NES/Famicom

ConsoleNameReleaseGenreDeveloperLucca's Notes
JP FCBloody Warriors: Shan-Go no Gyakushuu1990Turn-BasedMicronics/Toei AnimationEven translated, the health counter for enemies makes no sense. Pretty short too.
JP FCCaptain Tsubasa Vol. II: Super Striker1990SportsTecmoMore in-depth plot, more visible players on screen, but otherwise similar gameplay/leveling
NESCastlevania II: Simon's Quest1988Action-PlatformKonamiSurprise! Contains a day/night system and XP/leveling
JP FCChaos World1991StrategyNatsumeNeat auto-battle system
JP FCChester Field: Ankoku Shin e no Chousen1987ActionVic TokaiLight on text, hilarious walking animation, very platformy
JP FCColumbus: Ougon no Yoake1992Turn-BasedTomyNaval combat and quasi-historical themes! Sketch af!
JP FCCosmo Police Galivan1988Action-PlatformNihon BussanPlatformer ARPG - Metroidvania before metroidvanias were a thing
NESCrystalis1990ActionSNKTop-down ARPG, fairly grindy for the time
JP FCDai-2-Ji Super Robot Taisen1991Turn-BasedWinkysoftFeatures original design robots that would become the cornerstone of the Original Generation series
JP FCDark Lord1991Turn-BasedData EastMix of overhead and turn-based combat
JP FCDeep Dungeon III: Yuushi e no Tabi1988Dungeon CrawlerHumming Bird Soft1st-person dunegon crawl
JP FCDeep Dungeon IV: Kuro no Youjutsushi1990Dungeon CrawlerHumming Bird Soft1st-person dunegon crawl
NESDestiny of an Emperor1990Turn-BasedCapcomRomance of the Three Kingdoms-themed, auto-battle system
JP FCDigital Devil Monogatari: Megami Tensei II1990Dungeon CrawlerAtlusConsidered to be the origin of the series' heavy-handed order vs chaos theme, good old-fashioned demon negotiation and recruitment
JP FCDigital Devil Story: Megami Tensei1987Dungeon CrawlerAtlusThe series had to start somewhere…
JP FCDoraemon: Giga Zombie no Gyakushuu1990Turn-BasedEpochFeaturing playable Doraemon!
JP FCDouble Moon Densetsu1992Turn-BasedAmusement/Dennou Kenkyusho/ORGMultiple endings, multiple classes to choose from, pulls some nasty punches on the player
JP FCDowntown Special: Kunio-kun no Jidaigeki Dayo Zen'in Shuugou!1991ActionTechnos JapanKunio and the bois act out a period play the only way they know how, stats now increase upon defeating certain amounts of enemies
JP FCDragon Ball: Dai Maou Fukkatsu1988Card-BasedD&D Corp/TosePlays kinda like a card-based board game
JP FCDragon Ball Z: Kyoushuu! Saiya Jin1993Card-BasedD&D Corp/ToseCARDS
JP FCDragon Ball Z II: Gekishin Freeza!!1991Card-BasedD&D Corp/ToseCard-based combat
JP FCDragon Ball Z III: Ressen Jinzou Ningen1992Card-BasedD&D Corp/ToseMore card-based combat
JP FCDragon Scroll: Yomigaerishi Maryuu1987ActionKonami*Epilepsy Warning* Otherwise a solid ARPG
NESDragon Warrior1989Turn-BasedChunsoftSolo questing to save the kingdom!
NESDragon Warrior II1990Turn-BasedChunsoftRescuing the kingdom, now with a party!
