It may not be obvious elsewhere, but Neon Genesis Evangelion is ridiculously popular in Japan. As such, it spawned an entire multimedia franchise that includes manga and a surprisingly long list of video games.
In fact, there are so many spin-offs that they can be used to chronicle the franchise’s evolution from 1995 to now. From alternate universes to dating sims, there’s almost no form of media that Hideaki Anno’s magnum opus didn’t experiment on.
Author’s Note: Pachinko machines and crossovers with other games were not included for brevity’s sake. Only official Evangelion titles were listed.
36 1994-2013: Yoshiyuki Sadamoto’s Neon Genesis Evangelion
Created as a tie-in but released before the anime due to production issues, Sadamoto’s manga retells the anime with some big changes. Creative liberties include making Shinji more standoffish than introverted and rewriting The End of Evangelion into a bittersweet conclusion.
35 1996 & 1997: Neon Genesis Evangelion: 1st & 2nd Impression (Sega Saturn)
These visual novels drop players into the anime’s events before splitting into a new story. The stories focus on Shinji’s school life, especially his post-battle amnesia and interactions with the game-exclusive student Mayumi Yamagishi.
34 1996: Evangelion: After The End
Released in the Neon Genesis Evangelion Addition CD, this self-aware parody reimagines the cast as actors in an Evangelion production.
Here, they get word that they’ve been renewed for another season. The problem is, there's no script and everyone’s out of ideas. Anno wrote it and it can be found on YouTube.
33 1997: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Digital Card Library (Sega Saturn)
Made for the Sega Saturn, this Sega-exclusive is more of a collection of supplementary anime material. Players can only view bonuses like concept art and outtakes by beating some minigames.
32 1997 & 2005: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend Of Steel 1 & 2 (Multiplatform)
Known as Iron Maiden elsewhere, the Girlfriend Of Steel duology focuses on Shinji’s high school life. Girlfriend Of Steel 1 is an interquel, while Girlfriend Of Steel 2 diverges into the anime’s alternate reality high school. Best known for introducing the fan-favorite Mana Kirishima (left).
31 1998-1999: The ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion – Shinji & Good Friends’ Series (Multiplatform)
Comprised of eight titles, Shinji & Good Friends starred the Evangelion cast playing games like mahjong or solitaire. Notable for crossing over with Gunbuster and Nadia: The Secret Of Blue Water, and having the franchise’s only official adult games (i.e. The Stripping Instrumentality Project!).
30 1999: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Collector’s Discs (PC/Mac)
Basically the Digital Card Library but for home computers instead of consoles. Collector’s Discs has seven discs’ worth of screensavers and wallpapers to use. Best known for the addition of the unused Angel Diemay (right), which was a fan-made Angel that won an art contest.
29 1999: Neon Genesis Evangelion 64 (Nintendo 64)
Of the Evangelion games, this N64 Japan-exclusive is the most faithful adaptation yet. It’s a fighting game that reenacts the anime’s most famous brawls, with Angel encounters broken up by some slice-of-life simulations starring the three main pilots.
28 1999: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angel Raising (WonderSwan)
A pet-raising simulator, Angel Raising has players taking control of Kaji as he takes care of the Adam fetus. Depending on how good or bad Kaji raises Adam, the fetus could grow into a deadly Angel, an Eva Unit, or Pen Pen.
27 1999 & 2000: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Typing Project E & Typing Instrumentality Project (Dreamcast/PC/PS2)
Like every licensed typing game before it, these titles reimagine Evangelion’s fights with the use of a keyboard and challengingly long words. The only difference of note is that Typing Project E is narrated by Maya (above), while Misato takes command in Typing Instrumentality Project.
26 2001: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Ayanami Raising Project (Dreamcast/DS/PC/PS2)
A raising simulator where players portray the NERV employee assigned to take in Rei during the anime’s events. It spun-off into the comedic anthology manga Ayanami Raising Project With Asuka Supplement Project 4Koma.
25 2003: Neon Genesis Evangelion 2 (PS2/PSP)
The sequel to the N64 title, Neon Genesis Evangelion 2 focuses on RPG, dating, and sim elements instead of Eva-vs-Angel fights. Best known for its “Classified Information,” which are never-before-seen mythos and backstories.
24 2003-2005: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days
A lighthearted shojo retelling of Evangelion that expands on the alternate reality from the original anime’s last episode. This romantic comedy is actually a loose adaptation of Girlfriend of Steel 2, though only the title, setting, and premise remain the same.
23 2005-2016: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Shinji Ikari Raising Project
Based on the 2004 raising sim of the same name, Shinji Ikari Raising Project is a slice-of-life harem comedy manga set in the anime’s alternate high school reality. The Evas and Angels exist, but the focus is on Shinji’s love triangle with Rei and Asuka, and the succeeding hijinks.
22 2006: Secret Of Evangelion (PC/PS2/PSP)
Another retelling of the anime, but with the added twist of brand new characters. Here, players portray NERV agent and Kaji’s college friend Kenzaki Kyouya (right) as he uncovers the truths of NERV and SEELE during the anime’s events all the way to The End Of Evangelion.
21 2007: Detective Evangelion (PS2)
Made in the style of the Ace Attorney games, Detective Evangelion is a surprisingly lighthearted detective sim that revolves around a murder mystery.
Players must help teenage detective prodigy Shinji find out who’s responsible for a slew of murders in NERV and Tokyo-3.
20 2007: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Battle Orchestra (PS2/PSP)
Battle Orchestra breaks Evangelion gaming tradition by having more in common with Super Smash Bros. than a visual novel. This side-scroller stars all of the anime’s Evas and Angels and even features an original story to justify their inevitable battle royale.
