Back to No.1 on the Top Grossing Chart and No.2 Overall: How Arknights Points a Way Forward for a Tough Year in Anime Games

Arknights, now 7.5 years old, topped the iOS game top-grossing chart and reached No.2 on the overall top-grossing chart with its anniversary version and the release of Talulah, becoming the first anime game to top the iOS game chart in 2026. The new story closing out the Ursus arc fueled community discussion and fan works, while the permanent Garrison Protocol mode, a free six-star operator, login rewards and new-player guidance lowered the barrier for newcomers. The article argues that long-term anime games live on the emotional bond built with players over years, not on higher production specs alone.