Japan has taken the entertainment industry by storm with anime being one of the leading forms of entertainment at this moment. However, it looks like Japan is not stopping anytime soon because it’s getting a resurgence when it comes to video games. This includes JRPGS, Military Simulators, and even classics like Mario. If you’re an anime fan or just love Japanese-made video games in general, here are the best JAPANESE games to play in 2024.
Tekken 8
26th January 2024 | PS5, XBOX X|S, PC
Starting off our list is a game most of us have played at least once in our lives. Tekken is back and with its 8th installment in the series, it’s only going to get better. It still follows the Mishima storyline and Jin is still trying to stop his father, Kazuya. The graphics are the best to come out of the franchise and there will be 32 fighters in total, both new and old. Classics like Jun Kaza who appeared in Tekken 2 along with Raven from Tekken 6 are making comebacks. There’s gonna be a total of 16 battle stages as well. It’s said that Tekken 8 will focus more on aggressive gameplay and a new mechanic called the “Heat System” which might be similar to Mortal Kombat’s Fatal Blow.
Persona 3 Reload
2nd February 2024 | PC, XBOX X|S, XBOX ONE, PS5, PS4
This next one is perfect for the hardcore JRPG fans. Persona 3 was a Japanese Role Playing Game released back in 2006 and this remake was highly requested by fans. It follows the same storyline as the original version but there are some changes to the mechanics and of course, graphics. It basically made Persona 3 a whole lot better and some of these improvements were based on Persona 5. These came along with some more content expansions too so the gameplay will not feel redundant.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
29th February 2024 | PS5
We have another popular Japanese Game and it’s none other than Final Fantasy itself. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the sequel to Remake which was released back in 2020. Similar to the other games, it has unique gameplay mechanics which is a combination of RPG, strategy, and real-time action. Since it is a sequel, it immediately follows up after Remake’s story where they are against Shinra and Sephiroth. Interestingly enough, Rebirth is going for an open-ended environment which is quite different to Remake’s more linear approach.
Ace Combat 7
Available Now | PS4, XBOX ONE, PC, NINTENDO SWITCH
I bet you didn’t know that Ace Combat 7 was actually made by a Japanese Company, or more specifically Bandai Namco themselves. It’s an air combat simulator with amazing visuals, dynamic dog fights, and aircraft that actually exist in real life. What makes it even better is the fact that you can use VR on PS4 while playing it. Get to know what it’s like to be in the cockpit of the most advanced and deadliest aircraft with Ace Combat 7!
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
2024 | PS5, PC, XBOX X|S
Metal Gear has been a series beloved by fans all over the world and the last one that was released was Metal Gear Survive back in 2018. However, in 2024, it’s making a comeback with the all-new Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. It features the iconic character, Naked Snake, and follows the original story of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. This is because this new game is just a remake but it doesn’t mean it’s going to be bad.
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
2024 | NINTENDO SWITCH
Of course, we can’t have a list of Japanese games without including a game about Mario. This is another remake where the original version was released back in 2004. It is as the title suggests as players try to go on an adventure as Mario in a world that has paper-like graphics. It’s leaning towards RPG elements and there’s even a combat system inside it. It’s a must-try too because it is regarded as the best game in its series.
Silent Hill 2
2024 | PS5, PC
Finally, as our last entry, is a game to shake things up. Silent Hill 2 is a horror game of the well-known Silent Hill series and is another remake. There haven’t been a lot of details released about this particular game. However, it’s safe to assume it follows the original 2004 storyline and improved on some aspects such as graphics and mechanics.
That ends the list of the best JAPANESE Games to play in 2024 but those are only a few of the many that will come out. Are you looking forward to the releases this year? What do you think will be the best?
