character game; video game featuring characters from existing media
Refers to a video game that uses characters from a manga, anime, movie, or other franchise. The appeal is often the characters themselves rather than original gameplay.
wasei-eigo (Japanese-coined English), from character game
Recent character games are increasingly enjoyable even for people who aren't fans of the original work.
character-driven game; game focused on characters
A video game where the characters and their interactions are the main focus, often with strong narrative or personality elements. This sense overlaps with the first but emphasizes character centrality over franchise tie-in.
This character game focuses more on conversations between characters than on combat.
Variant with interpunct; less common but seen in some contexts.
Wasei-eigo (Japanese-made English) from 'character' + 'game'. The term is not used in English with this specific meaning.