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.

Metal Max
Metal Max
Phantom of Inferno
Phantom of Inferno
Summon Night
Summon Night
Wagyan Land
Wagyan Land
Sasuke vs. Commander
Sasuke vs. Commander
Championship Lode Runner
Championship Lode Runner
Densha de GO! 64
Densha de GO! 64
Radar Scope
Radar Scope
Emerald Dragon
Emerald Dragon
Pop'n music 9
Pop'n music 9
Kamaitachi no Yoru
Kamaitachi no Yoru
Nakayama Miho no Tokimeki High School
Nakayama Miho no Tokimeki High School
Famicom Detective Club: The Two-Case Collection
Famicom Detective Club: The Two-Case Collection
Sorcerian
Sorcerian
Ore no Ryouri
Ore no Ryouri
Challenger
Challenger
Thexder
Thexder
Legend of the River King GB
Legend of the River King GB
Boxxle
Boxxle
AKA Sokoban
Amagami
Amagami
Beatmania
Beatmania
Chack'n Pop
Chack'n Pop
Daiva 6: Imperial of Nirsartia
Daiva 6: Imperial of Nirsartia
Kowloon's Gate
Kowloon's Gate
Super Volley Ball
Super Volley Ball
GetsuFumaDen
GetsuFumaDen
PoPoLoCrois
PoPoLoCrois
Afrika
Afrika
Gladiator Begins
Gladiator Begins
Idol Hakken-den
Idol Hakken-den
Image Fight
Image Fight
Night Striker
Night Striker
Kowloon High-School Chronicle
Kowloon High-School Chronicle
Ruina: Fairy Tale of the Forgotten Ruins
Ruina: Fairy Tale of the Forgotten Ruins
Warsong
Warsong
Terra Cresta
Terra Cresta
Kamui
Kamui
Fire Shark
Fire Shark
Magical Vacation
Magical Vacation
Aquanaut's Holiday
Aquanaut's Holiday
Silpheed
Silpheed
Crazy Climber
Crazy Climber
Kessen II
Kessen II
Hammerin' Harry
Hammerin' Harry
MLB Power Pros
MLB Power Pros
The Sword of Etheria
The Sword of Etheria
Dragon Buster
Dragon Buster
Zombie Nation
Zombie Nation
Otogirisou
Otogirisou
Libble Rabble
Libble Rabble
Tokyo Xtreme Racer
Tokyo Xtreme Racer
Fushigi no Dungeon: Torneko no Daibouken
Fushigi no Dungeon: Torneko no Daibouken
Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
Taiko no Tatsujin DX
Taiko no Tatsujin DX
Chase H.Q.
Chase H.Q.
Doukyuusei: Bangin' Summer
Doukyuusei: Bangin' Summer
Catrap
Catrap
Tokimeki Memorial
Tokimeki Memorial
Romancing SaGa
Romancing SaGa
Rance X: Showdown
Rance X: Showdown
Milon's Secret Castle
Milon's Secret Castle
Pooyan
Pooyan
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun
Sayonara o Oshiete: Comment te Dire Adieu
Sayonara o Oshiete: Comment te Dire Adieu
The Portopia Serial Murder Case
The Portopia Serial Murder Case
The Legend of Valkyrie
The Legend of Valkyrie
Nuts & Milk
Nuts & Milk
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
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams
Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams
Spelunker
Spelunker
Star Soldier
Star Soldier
LovePlus
LovePlus
Gotcha Force
Gotcha Force
Densetsu no Starfy
Densetsu no Starfy
Hydlide
Hydlide
LBX: Little Battlers eXperience
LBX: Little Battlers eXperience
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Ufouria: The Saga
Ufouria: The Saga
Known in Japan as Hebereke
Puzzle & Dragons
Puzzle & Dragons
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Battle Mania Daiginjou
White Knight Chronicles
White Knight Chronicles
Gods Eater Burst
Gods Eater Burst
Boku no Natsuyasumi
Boku no Natsuyasumi
Sakura Taisen
Sakura Taisen
The Tower of Druaga
The Tower of Druaga
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen
Racing Lagoon
Racing Lagoon
Devil Kings
Devil Kings
Doshin the Giant
Doshin the Giant
Puyo Puyo Tsuu
Puyo Puyo Tsuu
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru
TwinBee
TwinBee
Mr. Gimmick
Mr. Gimmick
King's Field
King's Field
DoDonPachi
DoDonPachi
Xevious
Xevious
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean

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

11 months ago

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


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