Summary
One Piece is an expansive media franchise that includes the original manga series, an anime series, several films, light novels, tons of merchandise, and even an upcoming Netflix live-action series. Since the manga first began releasing over 25 years ago, there have also been many different One Piece games, adapted from the manga and anime and brought to various consoles from the PlayStation 2 to iOS and what seems like everything in between. Since the first game was released on the WonderSwan in 2000, 56 different One Piece video games have been released.
However, these games have not been created equal, and there are a few that even the most loyal of fans would be more than happy to forget. That being said, there have also been some games that are quite fun to play, even for non-fans. Here are ten of the very best games for One Piece fans to check out between reading chapters of the manga and watching episodes of the anime.
10 One Piece: World Seeker Is Good but It Could Have Been Great
When trying to think of One Piece games that failed to capitalize on clear potential, World Seeker is at the top of the list. Developed by Ganbarion, the game was worked on by Toei Animation's Hiroki Koyama and puts players in the shoes of the irrepressible Monkey D. Luffy as he traverses the open-world Prison Island.
The gameplay outside of combat is fun, with players able to launch Luffy around the island in search of some iconic villains to fight. There are passable, if forgettable, stealth elements to add some variation, but the game unfortunately suffers thanks to its combat, which is relatively repetitive and doesn't feel anywhere near as good as it looks. In any case, it's a solid game that would appeal to fans of the series.
9 One Piece: Pirate Warriors 2 Dared to Use an Original Story
While the first game in the Pirate Warriors series ably demonstrated what might be possible for One Piece adaptations, the second game remains a revelation. Firstly, it was the only game in the series to use an entirely original storyline, providing longtime fans of the anime with something fresh to enjoy alongside the show.
Additionally, the game was released with a whole host of new playable characters including Monkey D. Garp, Bartholomew Kuma and Dracule Mihawk. Each of those would go up against hordes of enemies throughout, and it was the closest, up to that point, that the games had managed to replicate the feel of the series. Pirate Warriors 2 still suffers from occasionally repetitive gameplay but otherwise, it remains a great choice for fans.
8 One Piece Treasure Cruise Is Great for Gaming on the Go
One Piece Treasure Cruise may have been released worldwide eight years ago, but with over 100 million downloads, it shows no signs of slowing down. This free-to-play mobile game is set in the One Piece universe and has light role-playing elements. In the game, the player creates crews of six characters, developing their abilities as they progress. It has a dexterity-based timed combat system, and the plot of the game is based on the One Piece manga.
This game might be a little controversial, depending on how people feel about gacha games, as it definitely has received criticisms for being pay-to-win. The game also features over 1,000 characters -- making it one of the biggest gacha game casts ever -- so the possibilities for team combinations are endless. While gacha games might not be beloved by all gamers, One Piece Treasure Cruise is accessible and engaging, with an active community and enough content to keep fans busy for a very long time.
7 One Piece: Grand Adventure Captures the Essence of the Series
The 2006 release date of this game limited the capabilities of One Piece: Grand Adventure and time has not been its friend, further underlining the game's obvious flaws. That said, few games, if any, have managed to capture the true essence of the series as well as this one. A direct sequel to Grand Battle, Adventure takes the same formula and adds new features that elevate it beyond its predecessor.
The addition of a new Adventure Mode and characters like Enel, Kuina and Portgaz D. Ace flesh out an already broad game. Despite obvious flaws in the gameplay, it does a good job of putting across how powerful those who feature in the series are.
6 One Piece: Burning Blood Is the Best Looking Franchise Game
In an unusually rare departure for an anime game, the One Piece series tends to avoid arena fighters despite their obvious compatibility. Not so here though and the result was a look at what could be possible in the subgenre. Though it failed to realize its true potential, One Piece: Burning Blood is a mechanically sound and visually stunning effort that does justice to the franchise as a whole.
The game features 3v3 combat with a character system that allows team composition to be changed on the fly. It features all the movesets that fans would expect from the most iconic characters in the series and hitting these abilities is rewarding. Compared to other games in the genre as a whole, it's not up there with the best, but it is a decent enough attempt from developer Spike Chunsoft.
5 One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 Is One of the Best Musou Games
Like gacha games, musou games don't always appeal to a wide variety of gamers, and even less so if the associated franchise isn't one that a person is interested in. However, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 is an unquestionably great musou game that One Piece fans and musou fans in general are sure to love.
This game condenses several One Piece arcs, spanning from the East Blue Saga to the Dressrosa Arc, though it does provide some new content that anime and manga fans have never seen before. This game does a great job of bringing the lighthearted spirit of One Piece to a beat 'em up setting, though there's not much that it does to innovate on the typical musou game formula. That being said, the game is fun to play, and with a cast of over 50 playable characters available, it's certain to please any One Piece fan.
4 One Piece (2005) Isn't the Most Accessible But Is Worth It
Available only for the Game Boy Advance, One Piece (2005) is probably the least accessible. Not only does it require the player to have access to a gaming console that, at over 20 years old is long obsolete, but it was also sold exclusively in the North American market. This game is a platformer and beat 'em up that feels like a lot of other games of the era but is still a very fun experience. It features six different levels, with 12 mandatory and several optional bosses spread out among them.
One way this game falls short is that the core gameplay is limited to Luffy, so fans who enjoy games where they can play as other members of the Straw Hat pirates may be disappointed. However, this conventional side-scrolling beat 'em up feels like a game that's both essentially One Piece and GBA.
3 One Piece Unlimited World Red Offers a Fun Adventure
One Piece: Unlimited World Red is an action-adventure game set in the world of One Piece. It features an original storyline and some new characters as well. This is a great choice for most fans since it allows players to play as every member of the Straw Hats. It also has optional co-op gameplay, so it's a great game to play with other One Piece fans.
The highlight of Unlimited World Red is probably the gorgeously vivid visuals, though players also love the boss fights. The mini-games in this one aren't great, but the game offers a ton of content, allowing players to take on side-quests and visit iconic locations that any One Piece fan is sure to recognize.
2 One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 Builds on the Previous Entry
By the time the fourth game was released, the Pirate Warriors series had rightly secured its place as one of the better sets of anime games anywhere. Building on that legacy, the most recent effort is the best yet. Though the gameplay retains many of the same features as previous iterations, each individual element has been polished and dialed up to create an environment where the characters feel truly powerful.
Though the story is not original, it uses the well-liked Wano Country arc and modifies it in a way that makes it feel particularly suitable for this type of game. The addition of newer multiplayer elements and the return of a smooth and efficient co-op mode all make this one of the greatest One Piece games of any era.
1 One Piece Odyssey Is the Best One Piece Game Yet
Up until recently, many One Piece fans have found the franchise's video games to be lacking, especially in comparison to other iconic shonen franchises like Dragon Ball and Naruto. However, One Piece Odyssey, which was released just this month, is a game that many fans believe changes that. While most anime games involve mostly action, Odyssey is a turn-based JRPG that requires a lot of strategy.
While the new characters that the game introduces aren't the most interesting, the game makes up for it by doing a great job of incorporating the personalities of beloved characters into the game's combat system. All in all, Odyssey feels like a breath of fresh air when it comes to One Piece video games, and it's been getting a lot of attention from longtime fans for a good reason.