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
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 fun and easy platformer that is unfortunately fatphobic.
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 decent Castlevania clone.
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.
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.
Similar to Itadaki Street, best played with friends.
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 crossover game but is now more of a simple level to level platformer. Fun game and even mixes it up sometimes.
Hope you know Japanese
More of the same but this time the fan translation isn't bad.
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 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.
A game centered around a guy who doesn't even like video games. The design of it is insane and unorthodox. It's very easy to lose too and will not play fair.
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 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.
The only good Sumo game for the console.
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.
An interesting sidescroller but can be punishing.
Similar to Cosmic Epsilon but better than it graphically, gameplay and even has a story.
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)
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.
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.
More Kunio sports fun!
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 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.
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.
One of the most impressive shmups you'll find on the console. Be warned though it's really damn hard.
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 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 very weird action game that has nothing to do with the first game. Odd.
An interesting sequel adding new improvements though it might be too easy for some.
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.
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.
Jaleco copying Westone's homework.
An obscure action game that also has shmup sections. The difficulty is very inconsistent in this one.
A fun text adventure by Sunsoft.
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.
An odd release probably due to the success of the sequel. It's basically just the FDS version.
A port of one of the most innovative games for the time. It's a text adventure mystery and while there is much better out there nowadays, it's still worth playing as a history piece of the genre.
A decent platformer by Arc System Works.
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.
A very odd game that really has nothing to do with what it's based on. Not good but funny.
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 not the only first 3rd party game for the system (often said in the US side of gaming discussion) this is still a fun little game especially for 1984. A bunch of levels and a nice simple premise.
The most hated Jajamaru game but is an interesting platformer.
There's too many Kunio-Kun games I'm tired. IT'S BASKETBALL BUT COOL
A 4 player fighting game that can be pretty fun and addicting though the framerate is poor.
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.
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!!)
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 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.
The actual first game using a save feature on a cartridge.
Really cool gameplay and cutscenes. The detailed movement can be a detriment but the game is still pretty fun once you get good.
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 fun puzzle game by Konami, it can be a bit too easy for some though.
An amazing action side scroller by Natsume. Good level design all around and is just really fun.
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.
If you know Japanese, play this just to be amazed at how it's one of the hardest games on the system.
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.
A very interesting RPG that tried to not be like Dragon Quest. This has a remake on the Super Famicom.
An interesting RPG by Westone with combat that reminds me of the Wonder Boy games.
A fun platformer that's best played with a friend if possible.
A series originated on the MSX. A fun action sidescroller if you have the patience for it.
A fun minigame collection as you also go walking around town helping out.
One of the rare instances of a decent TOSE and Bandai game. Just don't look up the game on Google.
A surprisingly fun licensed game by TOSE. It can be pretty difficult.
A maze action game with many weapons to use. There's not much to say about it but it's fun :>
An ambitious Konami RPG that unfortunately didn't sell well.
A fun platformer based off an anime.
Another Soccer game by Kunio-kun
A crossover game with some questionable design choices but can still be pretty enjoyable just for the novelty of it all.
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 fun top down game with Bomberman like weapons.
It's a Wagyan Land clone
A fun little puzzle game using the most popular Sanrio character at the time.
An obscure sequel with some decent ideas. Worth a look.
It's interesting for the unique content but that's about it.
An interesting strategy RPG and Enix's last published game. It sadly bombed hard.
The best fighting game on the system with fun designs and simple gameplay that will keep you coming back.
A sequel to 3D World Runner. It's pretty much the same game but a bit better.
An interesting text adventure game.
A fun game if you like this series but sadly only in Japanese for now.
Worth trying if you prefer the Arcade style over what the MD version did.
Infamous kusoge by Sunsoft that's worth at least trying just to see how bad a lot of the game design is.
A really fun text adventure with some funny artwork and dialogue. The game also has a lot of memorable music.
An interesting board game that reminds me of Dokapon Kingdom.
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 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.
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.
Supposedly a Dragon Quest clone by Data East. It would start a series of games that we mostly never got, an interesting series.
Another Heracles game, not much to say, if you like the first well here's another.
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.
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 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.
A port of the Arcade game and it's pretty good. Fans of Gradius and Salamander should play this if they haven't.
A compile puzzle game that came out right before their big Puzzle hit.
While this technically came out here in VS Arcade cabinets, the cartridge around never did. If you liked Goonies II, give this one a try as it's similar in many ways.
More Kunio-Kun. This one seems to be too easy for some so be wary of that.
A 2D action game by Konami with very creepy sprite designs and an interesting overworld. Mostly forgotten in the west due to only getting the more modern rougelike game on modern consoles. Worth a go.
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