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
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 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.
The final game for the console. The game goes for a more Metroid like take for the gameplay. It's a pretty fun game worth playing, it's also apparently Hudson Soft's worst selling game.
A fun top down game with Bomberman like weapons.
There's too many Kunio-Kun games I'm tired. IT'S BASKETBALL BUT COOL
The best fighting game on the system with fun designs and simple gameplay that will keep you coming back.
Another Soccer game by Kunio-kun
It's a Wagyan Land clone
Similar to Itadaki Street, best played with friends.
A 4 player fighting game that can be pretty fun and addicting though the framerate is poor.
An interesting strategy RPG and Enix's last published game. It sadly bombed hard.
Hope you know Japanese
Really cool gameplay and cutscenes. The detailed movement can be a detriment but the game is still pretty fun once you get good.
A fun minigame collection as you also go walking around town helping out.
An action RPG with really good visuals. Gameplay will vary for some people.
More Kunio sports fun!
One of the most impressive shmups you'll find on the console. Be warned though it's really damn hard.
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.
The blacksheep of the franchise but still a game worth checking out.
It's now a platformer and it's really good. With some really fun level design. It can be a bit easy.
More Kunio-Kun. This one seems to be too easy for some so be wary of that.
Another Goemon RPG, not much to say.
One of Sunsoft's most highly praised games. It looks beautiful, sounds amazing and it's really challenging especially if you want the good ending. Don't miss out on it.
A decent platformer by Arc System Works.
A short and easy action game by Natsume. Think of it like a lighter version of Shatterhand.
An odd release probably due to the success of the sequel. It's basically just the FDS version.
An interesting sidescroller but can be punishing.
An obscure sequel with some decent ideas. Worth a look.
A pretty impressive shmup by Konami. It reminds me of the Aleste series. It also has co-op.
An interesting sequel adding new improvements though it might be too easy for some.
An interesting board game that reminds me of Dokapon Kingdom.
A text adventure with some of the most impressive visuals on the console. It sadly however almost killed HAL as a company due to poor sales.
An interesting platformer worth playing but sadly held back by performance issues and some lackluster level design and bosses.
An obscure action game that also has shmup sections. The difficulty is very inconsistent in this one.
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.
A fun platformer based off an anime.
A very interesting RPG that tried to not be like Dragon Quest. This has a remake on the Super Famicom.
Similar to Cosmic Epsilon but better than it graphically, gameplay and even has a story.
An RPG mixed with a shmup. The concept alone is interesting but be warned it has grinding.
An amazing action side scroller by Natsume. Good level design all around and is just really fun.
A very fun platformer and you can even create your own character.
A fun little puzzle game using the most popular Sanrio character at the time.
An ambitious Konami RPG that unfortunately didn't sell well.
A fun game if you like this series but sadly only in Japanese for now.
The most hated Jajamaru game but is an interesting platformer.
A compile puzzle game that came out right before their big Puzzle hit.
One of the rare instances of a decent TOSE and Bandai game. Just don't look up the game on Google.
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.
An interesting text adventure game but sadly no fan translation.
Another crossover game but is now more of a simple level to level platformer. Fun game and even mixes it up sometimes.
A fun and easy platformer that is unfortunately fatphobic.
Similar to our Adventures of Lolo 3 but different and more difficult.
More of the same but this time the fan translation isn't bad.
An interesting spinoff that feels more like a Rockman game.
Play this with 4 players for the most enjoyment.
Worth trying if you prefer the Arcade style over what the MD version did.
If you liked the first one, you should enjoy this too.
It's interesting for the unique content but that's about it.
Notable for being the most popular of the three games with a cool class change mechanic. Be warned that the game can be pretty hard. It once again might be better to play the pixel remaster.
The first game in the Fire Emblem series. It's a very slow game but worth playing if you wanna see how the series started.
More Megami Tensei, more hard gameplay and awesome designs. It also has a Super Famicom remake.
An interesting RPG by Westone with combat that reminds me of the Wonder Boy games.
A fun puzzle game by Konami, it can be a bit too easy for some though.
A pretty standard and easy RPG but with the fun Goemon flare to it.
A fun platformer that's best played with a friend if possible.
Similar to Adventures of Lolo 2 in the US but with different and more difficult rooms to tackle.
Another Heracles game, not much to say, if you like the first well here's another.
A really fun car battler game that's pretty simple and short.
A fun puzzle game that you might have played on the GB
Notable for what would help Capcom one day make the Biohazard franchise. It's a scary RPG with many mechanics that feel right out of a horror game.
Another game that tries to be similar to Space Harrier.
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.
A really fun text adventure with some funny artwork and dialogue. The game also has a lot of memorable music.
A silly prequel of the first Splatterhouse with many funny parodies of horror movies for you to see. The gameplay is pretty fun too and even some secrets to find.
A well made RPG by Pax Softnica. A really neat setting with some nice humor and many memorable moments. It's not as bad as some make it out to be. Though you might wanna play the cancelled US version for some small improvements.
An odd take for a sidescroller sequel making it top down. Worth a look if you're curious.
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.
If you know Japanese, play this just to be amazed at how it's one of the hardest games on the system.
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 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.
A mediocre fighting game but notable for being one of the more interesting ones of the time.
A good improvement on the first game with better level design and the whole game is co-op.
A port of the Arcade game and it's pretty good. Fans of Gradius and Salamander should play this if they haven't.
Another good port by Sunsoft.
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.
Jaleco copying Westone's homework.
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.
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 port of a computer game that is one of the weaker versions but worth playing as it has content unique to this version.
A prequel to Tower of Druaga that's now a puzzle platformer. Worth a look as the series is unfortunately underlooked here in the West.
The very first game in the Nintendo Wars series. It's worth playing if you wanna see how the franchise started.
A cartridge version of a disk system game. A fun platformer with some creative ideas.
It's Arkanoid again so if you enjoyed the first, you'll enjoy this too.
A very odd game that really has nothing to do with what it's based on. Not good but funny.
A Data East platformer using the McDonalds brand. It's got some interesting ideas involving the bombs and is a decent time.
A fun text adventure by Sunsoft.
A crossover game with some questionable design choices but can still be pretty enjoyable just for the novelty of it all.
A sequel to 3D World Runner. It's pretty much the same game but a bit better.
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.
One of Micronics worst games on the system. It's so bad I couldn't even finish it and I actually enjoyed the manga.
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