Anime and anime-adjacent games continued their grip on Japan's video game market during the week of July 6-12, with multiple franchise titles launching and climbing the weekly rankings.

Rhythm Heaven Groove maintained the top spot on Nintendo Switch, moving 126,073 copies since its July 2 release. However, anime-influenced releases dominated the new entries, particularly Digimon Story: Time Stranger, which arrived on July 9 and immediately captured two chart positions. The game appeared at #6 (Switch version 2) with 15,644 copies sold, plus an additional #8 placement (Switch version 1) with 11,251 copies—a strong double debut for the franchise title.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok also launched July 9 across platforms, appearing at #7 on Switch with 12,544 copies and #11 on PS5 with 6,906 copies. The expansion follow-up to the original Granblue Fantasy: Relink demonstrated the enduring appeal of the fantasy RPG franchise.

Other anime-connected releases in the top 20 included Magical Girl Witch Trials at #2 (21,283 copies), which debuted July 9 on Switch, and Echoes of Aincrad at #5 (16,092 copies), a PS5 launch also arriving July 9. The latter appears to draw inspiration from the Sword Art Online universe, though the connection isn't explicitly stated in ranking data.

Nintendo's established franchises continued performing well, with Tomodachi Life holding #3 despite releasing in April 2025, and legacy titles like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Splatoon 3, and Pokémon Pokopia remaining in the top 20.

The week's rankings reflect a broader trend: anime properties and anime-inspired gaming experiences remain reliably popular with Japanese audiences. Whether through direct adaptations or original games drawing on anime aesthetics and storytelling, these titles consistently capture significant market share alongside traditional gaming franchises.

Source: Famitsu