19 2007-2009: Petit Eva: Evangelion@School
A super-deformed chibi parody manga that relocates happier versions of the Evangelion cast to a normal high school. Notable for having Rei triplets and a human-sized Eva Unit-01, who’s also a student. Inspired a series of animated shorts and a Nintendo DS game.
18 2007-2009: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Campus Apocalypse
Set in the Catholic school NERV Foundation Academy, Campus Apocalypse reimagines Evangelion as a supernatural mystery. Here, Shinji teams up with Kaworu to learn the truth behind the literal Biblical Angels and why they attack NERV students.
17 2008-2013: Neon Genesis Evangelion: ANIMA
The ANIMA light novels follow an alternate timeline where Kaji lived and warned NERV of SEELE’s true goals. As a result, Human Instrumentality is averted and Shinji leads a team of Eva pilots to defend Tokyo-3. Basically, ANIMA reimagines Evangelion as a Gundam title.
16 2009: Evangelion: Jo (PS2/PSP)
Basically Neon Genesis Evangelion 2 but for the Rebuild continuity, Evangelion: Jo is an interquel set between the first two reboot movies. Notable for adding elements from future movies not seen in You Are (Not) Alone, particularly Asuka.
15 2009-2010: Misato Katsuragi’s Reporting Plan (PS3/PSP)
More of a lifestyle app than a game, this Japan-exclusive title gave players their daily news as reported by Misato herself. The news came from the local news outlet Mainichi Shimbun, with her voice provided by an AI.
14 2010: Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Detective Diary
Another alternate universe set in a normal high school, The Shinji Ikari Detective Diary is, unsurprisingly, a detective yarn. Seeking help for Toji, Shinji visits the Kaji Detective Agency ran by Kaji and his assistant Kaworu. Hilarity and sleuthing ensue.
13 2010: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Comic Tribute
An anthology of silly one-shots made in celebration of the anime’s 15th anniversary. Includes contributions from well-known unorthodox creatives like B Gata H Kei: Yamada's First Time mangaka Yoko Sanri, Loveless mastermind Yun Kouga, Sgt. Frog creator Mine Yoshizaki, and more.
12 2010: Tony Takezaki's Neon Genesis Evangelion
After joining Comic Tribute, the man behind madcap cult classics like A.D. Police Files and Genocyber went on to make his own Evangelion spoof anthology. In typical Takezaki fashion, this collection is a lot raunchier and R-Rated than the whole of Comic Tribute.
11 2011: Rebuild Of Evangelion: Sound Impact (PSP)
Another outlier in Evangelion’s gaming tenure is the rhythm game Sound Impact. The game uses remixed music from You Are (Not) Alone and You Can (Not) Advance, which were produced by long-time Silent Hill composer and industry legend, Akira Yamaoka.
10 2012-2014: Evangelion MEMORIA (Android/IOS)
In this gacha game, players assume the role of a new Eva pilot who hangs out with the Rebuild cast. In between social sim elements, the player must fight Angels to collect memories, which are scenes and exclusive art from the Rebuild movies.
9 2012: EVA Arcade Series (Android/IOS)
EVA Arcade Series is a collection of Evangelion-themed arcade games, all of which can be played on a phone. The series consists of four titles, namely the puzzle game Jigsaw, the Pachinko machine Coin Diver (left), and the tile-matchers Puzzle Buster and Puzzle Buster: Break (right).
8 2014-2015: Evangelion: Catharsis Of Soul (Android)
Evangelion: Catharsis Of Soul is unique for being one of the only strategy games in the franchise. A top-down tower defense made in the vein of Clash Of Clans, this title forces players to defend their cities against an ever-increasing horde of Angels.
7 2014-2018: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Legend Of The Piko Piko Middle School Students
A parody that reimagines Evangelion by way of gaming. To prepare for the Angels’ attacks, NERV trains Shinji, Rei, Asuka, and Kaworu through video games. However, their sick e-gaming careers distract them from the coming threat.
6 2014-2016: Evangelion Battle Mission (Android/IOS)
Evangelion Battle Mission is another Rebuild-themed puzzle gacha game but this time, players fight to get cards that feature exclusive art from the Rebuild movies. The most noteworthy cards were those that featured the pilots in different attires.
5 2015: Yurushito Angel Drop (Android/IOS)
This Candy Crush clone is one of the strangest Evangelion spin-offs since it lets players play on the side of the Angels. Here, players must help cute Angels (who take their appearance from the official Yurishito plushies) restore their garden through beating puzzle levels.
4 2016-2018: Neon Genesis Evangelion Online (Android/IOS)
This mobile game’s selling point was that it was a pure hack-and-slash brawler. Winning battles rewarded players with new loot to improve their stats and fighting chances. Players made up their own team of three Evas, and every combination added something unique to the arsenal.
3 2017: Evangelion VR: The Throne Of Souls: Berserk (VR)
Evangelion VR is the closest thing anyone can feel to piloting an Eva Unit, as this virtual reality simulator lets one player and three friends get in the robot to fight Angels. Evangelion VR is only accessible to those living in Shinjuku or visiting the VR Zone located there.
2 2018-2020: Evangelion: Breaking Dawn (Android/IOS)
A mobile RPG brawler, Evangelion: Breaking Dawn follows the first two Rebuild movies closely but adds parts of other Evangelion media as well. Collectible Eva Units and character outfits include new getups, their looks from the original anime, and even ANIMA.
1 2020: Evangelion Battlefields (Android/IOS)
Evangelion Battlefields is a mobile fighting game where players can fight one another in Eva units. Best known for its exclusive Eva-styled controller that comes with character figures, who each provide unique in-game bonuses.