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
Otogirisou
Otogirisou
Gnosia
Gnosia
Yo-kai Watch
Yo-kai Watch
Inazuma Eleven
Inazuma Eleven
Racing Lagoon
Racing Lagoon
King's Field
King's Field
Blue Dragon
Blue Dragon
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Ever17: The Out of Infinity
Ever17: The Out of Infinity
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd
DoDonPachi
DoDonPachi
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru
Sakura Taisen
Sakura Taisen
Doshin the Giant
Doshin the Giant
Mr. Gimmick
Mr. Gimmick
LovePlus
LovePlus
Hydlide
Hydlide
Ufouria: The Saga
Ufouria: The Saga
Known in Japan as Hebereke
Nuts & Milk
Nuts & Milk
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
Phantom of Inferno
Phantom of Inferno
TwinBee
TwinBee
Doko Demo Issyo
Doko Demo Issyo
Summon Night
Summon Night
Super Volley Ball
Super Volley Ball
PoPoLoCrois
PoPoLoCrois
Ruina: Fairy Tale of the Forgotten Ruins
Ruina: Fairy Tale of the Forgotten Ruins
Heiankyo Alien
Heiankyo Alien
Metal Max
Metal Max
Gotcha Force
Gotcha Force
Warsong
Warsong
Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo: Hoshimitou Kanashimi no Fukushuuki
Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo: Hoshimitou Kanashimi no Fukushuuki
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Battle Mania Daiginjou
Far East of Eden II
Far East of Eden II
Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg
Esper Dream
Esper Dream
Star Cruiser
Star Cruiser
Gardia
Gardia
Pop'n music 9
Pop'n music 9
Medarot Kabuto Version
Medarot Kabuto Version
Volguard II
Volguard II
Kasei Monogatari
Kasei Monogatari
Flappy
Flappy
Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan
Kotoba no Puzzle: Mojipittan
Sayonara o Oshiete: Comment te Dire Adieu
Sayonara o Oshiete: Comment te Dire Adieu
Super Robot Wars F
Super Robot Wars F
Yuuyu no Quiz de Go! Go!
Yuuyu no Quiz de Go! Go!
J.B. Harold Murder Club
J.B. Harold Murder Club
Stop That Roach!
Stop That Roach!
Doukyuusei: Bangin' Summer
Doukyuusei: Bangin' Summer
Monster Maker: Yami no Ryuukishi
Monster Maker: Yami no Ryuukishi
Sanma no Meitantei
Sanma no Meitantei
Todo Ryuunosuke Tantei Nikki: Kohaku-iro no Yuigon
Todo Ryuunosuke Tantei Nikki: Kohaku-iro no Yuigon
Pro Yakyuu Family Stadium
Pro Yakyuu Family Stadium
Mobile Suit Z Gundam: Hot Scramble
Mobile Suit Z Gundam: Hot Scramble
Kowloon High-School Chronicle
Kowloon High-School Chronicle
The Tower of Druaga
The Tower of Druaga
Puyo Puyo Tsuu
Puyo Puyo Tsuu
Akai Ito DS
Akai Ito DS
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Barcode World
Barcode World
Wagyan Land
Wagyan Land
Sound Novel Machi: Machi
Sound Novel Machi: Machi
Silpheed
Silpheed
Magical Vacation
Magical Vacation
Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Kenpuu-chou
Tokyo Majin Gakuen: Kenpuu-chou
Kamaitachi no Yoru
Kamaitachi no Yoru
Shikigami no Shiro
Shikigami no Shiro
Star Luster
Star Luster
A-Train
A-Train
Super Gussun Oyoyo
Super Gussun Oyoyo
Gunparade March
Gunparade March
Tokimeki Memorial
Tokimeki Memorial
Afrika
Afrika
Sangokushi Taisen Ten
Sangokushi Taisen Ten
Satsui no Kaisou: Power Soft Satsujin Jiken
Satsui no Kaisou: Power Soft Satsujin Jiken
Amagami
Amagami
The Legend of Heroes III: Shiroki Majo
The Legend of Heroes III: Shiroki Majo
Kamui
Kamui
Terra Cresta
Terra Cresta
Devil Kings
Devil Kings
Mahou no Shoujo: Silky Lip
Mahou no Shoujo: Silky Lip
Fire Shark
Fire Shark
Mahjong Taikai
Mahjong Taikai
The Legend of Valkyrie
The Legend of Valkyrie
Flipull: An Exciting Cube Game
Flipull: An Exciting Cube Game
Legend of the River King GB
Legend of the River King GB

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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