Last year saw some truly great Japanese games released, and here are some of my personal favorites you may have missed.
These are based on my reviews for each game, but obviously, these are just my suggestions based on personal preference.
I’ve also linked to each review, so if you want to find out more about each game in greater detail, the reviews should hopefully do that for you.
Leynos 2 Saturn Tribute
Sort of amazing that this even exists, but I am very glad it does. As the original Sega Saturn game never saw an overseas release, the fact that it’s here now and fully localized is great. Also, as someone who has a long-standing love for the Assault Suits series of games, Leynos 2 is arguably one of its finest entries.
Super Robot Wars Y
The first of the “new” Super Robot Wars games, now that Takanobu Terada is no longer in the driving seat, and it’s very good indeed. I’m also still playing it and having a lot of fun with the DLC. Definitely a good game to get into the Super Robot Wars series if you are a beginner.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
Following on from Super Robot Wars, this is arguably one of the definitive games in the tactical role-playing game genre, finally got a very solid remaster. The even better news is that the game can also be played as per the original PlayStation version, as that is the best iteration.
Earthion
This may have slipped past your watchful gaze, as it’s made as a classic Genesis shmup but in 2025. That aside, this is a truly great shmup and one of the best games I’ve played in a long while. It’s also surprisingly deep in terms of its power-ups, and the music, by Yuzo Koshiro, is also entirely fantastic.
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion
Very much the underdog of 2025, Titanic Scion shifted the Daemon X Machina to power armor along with an expansive open-world setup. I’ve poured hundreds of hours into this, and trust me, you need to stick with it. While it doesn’t really explain anything in-game, that’s part of its charm. The DLC is a lot of fun, too.
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
Probably my game of the year, and it is the follow-up to the equally excellent Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake from 2024. While these are remakes of the first two games in the Dragon Quest series, they are actually narrative sequels to the third game, so there’s a lot of extra content here. I also went and got Platinum trophies on both releases, so these are genuinely worth your time. Make sure to check out my interview with the game’s producer, Masaaki Hayasaka.
Finishing up, it’s worth giving an honorable mention to Metroid Prime 4, as this was a co-production with Nintendo Japan and is obviously part of a long-running Japanese gaming series. I also managed to complete the game on both Normal and Hard with 100% completion, so this was definitely a lot of fun to play, and it was by no means the cringefest the middlecore hipsters wanted us to believe.
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