Famicom Games you should try out

This is a revised version of an older list with descriptions and just being possibly better. Hope this gets you to try out some cool 8-bit titles regardless of the quality. There are some bad ones but everywhere can witness some kusoge every once in a while.
*Note I have not played every game on here so comment if mistakes were made.

While this did come out here as Bases Loaded, this original Famicom version is infamous for how buggy it is. Despite that, it still sold well and disappointed many Japanese players.
A compile puzzle game that came out right before their big Puzzle hit.
If you know Japanese, play this just to be amazed at how it's one of the hardest games on the system.
An interesting text adventure game but sadly no fan translation.
It's Arkanoid again so if you enjoyed the first, you'll enjoy this too.
Honestly you should just play this one so you can see the "Show up you gays" line. Though with how poorly thought out this game is, you might need save states to even make it that far.
A port of a computer game that's infamous for how botched it was. It's got a lot of bad game design like instant death traps. Only recommended if you wanna see how bad it is.
The actual first game using a save feature on a cartridge.
A very odd game that really has nothing to do with what it's based on. Not good but funny.
This game took over like a decade for someone to actually beat it.
A mediocre fighting game but notable for being one of the more interesting ones of the time.
An RPG mixed with a shmup. The concept alone is interesting but be warned it has grinding.
Worth trying if you prefer the Arcade style over what the MD version did.
While it's more known for the infamous cover that disappointed many players, this is still a decent little game that feels like it could have been done on a computer of the time. It's not anything amazing but an interesting little title.
Not a good game but an interesting part of the series no one ever seems to talk about. It's based off an Anime adaption (you might have seen its wtf take on Bomberman)
Hope you know Japanese
A fun game if you like this series but sadly only in Japanese for now.
A series originated on the MSX. A fun action sidescroller if you have the patience for it.
This is like the only Badminton game on the system. It's made by Pax Softnica who would later do Mother 1 and a couple of the Hamtaro games.
A decent Castlevania clone.
One of the worst games on the system that should be played just for that reason.
An interesting RPG by Westone with combat that reminds me of the Wonder Boy games.
A game made by Compile that is infamous for not following the source material at all. You control three characters at the same time and it's not fun at all. One of the more notable kusoge games.
A port by Sunsoft that's better than the one Tengen made. This is usually regarded as one of the better games Sunsoft did before Metafight.
Another good port by Sunsoft.
An interesting board game that reminds me of Dokapon Kingdom.
I just want you all to suffer like I did with this game lol. The ad for it is pretty cool though. (ok it probably isn't but I LIKED IT!!)
Similar to Cosmic Epsilon but better than it graphically, gameplay and even has a story.
An interesting sidescroller but can be punishing.
Similar to our Adventures of Lolo 3 but different and more difficult.
A 2D action sidescroller with many interesting ideas but doesn't always have the best design.
A game with ideas used from a cancelled Mega Drive game. It has multiple endings, top down gameplay and even a level order you can choose.

