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.

Sin and Punishment
Sin and Punishment
Moon: Remix RPG Adventure
Moon: Remix RPG Adventure
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy V
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
EarthBound Beginnings
EarthBound Beginnings
Shin Megami Tensei
Shin Megami Tensei
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Fate/Stay Night
Fate/Stay Night
Clock Tower
Clock Tower
Live A Live
Live A Live
Boku no Natsuyasumi
Boku no Natsuyasumi
Yo-kai Watch
Yo-kai Watch
Gnosia
Gnosia
Otogirisou
Otogirisou
Inazuma Eleven
Inazuma Eleven
Racing Lagoon
Racing Lagoon
King's Field
King's Field
Blue Dragon
Blue Dragon
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru
DoDonPachi
DoDonPachi
Mr. Gimmick
Mr. Gimmick
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd
Ever17: The Out of Infinity
Ever17: The Out of Infinity
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
TwinBee
TwinBee
Devil Kings
Devil Kings
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Championship Lode Runner
Championship Lode Runner
Xevious
Xevious
The Sword of Etheria
The Sword of Etheria
Romancing SaGa
Romancing SaGa
Puyo Puyo Tsuu
Puyo Puyo Tsuu
Hydlide
Hydlide
The Legend of Valkyrie
The Legend of Valkyrie
Gods Eater Burst
Gods Eater Burst
Gunparade March
Gunparade March
Terra Cresta
Terra Cresta
Ruina: Fairy Tale of the Forgotten Ruins
Ruina: Fairy Tale of the Forgotten Ruins
Kessen II
Kessen II
PoPoLoCrois
PoPoLoCrois
Rance X: Showdown
Rance X: Showdown
Puzzle & Dragons
Puzzle & Dragons
Amagami
Amagami
Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams
Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen
Emerald Dragon
Emerald Dragon
Ufouria: The Saga
Ufouria: The Saga
Known in Japan as Hebereke
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
Tokimeki Memorial
Tokimeki Memorial
Chase H.Q.
Chase H.Q.
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun
Densetsu no Starfy
Densetsu no Starfy
Volguard II
Volguard II
Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan
Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan
Pro Yakyuu Family Stadium
Pro Yakyuu Family Stadium
Sentimental Graffiti
Sentimental Graffiti
Yuuyu no Quiz de Go! Go!
Yuuyu no Quiz de Go! Go!
Magical Vacation
Magical Vacation
Gardia
Gardia
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Sakura Taisen
Sakura Taisen
Aquanaut's Holiday
Aquanaut's Holiday
Thexder
Thexder
Trade & Battle: Card Hero
Trade & Battle: Card Hero
Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
Mujintou Monogatari
Mujintou Monogatari
Prism Court
Prism Court
Youkai Douchuuki
Youkai Douchuuki
Bazaru De Gozaru No Game De Gozaru
Bazaru De Gozaru No Game De Gozaru
Barcode World
Barcode World
Libble Rabble
Libble Rabble
The Portopia Serial Murder Case
The Portopia Serial Murder Case
Zombie Nation
Zombie Nation
Culdcept II
Culdcept II
MLB Power Pros
MLB Power Pros
Star Soldier
Star Soldier
Daiva 6: Imperial of Nirsartia
Daiva 6: Imperial of Nirsartia
Super Robot Wars F
Super Robot Wars F
Buddy Mission: Bond
Buddy Mission: Bond
Famicom Jump: Hero Retsuden
Famicom Jump: Hero Retsuden
Lupin III
Lupin III
Sayonara o Oshiete: Comment te Dire Adieu
Sayonara o Oshiete: Comment te Dire Adieu
Doshin the Giant
Doshin the Giant
Azito 3
Azito 3
Fushigi no Dungeon: Fuurai no Shiren 2 - Oni Shuurai! Shiren Jou!
Fushigi no Dungeon: Fuurai no Shiren 2 - Oni Shuurai! Shiren Jou!
Dream Master
Dream Master
The Legend of Heroes III: Shiroki Majo
The Legend of Heroes III: Shiroki Majo
Sangokushi Taisen Ten
Sangokushi Taisen Ten
Farland Story
Farland Story
Radar Scope
Radar Scope
Veigues Tactical Gladiator
Veigues Tactical Gladiator
Fire Shark
Fire Shark
Spelunker
Spelunker
Mahjong Taikai
Mahjong Taikai
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
The Tower of Druaga
The Tower of Druaga
Challenger
Challenger
Kowloon High-School Chronicle
Kowloon High-School Chronicle

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


Last updated: