Every Code Geass Game Explained

Highlights

• Recent Code Geass films have established an alternative timeline for the series moving forward, providing potential for growth across mediums.
• With Bandai Namco ownership, new films like Roze of the Recapture hint at possible video game adaptations to explore uncharted territory.
• While past Code Geass games have been Japan-exclusive, the upcoming Roze of the Recapture could bring underrated aspects of the series to a global audience.

While the original run of the Code Geass anime may have concluded back in 2008, the popular alternate history mecha franchise has made a comeback over the past few years with new films. Lelouch of the Re;surrection followed the Initiation, Transgression, and Glorification trilogy that established an alternative timeline which has since become the main Code Geass continuity moving forward. With the latest series of films, Roze of the Recapture, set to debut in May as the first step in studio Sunrise’s decade-long plan, there’s now the most potential for Code Geass to grow across different mediums in years.

Considering the fact it is owned by Bandai Namco, the era for the series that will begin with Code Geass: Roze of the Recapture‘s continued depiction of the modern timeline could easily mark new video game adaptations. Mobile platform-focused games have essentially been the only form of Code Geass-related media in the industry since around the time of the original anime’s popularity, and the titles released back then have remained obscure relative to their source material. All the franchise’s games, apart from the most recent mobile title, have been Japan-exclusives that were never made available elsewhere apart from fan translations, but fans looking forward to what Roze could bring are likely to enjoy delving into an underrated side of Code Geass‘ history.

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (2007)

The first game that the series ever received was the Nintendo DS-exclusive Lelouch of the Rebellion from 2007, released alongside the original run of the anime. It plays as a turn-based RPG centered around combat encounters in Code Geass‘ Knightmare Frames, and was notable at the time for utilizing the DS’ microphone to allow the player to issue gimmicky voice commands. Code Geass for the DS roughly followed the first season of the anime while also diverging into its own story, and it remains possibly the most action-oriented and faithful appearance of the series in gaming to date.

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion – Lost Colors (2008)

Lost Colors would follow as the second Code Geass game, now on the stronger hardware of the PS2 and PSP despite this title being a visual novel. Lacking a focus on RPG mechanics and combat and centered around the adventures of the original character Rai instead of Code Geass protagonist Lelouch, it sees players navigating decisions regarding relationships with various characters from the anime. With multiple routes and endings, Lost Colors is a faithful representation of its franchise’s concepts and cast despite major differences from most of its media.

Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch R2 – Banjou no Geass Gekijou (2008)

A far less serious outing than the other major games of the series, Banjou no Geass Gekijou serves as a collection of minigames in a similar style to the Mario Party franchise. Between multiple lighthearted parody games that subvert the typically serious tone of the Code Geass anime, this entry on the DS sees players progressing through the board game set-up this genre is known for. Super Deformed versions of the cast make this a memorable celebration of the original anime, and it even features the return of Rai from Lost Colors.

Code Geass’ Mobile-Based Game Releases

Code Geass: Genesic Re;Code (2021)

A mobile gacha game that launched after the rise of Code Geass‘ new timeline, Genesic was considered fairly unremarkable for a game of its genre while still appealing to fans of the series’ many characters. After a run that seemingly didn’t quite match up to other popular gacha titles, it was shut down back in April 2023.

Code Geass: Lost Stories (2022)

While another mobile game, Lost Stories is actually a tower defense title instead of a traditional gacha. It falls under similar free-to-play tropes overall, but this internationally-released game’s original story content updates have kept its players engaged enough for it to still be running.