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.

Photo Kano Kiss
Photo Kano Kiss
Challenger
Challenger
Pooyan
Pooyan
Prism Court
Prism Court
The Legend of Valkyrie
The Legend of Valkyrie
Gunparade March
Gunparade March
Crime Crackers
Crime Crackers
Phantom of Inferno
Phantom of Inferno
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen
Chase H.Q.
Chase H.Q.
Image Fight
Image Fight
Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Kenpuu-chou
Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Kenpuu-chou
Satsui no Kaisou: Power Soft Satsujin Jiken
Satsui no Kaisou: Power Soft Satsujin Jiken
J.B. Harold Murder Club
J.B. Harold Murder Club
Trade & Battle: Card Hero
Trade & Battle: Card Hero
Doko Demo Issyo
Doko Demo Issyo
Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams
Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams
Dyna Brothers
Dyna Brothers
Zombie Nation
Zombie Nation
Tokyo Xtreme Racer
Tokyo Xtreme Racer
Farland Story
Farland Story
Star Soldier
Star Soldier
Sasuke vs. Commander
Sasuke vs. Commander
Aretha
Aretha
Hover Attack
Hover Attack
Jaseiken Necromancer
Jaseiken Necromancer
Catrap
Catrap
Radar Scope
Radar Scope
Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban!
Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban!
Real Sound: Kaze no Regret
Real Sound: Kaze no Regret
Beatmania
Beatmania
Daiva 6: Imperial of Nirsartia
Daiva 6: Imperial of Nirsartia
GetsuFumaDen
GetsuFumaDen
Crazy Climber
Crazy Climber
Sen-Know
Sen-Know
Kaijuu Busters Powered
Kaijuu Busters Powered
Spelunker
Spelunker
Uootoy
Uootoy
Super Fire Pro Wrestling X
Super Fire Pro Wrestling X
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Mahou no Shoujo: Silky Lip
Mahou no Shoujo: Silky Lip
Magical Vacation
Magical Vacation
Amagami
Amagami
Dinosaur King
Dinosaur King
Fire Shark
Fire Shark
Todo Ryuunosuke Tantei Nikki: Kohaku-iro no Yuigon
Todo Ryuunosuke Tantei Nikki: Kohaku-iro no Yuigon
Gotcha Force
Gotcha Force
Hammerin' Harry
Hammerin' Harry
Sorcerian
Sorcerian
Warsong
Warsong
Famicom Jump: Hero Retsuden
Famicom Jump: Hero Retsuden
Kininkou Maroku Oni
Kininkou Maroku Oni
Gensei Suikoden
Gensei Suikoden
Gakkou de Atta Kowai Hanashi
Gakkou de Atta Kowai Hanashi
Hayarigami Portable: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File
Hayarigami Portable: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File
Hydlide
Hydlide
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Far East of Eden II
Far East of Eden II
Kessen II
Kessen II
LBX: Little Battlers eXperience
LBX: Little Battlers eXperience
Falsion
Falsion
Kowloon's Gate
Kowloon's Gate
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun
Flappy
Flappy
Gladiator Begins
Gladiator Begins
Emerald Dragon
Emerald Dragon
Milon's Secret Castle
Milon's Secret Castle
The Sword of Etheria
The Sword of Etheria
A-Train
A-Train
Monster Maker: Yami no Ryuukishi
Monster Maker: Yami no Ryuukishi
To Heart
To Heart
Kowloon High-School Chronicle
Kowloon High-School Chronicle
Mujintou Monogatari
Mujintou Monogatari
Boxxle
Boxxle
AKA Sokoban
Sanma no Meitantei
Sanma no Meitantei
Kamaitachi no Yoru
Kamaitachi no Yoru
Afrika
Afrika
LovePlus
LovePlus
Angelique
Angelique
Erika to Satoru no Yume Bouken
Erika to Satoru no Yume Bouken
Lupin III
Lupin III
Strike Bowling
Strike Bowling
The Portopia Serial Murder Case
The Portopia Serial Murder Case
Kamui
Kamui
Wagyan Land
Wagyan Land
Tokimeki Memorial
Tokimeki Memorial
The Legend of Heroes III: Shiroki Majo
The Legend of Heroes III: Shiroki Majo
Stop That Roach!
Stop That Roach!
Bokosuka Wars
Bokosuka Wars
Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
Super Gussun Oyoyo
Super Gussun Oyoyo
Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo: Hoshimitou Kanashimi no Fukushuuki
Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo: Hoshimitou Kanashimi no Fukushuuki
Medarot Kabuto Version
Medarot Kabuto Version
Terra Cresta
Terra Cresta
Shikigami no Shiro
Shikigami no Shiro
Pro Yakyuu Family Stadium
Pro Yakyuu Family Stadium
Space Mouse: 35th Anniversary Edition
Space Mouse: 35th Anniversary Edition
Lodoss Tou Senki
Lodoss Tou Senki
Densha de GO! 64
Densha de GO! 64
Culdcept II
Culdcept II

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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