Top 15 best video games in Japan

1780
Top 15 best video games in Japan

Whether it be in the worlds of imagination or traveling to nations that attract them, players frequently find themselves yearning to leave their own world and go somewhere else. Japan has provided the ideal getaway and location for some of the finest games because of its extensive history and distinctive culture. Whether it be in the made-up Kamurocho neighborhood or the crowded streets of Shibuya. Here are the top video games in Japan for experiencing virtually.

1. Persona 5 Royal

Persona 5 is one of the best-selling video games in Japan that takes place in Tokyo. The game has social interactions, turn-based combat, and dungeon crawling where young players use their psyches to confront demons. You are given a countdown clock until something horrible happens in each dungeon you try to clear.

most popular video games in japan-3

The most well-liked and polished entry in the Persona series is Persona 5 Royal, which stars Joker, a high school student who, in addition to going to school, hanging out with friends, and working a demanding part-time job as a florist, must also balance his nighttime alter persona Phantom Thief.

Persona 5 is one of the most excellent portrayals of traditional Tokyo slice-of-life in the video game industry, aside from its outstanding supernatural combative components and plot. Numerous Tokyo neighborhoods, including the bustling Shibuya streets, well-known stores, railway stations, and even cafés serving traditional Japanese snacks and delicacies, are accurately portrayed.

2. Yakuza 0

In the action-packed open-world video game Yakuza 0, which is set in Japan, you can play as either Kazuma Kiryu or Goro Majima at different points in the narrative. Yakuza 0 is hailed by reviewers as the most fantastic Yakuza game of all time and follows Kazuma Kiryu before the events of the original series as he is falsely accused of murder and forced to start over with his reputation inside the Tojo Clan.

best selling video games in japan-1

The games are set in the late 1980s, and you’ll be traveling through Sōntenbori (modeled after Dōntonbori, the entertainment area of Osaka), as well as Kamurocho (a play on Kabuchiko, Shinjuku). Keep your wits because players may roam freely around these dangerously trafficked areas and frequently find themselves caught up in gan combat on most corners.

When you want to take a break from the main plot, Yakuza 0 also offers a ton of really intriguing side missions. These additional tasks include:

  • Consuming each course at a restaurant
  • The Sega game Out Run
  • Game Super Hang-On from Sega
  • Game by Sega: Space Harrier
  • Sega game called Fantasy Zone

If gang battles aren’t your style, Taiko no Tatsujin is an option within the game that you may play.

Best advice: Run away if you see “Mr. Shakedown”! He will probably steal all of your money because he is more vital than you.

3. Judgment

Judgment, a spin-off of the wildly successful Yakuza series, is also one of the names of the most popular video games in Japan. It tells the tale of Takayuki Yagami, a former attorney turned private eye, as he delves into Kamurocho’s seedy underworld to look into the killing of three Yakuza members.

video games from japan

Judgment has a ton to offer its fans, even without the amazing plot, and there is a ton of secret stuff you can find while or after the game is done. So be ready to explore Tokyo’s streets while playing some classic games at Club Sega, going on a date, or even taking on the impossible task of discovering and cuddling every stray cat in the city. So, why not?

4. The World Ends With You

Square Enix and Jupiter’s The World Ends With You is an action role-playing game that follows Neku Sakuraba following his death and admission into a three-week event dubbed “The Game.” It is another game set in the busy Shibuya neighborhood.

video games in japan-2

In The Game, Neku is matched with a different player every week and given the duty of exploring Shibuya while completing goals that involve warfare. With a distinctive Nintendo DS fighting style, perk mechanisms that are solely based on pins, and a signature Square Enix sense of aesthetics.

>> Read more: How to Buy a Nintendo Switch Online from Japan?

5. Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc

Danganronpa is a detective-style, school-life horror mystery that falls under a variety of genres. It centers on a group of Japanese schoolchildren who are coerced into killing one another in a “Killing Game” by Monokuma, a remote-control teddy bear who awoke and decided to use violence.

top selling video games in japan-1

As Makoto Naegi, you strive to avoid being murdered while trying to figure out who is responsible for the killing game’s savagery. Despite its gory concept, the game has received praise and recognition from all around the world for its amazing characters, dark humor, and capacity to keep you wondering until the very end.

6. Steins;Gate

Steins;Gate, the follow-up to Chaos;Head, was hailed as the best visual novel of the decade. It centers around Rintaro, a scientist obsessed with time travel who has the natural ability to sense when he and others have altered the world’s chronology.

most popular video games in japan-1

Set in a contemporary Tokyo with a cast of complicated individuals. A well-executed and really original time travel apparatus in a modified microwave and a mobile phone trigger mechanism are both parts of the emotionally intense narrative. In this game, manipulating time might have a minor impact on a specific moment or have a major impact on how the game ends altogether.

7. Fatal Frame

Since its 2001 debut, Fatal Frame has been hailed as one of the hardest horror games available. However, it is also one of the top-selling video games in Japan. Its combination of complete creepiness and deadly gameplay has earned it a cult favorite within the horror genre.

video games in japan

It’s a survival horror game from the 1980s in which you explore a house filled with spirits from Japanese folklore while only carrying a camera. It is also renowned for having some of the most terrible jumpscares in video games as if that weren’t terrifying enough.

