Games Considered Classics in Japan (But Not Over Here)

Whether poorly received over here, never released or just relatively obscure, these are all games that are held in high regard by Japanese players but not in the West. If you know of any other games that fit this criteria, please drop a comment, and I'll gladly add it. Some games are representatives for entire series.

Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban!
Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban!
The Tower of Druaga
The Tower of Druaga
Densha de GO! 64
Densha de GO! 64
Sakura Taisen
Sakura Taisen
Xevious
Xevious
MLB Power Pros
MLB Power Pros
The Portopia Serial Murder Case
The Portopia Serial Murder Case
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Beatmania
Beatmania
Tetris
Tetris
1988 Arcade version, developed by Sega
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
Heiankyo Alien
Heiankyo Alien
Boxxle
Boxxle
AKA Sokoban
Famicom Detective Club: The Two-Case Collection
Famicom Detective Club: The Two-Case Collection
Libble Rabble
Libble Rabble
Clock Tower
Clock Tower
Fushigi no Dungeon: Torneko no Daibouken
Fushigi no Dungeon: Torneko no Daibouken
Star Soldier
Star Soldier
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Sound Novel Machi: Machi
Sound Novel Machi: Machi
Kamaitachi no Yoru
Kamaitachi no Yoru
PoPoLoCrois
PoPoLoCrois
To Heart
To Heart
Crime Crackers
Crime Crackers
Hayarigami Portable: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File
Hayarigami Portable: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File
Kowloon's Gate
Kowloon's Gate
Milon's Secret Castle
Milon's Secret Castle
Wagyan Land
Wagyan Land
Fushigi no Dungeon: Fuurai no Shiren 2 - Oni Shuurai! Shiren Jou!
Fushigi no Dungeon: Fuurai no Shiren 2 - Oni Shuurai! Shiren Jou!
Romancing SaGa
Romancing SaGa
Shin Momotaro Densetsu
Shin Momotaro Densetsu
Tokimeki Memorial
Tokimeki Memorial
Gunparade March
Gunparade March
Hokkaido Rensa Satsujin: Okhotsk ni Kiyu
Hokkaido Rensa Satsujin: Okhotsk ni Kiyu
Ore no Ryouri
Ore no Ryouri
Far East of Eden II
Far East of Eden II
EarthBound Beginnings
EarthBound Beginnings
Pop'n music 9
Pop'n music 9
Super Robot Wars F
Super Robot Wars F
Doko Demo Issyo
Doko Demo Issyo
Taiko no Tatsujin DX
Taiko no Tatsujin DX
Youkai Douchuuki
Youkai Douchuuki
King's Field
King's Field
The Legend of Valkyrie
The Legend of Valkyrie
Summon Night
Summon Night
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru
Legend of the River King GB
Legend of the River King GB
Azito 3
Azito 3
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
Magical Vacation
Magical Vacation
Medarot Kabuto Version
Medarot Kabuto Version
Shikigami no Shiro
Shikigami no Shiro
Gods Eater Burst
Gods Eater Burst
Blue Dragon
Blue Dragon
LovePlus
LovePlus
Photo Kano Kiss
Photo Kano Kiss
Jaseiken Necromancer
Jaseiken Necromancer
Amagami
Amagami
Hydlide
Hydlide
Bazaru De Gozaru No Game De Gozaru
Bazaru De Gozaru No Game De Gozaru
Stop That Roach!
Stop That Roach!
Dream Master
Dream Master
Angelique
Angelique
Star Luster
Star Luster
Culdcept II
Culdcept II
Afrika
Afrika
Zombie Nation
Zombie Nation
Super Gussun Oyoyo
Super Gussun Oyoyo
Crazy Climber
Crazy Climber
Trade & Battle: Card Hero
Trade & Battle: Card Hero
Boku no Natsuyasumi
Boku no Natsuyasumi
Doukyuusei: Bangin' Summer
Doukyuusei: Bangin' Summer
Chase H.Q.
Chase H.Q.
Sin and Punishment
Sin and Punishment
Real Sound: Kaze no Regret
Real Sound: Kaze no Regret
Hammerin' Harry
Hammerin' Harry
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd
YU-NO: A Girl Who Chants Love at the Bound of This World
YU-NO: A Girl Who Chants Love at the Bound of This World
Live A Live
Live A Live
Ore no Shikabane o Koete Yuke
Ore no Shikabane o Koete Yuke
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Shin Megami Tensei
Shin Megami Tensei
Super Fire Pro Wrestling X
Super Fire Pro Wrestling X
Racing Lagoon
Racing Lagoon
White Knight Chronicles
White Knight Chronicles
Panekit: Infinitive Crafting Toy Case
Panekit: Infinitive Crafting Toy Case
Moon: Remix RPG Adventure
Moon: Remix RPG Adventure
Aquanaut's Holiday
Aquanaut's Holiday
DoDonPachi
DoDonPachi
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
Gotcha Force
Gotcha Force
Mr. Gimmick
Mr. Gimmick
A-Train
A-Train
EVE burst error
EVE burst error
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun
Spelunker
Spelunker
Kessen II
Kessen II
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy V

16 Comments


1 year ago

every game made by ELF
True, I'll throw Yu-No on there for now, and Doukyuusei was added earlier

1 year ago

Live A Live, Tokimeki Memorial and Moon

1 year ago

EVE burst error
Ore no Shikabane o Koete Yuke

1 year ago

There's also Sin & Punishment Star Sucessor, the sequel on the Wii.

Thinking about it now, there's A LOT of jp exclusive Wii Games that fit this list, some of them are being fantranslated in recent years in the homebrew scene, includind Pokémon and Fatal Frame.

1 year ago

Pretty sure Shin Megami Tensei SNES games were one of the top RPGs of their time in terms of popularity in Japan, but didn't even get releases in NA

1 year ago

Man I wish we had more translated Summon Night games so bad

1 year ago

Tengai Makyō aka Far East of Eden

1 year ago

Offhand, I would say Otogirisou. It is considered a genre-defining game as far as sound novels go but lacks even a fan translation. March of the Black Queen also only sold 25k units here but was a lot more successful in Japan.

Also I disagree with a few entries here personally. Xevious, Clock Tower, and Wizardry offhand. Sure they were more popular in Japan but Wizardry is still cited as a highly influential game that sold hundreds of thousands of copies in its native land among various ports. Xevious earned $30m in NA arcades as well as 250k sales on NES in addition to it being in countless Namco collections. Clock Tower was always only a moderate success in Japan and still has quite the loyal cult following in the west to the point of getting romhacks to this day.

Great list overall!

1 year ago

The original version of Persona 1,Megami Ibunroku Persona
Actually and before the release of Persona 5,this was the best selled Megami Tensei game,as well Persona 2 selled well,it was not at the level of Persona 1.
Also,the lot of fanarts denote more the status of this game in Japan,demostrating the beloved that it is.

1 year ago

This comment was deleted

1 year ago

twilight syndrome series

1 year ago

Armored core series

1 year ago

Is "The West" here only counting North America? Inazuma Eleven was kinda big in Europe and South America, aka places where people care about football.

I woukd suggest Yokai Watch and Puyo Puyo too, nice list.
This comment was deleted

9 months ago

og Gagharv games should be on here. at least shiroki majou


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