Summary
An all-time classic of manga and anime,Ranma 1/2is a dynamic, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that combinesmartial artsand gender politics with an unforgettable cast of characters. The story of a fraught romance between two teenagers, one of whom changes sex whenever they come into contact with hot or cold water, was conceived by legendary creator Rumiko Takahashi in 1987 and has been adapted across a range of media, including video games.
Interest in the series has been revived thanks to a recent Netflix adaptation, and a title as popular asRanma 1/2means it gets many video game adaptations of varying quality. The story’s emphasis on martial arts makes it a natural fit forfighting games, but it also has been adapted into puzzle titles, pachinko games, and even a visual novel. In order to make the list a bit more manageable, here is a listrankingthe best Ranma 1/2 games.
Ranma 1/2enjoys a cult following worldwide, but almost every video game adaptation was released in Japan exclusively, so many of the games on this list are known by their Japanese title and cannot be played in English.
8Ranma ½: Toraware no Hanayome
The Very First Ranma Game Stays Close To The Source
Appropriately for a game with its roots in manga and anime visual storytelling, the inauguralRanmagame relies heavily on the visual novel format. The story, which takes place over three acts, involves a trip to China and Ranma getting kidnapped, leaving a set of companions, led by Akane, to embark on a quest to rescue their friend.
The PC-Engine renders crisp graphics and the player’s control in the game extends to choose-your-own-adventure style menu options which can impact the direction that the story can take. While there is some combat, it is entirely menu-driven and the developers made it impossible to lose, as fights continue until the player eventually wins. While not as playable as later efforts, it’s still very much aRanmagame that aims to provide an entertaining experience.
7Ranma ½: Byakuran Aika
A Vintage Sega Accessory Gets The Ranma Treatment
The Mega-CD, known as the Sega CD in some parts of the globe, was an add-on for Sega’s Mega Drive. It was intended to provide more compelling video game experiences via what was (at the time) stunning video and sound capabilities, unavailable on any other home console. As such, it was a fitting home for another visual novel set in the world ofRanma.
The story is centered around a brand-new character named Arisa Nanjo and a caper which ensues after several of Ranma’s friends go missing. Animated excerpts reflect the player’s actions, and fights this time around are conducted via a rock-paper-scissors mechanic, which would pop up again in another game in the series.
6Ranma ½: Kakugeki Mondou!!
Ranma’s Game Boy Title Mixes Everything Up
A total of threeRanmagames were made for Nintendo’s legendary Game Boy. The final of these,Ranma ½: Kakugeki Mondou!!, featured an approach to gameplay that was novel, as it combined RPG elements with the player’s knowledge ofRanmalore and canon.
The player controls Ranma as he navigates the fictional town of Furninkan. Any NPC encounter plays out in one of two ways: Either turn-based, combat where players must decide what moves Ranma will use, or a series of questions that ask about the anime or manga series' history. Success means the player will level up and, thankfully, there are infinite continues.
5Ranma ½: Akanekodan Teki Hihou
A Quirky Mix Of Styles Bring Ranma To Life
Thisaction RPGprovides a palette cleanser from many otherRanmagames, which are only concerned with beating people up. The player takes control of Ranma as they explore environments before punctuating the exploration with puzzle solving and the occasional scrap. Many of the expected RPG mechanics are included, such as leveling up, chatting with NPCs, and unlocking abilities.
The game is unique in that its story is not taken directly from the anime or manga but was created from the ground up, just for the game. Also, the voice actors from the original anime lend their talents to the in-game cutscenes, meaning thatRanmafans get their very own interactive iteration of the tale.
4Ranma ½: Battle Renaissance
The Franchise Tries To Compete With Some Big Names
In the mid-1990s, the PlayStation reigned supreme, as did intricate 3D fighting games likeTekken.Battle Rennaisanceis an attempt to cash in on these video game juggernauts, presenting a fighting game in a sleeker, more modern format than the earlier 16-bit iterations.
The 3D format meant that battles took place in arenas, similar to games likeVirtua Fighter,making for more dynamic fights. A full roster of characters was playable, and even though the graphics were more mature, the developers did their best to maintain the series' quirky sense of humor.
3Ranma ½: Ougi Jaanken
An Entertaining Spin With Some Fast-Paced Puzzling
There are only so many times a person can punch someone in the face before it gets tiring. That was presumably the philosophy behindRanma 1/2: Ougi Jaanken,which throws all fighting out of the window and instead reinterprets battles by way ofTetris-style falling blocksthat must be hastily arranged to clear lines, with a dynamic based on rock-paper-scissors, known in Japan as jaanken.
This unlikely formula is more fun than some might imagine, as two-player battles take place which require incredibly fast reflexes to defeat opponents. This, combined with an over-the-top soundtrack and eye-popping visuals, make it one of the most enjoyable — if unusual — games in theRanmaseries.
2Ranma ½: Chounai Gekitou Hen
The First Proper Fighting Game Offers Colorful Fun
Ranma ½: Chounai Gekitou Henhas the honor of being the first true one-on-one fighting game set in the “Ranmaverse.” All the usual suspects are here, including boy or girl Ranma, Shampoo, and Genma. Each fighter has a special set of moves unique to their character, and special effort was clearly made to remain true to the source material, as evidenced by the colorful graphics and character animations.
While the game may not offer an experience as deep or compelling as similar titles of the era likeStreet Fighter, it still holds up. The individual animations for each character feel like an attempt to bring the anime to life, and forRanmafans at the time who wanted to do battle with each other in a video game, it was a dream come true.
1Ranma ½: Bakuretsu Rantohen (aka. Ranma 1/2: Hard Battle)
Fans Outside Japan Finally Got The Chance To Duke It Out
At the time of writing,Ranma 1/2: Hard Battleremains the onlyRanmagame released outside of Japan. English-speaking fans of the series could finally rejoice and luxuriate in being able to enjoy the game’s cutscenes in their native language. Not only that, but the game itself was a technical improvement on previous titles, with a marked improvement in both graphics and sound, making for a much more authenticRanmaexperience on home consoles.
Released in Japan under the titleRanma ½: Bakuretsu Rantohen,the game featured a roster of 10 characters. There was plenty of replay value thanks to an improved set of moves and fighting styles. Also, more of an effort was made with the game’s presentation, which feels more elaborate and manages to keep the anime and manga’s cheerful absurdity intact.
