Top 25 of the best Japanese games on Android

Land of ascending thumb

Updated on April 9, 2020: Added new entries Has any country dedicated to the medium of video games on this planet than Japan? We do not believe that.

Think of the three huge console companies that came from the land of the rising sun: Nintendo, Sega and Sony. Or Mega Developer / Publisher such as Square Enix, Capcom and Konami.

Japan did not affect the same influence on the smartphone gaming scene. Google and Apple are based in the US, and most of the great trends for mobile games come from the West or China. But it still has a lot to offer.

• TOP 25 RPGS on Android

Whether you talk about ports of classic JRPGs, mobile updates for popular franchisees or bizarre originals, the Japanese spirit is alive and good in smartphone gaming.

Here are 25 excellent Android games from Japan.

1 Super Mario Run

Publisher: Nintendo available to: iOS + Android Genre: Platform Learn more about Super Mario Run

It took a while until we landed on Android, but when it comes to Mario, we were ready to wait. Nintendo has cracked this mobile gaming label at the first attempt with a superior autorunning platformer.

2 downwell

Developer: moppin available to: iOS + Android + Steam Genre: Action, Platform Learn more about Downwell

Downwell combines elements of a classic Japanese shmup with those of a classic Japanese platform player - and then shoots everything with a strong, dilute structure.

3 Final Fantasy IX

Publisher: Square Enix available to: iOS + Android + PSP Genre: Adventure, RPG Learn more about Final Fantasy IX

Which final fantasy games are best? It is usually a choice between VI and VII, but on the phone we would have to go with IX. It is not only the last big classically designed entry in the series, but also a brilliant reconstruction job.

4 Dragon Quest VIII

Publisher: Square Enix available to: iOS + Android + 3DS Genre: RPG Learn more about Dragon Quest VIII: Travel of the cursed king

Just like Final Fantasy Xi, Dragon Quest VIII takes a brilliant JRPG and optimizes it with consideration for mobile games.

5 Space Invaders Infinity Gene

Publisher: Taito available to: iOS + Android Genre: Retro, Sagittarius Learn more about Space Invaders Infinity Gene

This is not a lazy harbor of an established classic. Rather, Space Invaders Infinity Gene is a complete revision that was specially developed for mobile devices. It remains one of the best shooters on Android.

6 part time UFO

Publisher: Hal egg available to: iOS + Android Learn more about part time UFO

Hal Laboratory usually works hard to develop games for Nintendo consoles, but his first mobile game is an absolute triumph. Part Time UFO is a brilliant version of Arcade Grabber games with a series of inspired tasks and lots of charm.

7 The world ends with you: Solo Remix

Developer: Jupiter Corporation Publisher: Square Enix Available to: iOS Genre: Multiplayer, Roleplay Learn More about The World Ends With You: Solo Remix

Oddball DS JRPG The world ends with you: Solo Remix finds a comfortable second home on the phone. The game may be old, but its modern Shibuya setting and the touch-controlled mechanics of the left field ensure that it is still fresh like a daisy.

8 Castlevania: Symphony of the night

Available to: iOS + Android Genre: Action, Adventure, RPG Learn more about Castlevania: Symphony of the night

The game that the 'Vania' placed in Metroidvania (next to Super Metroid) and now be playable with Konami's friendly permit. This is one of the best, ambitious and simply meaty action platforms ever made.

9 Laytons mysterious journey

Publisher: Level 5 Available to: iOS + 3DS Learn more about Laytons Mystery Journey

This is the first Layton game, which was at least partially developed for mobile phones from the beginning, and it shows up. LayTons Mystery Journey offers a sophisticated series of touchscreen puzzles connected to the usual Layton flair and a brand new protagonist.

10 aka too blue

Available to: iOS Genre: Sagittarius Learn more about AKA to Blue

Aka to Blue is the next best to have a real Cave-shmup on your phone. It is a faithful cave shooter from a company headed by a former cave worker.

11 Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition

Publisher: Square ENIX available to: iOS Learn more about Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition

Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition offers complete FFXV history, but with a completely new Chibi graphics engine and a simplified game mechanics. The result is a uniquely tailor-made mobile role-playing game.

12 Chrono trigger

Developer: Square ENIX Publisher: Square ENIX Available to: iOS + Android + DS Genre: RPG Learn more about Chrono Trigger

In contrast to some of the already listed games Chrono Trigger is not a perfect port. The nuclear game, however, remains one of the best JRPGs of all time, with a breathtaking time-consuming action and real-time battles.

