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.

Bakushou!! Jinsei Gekijoh
Bakushou!! Jinsei Gekijoh
Famicom Jump: Hero Retsuden
Famicom Jump: Hero Retsuden
Suzuka 8 Hours
Suzuka 8 Hours
Yuuyu no Quiz de Go! Go!
Yuuyu no Quiz de Go! Go!
Kaijuu Busters Powered
Kaijuu Busters Powered
Strike Bowling
Strike Bowling
Catrap
Catrap
Kininkou Maroku Oni
Kininkou Maroku Oni
Aretha
Aretha
Flipull: An Exciting Cube Game
Flipull: An Exciting Cube Game
Lupin III
Lupin III
Dinosaur King
Dinosaur King
Gnosia
Gnosia
Sen-Know
Sen-Know
Barcode World
Barcode World
Genpei ToumaDen
Genpei ToumaDen
Pooyan
Pooyan
The Black Onyx
The Black Onyx
Radar Scope
Radar Scope
Kosodate Quiz My Angel
Kosodate Quiz My Angel
Mahou no Shoujo: Silky Lip
Mahou no Shoujo: Silky Lip
Idol Hakken-den
Idol Hakken-den
Elminage Original
Elminage Original
Todo Ryuunosuke Tantei Nikki: Kohaku-iro no Yuigon
Todo Ryuunosuke Tantei Nikki: Kohaku-iro no Yuigon
Tokyo Xtreme Racer
Tokyo Xtreme Racer
Let's Make a Soccer Team!
Let's Make a Soccer Team!
Mobile Suit Z Gundam: Hot Scramble
Mobile Suit Z Gundam: Hot Scramble
Gensei Suikoden
Gensei Suikoden
Satsui no Kaisou: Power Soft Satsujin Jiken
Satsui no Kaisou: Power Soft Satsujin Jiken
Kamui
Kamui
Emerald Dragon
Emerald Dragon
Nakayama Miho no Tokimeki High School
Nakayama Miho no Tokimeki High School
Esper Dream
Esper Dream
Mujintou Monogatari
Mujintou Monogatari
Prism Court
Prism Court
Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo: Hoshimitou Kanashimi no Fukushuuki
Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo: Hoshimitou Kanashimi no Fukushuuki
Gladiator Begins
Gladiator Begins
Mahjong Taikai
Mahjong Taikai
The Legend of Heroes III: Shiroki Majo
The Legend of Heroes III: Shiroki Majo
Night Striker
Night Striker
Kowloon High-School Chronicle
Kowloon High-School Chronicle
Ever17: The Out of Infinity
Ever17: The Out of Infinity
Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Kenpuu-chou
Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Kenpuu-chou
Shanghai Kid
Shanghai Kid
Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams
Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams
Farland Story
Farland Story
Fate/Stay Night
Fate/Stay Night
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Phantom of Inferno
Phantom of Inferno
Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan
Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan
Warsong
Warsong
Chack'n Pop
Chack'n Pop
Mushiking: King of the Beetles
Mushiking: King of the Beetles
Lodoss Tou Senki
Lodoss Tou Senki
Densetsu no Starfy
Densetsu no Starfy
Akai Ito DS
Akai Ito DS
Fire Shark
Fire Shark
Sanma no Meitantei
Sanma no Meitantei
Sayonara o Oshiete: Comment te Dire Adieu
Sayonara o Oshiete: Comment te Dire Adieu
Devil Kings
Devil Kings
Sangokushi Taisen Ten
Sangokushi Taisen Ten
Gakkou de Atta Kowai Hanashi
Gakkou de Atta Kowai Hanashi
Buddy Mission: Bond
Buddy Mission: Bond
Metal Max
Metal Max
Rance X: Showdown
Rance X: Showdown
Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
Kasei Monogatari
Kasei Monogatari
Galaxian3
Galaxian3
Relics
Relics
Puyo Puyo Tsuu
Puyo Puyo Tsuu
Yo-kai Watch
Yo-kai Watch
Uootoy
Uootoy
Flappy
Flappy
Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai Special
Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai Special
Thexder
Thexder
Space Mouse: 35th Anniversary Edition
Space Mouse: 35th Anniversary Edition
Hover Attack
Hover Attack
Inazuma Eleven
Inazuma Eleven
Puzzle & Dragons
Puzzle & Dragons
Erika to Satoru no Yume Bouken
Erika to Satoru no Yume Bouken
Sentimental Graffiti
Sentimental Graffiti
Daiva 6: Imperial of Nirsartia
Daiva 6: Imperial of Nirsartia
Dyna Brothers
Dyna Brothers
Tetsudou-ou
Tetsudou-ou
GetsuFumaDen
GetsuFumaDen
Volguard II
Volguard II
Championship Lode Runner
Championship Lode Runner
Nuts & Milk
Nuts & Milk
Make Trax
Make Trax
Veigues Tactical Gladiator
Veigues Tactical Gladiator
Sasuke vs. Commander
Sasuke vs. Commander
Sorcerian
Sorcerian
Dragon Scroll: Yomigaerishi Maryuu
Dragon Scroll: Yomigaerishi Maryuu
Silpheed
Silpheed
LBX: Little Battlers eXperience
LBX: Little Battlers eXperience
Bakusou Dekotora Densetsu: Otoko Ippiki Yume Kaidoi
Bakusou Dekotora Densetsu: Otoko Ippiki Yume Kaidoi
Dezaemon
Dezaemon
Dragon Buster
Dragon Buster
TwinBee
TwinBee
Gardia
Gardia

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

10 months ago

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


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