JJ

A sequel to 3D World Runner. It's pretty much the same game but a bit better.
A fun top down game with Bomberman like weapons.
One of the rare instances of a decent TOSE and Bandai game. Just don't look up the game on Google.
An obscure action game that also has shmup sections. The difficulty is very inconsistent in this one.
A very weird action game that has nothing to do with the first game. Odd.
More of the same but this time the fan translation isn't bad.
Similar to Adventures of Lolo 2 in the US but with different and more difficult rooms to tackle.
A game similar to Zelda 2 but lacks some of the quality from that game and is a more level by level thing.
A very interesting 2 player text adventure game mostly known for the hard to find vulgar message found in the credits. Would not recommend playing alone.
It's interesting for the unique content but that's about it.
A top down game where you dig holes to trap bad guys. It's a pretty simple game with the only real design flaw is dying means losing possibly minutes of progress.
Jaleco copying Westone's homework.
A very interesting shmup that tries to have time travel. It's not even a full on shmup as it also has moments where you walk around in areas blasting enemies. It's flawed but quite intriguing of a game.
A fun puzzle game that you might have played on the GB
An interesting strategy RPG and Enix's last published game. It sadly bombed hard.
A fun minigame collection as you also go walking around town helping out.
One of Micronics worst games on the system. It's so bad I couldn't even finish it and I actually enjoyed the manga.
A fun text adventure by Sunsoft.
Another game that tries to be similar to Space Harrier.
An obscure sequel with some decent ideas. Worth a look.
A somewhat unknown action game in the west. It has some RPG like mechanics and is worth a try if you've never heard of it.
While not a good game, it's interesting for trying to attempt Space Harrier and has a very interesting theme to it with the many animals.
A Data East platformer using the McDonalds brand. It's got some interesting ideas involving the bombs and is a decent time.
Supposedly a Dragon Quest clone by Data East. It would start a series of games that we mostly never got, an interesting series.
A really fun car battler game that's pretty simple and short.
A surprisingly fun licensed game by TOSE. It can be pretty difficult.
The most hated Jajamaru game but is an interesting platformer.
An action RPG with really good visuals. Gameplay will vary for some people.
Another Goemon RPG, not much to say.
Another Heracles game, not much to say, if you like the first well here's another.
Another Konami game that's a platformer with some unique mechanics. This is still that era where things can be cryptically hidden but this is still a nice little overlooked game.
Similar to Itadaki Street, best played with friends.
A game similar to Metroid with RPG mechanics. Not perfect but might be a fun time for you if you can stick with it.
A fun platformer that's best played with a friend if possible.
The only good Sumo game for the console.
If you like Xevious, you might like this with a level based structure and many cryptic ways to complete levels along with some tough difficulty. Only hardcore Xevious fans will probably enjoy it but it's still very interesting regardless.
One of the worst RPGs ever made. It needs to be seen to believe. It even got a Switch release due to how hated it has become.
A fun little puzzle game using the most popular Sanrio character at the time.
A decent platformer by Arc System Works.
An action side scroller that tries to have a lot of the levels be huge and easy to get lost in. It can be pretty fun despite Sunsoft still not reaching their high points yet. You might need a guide for it if you lack patience and make sure to remember the continue cheat otherwise it's back to the beginning.
An odd take for a sidescroller sequel making it top down. Worth a look if you're curious.
A Konami game that's top down with mazelike level design. It won't be simple to reach the end of this one but there's fun to be had here.
The game is called Astro Robo Sasa on the Famicom. Pretty interesting game as you move around in the air using your gun shots and you can even play with a 2nd person.
There's too many Kunio-Kun games I'm tired. IT'S BASKETBALL BUT COOL
An interesting sequel adding new improvements though it might be too easy for some.
A pretty standard and easy RPG but with the fun Goemon flare to it.
A port of an Arcade game where you throw balls at your opponents side to make sure you have less by the end of the timer. It's very challenging but you can also hold a tournament at a party even if there are better versions of this game nowadays. It's still a neat novelty of a game.
More Kunio-Kun. This one seems to be too easy for some so be wary of that.
Another crossover game but is now more of a simple level to level platformer. Fun game and even mixes it up sometimes.
It's now a platformer and it's really good. With some really fun level design. It can be a bit easy.
A very interesting RPG that tried to not be like Dragon Quest. This has a remake on the Super Famicom.
Play this with 4 players for the most enjoyment.
An interesting text adventure game.
A good port of a Konami Arcade game. Really fun if you have a friend to play as Winbee. Only real gripe is the last level is not too well balanced. If you like early shmups, this is one of the best.
A popular game for children with some fun little minigames for the boss fights. It should be warned that you better know Japanese because the fan translation unintentionally made the final boss almost impossible.
Despite not being a Japanese property, this was Japan only. It's pretty horrible sadly, with an awful attack, uninteresting level design, and just not fun at all.
A 4 player fighting game that can be pretty fun and addicting though the framerate is poor.
An interesting platformer worth playing but sadly held back by performance issues and some lackluster level design and bosses.
Balloon Kid but starring Kitty White. They wouldn't get the original Balloon Kid till 2000 on the GBC. This game was also too hard for the target audience.
A fun puzzle game by Konami, it can be a bit too easy for some though.
An ambitious Konami RPG that unfortunately didn't sell well.
A crossover game with some questionable design choices but can still be pretty enjoyable just for the novelty of it all.
A good improvement over the previous Twinbee games and there is still fun co-op to be had, though the three player mode is sadly gone. The presentation is also amazing for a shmup of the time.
The sequel to River City Ransom. It's got a new setting and still has the same gameplay as before with some new ideas here and there.
While not my thing, this game is well liked in Japan. You first have to stop the express which was originally from a computer game. The next level becomes more open and top down and it's unfortunately got issues. It's a neat little game for 1985 once you learn how to beat it and be patient. Just don't play on the easiest difficulty.
Infamous kusoge by Sunsoft that's worth at least trying just to see how bad a lot of the game design is.

3 Comments


3 months ago

Hope this improved version is more helpful for people, apologies if I missed anything.

3 months ago

Awesome list!! Sorry to be super nitpicky but a Shogi game was actually the first famicom game to have a save function - super weird right? Here's a source which should be able to be able to be auto-translated into English: https://magmix.jp/post/69839 Here's the backloggd link! https://www.backloggd.com/games/morita-kazuo-no-shogi/

Love the list! i really wanna check out Yokai Club!

3 months ago

@Dalaamclouds
seems the source I used was wrong about the saving thing, sorry. It's been fixed now. Thank you for letting me know.


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