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.
*Note I have not played every game on here so comment if mistakes were made.
150 Games
An arcade conversion by Konami and an early take on the fighting game genre. It might not click for some and they also cut about half the opponents but this one can be fun once you learn how to beat all five opponents. Nice one to pop in and play for about 20 minutes.
Another Goemon RPG, not much to say.
An odd take for a sidescroller sequel making it top down. Worth a look if you're curious.
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.
The blacksheep of the franchise but still a game worth checking out.
An interesting strategy RPG and Enix's last published game. It sadly bombed hard.
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!!)
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.
A pretty standard and easy RPG but with the fun Goemon flare to it.
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.
A brutally hard game similar to Castlevania. You will go crazy from the stuff this game throws at you. Be prepared to replay levels over and over until you're perfect at them.
Infamous kusoge by Sunsoft that's worth at least trying just to see how bad a lot of the game design is.
An interesting platformer worth playing but sadly held back by performance issues and some lackluster level design and bosses.
An RPG by Atlus known for the awesome designs and brutally hard difficulty. You'll need to prepare for your journey through this one. This was remade for the Super Famicom.
Similar to our Adventures of Lolo 3 but different and more difficult.
A Data East platformer using the McDonalds brand. It's got some interesting ideas involving the bombs and is a decent time.
An interesting RPG by Westone with combat that reminds me of the Wonder Boy games.
A very odd game that really has nothing to do with what it's based on. Not good but funny.
A very weird action game that has nothing to do with the first game. Odd.
Hope you know Japanese
A game normally hated by fans. It does have fans and it would later birth the SaGa franchise. Though some might recommend you play a later rerelease if this is too outdated.
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.
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.
Supposedly a Dragon Quest clone by Data East. It would start a series of games that we mostly never got, an interesting series.
A very ambitious Zelda like game that tries many ideas and sort of fails at it at times but it's hard to deny the admiration of it all. It's worth at least playing a bit to see what it's like but if it's not for you, stick with the fun Arcade sequel. This was also remade on PS1.
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.
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.
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.
Another game that tries to be similar to Space Harrier.
A very odd take on the Star Wars license. In some ways the game reminds me of Alex Kidd. The game is also pretty damn hard.
A 2D action sidescroller with many interesting ideas but doesn't always have the best design.
A very cruel game by Sunsoft where you'll be playing over and over again to even stand a chance to see the end. You'll probably need a guide if you want to not go insane. Despite that, it's got a legacy and is still ported to this day.
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.
A game part of a very ambitious attempt of a series that ended up failing hard. It tries to do multiple gameplay styles. Whether or not you think it works well is up to you. It's a part of history that most seemed to be unaware of. Would recommend F_T_B's video on Youtube about the project.
A mediocre fighting game but notable for being one of the more interesting ones of the time.
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.
One of Micronics worst games on the system. It's so bad I couldn't even finish it and I actually enjoyed the manga.
While it's been ported nowadays, this is still a neat block puzzle game to try if you like those on this console. you have to lift them and use them for going higher. It's pretty tricky and if you like it enough, it got remade on the PS1.
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.
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.
Another kusoge game filled with poor gameplay decisions based off a license and it's brutally hard. Even later Transformers media has referenced its infamy. Play it if you want a impossible feeling challenge.
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.
This game took over like a decade for someone to actually beat it.
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.
One of the worst games on the system that should be played just for that reason.
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.
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.
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.
3 Comments
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!
Love the list! i really wanna check out Yokai Club!
@Dalaamclouds
seems the source I used was wrong about the saving thing, sorry. It's been fixed now. Thank you for letting me know.
seems the source I used was wrong about the saving thing, sorry. It's been fixed now. Thank you for letting me know.
Angel_Arle
3 months ago