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.

The Legend of Heroes III: Shiroki Majo
The Legend of Heroes III: Shiroki Majo
Tokimeki Memorial
Tokimeki Memorial
Stop That Roach!
Stop That Roach!
Mujintou Monogatari
Mujintou Monogatari
Live A Live
Live A Live
Angelique
Angelique
Crime Crackers
Crime Crackers
King's Field
King's Field
Kamaitachi no Yoru
Kamaitachi no Yoru
Puyo Puyo Tsuu
Puyo Puyo Tsuu
Aquanaut's Holiday
Aquanaut's Holiday
Gakkou de Atta Kowai Hanashi
Gakkou de Atta Kowai Hanashi
Super Gussun Oyoyo
Super Gussun Oyoyo
Clock Tower
Clock Tower
EVE burst error
EVE burst error
Lodoss Tou Senki
Lodoss Tou Senki
Daiva 6: Imperial of Nirsartia
Daiva 6: Imperial of Nirsartia
Super Fire Pro Wrestling X
Super Fire Pro Wrestling X
Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai Special
Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai Special
Kosodate Quiz My Angel
Kosodate Quiz My Angel
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Galaxian3
Galaxian3
Bazaru De Gozaru No Game De Gozaru
Bazaru De Gozaru No Game De Gozaru
DoDonPachi
DoDonPachi
Kowloon's Gate
Kowloon's Gate
Gensei Suikoden
Gensei Suikoden
Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
To Heart
To Heart
Real Sound: Kaze no Regret
Real Sound: Kaze no Regret
Legend of the River King GB
Legend of the River King GB
Super Robot Wars F
Super Robot Wars F
Shin Momotaro Densetsu
Shin Momotaro Densetsu
Moon: Remix RPG Adventure
Moon: Remix RPG Adventure
Medarot Kabuto Version
Medarot Kabuto Version
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
Beatmania
Beatmania
Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo: Hoshimitou Kanashimi no Fukushuuki
Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo: Hoshimitou Kanashimi no Fukushuuki
Sentimental Graffiti
Sentimental Graffiti
Sound Novel Machi: Machi
Sound Novel Machi: Machi
Prism Court
Prism Court
Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Kenpuu-chou
Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Kenpuu-chou
Bakusou Dekotora Densetsu: Otoko Ippiki Yume Kaidoi
Bakusou Dekotora Densetsu: Otoko Ippiki Yume Kaidoi
Kasei Monogatari
Kasei Monogatari
Racing Lagoon
Racing Lagoon
Ore no Shikabane o Koete Yuke
Ore no Shikabane o Koete Yuke
Tokyo Xtreme Racer
Tokyo Xtreme Racer
Doko Demo Issyo
Doko Demo Issyo
Densha de GO! 64
Densha de GO! 64
Panekit: Infinitive Crafting Toy Case
Panekit: Infinitive Crafting Toy Case
Ore no Ryouri
Ore no Ryouri
Sen-Know
Sen-Know
Summon Night
Summon Night
Trade & Battle: Card Hero
Trade & Battle: Card Hero
Phantom of Inferno
Phantom of Inferno
Sakura Taisen
Sakura Taisen
Boku no Natsuyasumi
Boku no Natsuyasumi
Fushigi no Dungeon: Fuurai no Shiren 2 - Oni Shuurai! Shiren Jou!
Fushigi no Dungeon: Fuurai no Shiren 2 - Oni Shuurai! Shiren Jou!
Gunparade March
Gunparade March
Sin and Punishment
Sin and Punishment
Kessen II
Kessen II
Culdcept II
Culdcept II
Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan
Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan
Magical Vacation
Magical Vacation
Shikigami no Shiro
Shikigami no Shiro
Ever17: The Out of Infinity
Ever17: The Out of Infinity
Densetsu no Starfy
Densetsu no Starfy
Doshin the Giant
Doshin the Giant
Gotcha Force
Gotcha Force
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Fate/Stay Night
Fate/Stay Night
Pop'n music 9
Pop'n music 9
PoPoLoCrois
PoPoLoCrois
The Sword of Etheria
The Sword of Etheria
Devil Kings
Devil Kings
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
Hayarigami Portable: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File
Hayarigami Portable: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File
Dinosaur King
Dinosaur King
Let's Make a Soccer Team!
Let's Make a Soccer Team!
Blue Dragon
Blue Dragon
MLB Power Pros
MLB Power Pros
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Inazuma Eleven
Inazuma Eleven
Afrika
Afrika
Ruina: Fairy Tale of the Forgotten Ruins
Ruina: Fairy Tale of the Forgotten Ruins
Akai Ito DS
Akai Ito DS
White Knight Chronicles
White Knight Chronicles
Sangokushi Taisen Ten
Sangokushi Taisen Ten
Amagami
Amagami
LovePlus
LovePlus
Gladiator Begins
Gladiator Begins
Gods Eater Burst
Gods Eater Burst
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd
Kaijuu Busters Powered
Kaijuu Busters Powered
Taiko no Tatsujin DX
Taiko no Tatsujin DX
Puzzle & Dragons
Puzzle & Dragons
LBX: Little Battlers eXperience
LBX: Little Battlers eXperience
Elminage Original
Elminage Original
Photo Kano Kiss
Photo Kano Kiss

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.
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11 months ago

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


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