NESDragon Warrior III1992Turn-BasedChunsoftIntroduces a class system to the series, far less linear than its predecessors
NESDragon Warrior IV1992Turn-BasedChunsoftBreaks up the story into chapters with different protagonists that come together in the end
JP FCDream Master1992Turn-BasedBirthdayNot Little Nemo! More puzzle-based than most games of the era, cool concept
NESDungeon Magic: Sword of the Elements1990Dungeon CrawlerNatsume1st-person dunegon crawl, very sparse on story
JP FCElysion1988ActionNEC InterchannelA bit bland of an ARPG, but it has multiple playable characters, so that's neat
JP FCEsper Dream 2: Aratanaru Tatakai1992ActionKonamiCute pastel sprite work and ARPG gameplay
JP FCFamicom Jump: Eiyuu Retsuden1989ActionToseGet isekai'd into a world where heroes and villains from the Jump magazine series converge, XP gain is represented by "effort"
NESFaria: A World of Mystery and Danger!1991Dungeon CrawlerGame ArtsA top-down dungeon crawler with some cruel elements like invisible monsters
NESFaxanadu1989Action-PlatformHudson SoftPlays more like a standard Castlevania
NESFinal Fantasy1990Turn-BasedSquareWhat hasn't been said about this game? It's not the final game in the series, nor is it the final iteration of this game
JP FCFinal Fantasy II1988Turn-BasedSquareLeveling is done via utilizing skills rather than experience- a drastic and much-maligned design choice
JP FCFinal Fantasy III1990Turn-BasedSquareFirst Final Fantasy to feature the job-change system
JP FCFire Emblem: Ankoku Ryu to Hikari no Tsurugi1990StrategyIntelligent Systems/NintendoOrigins of boy-king Marth, an SRPG featuring permadeath of units
JP FCFire Emblem Gaiden1992StrategyIntelligent SystemsIntroduced elements like a navigable overworld that were then unused for a long time
JP FCFushigi no Umi no Nadia1991StrategyAdvance Communication CompanySRPG based on the anime of the same name, plays vastly different to the Mega Drive version
JP FCGanbare Goemon Gaiden 2: Tenka no Zaihou1992Turn-BasedKonamiChanges the battle perspective to show party members on-screen, has lots of side activities
JP FCGanbare Goemon Gaiden: Kieta Ougon Kiseru1990Turn-BasedKonamiHumorous turn-based game set in medieval Japan
JP FCGeGeGe no Kitarou 2: Youkai Gundan no Chousen1987Turn-BasedToseBased off the spooky anime of the same name
NESGhost Lion1992Turn-BasedKemcoAmazing cover art, unique summon-based battle system
JP FCGrand Master1991ActionSoft MachineFeatures multiple branching paths, ARPG gameplay, and anime cutscenes between stages
JP FCHeracles no Eikou II: Titan no Metsubo1989Turn-BasedData EastDragon Warrior-styled gameplay with Greek mythological flair
JP FCHoshi wo Miru Hito1987Turn-BasedAnother/Hot-BKusoge of legend, incomplete translation but left up here for lulz
JP FCHyaku no Sekai no Monogatari: The Tales on a Watery Wilderness1991Board GameASKA multiplayer board game JRPG? On my Famicom? Lots of randomness involved
NESHydlide1989ActionT&E SoftVery grindy, very bad
JP FCHydlide 3: Yami Kara no Houmonsha1989ActionT&E SoftThere is no such thing as a good Hydlide game.
JP FCIndra no Hikari1987Turn-BasedKemcoEnemies are visible on the overworld, but otherwise appears to be yet another Dragon Warrior clone
JP FCJajamaru Gekimaden: Maboroshi no Kinmajou1990ActionJalecoVery close to the first Zelda game, but with yoyos for weapons!
JP FCJajamaru Ninpou Chou1989Turn-BasedJalecoAlmost came out in the States, but alas… Another DW clone where you can only fight one enemy at a time
JP FCJust Breed1992StrategyRandom HouseA very detailed SRPG for the time
JP FCJuvei Quest1991Turn-BasedBirthdayPlot divided into chapters, protagonist can recruit helpers to make adventuring easier
JP FCKaijuu Monogatari1988Turn-BasedBirthdayPretty standard, but also super-hard at the beginning
JP FCKarakuri Kengou Den Musashi Lord: Karakuri Jin Hashiru!1991ActionKoseARPG based on the robot anime
JP FCKawa no Nushi Tsuri1990FishingYuu YuuIt's a fishing JRPG!
JP FCKouryuu Densetsu Villgust Gaiden1993ActionPlexIt's got a catgirl. Strange battle system! Side-story to the SNES game
JP FCLagrange Point1991Turn-BasedKonamiBanger soundtrack, sci-fi themed
JP FCLaSalle Ishii's Childs Quest1989Turn-BasedNamcoIDOL MANAGER JRPG. ENOUGH SAID.
JP FCLast Armageddon1990Turn-BasedBrain Grey/Advance Communications CompanyA post-apocalyptic attempt at subverting the traditional fantasy themes of the time- playing as a cast of highly detailed monsters
NESLegacy of the Wizard1989Action-PlatformFalcomAn early example of a metroidvania with a family element; different family members have different exploration skills
NESLittle Ninja Brothers1990ActionCulture BrainA tad racially insensitive, first game in the Super Chinese series to have RPG elements
JP FCMajou Densetsu II: Dimashikyou Gailous1987ActionKonamiA sidescrolling ARPG with 2 playable characters, XP gain refills life; life bar can be extended via items
JP FCMashin Eiyuuden Wataru Gaiden1990ActionWestoneVery Zelda II vibes, based off the anime of the same name
JP FCMetal Max1991Turn-BasedCrea-Tech/Data EastMad Max: the JRPG! Featuring vehicle combat!
JP FCMinelvaton Saga: Ragon no Fukkatsu1987ActionRandom HouseFirst of the Silva Saga series, featuring overhead ARPG combat
JP FCMirai Senshi: Lios1989StrategyPack-In-VideoA mech-based SRPG, equipment upgrades improve units and are earned in battles
JP FCMirai Shinwa Jarvas1987ActionTaitoIf it looks like a kusoge, and plays like a kusoge…
JP FCMomotarou Densetsu1987Turn-BasedHudson SoftStandard gameplay, but cute all the same!
