Best One Piece Games – Investment Policy

Since 1997, One Piece has been a manga series and it remains as popular as ever. Similarly, the anime adaptation from 1999 has leapt over a thousand episodes, and continues to captivate audiences. Although it took slightly longer for One Piece to gain traction in Western countries compared to other notable shonen battle series, there’s little debate that its global fanbase is unrivaled, surpassed only by Dragon Ball.

Due to its late release, numerous One Piece games failed to reach North American audiences. The franchise’s history with adaptations hasn’t been particularly impressive, with many projects falling short of greatness. However, there are some standout titles worth exploring. Let’s delve into the top One Piece video games.

To keep things interesting, I’ll limit myself to just one entry per subseries when it comes to the One Piece gaming universe. While there aren’t a plethora of One Piece game series out there, there are some standouts like Pirate Warriors, Grand Battle, and Unlimited that I always enjoy revisiting.

12. Special Mention: Crossover Games

A Mixed Bag Filled With Shonen Goodies

Regrettably, high-quality One Piece video games are hard to come by. The series didn’t start producing decent games until the 2010s, and releases since then have been scarce. As a result, dedicated fans might need to explore some crossover games featuring One Piece characters. However, finding these games can be challenging as most of them were never released outside Japan or are no longer available for purchase. Here is a list of notable crossover games that include One Piece characters:

This version maintains the informative nature while using simpler and more conversational language to make it easier to read.

Jump Super Stars and Ultimate Stars
J-Stars Victory VS (Or VS+)
Jump Force
Battle Stadium D.O.N

Among all games for the Nintendo DS, “Jump Super Stars” and “Ultimate Stars” stand out as top choices, particularly if you’re seeking a platform fighter with straightforward yet rewarding mechanics. These games bring together an array of anime worlds in their stories, with “One Piece” being heavily represented in both, featuring the second highest number of playable characters, just after “Dragon Ball.” Unfortunately, neither game was released outside of Japan, which is regrettable as the initial stages of the campaign offer extensive tutorials and dialogues that might hinder progress. Despite this, the games are visually appealing and enjoyable to play.

The game titled “Battle Stadium D.O.N” is a unique fighting game that brings together characters from popular series like “One Piece”, “Dragon Ball”, and “Naruto”. It has a clear influence from the famous game “Super Smash Bros”. Although it’s not particularly groundbreaking, it still offers an enjoyable gaming experience. However, it was only released in Japan, which is unfortunate because all three franchises enjoyed significant popularity in Western countries during the mid-2000s (even though “One Piece” wasn’t quite as popular as “Dragon Ball” and “Naruto” in that region).

Among all these cross-over games, J-Stars Victory VS+ and Jump Force are the two most recognized ones due to their release in regions outside of Japan, such as North America and Europe. Sadly, new copies are no longer available for purchase; instead, you’ll need to find second-hand editions. Both games have their merits, but for different reasons. J-Stars Victory VS+ excels at recreating the art style of its source material and offers a diverse roster of playable characters from One Piece, including Luffy, Ace, Hancock, and Akainu. However, the combat can be overly flashy and is marred by a knockdown system that temporarily halts fights. It’s worth playing through once, but the gameplay may grow repetitive quickly.

Compared to J-Stars Victory VS+, Jump Force boasts superior combat mechanics, but its graphics are more divisive and the campaign lacks clarity. The game’s decision to adopt a 3D art style didn’t quite gel with many characters, but Seven playable fighters from One Piece managed to pull it off better than most. As a game that leans heavily on fan service, Jump Force can be enjoyable, though finding a copy these days is quite challenging.

11. One Piece: Romance Dawn

The Most Disappointing One Piece Game

As a die-hard One Piece fan, I was genuinely thrilled when Romance Dawn was announced back in the early 2010s. It seemed like the perfect game for us fans, with its promise of an immersive and comprehensive adaptation of the first half of the story up until Marineford saga. The blend of turn-based RPG mechanics with real-time elements through chained combos and positioning made it sound like a truly dynamic combat system that would allow us to live out our pirate adventures.

I mean, who wouldn’t want to journey through the main arcs, explore different islands, expand their crew, and make them stronger? The opportunity to face off against some of anime’s most legendary villains was an added bonus. So, what went wrong? I can’t help but wonder if it didn’t quite live up to our expectations in practice.

