Games based on popular anime series has been the norm almost as long as video games have been around. While their qualities may vary, one thing that most fans of either medium have come to expect is that an anime game is most likely going to be a fighting game. This is something that needs to change.
It's become a bit of a running joke that if an anime becomes popular, it's eventually going to be turned into a fighting game. The Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm series practically started the tradition of the 3D anime arena fighter, but only a small few have managed to capture the essence of the source material in the same way and even fewer have done anything to alter the formula in any way. With combat being the center of so many of the most popular anime, a traditional fighting game might sound like it makes the most sense for an adaptation, but it often ends up removing a lot of what makes most anime unique in the first place. As anime ideas continue to grow outside of the box, it wouldn't hurt if their game adaptations did the same.
RPGs
When it comes to anime games, there are far fewer RPGs than there should be. The genre is the perfect fit for the style of progression and power scaling that many anime follow. Titles like Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot show that even when a series isn't necessarily made to fit the mold of a proper RPG, a few changes can make for a really fun experience that adapts its source material incredibly well.
RPGs are often a large time investment, but its one that many fans are willing to make when it comes to a world that they are already invested in. Fairy Tail offered fans traditional RPG gameplay that allows players to focus on elements like party building while the story covers more original content that fills in some of the gaps that the source material skims through. There are plenty of anime worlds that fans would love to become a part of in a 40+ hour RPG.
Sports Games
Unsurprisingly, sports games really only work for sports-based anime. Despite that, there are still plenty of popular sports anime that could make for great games. Serving as the best example of this is Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions. Not only is it a great soccer game that even non-anime fans could enjoy, but it is packed to the brim with fan service ripped straight from the manga.
With how few sports anime games there are now, it would be great to see a variety of them in the future. Series like Haikyu!! or Kuroko no Basket receiving games based on their respective sports would likely be well appreciated by fans of either series and would fill a niche that hasn't been filled in the slightest.
Dating Sims
When it comes to nearly any anime, there's almost always a debate over the best girls or best guys. Obviously none of these waifu or husbando crushes could amount to anything real, but there's no reason why video games couldn't capitalize on the idea and let fans live out their fantasies in a dating sim.
Though it's rarely the main focus, dating elements have slipped their way into a few anime games already. The most recent Sword Art Online game, Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris, does allow players to form bonds (and romantic relationships) with a lot of the main cast. Features like this have always been more for longtime fans as opposed to a core mechanic. Considering how many anime revolve around a clueless main character and an expanding harem, it would be nice to get the chance to take control and finally see these characters settle down.
Anime games have begun to branch out recently, but progress has been slow. Hopefully, fans can start to look forward to playing as their favorite anime characters in something other than a fighting game.