What are top 10 Japanese video games? Japan is clearly the country that holds everything wondrous- and weird. From creepy urban legends to absurd foods and cuisines, the game programmers and developers were blessed with an unending source of inspiration.
However, some of these developers took the idea of a unique plot and captivating gameplay a bit way too far. Thus, they produced a number of what you can call, unnatural games, which really defy logic in any sense or form. After going around the World Wide Web and digging around in its every nook and cranny, I came up with this list for the games with the craziest, most unbelievable plots and gameplays.
Let’s get started, shall we? These are 10 craziest Japanese video games ever.
10- Hatoful Boyfriend
Have you ever walked down the street and saw the most beautiful pigeon ever, and just wondered what it would feel like to date it? Do you often fantasise about romantic dinners with mesmerising Rock Doves?
If your answer is yes, then this is the game for you. Developed by PigeoNation Inc., Hatoful Boyfriend is a game basically about dating pigeons and different birds. You play as a high school girl, who is a hunter/gatherer and lives in a cave in the wilderness.
The game takes place in St. PigeoNation’s Institute, a high school where all the students are, well, birds. You can choose one from amongst 8 different bird-men, including a creepy partridge playing the role of the school nurse and very much resembles an undead pedophile.
And if that isn’t already making every one of us uncomfortable, the game has to include some puns like using ‘everybirdie’ instead of ‘everybody’. Really, thank you, Japan, for making me more confident in my pun skills.
9- Creature To Koi Shiyo! (Let’s Love Creatures!)
Creature to Koi Shiyo! (Let’s Be in Love With Creatures!) is an excellent example that love can come in any shape, form or species. In this game by Triplethreat, you play as Ichitarou, the protagonist of the game, whose parents are abroad for work, leaving him alone with his sister. A pretty decent set for a romance to spark, huh? That’s where the role of the beautiful childhood friend Kokoro comes in.
Creature To Koi Shiyo! takes the concept of dating sims to a whole new level by allowing players to romance various mythical creatures, including mermaids, harpies, and even aliens. With its unconventional premise and tongue-in-cheek humor, this game offers a hilarious and often absurd take on the dating sim genre.
8- Doki Doki Majo Shinpan! (Super Naughty Witch Judgement)
In Doki Doki Majo Shinpan!, players take on the role of a young boy tasked with identifying witches by touching various parts of their bodies. While the premise may sound questionable, the game’s over-the-top humor and absurd situations make it a memorable – if slightly controversial – experience.
7- Seaman
Reading the title of the game for the first time, it makes you think it’s a game about sea adventures or even the tale of a fisherman searching for his lost water bottle. Yet, Japan will never make anything easy for us. This game, developed by Vivarium and Jellyvision, is a lot closer to My Talking Angela than you think.
Seaman is a virtual pet game unlike any other, where players raise and interact with a bizarre creature known as Seaman – a human-faced fish with a penchant for philosophical discussions. Through voice recognition technology, players can converse with Seaman and watch as it evolves and grows over time. With its surreal atmosphere and unconventional gameplay mechanics, Seaman remains one of the most unique titles on the Sega Dreamcast.
6- Catherine
Catherine blends puzzle-platforming gameplay with a mature storyline exploring themes of love, infidelity, and existential dread. Players control Vincent, a hapless man caught in a love triangle between his longtime girlfriend and a seductive succubus named Catherine. With its provocative subject matter and challenging puzzles, Catherine offers a thought-provoking and unconventional gaming experience.
5- Kato and Ken
Best Attack Power Ever – Kato & Ken, or J.J. & Jeff, is a game by Hudson Co. for the TurboGrafx-16 and the Virtual Console. It is somewhat a platform game, where you choose a character to play with at the beginning of the game, being either Kato or Ken. They are both detectives, going on a mighty adventure to save a businessman from god-knows-what.
The concept in itself is pretty simple. You go through platforms, jump, avoid enemies and falling to your death, pretty similar to Super Mario Bros. However, it seems that the man who made this game planned it out while having a dose of inspiration in the bathroom.
You see, the enemies you face are no other than birds flying above you and pooping on your head, animals occasionally throwing their crap at you and men in hiding throwing soda cans at you. Your special attack is farting.
4- Mister Mosquito
Another game with the main character being an insect. A perverted insect at that. This game, by ZOOM Inc., is your guide to understanding the hardships of a mosquito’s life.
Your goal in this game, is to suck blood from the members of the Yamada family. Aside from the fact that Yamada is probably the most mainstream Japanese ever, this game has nothing mainstream about it. You go through different stages, finishing one after the other and attacking the family members one by one.
3- RapeLay
RapeLay is a game developed by Illusion, which takes a whole different turn in the world of strange plots. This game is about, just like the name implies.
RapeLay is a controversial game that gained notoriety for its explicit content and disturbing subject matter. In the game, players assume the role of a stalker who sexually assaults women and their family members. Due to its graphic nature and depiction of violence against women, RapeLay has been widely condemned and banned in several countries.
2- Gakuen Handsome
We’ve seen a game about sheep, insects, pigeons and witches till now. This game totally beats ‘em all. It’s a game solely dedicated to sharp chins.
Gakuen Handsome is a BL visual novel by Team YokkyuFuman. This game is basically a parody making fun of BL (Boys’ Love) games in general. The game starts with an unnamed character- you get to choose the name- that goes to an all-boys high school after a seven-year absence from the country.
There, he meets a jolly group of people including a ignorant professor, a student council president who is too adamant on his grades that he tries to die by suicide when falling in second place in them and a selfish yandere who stabs people with his chin.
This game is obviously horrible on purpose. But really guys it’s another one of the most unbelievable Japanese video games.
1- Sweet Pool
Sweet Pool is another BL visual novel, this time by Nitro+CHiRAL. By far, this game has the weirdest, craziest plot in any game I have ever played. Ever! One of the most unbelievable Japanese video games.
Sweet Pool is a visual novel that delves into themes of body horror, psychological trauma, and forbidden desire. Set in a high school plagued by a mysterious illness, the game follows the protagonist as he uncovers dark secrets and confronts his own inner demons. With its unsettling atmosphere and unconventional storytelling, Sweet Pool offers a deeply immersive and emotionally resonant experience that pushes the boundaries of what a video game can be.
In conclusion, the world of Japanese video games is as diverse and unpredictable as ever. With developers constantly pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation. From the whimsical to the downright bizarre, these 10 games stand out as some of the craziest and most unconventional titles to ever come out of Japan. Love them or loathe them! There’s no denying the impact these games have had on the gaming landscape, cementing Japan’s reputation as a hotbed of weird and wonderful game design.