JP FCMother1989Turn-BasedApe/NintendoModern-themed turn-based game starring kids with psychic powers
JP FCMouryou Senki Madara1990Turn-BasedKonamiDark and challenging! Autonomous combat! Anime-based!
JP FCMusashi no Bōken1990Turn-BasedQuestStandard DQ clone, but corn can be an enemy so that's pretty funny
JP FCNakayoshi to Issho1993Turn-BasedYutakaPrecious simplistic RPG ft. Kodansha characters (inc. Sailor Moon!) that may give you diabetes
JP FCNiji no Silkroad1991Turn-BasedAdvance Communication CompanyIncrease your rank as a trader by going out and procuring goods (which you can also buy to raise your stats)
JP FCNinja Ra Hoi!1990Turn-BasedASCIIA parody game of sorts that takes place in feudal Japan
JP FCOtaku no Seiza: Adventure in the Otaku Galaxy1991Turn-BasedAdvance Communication CompanyUnbalanced and cheeky
JP FCOutlanders1987ActionMicronicsKooky sci-fi with wonky ARPG combat
JP FCRadia Senki: Reiemeihen1991ActionTecmo4 AI characters + 1 controllable = fun auto tactics
NESRiver City Ransom1990ActionTechnos JapanBARF! Beating up rival street gangs to rescue a girl and using dropped cash to buy stat upgrades
JP FCRPG Jinsei Game1993SimulationTakaraMake the correct life choices to increase your stats and achieve your career dreams!
NESRygar1987Action-PlatformTecmoDifficult Metroid-like sidescrolling ARPG with lots of enemy killing via yo-yo-like shield and experience to gain
JP FCSD Keiji Blader1991Turn-BasedNMKDQ clone set in the far distant future
JP FCShadow Brain1991Dungeon CrawlerScitron & ArtFuturistic 1st-person dungeon crawler
JP FCShinsenden1989Turn-BasedTamtexAnother day, another eastern-themed DQ clone
JP FCSilva Saga1992Turn-BasedSetaNice graphics for the time
JP FCSTED: Iseki Wakusei no Yabou1990Turn-BasedADKVery Phantasy Star-like
JP FCSukeban Deka III1988ActionShoueiManga-based ARPG
JP FCSweet Home1989Turn-Based/HorrorCapcomWithout this, Resident Evil doesn't exist; a horror turn-based game with character permadeath
JP FCTao1989Turn-BasedPax SoftonicaHeavily religious-themed, bizarre af (you ride a dinosaur to Moscow), likely kusoge
NESTecmo Cup Soccer Game1992SportsTecmoA heavily Americanized (and harder) version of the first Captain Tsubasa video game, where leveling/stat increases happen as players participate in soccer games
JP FCTenchi o Kurau II: Shokatsu Koumei Den1991Turn-BasedCapcomPlays just like the first, just never localized
NESThe Magic of Scheherazade1989ActionCulture BrainCould get pretty oof in cultural stereotypes, a mix of turn-based and ARPG gameplay
NESTombs and Treasure1991Dungeon CrawlerFalcom1st-person dungeon crawl with some point-and-click elements
JP FCToujin Makyou Den: Heracles no Eikou1987Turn-BasedData EastFirst in a long Greek-themed series that Nintendo never bothered to localize (except that one time)
NESUncharted Waters1991SimulationKoeiDo you like micromanagement? Capitalism? Minimal fantasy? This may be for you!
JP FCUshio to Tora: Shin'en no Daiyou1993Turn-BasedTom Create/PixelBased on a manga of a similar name, turn-based combat with super-dramatic cutaways; top-down in exploration, first-person in houses and dungeons
JP FCValkyrie no Bouken: Toki no Kagi Densetsu1986ActionNamcoMinimal text, starring Namco's famous valkyrie
NESWillow1989ActionCapcomYes, based off the 80's movie with Warwick Davis and Val Kilmer. Solid ARPG gameplay!
JP FCYs1988ActionFalcomAdol bumps into the enemies to slay them
JP FCYs II1990ActionFalcomAdds magic to Adol's repertoire
JP FCYs III: Wanderers From Ys1991ActionFalcomChanges the battles to be side-scrolling rather than top-down and allows Adol to swing his sword/jump
NESZelda II: The Adventure of Link1988ActionNintendoA side-scrolling Zelda game with XP and leveling? Surely this must be (an) Error!
JP FCZoids: Chuuou Tairiku no Tatakai1987ActionMicroidsStandard non-combat exploration with shooter-style combat and experience gain behind the scenes
JP FCZombie Hunter1987ActionHi-Score Media WorkNot the greatest side-scrolling ARPG, but it does have synthesized voices