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
Akai Ito DS
Akai Ito DS
Amagami
Amagami
Angelique
Angelique
Aquanaut's Holiday
Aquanaut's Holiday
Aretha
Aretha
Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
A-Train
A-Train
Azito 3
Azito 3
Bakushou!! Jinsei Gekijoh
Bakushou!! Jinsei Gekijoh
Bakusou Dekotora Densetsu: Otoko Ippiki Yume Kaidoi
Bakusou Dekotora Densetsu: Otoko Ippiki Yume Kaidoi
Barcode World
Barcode World
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Bazaru De Gozaru No Game De Gozaru
Bazaru De Gozaru No Game De Gozaru
Beatmania
Beatmania
The Black Onyx
The Black Onyx
Blue Dragon
Blue Dragon
Bokosuka Wars
Bokosuka Wars
Boku no Natsuyasumi
Boku no Natsuyasumi
Boxxle
Boxxle
AKA Sokoban
Buddy Mission: Bond
Buddy Mission: Bond
Catrap
Catrap
Chack'n Pop
Chack'n Pop
Challenger
Challenger
Championship Lode Runner
Championship Lode Runner
Chase H.Q.
Chase H.Q.
Clock Tower
Clock Tower
Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams
Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams
Crazy Climber
Crazy Climber
Crime Crackers
Crime Crackers
Culdcept II
Culdcept II
Daiva 6: Imperial of Nirsartia
Daiva 6: Imperial of Nirsartia
Densetsu no Starfy
Densetsu no Starfy
Densha de GO! 64
Densha de GO! 64
Devil Kings
Devil Kings
Dezaemon
Dezaemon
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Dinosaur King
Dinosaur King
DoDonPachi
DoDonPachi
Doko Demo Issyo
Doko Demo Issyo
Doshin the Giant
Doshin the Giant
Doukyuusei: Bangin' Summer
Doukyuusei: Bangin' Summer
Dragon Buster
Dragon Buster
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Dragon Scroll: Yomigaerishi Maryuu
Dragon Scroll: Yomigaerishi Maryuu
Dream Master
Dream Master
Dyna Brothers
Dyna Brothers
EarthBound Beginnings
EarthBound Beginnings
Elminage Original
Elminage Original
Emerald Dragon
Emerald Dragon
Erika to Satoru no Yume Bouken
Erika to Satoru no Yume Bouken
Esper Dream
Esper Dream
EVE burst error
EVE burst error
Ever17: The Out of Infinity
Ever17: The Out of Infinity
Falsion
Falsion
Famicom Detective Club: The Two-Case Collection
Famicom Detective Club: The Two-Case Collection
Famicom Jump: Hero Retsuden
Famicom Jump: Hero Retsuden
Far East of Eden II
Far East of Eden II
Farland Story
Farland Story
Fate/Stay Night
Fate/Stay Night
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy V
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Fire Shark
Fire Shark
Flappy
Flappy
Flipull: An Exciting Cube Game
Flipull: An Exciting Cube Game
Fushigi no Dungeon: Fuurai no Shiren 2 - Oni Shuurai! Shiren Jou!
Fushigi no Dungeon: Fuurai no Shiren 2 - Oni Shuurai! Shiren Jou!
Fushigi no Dungeon: Torneko no Daibouken
Fushigi no Dungeon: Torneko no Daibouken
Gakkou de Atta Kowai Hanashi
Gakkou de Atta Kowai Hanashi
Galaxian3
Galaxian3
Gardia
Gardia
Genpei ToumaDen
Genpei ToumaDen
Gensei Suikoden
Gensei Suikoden
GetsuFumaDen
GetsuFumaDen
Gladiator Begins
Gladiator Begins
Gnosia
Gnosia
Gods Eater Burst
Gods Eater Burst
Gotcha Force
Gotcha Force
Gunparade March
Gunparade March
Hammerin' Harry
Hammerin' Harry
Hayarigami Portable: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File
Hayarigami Portable: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File
Heiankyo Alien
Heiankyo Alien
High School Graffiti: Mikie
High School Graffiti: Mikie
Hokkaido Rensa Satsujin: Okhotsk ni Kiyu
Hokkaido Rensa Satsujin: Okhotsk ni Kiyu
Hover Attack
Hover Attack
Hydlide
Hydlide
Idol Hakken-den
Idol Hakken-den
Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai Special
Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai Special
Image Fight
Image Fight
Inazuma Eleven
Inazuma Eleven
Jaseiken Necromancer
Jaseiken Necromancer
J.B. Harold Murder Club
J.B. Harold Murder Club
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru
Kaijuu Busters Powered
Kaijuu Busters Powered
Kamaitachi no Yoru
Kamaitachi no Yoru
Kamui
Kamui
Kasei Monogatari
Kasei Monogatari
Kessen II
Kessen II
Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo: Hoshimitou Kanashimi no Fukushuuki
Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo: Hoshimitou Kanashimi no Fukushuuki

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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