Best Anime About Board Games

Plenty of video games have been inspired by board games so it should come as no surprise that anime has taken inspiration from them as well. There are several shows that focus on board games that have gotten critical acclaim for their unique premises. These anime focus on a way of playing and connecting to other people that is older than we could ever imagine.

Just like the games in question, some of these shows are far more fun to experience than others. Those looking for must-watch shows about the board games they love should be sure to check these out.

Updated February 22, 2025, by Oluwatokiloba Folami: Board games have always been a core concept in Japanese culture. They engage in games like Shogi (popularly known as Japanese chess), Go, and Mahjong, sometimes even using these mediums to gamble or take it to a professional level. It is not entirely surprising that there would be anime centered around these things that give people joy. These anime capture the struggles of learning such games, the strategic mindset required to best one’s opponent, the ability to utilize defeat, and the overwhelming joy of victory. They engage viewers in its surreal animated gameplay, even encouraging them to play the games themselves.

12

When Will Ayumu Make His Move?

Shogi As A Medium For Love

• Japanese Title: Ayumu wa Kitto Suki ni Naru.
• Genres: Romantic Comedy, Slice of Life
• Studios: ENGI

A usually expressionless character, Ayumu Tanaka switches hobbies from Kendo to Shogi for the sake of his crush, Urushi Yaotome. Deciding not to confess his feelings until he has bested her in a match, he continues to learn about Shogi while flattering her audaciously in the process, waiting to make his move.

This anime is the perfect example of emotional growth through board games. It adorably details the growth in the connection between Ayumu and Urushi as they play Shogi together. They even sometimes link strategies in Shogi to love in a way that even viewers who have no knowledge of one or the other still appreciate the series.

11

The Way Of Pon

A Supernatural Invite To Mahjong

• Japanese Title: Pon no Michi
• Genres: Slice of Life, Supernatural
• Studios: OLM

Being encouraged to play the game of Mahjong by a talking bird was definitely not something that Nashiko expected. Nashiko Jippensha was kicked out of the house by her mother for being too noisy. Having few options as a high school student, she cleaned up and settled in her father’s forgotten Mahjong parlor.

She was advised to play the game by a talking bird, and she actually enjoyed it, inviting her friends to join her in her new abode and take part in the entertainment. This anime takes a lax approach to Mahjong, nothing overly competitive or professional, making it a great watch even for people with no knowledge of it. It is a lighthearted and enjoyable slice-of-life anime for viewers to kick back and relax to, with some hints of emotions in the mix.

10

Mudazumo Naki Kaikaku: The Legend Of Koizumi

A Political Satire With Mahjong

• Japanese Title: Mudazumo Naki Kaikaku
• Genres: Mahjong, Political, Comedy, Action
• Studios: TYO Animations

Politics is often seen as a boring topic of discussion, typically involving a group of adults arguing about the affairs of the country while making very few changes. This anime takes politics up a notch, with political leaders fighting for their country using the game of Mahjong. It follows the journey of Japanese leader Koizumi Junichiro as he carries out diplomacy with Japan’s enemies while mixing in comedy.

For an OVA with three episodes, it is unlikely that any other anime on political satire can compete with this. They portray politics in the funniest ways, with silly accents and comedic mannerisms that leave viewers nearly out of breath every episode. The anime also uses real-life political figureheads, making them experts in the game of Mahjong and making things all the funnier.

9

After School Dice Club

Friendship And Fun Through Tabletop

• Japanese Title: Houkago Saikoro Club
• Genres: Comedy
• Studios: LIDENFilms

While most anime focus specifically on one game After School Dice Club shows off several different kinds of tabletop experiences. It focuses on Miki, a shy and withdrawn girl who has never really had fun before. In a fortunate twist of fate, she ends up in a board game shop called Saikoro Club and gets to try out a board game from Germany. She finally gets to break out of her shell and truly have a great time in this happy comedy anime.

8

Chihayafuru

A Poetic Journey With Karuta

Chihayafuru covers an extremely unique board game that most outside of Japan wouldn’t know — Ura-garuta. Simply called Karuta in the anime, the game features 100 cards with classic Japanese poetry written on them. The goal of the game is to listen while someone else reads the poems and to be able to place your hand on the matching card before the opponent.

