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
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
DoDonPachi
DoDonPachi
Mr. Gimmick
Mr. Gimmick
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru
The Portopia Serial Murder Case
The Portopia Serial Murder Case
Blue Dragon
Blue Dragon
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd
Ufouria: The Saga
Ufouria: The Saga
Known in Japan as Hebereke
Ever17: The Out of Infinity
Ever17: The Out of Infinity
LovePlus
LovePlus
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord
Angelique
Angelique
Puyo Puyo Tsuu
Puyo Puyo Tsuu
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
Ruina: Fairy Tale of the Forgotten Ruins
Ruina: Fairy Tale of the Forgotten Ruins
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen
Sakura Taisen
Sakura Taisen
Gods Eater Burst
Gods Eater Burst
Radar Scope
Radar Scope
Devil Kings
Devil Kings
Warsong
Warsong
Phantom of Inferno
Phantom of Inferno
Doshin the Giant
Doshin the Giant
Spelunker
Spelunker
Buddy Mission: Bond
Buddy Mission: Bond
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
Rance X: Showdown
Rance X: Showdown
Hydlide
Hydlide
The Legend of Valkyrie
The Legend of Valkyrie
Nuts & Milk
Nuts & Milk
Tokimeki Memorial
Tokimeki Memorial
The Sword of Etheria
The Sword of Etheria
Kamui
Kamui
Sound Novel Machi: Machi
Sound Novel Machi: Machi
Puzzle & Dragons
Puzzle & Dragons
LBX: Little Battlers eXperience
LBX: Little Battlers eXperience
TwinBee
TwinBee
Kowloon's Gate
Kowloon's Gate
Aquanaut's Holiday
Aquanaut's Holiday
Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
Xevious
Xevious
Yuuyu no Quiz de Go! Go!
Yuuyu no Quiz de Go! Go!
Densha de GO! 64
Densha de GO! 64
Densetsu no Starfy
Densetsu no Starfy
Terra Cresta
Terra Cresta
Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan
Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan
Star Soldier
Star Soldier
Thexder
Thexder
Real Sound: Kaze no Regret
Real Sound: Kaze no Regret
Suzuka 8 Hours
Suzuka 8 Hours
Star Luster
Star Luster
Chack'n Pop
Chack'n Pop
Fire Shark
Fire Shark
Fushigi no Dungeon: Torneko no Daibouken
Fushigi no Dungeon: Torneko no Daibouken
Dragon Scroll: Yomigaerishi Maryuu
Dragon Scroll: Yomigaerishi Maryuu
Erika to Satoru no Yume Bouken
Erika to Satoru no Yume Bouken
Amagami
Amagami
Sayonara o Oshiete: Comment te Dire Adieu
Sayonara o Oshiete: Comment te Dire Adieu
Legend of the River King GB
Legend of the River King GB
Azito 3
Azito 3
Sangokushi Taisen Ten
Sangokushi Taisen Ten
The Legend of Heroes III: Shiroki Majo
The Legend of Heroes III: Shiroki Majo
Sasuke vs. Commander
Sasuke vs. Commander
Sentimental Graffiti
Sentimental Graffiti
Veigues Tactical Gladiator
Veigues Tactical Gladiator
Kessen II
Kessen II
Bazaru De Gozaru No Game De Gozaru
Bazaru De Gozaru No Game De Gozaru
Mahjong Taikai
Mahjong Taikai
Heiankyo Alien
Heiankyo Alien
Super Robot Wars F
Super Robot Wars F
Milon's Secret Castle
Milon's Secret Castle
Galaxian3
Galaxian3
Hammerin' Harry
Hammerin' Harry
Shanghai Kid
Shanghai Kid
To Heart
To Heart
Taiko no Tatsujin DX
Taiko no Tatsujin DX
Hayarigami Portable: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File
Hayarigami Portable: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File
Flipull: An Exciting Cube Game
Flipull: An Exciting Cube Game
Night Striker
Night Striker
Tetsudou-ou
Tetsudou-ou

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: