Nintendo has a habit of not releasing certain games outside Japan, at least initially. One of the best-known examples of this is the realSuper Mario Bros. 2, which was deemed too difficult for Western players. However, it was eventually released outside Japan asSuper Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels.
Unfortunately, many other Nintendo games, likeWario andSimCity 64, seem destined to remain Japan-exclusive forever. Whether for practical or trivial reasons, it’s disappointing to think that, outside of fan translations, some of these titles will never be easily accessible.
10 Family BASIC Turns the Famicom Into a Computer
Release Date - June 21, 1984
- Platform(s): Nintendo Family Computer / Nintendo Entertainment System
Family BASIC is not a video game but rather a BASIC interpreter, much like howMario Paint is an art program rather than a traditional game. LikeMario Paint,Family BASIC requires a special controller to access its features. In this case, the controller is a full-fledged QWERTY keyboard. Additionally, other accessories were made forFamily BASIC, including a cassette data recorder.
10 Best Nintendo Famicom Disk System Games, Ranked
The Famicom Disk System was Nintendo's floppy disk peripheral only released in Japan, leading to great games like Zelda and Mario Bros. 2.
Titles likeFamily BASIC serve as a reminder of the original intent behind Nintendo's Family Computer—that it was meant to be more than just a video game console. In that sense, it remains an interesting footnote in Nintendo's history. WhileFamily BASIC isn'tas versatile as other BASIC interpreterslike the Commodore 64, it’s still a nifty piece of software.
9 Snoopy Concert Delivers Everything Its Title Promises
Release Date - May 19, 1995
- Platform(s): Super Famicom / Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Snoopy Concert is a point-and-click puzzle game for Japan’s Super Famicom that supports both a standard controller and the console’s mouse peripheral. As the title suggests, the game follows Snoopy as he tries to gather as many people as possible for his concert. With the help of his bird friend Woodstock, he runs errands for others, including his owner, Charlie Brown.
As aPeanuts video game, it stays faithful to its source material and effectively captures the comic strip’s humor. As a game, however,Snoopy Concert isn’t the most engaging experience. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, considering thePeanuts franchise’s minimalist nature, though it’s fair to say more could have been done beyond simple point-and-click gameplay.
8 Itadaki Street DS Feels Like a Mario Party Spin-off
Release Date - June 21, 2007
- Platform(s): Nintendo DS
Itadaki Street DS is a party game that also serves as a crossover between theMario andDragon Quest franchises. At first glance,it’s easy to mistake it for aMario Party clone, butItadaki Street is actually an older series, dating back to the Famicom era. InItadaki Street DS,Mario andDragon Quest characters compete on a Monopoly-like board.
It's a solidalternative toMario Party, and it has enough mechanical resemblance to thos games to make it palatable to fans of that series. The inclusion ofDragon Quest characters may also drawn in fans of that franchise. WhileItadaki Street DSnever made it outside Japan, a sequel on the Wii,Fortune Street, was released in North America and Europe.
7 Famicom Wars Is an Extremely High-Energy War Game
Release Date - Aug. 12, 1988
- Platforms: Nintendo Family Computer / Nintendo Entertainment System
Famicom Wars is a turn-based tactical war game that was released exclusively in Japan for the Nintendo Family Computer. The premise is that two factions, Red Star and Blue Moon, are actively at war with each other. Each side aims to take control of the other's military bases and operations while preventing their own bases from falling into enemy hands.
10 Best SNES Games with Incredible Box Art
Some Super Nintendo games, including Donkey Kong Country, just have amazing box art.
It's surprisingly fast-paced for a strategy game, and some players may find it difficult to keep up, especially without a fan translation. While this early entry in theWarsseries wasn't released outside Japan, it made it to the west in 2001 with the release ofAdvance Wars. Surprisingly,Advance Warswas originally released only in North America and PAL regions, and Japanese players didn't receive the game until 2004.
6 SimCity 64 Is a 3D SimCity Game
Release Date - Feb. 23, 2000
- Platform(s): Nintendo 64
SimCity 64 is a city-building simulation game in theSimCity franchise. Unlike other entries,SimCity 64 was developed not by Maxis but by HAL Laboratory for Nintendo’s 64DD, a floppy disk peripheral that was only ever sold in Japan. Its main novelty was its 3D presentation, which took advantage of the Nintendo 64’s hardware. This allowed for somewhat greater depth than most otherSimCity games at the time.
There was no real reason to releaseSimCity 64 exclusively on Nintendo's forgotten 64DD peripheral, and doing so effectively robbed international players of the chance to experience a uniqueSimCity entry. The ability to see events unfold in real time adds to the game's appeal, making it a worthwhile experience. Of course,Nintendo is no stranger toSimCity, soSimCity 64 is just par for the course.
5 Animal Forest Is Animal Crossing on the Nintendo 64
Release Date - April 14, 2001
- Platform(s): Nintendo 64
Animal Forest is essentiallyAnimal Crossing for the Nintendo 64. The game is nearly identical to its later GameCube counterpart, with players moving into a small village, running errands, and paying off debts to Tom Nook, the shopkeeper who purchased their house.Animal Crossingwas a localized version ofDoubutsu no Mori+, an enhanced port ofAnimal Forestwith upgraded visuals.
Notably,Animal Forest was not released for Nintendo's Japan-exclusive 64DD peripheral, which could have expanded the game's features. Instead, it was issued on a standard Nintendo 64 cartridge, which limited its potential. However,Animal Forest paved the way for the more versatileAnimal Crossing to be released internationally, which wasn't a bad accomplishment.
4 Tomodachi Collection Is the First Entry In Nintendo's Tomodachi Series
Release Date - June 18, 2009
- Platform(s): Nintendo DS
Tomodachi Collection is the Japan-exclusive first entry in theTomodachi series of simulation games. Players take on the role of a god-like figure, managing the lives of Mii inhabitants on a small island. They can assist these Miis by feeding them, entertaining them, setting up dates, and more. Miis can either be created in-game or imported from a Wii.
The Best SNES Platformers That Aren't Mario or Donkey Kong
When it comes to platformers on the Super Nintendo, there's much more than Mario and Donkey Kong.
Unfortunately,Tomodachi Collection is not easily accessible due to the lack of reliable fan translations and certain issues with the game itself. More notably,Tomodachi Collection is somewhat restrictive, with a limited songmaker and no ability to have kids in the game. Still, it ultimately paved the way for the more fun and versatileTomodachi Life.
Your Rating
Your comment has not been saved
Tomodachi Collection
- Released
- June 18, 2009
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo SPD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
3 Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 Is the Most Epic Super Famicom RPG
Release Date - Jan. 21, 2000
- Platform(s): Super Famicom / Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 is the fifth entry in theFire Emblem tactical RPG series. Initially released for the Super Famicom via the Nintendo Power service,Thracia 776 later received a standalone cartridge in 2000, making it one of the last games released for the system. The game follows protagonist Leif as he fights to reclaim what was taken from him.
Unlike most classicFire Emblem titles,Thracia 776 has never received an official translation. While fan translations do exist, it's unfortunate that most mainstream Western Nintendo players have never had the chance to experience it officially.Thracia 776 has plenty of depth, along with a riveting plot that provides essential context within theFire Emblem series.
Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
- Released
- September 1, 1999
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Intelligent Systems
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Prequel(s)
- Fire Emblem: Genealogy Of The Holy War
- Franchise
- Fire Emblem
- Number of Players
- 1
2 Mario & Wario Is Lemmings With Mario
Release Date - Aug. 27, 1993
- Platform(s): Super Famicom / Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Mario & Wario is a puzzle game that plays similarly toLemmings, requiring players to guide Mario while keeping him out of harm’s way. In the game, Wario drops various objects, such as buckets, eggshells, and vases, from his plane, all of which land on Mario’s head. Unable to see, Mario must be guided by Wanda, a helpful fairy who can place blocks and other objects to clear his path.
Strangely,Mario & Wario is entirely in English, so the game was ripe for an international release. However, the game never left Japan, which is a shame given how fun it is. Much likeLemmings, the challenge of safely guiding a character to their destination provides plenty of enjoyment.
Your Rating
Your comment has not been saved
Mario & Wario
- Released
- August 27, 1993
- ESRB
- E for Everyone
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Franchise
- Super Mario
1 Mother 3 Is the Most Elusive Earthbound Game
Release Date - April 20, 2006
- Platform(s): Game Boy Advance
Mother 3 is the latest entry in theMother RPG series, known internationally asEarthBound. Strangely, it was released on the Game Boy Advance rather than a home console and arrived two years after the Nintendo DS launched. In any case,Mother 3is a follow-up to Mother 2, akaEarthbound, and follows a boy named Lucas who joins with friends to save his islands from an army of invaders.
10 Best SNES RPGs That Would Look Amazing in HD-2D Format
2018 introduced gamers to the new HD-2D graphics style. Now gamers want more games like this. See 10 SNES RPG games that would look great in HD-2D.
While fan translations exist,Mother 3 remains the onlyEarthBound game without an official Western localization. Even the firstMother game, later titledEarthBound Beginnings, eventually received an international Virtual Console release. Perhaps one day,Mother 3 will finally get an official translation and international release, as it remains the best Nintendo game that's never left Japan.
Your Rating
Your comment has not been saved
