The Best PS3 Games That Never Left Japan

Summary

• Dozens of Japanese gaming gems remain unlocalized, including PS3 titles like Samurai Spin-Off and Aquatic Adventure.
• Japan-exclusive PS3 games span various genres such as tactical RPGs, anime fighters, and arcade beat 'em ups.

Nowadays, it seems a little easier to make video games available to consumers. The rise of the sale of digital copies almost nearly ensures that the demand for a game can be met as long as you have money and a decent internet connection. Yet there are still tons of games out there that gamers from certain regions won't get to play, or are even aware of. This is especially true for several PS3 titles from Japan.

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Whether it's due to the lack of popularity, licensing issues, or some other unexplainable reason, there are several gaming gems that remain unlocalized and can only be imported by gamers. Here's a list of some of those games.

Updated on April 18, 2024, by Jack Nachwalter: Turns out, the list of PS3 games that only launched in Japan is far more than just ten. From sports games to anime tie-ins, and FMV gems, Japan has seen some truly unique games over the years that touch on many genres across the board. As such, it only seems right to highlight five more PS3 titles that will forever remain exclusive to Japan.

15 Ryu Ga Gotoku KENZAN!

A Samurai Era Spin-Off Of The Highly Popular Like A Dragon Series

The Yakuza series is pretty popular in and outside of Japan. Most of the games in the series follow yakuza Kazuma Kiryu. In each game, Kiryu finds himself involved in a dangerous situation related to his past, often dealing in the world of Japanese organized crime. Nearly every game in the main series has made it over here, but the same can't be said for its spinoff series.

Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! is the second spin-off of the series. It follows a fictionalized version of Japanese historical figure Miyamoto Musashi, who has given up his sword and his identity for the name Kiryu Kazumanosuke. Linked to being an ancestor of the main series' Kiryu, he finds himself dealing with similar troubles as his decedent as he takes on the assassination mission targeting a man impersonating him.

14 Aquanaut's Holiday: Hidden Memories

A Quiet Life Shared With The Ocean's Inhabitants

Sometimes when a game is only released in Japan, it’s because the developers feel like it’s not the finished product and wouldn’t be able to find a wider audience. Of course, that’s not the case for every Japanese exclusive title, but with Aquanaut’s Holiday: Hidden Memories, it makes sense.

Aquanaut’s Holiday: Hidden Memories is a submarine adventure game that tasks you with recording and cataloging various sea life such as sharks, whales, and all strains of vertebrata. Given its niche nature, it’s hardly surprising that this aquatic experience never ventured past Japanese seas.

13 E.X. Troopers

Where School Life Meets Mystical Shamans Meets Giant Robots

Fans of the third-person shooter series Lost Planet might not know about the spin-off title E.X. Troopers. Where Lost Planet has a more serious and darker tone to it, E.X. Troopers is a more light-hearted anime-style third-person shooter. The game follows rookie pilot Bren Turner who fights against hostile forces using his Vital Suit.

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This has similar elements to the other games in the Lost Planet series, though T-ENG (thermal energy), which had been used for survival and currency in previous games, is now used for gaining life and charging attacks. Combat is fast, action-packed and also features melee combat that's similar to Devil May Cry.

12 Sengoku BASARA 4

Another Quality Hack-And-Slash Entry In A Long-Running Series

Taking place during the Japanese time period known as the 'Warring States,' Sengoku BASARA is a very popular series in Japan and several other countries in East Asia. You take on fictionalized versions of historical figures and use hack-and-slash style combat to face a large number of enemies on the battlefield, using strategy and superpowered moves.

There has been one Sengoku BASARA game to come over to the US, the third one, which was renamed Sengoku BASARA Samurai Heroes. Despite doing reasonably well, the next game in the series, Sengoku Basara 4 didn't make it over here. It is an improvement on an already great game with polished graphics and smooth gameplay.

11 Janline R

A Broken Board Game Disaster

It’s unusual for any video game to be considered so poorly made that its issues become its legacy. We’ve seen numerous titles over the years to achieve this level, such as Superman 64, Ride to Hell: Retribution, and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. In Japan, there are few games more synonymous with atrocity than Janline R.

Janline R has become infamous in Japan for its richness of bugs that even got worse with ensuing updates. Despite a mahjong video game sounding straightforward, Janline R demonstrated that even the simplest of video games can become a glitchy nightmare.

10 Initial D Extreme Stage

Racing Game Based On The Manga Of The Same Name

To anime and manga fans, Initial D might sound familiar. It's a series about Japanese street racing that follows delivery boy Takumi Fujiwara, whose years of driving for his dad's tofu shop have given him exceptional driving skills suited for races on Mount Akagi. Initial D has generated tons of games based on the series since 1998, all about racing.

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Initial D Extreme Stage is a virtual racer that was released for the PS3. Similar to Initial D Arcade Stage 4, Extreme Stage improves on the mechanics and visuals of that game. From the scenery to the cars, they were improved to look more realistic, making it an appealing racing game for even non-anime fans.

9 2nd Super Robot Wars Original Generation

A Tactical RPG Spearhead By A Lot Of Robot Carnage

There are quite a few mech games over here in the US, but there are so many more giant robot titles that we miss out on from Japan, specifically the ones in the Super Robot Wars series. The best Super Robot Wars game on the PS3 is 2nd Super Robot Wars Original Generation.

It features a long list of Mecha and characters from past Super Robot Wars. It included new gameplay mechanics to the series at the time of its release, like the Maximum Break that lets four units attack an enemy at the same time.

8 Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn

Another Entry In The Long-Running Giant Robot Anime Series

Even though it wasn’t met with critical acclaim during its initial run in 1979 - 1980, Mobile Suit Gundam would ultimately grow into one of the most influential anime from Japan and breathe new life into the giant robot genre. Given its vast popularity, there’s been a plethora of Mobile Suit Gundam games released over the decades.

Based on the animated series of the same name, Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn was an action game that revolved around using various mobile suits to fight enemies. The game also features three distinctive characters, each with their own unique arcs, offering even more variety.

7 Hajime No Ippo: The Fighting!

A Boxing Game Set In Universe Created By George Morikawa

Hajime No Ippo: The Fighting! is another game based on a manga and anime series that is pretty popular in Japan. Hajime No Ippo tells the story of a young man on his journey to becoming a boxer. As one can expect from a series about boxing, Hajime No Ippo: The Fighting! is a boxing game.

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There have been several Hajime No Ippo games in the past, with the PS3 game released for the 25th anniversary of the series. It has vibrant visuals and cut scenes that seem like they were pulled straight from the manga. It has similar game mechanics to the classic boxing series Punch-Out!! and you can customize your boxers with different skills.

6 Super Hero Generation

An Adventure Which Brings Together Three Japanese Television Icons

Super Hero Generation is a tactical RPG that features characters from Gundam, Ultraman, and Kamen Rider, all three iconic Japanese television series. You can create units made up of their favorite heroes from these shows, and use them to complete missions and clear levels.

Each level is made up of a map that comes from a world from the three series. Combat is similar to that in Fire Emblem: Three Houses, where the camera zooms in during encounters, letting you watch the action unfold in stunning 3D animation.