It’s not secret that video games are an essential part of Japanese culture. Not only that, but Japan is also the home for many top game developers, such as Nintendo and Sony. As such, the Nintendo Switch as a console is home to many games and franchises that originated in Japan.
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Of course, Japan shares many of the same tastes as western audiences when it comes to popular games. Titles likeMinecraft,Fortnite, andSuper Smash Bros.are just as popular overseas as they are in North America and Europe. However, gamers who are curious to expand their horizons might consider checking out these games that haven’t caught on in the West like they have in Japan.
10The Battle Cats (Nyanko Daisensou)
This game was first released in 2011 for iOS and Android under the nameNyanko Daisensou, which translates to “Nyanko Great War.” Updated versions later debuted on mobile devices in 2014, Nintendo 3DS in 2016, and Nintendo Switch in 2021. It was briefly on English app stores in 2012 under the nameThe Battle Catsbefore being removed, keeping it a Japan-exclusive franchise.
The Battle Catsis a standard tower defense game, where players create a team of cats to battle hordes of enemies. The game contains the quintessential elements of a popular Japanese franchise: it’s addictive, it’s cute, and it’s weird. Hopefully it can be released on Switch outside of Japan, so western players can see this game’s charm.
9Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa Mo Teiban!
It’s rare to see a video game dominate foreign sales charts while having no official release in the west, yet that seems to be the case with the newest installment of theMomotaro Dentetsufranchise. The game plays like a cross betweenMario PartyandMonopoly, with 1-4 players participating in a virtual board game that sees them buying properties and businesses.
LikeNyanko Daisensou, this game boasts a lot of charm in its cutesy graphics and typical weirdness. Understandably, this game is a smash hit in Japan, most likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic keeping everybody indoors. It’s simplythe perfect game to sit down and play together with family.
8Taiko No Tatsujin: Drum ‘N’ Fun!
TheTaiko no Tatsujinfranchise has spanned many generations of consoles, first appearing in Japanese arcades in 2001 before it made its official console debut a year later on PlayStation 2. The most recent installment,Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun!is the first installment of the franchise to release in North America since the PlayStation 2.The rhythm game franchise is notablefor being played on simulated Taiko drums.
The newest installment was released in the West in November 2018 as a digital exclusive, and features popular songs in Japan as well as songs from popular anime and video games. Maybe if a future installment of the franchise featured more western music, it could be a hit on the level of other rhythm games likeJust Dance.
7Big Brain Academy: Brain Vs Brain
With the younger generation in the West being preoccupied with games likeFortniteandMinecraft, it’s not surprising that an educational puzzle game hasn’t caught on outside of Japan. Thegame consists of various activities and mini-gamesthat are meant to test five different cognitive skills.
The franchise originally debuted on Nintendo DS in 2005, with a later installment on Nintendo Wii in 2007. This new entry on Switch is the first installment in the series since then, so perhaps western audiences have simply forgotten about the franchise. However, Japanese audiences still seem eager to learn through playing.
6Yo-kai Watch 4
When theYo-kai Watchfranchise first released on Nintendo 3DS in 2013, critics predicted it would overthrowPokémonas Japan’s favorite creature-collecting RPG. While that hasn’t necessarily come to pass,Yo-kai Watchhas remained a profitable franchise in Japan, spawning several new games, an animated series, and mountains of merchandise.
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The newest installment,Yo-kai Watch 4, expands on many of the concepts and gameplay mechanics of previous entries while still maintaining the lovable RPG action fans have come to adore. Unfortunately, the franchise’s lack of popularity in the west means that it’s unlikelyYo-kai Watch 4will ever be localized.
5Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes Of An Elusive Age
The eleventh installment of the widely-popularDragon Questseries had longtime fans excited when it was initially released for Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation 4. The games were notable for featuring the option on the 3DS version to view the game in 16-bit graphics, calling back to the earliest games in the franchise.Dragon Quest XI Sis an enhanced version of this installment, which was released on Nintendo Switch in 2019.
Obviously, theDragon Questfranchise has found its audience in the West. It’s even become popular enough for the main protagonists of the franchise to be featured as DLC inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. However, it lacks the widespread popularity of some of Square Enix’s other titles, likeFinal FantasyandKingdom Hearts.
4Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Speaking of franchises that have been featured inSuper Smash Bros.,Fire Emblemis a notable series that has seen many releases in the West, includingFire Emblem: Three Housesfor Nintendo Switch. This newest installment finds players taking on the role of a school teacher instructing soldiers in one of three ruling nations, and later heading to battle against each other.
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Fire Emblem, much likeDragon Quest, certainly has its popularity in the West, but that doesn’t compare to the adoration it has in Japan. This popularity is a huge contributing factor toFire Emblem: Three Housesbecoming the best-selling title in the franchise’s history, but it still performs poorly against other Nintendo staples likeMarioandPokémon.
3Monster Hunter Rise
It seemed that until the release ofMonster Hunter Worldon PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, theMonster Hunterfranchise was doomed to be an obscure Capcom title to western audiences. Many titles, likeMonster Hunter 4andMonster Hunter XX, received limited or delayed releases in the west, if they were released at all. Since the franchise’s debut in Japan in 2004, it’s been a smash hit not only in terms of sales, but also in Japanese pop culture.
Thankfully, the latest installment in the series seems to be riding the trend of popularity that came withMonster Hunter World.Monster Hunter Risehas nevertheless remained one of the best-selling games on Switch in Japan, and will likely remain one of the most popular titles for the console in the entire region. Best of all:it’s the perfect entry for new players to see what all the fuss is about.
2Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings Of Ruin
TheMonster Hunter Storiesfranchise is a spin-off of the previously mentionedMonster Hunterseries, albeit trading the open-world monster fighting for a turn-based RPG format. Similar toPokémonorYo-kai Watch, this series finds players forming a team of ride-able monsters to battle other hunters with.
If players have ever been anxious to team up with your favoriteMonster Huntercreatures, this would be the perfect game. The newest installment takes afterMonster Hunter Rise, introducing Palamutes andbrand new “Monsties” to the monster-battling world. This title may be perfect forMonster Hunterfans looking for a breezier playthrough than the high-stakes action of the main series games.
1Splatoon 2
The originalSplatoongame for Nintendo Wii U, as well as the newer installment for Nintendo Switch, never seemed to catch on in the West the way Nintendo seemed to want it to. Nevertheless, the game has clung to Japanese pop culture, inspiring ranked tournaments and loads of merchandise.
The game definitely has its fanbase in the West, but their experiences with theSplatoonfranchise limit them to online Splatfests and competitive play. In Japan,Splatoon 2has its own manga series, as well as its own concert events featuring the game’s widely-popular Squid Sisters.Maybe with the release ofSplatoon 3, the game will finally blow up in the West.