It’s unfortunate that the game titled “Romance Dawn” doesn’t seem very engaging to play. The campaign is around 50 hours long, and a significant part of it involves traversing identical-looking hallways and watching lengthy cutscenes that race through the source content. The fighting mechanics are actually decent, but they lose their charm well before the end credits, and they’re hindered by every other game aspect. Only hardcore “OP” fans may find themselves sticking with “Romance Dawn“, but these same individuals have likely already enjoyed the story in its manga or anime form, so they won’t derive much enjoyment from this version.

10. One Piece: World Seeker

Great Setting, Good Story, Below-Average Combat

World Seeker” didn’t live up to expectations; it might even be the most underwhelming game in the series since it was anticipated for quite some time as an open-world adaptation of a traditional “One Piece” storyline. Fans had been hoping for such a project that would translate a classic arc into a video game.

“World Seeker” does indeed offer a unique narrative set on a prison island, and although it’s not extraordinary, the writing is passable, characters stay true to their original personas, and the setting is captivatingly realistic. Even the main antagonist, Isaac, has an appealing quality and could easily fit into a filler arc in the anime.

Regrettably, the gameplay in World Seeker could use some improvement. The fact that Luffy is the only playable character is logical given his Devil Fruit abilities, but the combat options for him become repetitive over the 15+ hours of gameplay, as they are rather shallow. Additionally, the enemy AI lacks depth and poses little challenge, exacerbating this issue. The size of Prison Island also seems excessive, with many areas consisting primarily of hills and empty fields, which detracts from the overall experience.

Despite its imperfections, “World Seeker” manages to keep audiences engaged, particularly those devoted fans. The narrative remains engaging, and controlling Luffy in non-combat situations is enjoyable.

Although it has some issues, “World Seeker” remains an entertaining choice, especially for the hardcore fanbase. Its tale remains intriguing, and when Luffy isn’t battling marines, he’s a blast to control.

9. One Piece: Burning Blood

A Passable Fighter In A Franchise That Lacks Them

Compared to certain Japan-exclusive fighting games, “Burning Blood” was designed with greater anticipation and boasts an impressive, potentially thrilling presentation. However, it falls short of delivering a truly exceptional “One Piece” gaming experience beyond its extensive cast of fighters. Despite being flashy and powerful, the gameplay in “Burning Blood” is relatively shallow, possibly explaining why its online player versus player (PvP) did not sustain a lasting following.

In simpler terms, the story mode in Burning Blood is mostly enjoyable and filled with homages to fans. More crucially, each character has distinctive movesets that make them unique from one another. However, they might not be overly complex individually. If you find it at a reduced price, Burning Blood is worth giving a try. But remember, keep your expectations modest.

8. One Piece: Great Pirate Colosseum

Arc System Works’ One Piece Game That Was Never Released Outside of Japan

Among all “One Piece” games, it’s the most aggravating that “Great Pirate Colosseum” hasn’t been released globally. Given its exceptional quality and being a strong contender for the franchise’s finest attempt in the fighting genre, it deserves a global launch without question. Notably, this game was developed by Arc System Works, a company renowned for creating engaging anime fighters such as “Dragon Ball FighterZ” and “Guilty Gear”.

Despite being a game for the Nintendo 3DS, Great Pirate Colosseum skillfully demonstrates Arc System Works’ expertise in the fighting genre, offering tight and fulfilling combat mechanics as well as an impressive roster of over 20 playable characters. In terms of gameplay,

It’s tough for me to definitively rate the game “Great Pirate Colosseum” as I’ve enjoyed the gameplay, but due to the story being available only in Japanese and my lack of fluency in the language, it’s challenging to fully grasp the narrative. However, based on what I’ve played so far, the campaign appears to be quite engaging with a lot of action involved.

7. One Piece Bounty Rush

A Fun Time Sink

Initially launched only for mobile platforms, “Bounty Rush” can now be found on Steam as well. However, it’s safe to assume that a majority of its player base still uses Android and iOS devices. This multiplayer game pits 4 teams against each other, with the objective being to accumulate the most ‘Belly’. Although the concept may seem simple, the gameplay loop is quite engaging, as it encourages strategic team formation rather than just selecting the strongest character. The combat isn’t overly fast-paced, but it’s stylish and offers enough depth to keep players entertained for several hours.