Chihayafuru follows Ayase as she tries to become the greatest Karuta player she possibly can be. With the game being considered a sport in Japan, this could even be counted as a niche sports anime as well.

7

March Comes In Like A Lion

A Shogi Prodigy’s Path To Belonging

March Comes In Like A Lion is as much a serious emotional drama as it is a board game anime. Rei is among the most elite shogi players in the world which causes severe pressure on him. Wanting to live his own life, he moves out on his own at age seventeen. Unfortunately, he lacks the skills and motivation to take care of himself well or to learn how to socialize.

Luckily for him, a trio of sisters and their grandfather decided to try and step in to help make sure he’s cared for. The entire group has various traumas, and they slowly build a familial bond as the series continues.

6

Akagi

A Thrilling Dive Into Mahjong And High-Stakes Gambling

Named after its titular character, this anime focuses on games of mahjong and the gambling that takes place around it. Akagi is suddenly thrust into the shadiest parts of society in a game against the mafia where they all quickly realize he is a natural-born gambler. With such innate skills, Akagi slowly becomes a legendary gambler and mahjong player. This anime oozes suspense and is perfect at keeping viewers on the edges of their seats.

5

The Ryuo’s Work is Never Done!

Shogi’s Young Prodigy And An Unlikely Partnership

• Japanese Title: Ryuuou no Oshigoto!
• Genres: Comedy
• Studios: Project No.9

Shogi is a Japanese board game similar to chess and the greatest shogi player in the world is granted the title of Ryuuou — the dragon king. After Yaichi becomes the youngest Ryuuou of all time, many in the community consider him to be undeserving of the title. What’s worse is that he forgot a promise to teach a young girl to play the game if he ever achieved the esteemed ranking.

In the end, the two team up together, one trying to harness her hidden talent for the game, and the other trying to prove that he does have the skills to deserve to be called the dragon king.

4

Saki

A Reluctant Mahjong Prodigy Finds Her Way

• Japanese Title: Saki
• Genres: Slice of Life
• Studios: GONZO, A-1 Pictures

Saki starts with its main character actually hating the game they are extremely talented at playing, making it stand out a bit from the crowd.

After its titular character, Saki is dragged to her school’s mahjong club, she’s unable to hide her talent for the game as she usually does as the other members spot her unusual playstyle. She eventually is convinced to join the club and eventually warms up to its club members and the game itself as time goes on.

3

Weiß Survive

Card Game Battles Across Anime Worlds

• Japanese Title: Weiß Survive
• Genres: Comedy, Ecchi
• Studios: Studio Hibari

Weiß Schwarz, commonly spelled as Weiss Schwarz, is a unique card game that features characters from various anime and cartoons while allowing them to face off against one another. With its extremely unique appeal to anime fans, a show created specifically to teach how it’s played is a perfect combo.

Takeshi is transported to the Weiss Schwarz Battle Space and will only be able to return home once he wins enough card battles. Despite not knowing how to play, a girl named Michi by his side helps him to learn the ropes as he tries to return home.

2

The Flowers Of Hard Blood

Shogi Thriller Wrapped In Mystery And Trauma

• Japanese Title: Shion no Ou
• Genres: Drama, Mystery, Suspense
• Studios: Studio DEEN

A combination of mystery anime and board games, Shion no Ou is a unique beast. Shion’s parents were murdered in front of her at age five, and she was challenged to a game of shogi. The murderer told her that if she wanted to stay alive, she should never speak ever again and forget what happened that night.

She eventually becomes a professional shogi player, and as she gets more attention for her skills, her memories start to slowly come back to her about what happened that fateful night.

1

Hikaru no Go

Appeasing A Spirit Leads To Hikaru’s Love For Go

Hikaru no Go may be the most iconic board game anime of all time. Focusing on the ancient board game Go, Hikaru ends up being haunted by a legendary Go instructor named Sai. He starts playing games of Go to be kind to Sai, but ends up finding that he deeply loves the game himself. The story follows him as his skills grow and he aims to become one of the greatest Go players of all time.