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.

Challenger
Challenger
Thexder
Thexder
Sorcerian
Sorcerian
Ore no Ryouri
Ore no Ryouri
Famicom Detective Club: The Two-Case Collection
Famicom Detective Club: The Two-Case Collection
Emerald Dragon
Emerald Dragon
Kamaitachi no Yoru
Kamaitachi no Yoru
Nakayama Miho no Tokimeki High School
Nakayama Miho no Tokimeki High School
Championship Lode Runner
Championship Lode Runner
Densha de GO! 64
Densha de GO! 64
Pop'n music 9
Pop'n music 9
Radar Scope
Radar Scope
Sasuke vs. Commander
Sasuke vs. Commander
Summon Night
Summon Night
Wagyan Land
Wagyan Land
Metal Max
Metal Max
EVE burst error
EVE burst error
Phantom of Inferno
Phantom of Inferno
Bokosuka Wars
Bokosuka Wars
Doko Demo Issyo
Doko Demo Issyo
Medarot Kabuto Version
Medarot Kabuto Version
Star Luster
Star Luster
Dinosaur King
Dinosaur King
Crime Crackers
Crime Crackers
Fushigi no Dungeon: Fuurai no Shiren 2 - Oni Shuurai! Shiren Jou!
Fushigi no Dungeon: Fuurai no Shiren 2 - Oni Shuurai! Shiren Jou!
Shikigami no Shiro
Shikigami no Shiro
Esper Dream
Esper Dream
Heiankyo Alien
Heiankyo Alien
The Legend of Heroes III: Shiroki Majo
The Legend of Heroes III: Shiroki Majo
Flappy
Flappy
Mobile Suit Z Gundam: Hot Scramble
Mobile Suit Z Gundam: Hot Scramble
Tetris
Tetris
1988 Arcade version, developed by Sega
To Heart
To Heart
A-Train
A-Train
Buddy Mission: Bond
Buddy Mission: Bond
Elminage Original
Elminage Original
Famicom Jump: Hero Retsuden
Famicom Jump: Hero Retsuden
Genpei ToumaDen
Genpei ToumaDen
Volguard II
Volguard II
Bazaru De Gozaru No Game De Gozaru
Bazaru De Gozaru No Game De Gozaru
Gunparade March
Gunparade March
High School Graffiti: Mikie
High School Graffiti: Mikie
Make Trax
Make Trax
Super Gussun Oyoyo
Super Gussun Oyoyo
Super Robot Wars F
Super Robot Wars F
The Black Onyx
The Black Onyx
Youkai Douchuuki
Youkai Douchuuki
Sound Novel Machi: Machi
Sound Novel Machi: Machi
J.B. Harold Murder Club
J.B. Harold Murder Club
Angelique
Angelique
Galaxian3
Galaxian3
Real Sound: Kaze no Regret
Real Sound: Kaze no Regret
Star Cruiser
Star Cruiser
Super Fire Pro Wrestling X
Super Fire Pro Wrestling X
Bakusou Dekotora Densetsu: Otoko Ippiki Yume Kaidoi
Bakusou Dekotora Densetsu: Otoko Ippiki Yume Kaidoi
Lodoss Tou Senki
Lodoss Tou Senki
Veigues Tactical Gladiator
Veigues Tactical Gladiator
Flipull: An Exciting Cube Game
Flipull: An Exciting Cube Game
Jaseiken Necromancer
Jaseiken Necromancer
Lupin III
Lupin III
Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban!
Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban!
Sanma no Meitantei
Sanma no Meitantei
Stop That Roach!
Stop That Roach!
Suzuka 8 Hours
Suzuka 8 Hours
Dyna Brothers
Dyna Brothers
Dragon Scroll: Yomigaerishi Maryuu
Dragon Scroll: Yomigaerishi Maryuu
Dream Master
Dream Master
Erika to Satoru no Yume Bouken
Erika to Satoru no Yume Bouken
Falsion
Falsion
Relics
Relics
Bakushou!! Jinsei Gekijoh
Bakushou!! Jinsei Gekijoh
Gakkou de Atta Kowai Hanashi
Gakkou de Atta Kowai Hanashi
Kininkou Maroku Oni
Kininkou Maroku Oni
Let's Make a Soccer Team!
Let's Make a Soccer Team!
Ore no Shikabane o Koete Yuke
Ore no Shikabane o Koete Yuke
Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Kenpuu-chou
Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Kenpuu-chou
Trade & Battle: Card Hero
Trade & Battle: Card Hero
Culdcept II
Culdcept II
Hayarigami Portable: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File
Hayarigami Portable: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File
Hokkaido Rensa Satsujin: Okhotsk ni Kiyu
Hokkaido Rensa Satsujin: Okhotsk ni Kiyu
Mushiking: King of the Beetles
Mushiking: King of the Beetles
Aretha
Aretha
Dezaemon
Dezaemon
Farland Story
Farland Story
Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai Special
Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai Special
Kosodate Quiz My Angel
Kosodate Quiz My Angel
Panekit: Infinitive Crafting Toy Case
Panekit: Infinitive Crafting Toy Case
Satsui no Kaisou: Power Soft Satsujin Jiken
Satsui no Kaisou: Power Soft Satsujin Jiken
Sentimental Graffiti
Sentimental Graffiti
Mujintou Monogatari
Mujintou Monogatari
Pro Yakyuu Family Stadium
Pro Yakyuu Family Stadium
Sen-Know
Sen-Know
Shanghai Kid
Shanghai Kid
Space Mouse: 35th Anniversary Edition
Space Mouse: 35th Anniversary Edition
Yuuyu no Quiz de Go! Go!
Yuuyu no Quiz de Go! Go!
Barcode World
Barcode World
Gensei Suikoden
Gensei Suikoden
Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan
Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan
Mahou no Shoujo: Silky Lip
Mahou no Shoujo: Silky Lip
Tetsudou-ou
Tetsudou-ou

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

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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

11 months ago

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


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