table.  Characters and Storylines are Compelling in Anime Card Games At the core of all good deck builder games is a compelling story. With captivating characters and storylines, anime deck builders offer an immersive experience that keeps players engaged during every round. You get invested in the character you’re playing, whether an ancient omnipotent being or a lord of a mansion, and you follow along as they interact with other characters. What’s more, you’re not just playing with a deck or building one — you are shaping an ongoing narrative. Every decision you make affects your character, creating a ripple effect of consequences that alter the rest of the game. As a result, you can’t help but stick around and see things through to the end! Anime Deck Builders Are Fast-Paced and Exciting One of the best things about anime deck-building games is their fast-paced and exciting nature. Every decision matters when playing an anime deck-building game. Each choice shapes your deck, which then adapts to your playing style.  When you’re not changing the course of the game with your card play, you’re strategizing and anticipating your opponent’s next move. That said, you can’t rely on a single strategy to get you through the game — you need to be quick on your feet and adaptable to win. With every turn, you get an adrenaline rush, the pace picking up like a roller coaster gaining speed as it rears that near-vertical drop. It is an exhilaration you can typically only experience when you are physically there, strapped into the seat. Anime deck builders bring that excitement right to your table — and keep you coming back for more. Our Favorite Anime Deck Builder Games You can see why we love anime deck-builders so much, and naturally, you want to add a few to your coveted collection. Lucky for you, there are endless options available for you to choose from. Here are some of our favorites: Heart of Crown Heart of Crown is a deck-building game for 2-4 players. In this game, you play as a powerful figure in a conflict-ridden empire and must claim the throne to reunite the kingdom. The task itself, however, is a challenging feat. You must nominate a princess for the title, garner support from your subjects, clash with rival candidates, and rely on your skills to earn your princess her rightful position on the throne. Players begin with the same deck of cards and strengthen their decks by incorporating and playing cards according to their unique strategy. Throughout the game, players take turns gaining Succession Points, representing the support of their community and other influential figures in the empire. The first player to acquire 20 Succession Points wins the game! Already own the base game, but want to add to your collection? Check out our Heart of Crown selection! Kamigami Battles: Rise of the Old Ones Next on the list is Kamigami Battles: Rise of the Old Ones, a fantastic deck-builder for 2-6 players. In the game, you take on the role of one of the Great Old Ones, enlisting Warriors and Disciples to fight alongside you in your war against enemy gods attempting to conquer your domain.  You can play the game in two modes: Team Match and Free-For-All. In Team Match mode, you partner up with another player to defeat your opponents in battle. All bets are off in Free-For-All mode — everyone battles each other simultaneously. No matter your playing mode, the game's goal remains the same: defeat all enemy gods by reducing them to zero energy or being the first player to obtain 25 energy points. Achieving this objective requires pulling cards from your deck to boost your stats or attack enemy gods.  Rise of the Old Ones is a versatile game, and its compatibility with other games in the Kamigami Battles franchise makes it a must-play on our deck-builder list.  Explore the Kamigami Battles collection today! Tanto Cuore Tanto Cuore is another deck-building game deserving of a spot in your collection. In this 2-4 player game, you play as the Lord of a mansion and hire maids of various skill sets to serve you as you fill your house.   The game's objective is to acquire the most Victory Points by obtaining and employing different maid cards. When combined, certain maid cards give you different strategies you can use during your gameplay. Every turn brings an opportunity to hire new maids and use their skills to your advantage. But look out for your opponents — they will hurt your maids or give them bad habits if they get a chance, which will lower your Victory Points and hurt your chances of winning the game. Want to take your gameplay to the next level? Shop our Tanto Cuore selection for new ways to expand your game collection! Closing Considerations We love anime deck builder games because they combine the storytelling elements of anime with the strategic gameplay of card games. The result is a compelling combination that keeps us coming back for more.  The world of anime deck builder games is an exciting place. There’s always something new to discover, and these games are enjoyable for anyone who enjoys strategy or anime. We invite you to give them a try yourself, whether you’re already an anime enthusiast or someone looking for something fun to pass the time. You might just find yourself getting swept up in a whole new world of exciting possibilities! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  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! Did you enjoy this article? Good news - it was just Act 1.  For more tabletop wisdom, roll a D6: 1-2: The Best Anime Board Games To Play With Friends 3-4: Japanime Games, Crunchyroll & ZU Studios Partner on ZU Tiles and Fruits Basket 5-6: The Domina Anthology 2: Now on Kickstarter!