8. Tokyo Jungle

A unique open-world arcade experience set in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo where people have vanished and animals have seized control, Tokyo Jungle is a hidden treasure from the 2012 Playstation Store.

video games from japan-1

With a variety of creatures to pick from, like a little aggressive Pomeranian (really) and a dinosaur, your main objective is to live by gathering food, having offspring, and, most importantly, defending your life while attempting to figure out what exactly happened to Tokyo’s humanity. It is a lonesome representation of Japan’s capital, with moss-covered buildings and deserted streets, but it nevertheless captures the urban appeal that makes the city special, albeit with a lot more wild Pomeranians.

9. Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, a famous name of the role-playing video games from Japan that is set in contemporary Tokyo and deals with the supernatural, is comparable to Persona 5 in this regard. Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore, which connects the worlds of the Fire Emblem video game series and Atlus games, features a group of up-and-coming stars who are forced to use every tactic at their disposal to fight against an interdimensional menace that is threatening contemporary Tokyo. 

best selling video games in japan

You’ll be playing as Itsuki in the game, trying to stop evil mirages from robbing the world of all creative force. You can even visit Hachiko’s statue on the Shibuya Scramble! In this turn-based RPG, the fighting and characters from Fire Emblem are combined with some wonderful Japanese music, giving fans the Fire Emblem musical they never knew they wanted!

10. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, one of those games situated in the heart of feudal Japan, is difficult enough to test even the most seasoned players. The developers of the Bloodborne and Dark Souls series are responsible for this game.

You, a Shinobi, are required to defend a young lord in the plot. Naturally, this implies that many of his foes and much of the conflict that goes along with them are yours to inherit. Your master is soon taken captive, therefore you must use every effort to restore your honor.

most popular video games in japan-sekiro

You will go to every part of Japan in Sekiro, which is set in the 1500s Sengoku era. On your mission, you’ll encounter dangerous foes and trying situations for you and your character.

While you can enhance your character’s skills as you progress through the game, stat upgrades won’t be available until certain bosses have been defeated. Your endurance and fortitude will be put to the ultimate test as this elevates the “Get Good” philosophy from Dark Souls to a new level. This game is definitely not for the weak of heart, but it will not let you down if you are prepared to go through such a difficult learning curve.

11. Ghost of Tsushima

One of the most exquisite open-world games set in Japan is Ghost of Tsushima. The option to explore medieval Japan’s enormous countryside and various sights, engage in one-on-one combat, and participate in massive historic conflicts will be available to players.

The first Mongolian invasion, which included an attack on Tsushima Island, is when the narrative takes place. Your main objective as Jin Sakai, a samurai in the game, is to defend the island from the invaders. However, as this is an open-world game, you’ll also find and do a lot of other stuff.

video games from japan-2

Ghost Of Tsushima is not only entertaining, but it also shows Japan a lot of respect. As a result of the fantastic imagery in the title, it displays the wonderful beauty of the nation. In addition to the fictitious plot, the action-adventure game is also highly realistic in terms of minor aspects.

Rich character growth and a variety of character upgrades are abundant in the gameplay. One of those games that really transport you to Japan is this one. So this should be a solid candidate if you enjoy role-playing games.

12. Jet Set Radio

The main character of Jet Set Radio may possibly be more well-known than the game itself due to his inclusion in a number of Sonic and Sega party games. Jet Set Radio is an entertaining and fashionable action game, so that has nothing to do with the title’s quality.

best selling video games in japan-2

The fundamental idea is that you skate through a city while spray painting everything. You have to deal with competing gangs and authorities while you’re flying about. Even though it’s not obvious when playing the game, all of this turmoil is occurring in Tokyo.

13. Katamari Damacy REROLL

The third-person puzzle-action game Katamari Damacy REROLL, also known as Katamari Damacy Encore (, Katamari Damashii Ankru) in Japan, was created by MONKEYCRAFT Co. Ltd. and published by Bandai Namco on December 7, 2018, for PC and Nintendo Switch. On November 19, 2020, it was made available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. 

The prince who won’t quit pushing the envelope is back and prepared to reroll. You, his little royal son, have been given the task of restoring the stars to the sky when the King of All Cosmos mistakenly destroys them all. The player will embark on a hilarious journey with the King and Prince of Cosmos to repair the stars at home or on the move in full HD.

top selling video games in japan

With their Nintendo SwitchTM, users can carry Katamari with them everywhere they go! When the Katamari is in tabletop mode, use the joy-cons gyro controls to turn and shake them to execute the Prince Dash. Using the Switch’s two Joy-cons, players may also play in multiplayer mode with a friend.

14. Okami

The user controls Amaterasu (The Goddess of the Sun) as a white wolf in kami, one of the most well-liked switch games with a Japanese setting on our list. The game “kami,” which is set in historical Japan, uses allusions from Japanese mythology and folklore to create a gripping and captivating narrative for its players.

video games in japan-1

You should give yourself at least 60 hours for your first play-through, and even a lot of time if you want to complete the game completely, advises GameXplain. Combat is a highly dynamic feature of the game since players can destroy adversaries using discovered weaponry, taught fighting methods, or even a heavenly brush.

15. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

In the Japanese video game Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you may create your own island and decorate the inside of your home. For pretty much any subject you can imagine, there are some truly lovely island designs available, but most importantly, you may model it after Japan.

video games from japan-Animal Crossing

Do you want to create your own onsen garden? You may! Want to build a village entirely made up of Japanese vending machines? The same applies to you! The only restriction is your imagination with bespoke designs and enormous quantities of space.

Conclusion

The video games in Japan often include innovative concepts and deftly incorporate cultural elements, inspiring devotion in many players. What do you think about the aforementioned list of 15 video games? We hope the article will help you get some suggestions when buying video games from Japan.