Now, “Bounty Rush” is a game that falls under the free-to-play category, which also incorporates elements of the gacha genre. This means it’s packed with typical features common to both categories. The game can be quite demanding in terms of time commitment or financial investment if you want to obtain strong units. However, it boasts an impressive roster overall, and the characters are categorized according to different roles.

6. One Piece Treasure Cruise

An Endless Timesink That Can Consume Your Life

Mobile games based on anime licenses, such as Gacha games, are abundant in the market. Many popular shonen series have at least one adaptation that fits this category, often serving as entertaining time-killers for daily use. Among them, One Piece Treasure Cruise stands out as a more engaging option due to its turn-based combat system, which offers a balanced challenge and requires active player involvement because of input-based rewards. The game’s story mode follows the main arcs of the manga and is updated frequently, ensuring there’s always fresh content to explore.

Despite its appeal, Treasure Cruise stands out for its extensive collection of characters, with almost every One Piece figure having multiple tiers or forms that reflect their evolutions throughout the story. As you play, you’ll assemble a team of six characters, some of the strongest in this universe, but the process can be quite gradual. Much like many gacha games, Treasure Cruise begins in a friendly manner, but eventually slows down significantly, pushing players to grind relentlessly for any progress.

5. One Piece: Grand Adventure

A Really Fun Arena Brawler With A Lot Of Content

The game series known as Grand Battle, which largely avoided Western countries during its prolonged run, had a relatively small impact. Active for over a decade from 2001 to 2014, it released seven games in total; however, only three of these games saw release outside Japan, with just two making their way to North America. Fortunately, owners of GameCube and PS2 consoles were able to enjoy Grand Battle! and Grand Adventure, both offering enjoyable arena fighting experiences that draw inspiration from classics like Power Stone. Although the initial installment is respectable, it is vastly outdated by its successor, which boasts a wealth of content and characters.

Grand Adventure offers combat that’s perfectly balanced with a dash of chaos, immersing players in arenas teeming with (either powerful or feeble) adversaries and weaponry. Although the gameplay might not be exceptionally complex, it’s fast, vibrant, and fashionable, mirroring its source material. This kind of game works well in multiplayer settings, but Grand Adventure excels equally in single-player mode as well. The primary mode enables players to construct a crew and embark on a brief journey, engaging in battles and recruiting new pirates during the voyage. Admittedly, it doesn’t tell an epic tale, but it offers a fun diversion for a few hours.

4. One Piece: Unlimited World Red

Fun Town Expansion System, Respectable Character Roster, Decent Story, And Average Combat

Among the numerous One Piece video games, the game known as Unlimited World Red is poised for greatness yet primarily delivers a satisfyingly good experience. It weaves an original tale that mirrors the quality of the One Piece films, placing the Straw Hat crew in a distinctive town where they encounter both a legendary pirate from the past and face off against some of their most formidable former adversaries, who although not entirely in top form, still present a significant challenge.

The game titled “Unlimited World Red” delivers an impressive visual display on various systems, standing out visually. Although it follows a linear path, its levels boast impressive and diverse settings, with consistently stunning backgrounds. In contrast, Transtown, the main hub, offers ample exploration opportunities.

The combat mechanism blends beat ’em up and Musou styles, although some might argue that it’s slightly slower compared to both. While not terribly flawed, the battle system can feel repetitive quite soon, especially when common enemies linger in battles longer than necessary. However, the boss fights are consistently engaging and often surpass those found in most “Pirate Warriors” games.

The Nintendo Wii’s games like _Unlimited Adventure_ and the two-part _Unlimited Cruise_ can still be enjoyable predecessors to _Unlimited World Red_. However, it should be noted that these games may not hold up as well over time, with the fun factor potentially varying based on whether one has fond memories associated with them.

3. One Piece GBA

A Simple But Enjoyable Beat ‘Em Up

Titled “One Piece,” this handheld GBA game is a decent choice on Nintendo’s system. Developer Dimps has a reputation for creating quality licensed games, and “One Piece” is no exception – it skillfully preserves the appeal of the original while offering easy-to-play gameplay. To clarify, “One Piece” doesn’t stand out in any particular area, and its combat might not hold non-fans’ interest for long due to its low challenge level and emphasis on style rather than substance.

Indeed, the 2005 version of

2025-08-31 20:38