13 Shin Megami Tensei Liberation

Publisher: Sega available to: iOS + Android Genre: RPG Learn more about Shin Megami Tensei Liberation DX2

A finely assessed mobile offshoot from the popular Shin Megami series. They receive the same pulse for the demon collection and the presentation of anime presentation as the core series, but with a remarkable sense of immediacy.

14 Saga Scarlet Grace

Publisher: Square ENIX available to: PS Vita Genre: RPG Learn more about Saga Scarlet Grace

This twelfth entry in the extensive Saga series, which was developed jointly by Square Enix and Studio Reel, appears after the debut on PS Vita in 2016 for iOS. It is a complex JRPG with a narrow combat system and some unusual text-based exploration.

15 Sonic CD

Publisher: SEGA available to: iOS + Android + Windows Phone ... Genre: Platform, Retro Learn more about Sonic CD

Forget Sonic 4. This port of the well-best Sonic game of all time (though probably the least played) is all you need, with a super-fast platformer gameplay and the same ambitious time travel mechanics, which the original made so special.

16 Fire sign: heroes

Publisher: Nintendo available to: iOS + Android Genre: Strategy Learn more about Fire Emblem: Heroes

Considering the fact that Fire Emblem Heroes is a lap-based strategy game based on Nintendo's deepest franchise companies, it works remarkably well as a bite-friendly mobile experience.

17 Raiden Legacy

Publisher: Dotemu available to: iOS + Android Genre: Arcade Learn more about Raiden Legacy

Raiden Legacy packages in a huge stack of brilliant 2D shmups, and especially Raiden Fighters Jet is viewed by many lovers than one of the best examples of the genre.

18 Walker profile: Lenneth

Publisher: Square Enix available to: iOS + Android + PSP Genre: Action, RPG Learn more about Valkyrie Profiles: Lenneth

Valkyrie profiles is a porting one of the almost forgotten RPG jewels of Square Enix and a strange pleasure. It is quite unique when combining Side scrolling platforms with deep, combined fighting and a massive dose of Nordic mythology.

19 ACE Attorney - Dual Destinies

Publisher: CAPCOM Available to: iOS + 3DS Genre: Puzzle Learn more about Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies

ACE Attorney: Dual Destinies speaks of classic Capcom DS ports and brings the company's popular courtroom on Android. There are no objections here.

20 Disgaea 1 completed

Available to: iOS + Android Genre: RPG, Strategy Learn more about Disgaea 1 Complete

As one of the best strategy roleplaying of all time, we awarded a full 10/10-platinum award to the first DISGAEA game in one of its former pocket gaming forms. Now this complete (new) package for iOS comes and it is still reddish beautiful.

21 King of the fighters '98

Publisher: SNK PLAYMORE available to: iOS + Android Genre: Arcade, fight, retro Learn more about King of Fighters '98

SNK ACE Arcade Brawler is the largest hit package of the series for the title year and thus automatically one of the best beat-en-ups of the old school for mobile phones.

22 Game DEV Story

Developer: CairoSoft Publisher: CairoSoft Available to: iOS + Android Genre: Simulation Learn more about Game Dev Story

We could have choosed any of CairoSoft's innumerable casual-life simulation games to fill this place, but it seemed to be suitable for Game Dev Story. It's not just one of the best games of the Toky of Developer, but you can also manage a video game developer excellently.

23 Bullet Hell Monday

Publisher: Masayuki Ito available to: iOS Genre: Action, Arcade, Shooter Learn more about Bullet Hell Monday

The cheerful surplus of Bullet Hell Monday makes almost every other arcade shmup look a bit muffled. It is a kaleidoscopic rush of incoming projectiles.

24 Rocket dancer

Available to: iOS Genre: Arcade, Hardcore, Shooter Learn more about Missile Dancer

Missiledancer is based on classic vertical arcade shmups, but plays a bit different. Here you have to really come close to your enemies to use your automated defenses.

25 Dragalia lost

Publisher: Nintendo Available to: iOS + Android Learn more about Dragalia Lost

Dragalia Lost is Nintendo's first original mobile IP, which makes it a pretty big deal. It is not very original, but it is a particularly sophisticated example of the ARPG format with a rich fantasyy and satisfactory Swipey fighting.