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.

Monster Maker: Yami no Ryuukishi
Monster Maker: Yami no Ryuukishi
Space Mouse: 35th Anniversary Edition
Space Mouse: 35th Anniversary Edition
Rance X: Showdown
Rance X: Showdown
Ruina: Fairy Tale of the Forgotten Ruins
Ruina: Fairy Tale of the Forgotten Ruins
Trade & Battle: Card Hero
Trade & Battle: Card Hero
Boku no Natsuyasumi
Boku no Natsuyasumi
Moon: Remix RPG Adventure
Moon: Remix RPG Adventure
Gunparade March
Gunparade March
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Sayonara o Oshiete: Comment te Dire Adieu
Sayonara o Oshiete: Comment te Dire Adieu
Live A Live
Live A Live
Panekit: Infinitive Crafting Toy Case
Panekit: Infinitive Crafting Toy Case
Fushigi no Dungeon: Fuurai no Shiren 2 - Oni Shuurai! Shiren Jou!
Fushigi no Dungeon: Fuurai no Shiren 2 - Oni Shuurai! Shiren Jou!
Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban!
Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban!
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Real Sound: Kaze no Regret
Real Sound: Kaze no Regret
Amagami
Amagami
Kowloon's Gate
Kowloon's Gate
Ore no Ryouri
Ore no Ryouri
Fate/Stay Night
Fate/Stay Night
Sin and Punishment
Sin and Punishment
Taiko no Tatsujin DX
Taiko no Tatsujin DX
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd
Buddy Mission: Bond
Buddy Mission: Bond
Dream Master
Dream Master
Dyna Brothers
Dyna Brothers
Gensei Suikoden
Gensei Suikoden
Hokkaido Rensa Satsujin: Okhotsk ni Kiyu
Hokkaido Rensa Satsujin: Okhotsk ni Kiyu
Kosodate Quiz My Angel
Kosodate Quiz My Angel
Kowloon High-School Chronicle
Kowloon High-School Chronicle
Mujintou Monogatari
Mujintou Monogatari
Satsui no Kaisou: Power Soft Satsujin Jiken
Satsui no Kaisou: Power Soft Satsujin Jiken
Sentimental Graffiti
Sentimental Graffiti
Yuuyu no Quiz de Go! Go!
Yuuyu no Quiz de Go! Go!
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
Famicom Detective Club: The Two-Case Collection
Famicom Detective Club: The Two-Case Collection
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru
Puyo Puyo Tsuu
Puyo Puyo Tsuu
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Racing Lagoon
Racing Lagoon
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
Sakura Taisen
Sakura Taisen
Doko Demo Issyo
Doko Demo Issyo
Ore no Shikabane o Koete Yuke
Ore no Shikabane o Koete Yuke
Densha de GO! 64
Densha de GO! 64
Gnosia
Gnosia
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy V
DoDonPachi
DoDonPachi
Gotcha Force
Gotcha Force
Mr. Gimmick
Mr. Gimmick
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
Ever17: The Out of Infinity
Ever17: The Out of Infinity
Kamaitachi no Yoru
Kamaitachi no Yoru
MLB Power Pros
MLB Power Pros
Beatmania
Beatmania
Pop'n music 9
Pop'n music 9
Tetris
Tetris
1988 Arcade version, developed by Sega
Ufouria: The Saga
Ufouria: The Saga
Known in Japan as Hebereke
Metal Max
Metal Max
J.B. Harold Murder Club
J.B. Harold Murder Club
Bazaru De Gozaru No Game De Gozaru
Bazaru De Gozaru No Game De Gozaru
Culdcept II
Culdcept II
Kamui
Kamui
Phantom of Inferno
Phantom of Inferno
Tokimeki Memorial
Tokimeki Memorial
Idol Hakken-den
Idol Hakken-den
Libble Rabble
Libble Rabble
Gakkou de Atta Kowai Hanashi
Gakkou de Atta Kowai Hanashi
To Heart
To Heart
Clock Tower
Clock Tower
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen
Sound Novel Machi: Machi
Sound Novel Machi: Machi
Catrap
Catrap
Yo-kai Watch
Yo-kai Watch
Tokyo Xtreme Racer
Tokyo Xtreme Racer
Inazuma Eleven
Inazuma Eleven
PoPoLoCrois
PoPoLoCrois
Night Striker
Night Striker
Gladiator Begins
Gladiator Begins
Dinosaur King
Dinosaur King
Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan
Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan
Relics
Relics
Warsong
Warsong
EVE burst error
EVE burst error
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
The Legend of Valkyrie
The Legend of Valkyrie
Fushigi no Dungeon: Torneko no Daibouken
Fushigi no Dungeon: Torneko no Daibouken
Erika to Satoru no Yume Bouken
Erika to Satoru no Yume Bouken
Kessen II
Kessen II
Blue Dragon
Blue Dragon
Doshin the Giant
Doshin the Giant
Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
Doukyuusei: Bangin' Summer
Doukyuusei: Bangin' Summer
Shin Megami Tensei
Shin Megami Tensei
LovePlus
LovePlus
Densetsu no Starfy
Densetsu no Starfy
Emerald Dragon
Emerald Dragon
Hayarigami Portable: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File
Hayarigami Portable: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File
Sen-Know
Sen-Know

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

10 months ago

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


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