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.

Afrika
Afrika
Photo Kano Kiss
Photo Kano Kiss
Challenger
Challenger
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Satsui no Kaisou: Power Soft Satsujin Jiken
Satsui no Kaisou: Power Soft Satsujin Jiken
Dragon Buster
Dragon Buster
Amagami
Amagami
Make Trax
Make Trax
Prism Court
Prism Court
Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams
Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams
Pooyan
Pooyan
Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
Ore no Shikabane o Koete Yuke
Ore no Shikabane o Koete Yuke
Flipull: An Exciting Cube Game
Flipull: An Exciting Cube Game
Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai Special
Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai Special
Sound Novel Machi: Machi
Sound Novel Machi: Machi
Hayarigami Portable: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File
Hayarigami Portable: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Mushiking: King of the Beetles
Mushiking: King of the Beetles
Shin Momotaro Densetsu
Shin Momotaro Densetsu
Nuts & Milk
Nuts & Milk
Densetsu no Starfy
Densetsu no Starfy
Devil Kings
Devil Kings
Dream Master
Dream Master
Championship Lode Runner
Championship Lode Runner
Puzzle & Dragons
Puzzle & Dragons
Let's Make a Soccer Team!
Let's Make a Soccer Team!
Tetsudou-ou
Tetsudou-ou
Star Cruiser
Star Cruiser
Super Volley Ball
Super Volley Ball
Dezaemon
Dezaemon
Tokimeki Memorial
Tokimeki Memorial
Bakushou!! Jinsei Gekijoh
Bakushou!! Jinsei Gekijoh
Hokkaido Rensa Satsujin: Okhotsk ni Kiyu
Hokkaido Rensa Satsujin: Okhotsk ni Kiyu
MLB Power Pros
MLB Power Pros
Aquanaut's Holiday
Aquanaut's Holiday
Catrap
Catrap
Kessen II
Kessen II
Esper Dream
Esper Dream
Famicom Detective Club: The Two-Case Collection
Famicom Detective Club: The Two-Case Collection
Genpei ToumaDen
Genpei ToumaDen
Silpheed
Silpheed
Idol Hakken-den
Idol Hakken-den
Shanghai Kid
Shanghai Kid
Chase H.Q.
Chase H.Q.
Veigues Tactical Gladiator
Veigues Tactical Gladiator
Mahjong Taikai
Mahjong Taikai
Mobile Suit Z Gundam: Hot Scramble
Mobile Suit Z Gundam: Hot Scramble
High School Graffiti: Mikie
High School Graffiti: Mikie
Gods Eater Burst
Gods Eater Burst
GetsuFumaDen
GetsuFumaDen
Relics
Relics
Azito 3
Azito 3
Sangokushi Taisen Ten
Sangokushi Taisen Ten
Summon Night
Summon Night
Jaseiken Necromancer
Jaseiken Necromancer
Tetris
Tetris
1988 Arcade version, developed by Sega
Galaxian3
Galaxian3
Super Robot Wars F
Super Robot Wars F
Sentimental Graffiti
Sentimental Graffiti
Ore no Ryouri
Ore no Ryouri
White Knight Chronicles
White Knight Chronicles
Sakura Taisen
Sakura Taisen
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun
The Legend of Valkyrie
The Legend of Valkyrie
The Black Onyx
The Black Onyx
Buddy Mission: Bond
Buddy Mission: Bond
Dragon Scroll: Yomigaerishi Maryuu
Dragon Scroll: Yomigaerishi Maryuu
Angelique
Angelique
Xevious
Xevious
Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan
Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan
Metal Max
Metal Max
Yuuyu no Quiz de Go! Go!
Yuuyu no Quiz de Go! Go!
Magical Vacation
Magical Vacation
Heiankyo Alien
Heiankyo Alien
Ufouria: The Saga
Ufouria: The Saga
Known in Japan as Hebereke
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen
Hydlide
Hydlide
TwinBee
TwinBee
Taiko no Tatsujin DX
Taiko no Tatsujin DX
Ruina: Fairy Tale of the Forgotten Ruins
Ruina: Fairy Tale of the Forgotten Ruins
Rance X: Showdown
Rance X: Showdown
Gunparade March
Gunparade March
Gotcha Force
Gotcha Force
Romancing SaGa
Romancing SaGa
Mr. Gimmick
Mr. Gimmick
LovePlus
LovePlus
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
Blue Dragon
Blue Dragon
Sayonara o Oshiete: Comment te Dire Adieu
Sayonara o Oshiete: Comment te Dire Adieu
Puyo Puyo Tsuu
Puyo Puyo Tsuu
Doshin the Giant
Doshin the Giant
Ever17: The Out of Infinity
Ever17: The Out of Infinity
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
DoDonPachi
DoDonPachi
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd

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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