Best Japanese games for Android phones and tablets
Land of the rising thumbs - best Japanese games for Android
Updated on October 7th, 2026.
To misquote Monty Python's Life of Brian: What have the Japanese ever done for us and our hobby of video games? The by-no-means-exhaustive response might include Nintendo, Sega, Sony, Square Enix, Taito, and Konami. And that's just some of the companies.
SNES, PlayStation, Mega Drive... look, you get the point. Japan's influence on the video games medium is as profound as any other country. Indeed, many of the specifics of gaming culture are tightly bound up with the Land of the Rising Sun.
We've rounded up some of our favourites in the following feature. Can't see your own pick in there? Let us know in the comments below.
Super Mario Run
It took a while to land on Android, but when it comes to Mario, we were willing to wait. Nintendo has cracked this mobile gaming lark on the first attempt with a supreme auto-running platformer. No matter where you come from, Mario has been one of the staple Japanese creations to really have a breakthrough in the market through its Nintendo release, ages and ages ago. Nowadays... we have Japanese games for Android such as Super Mario Run as top contenders, and if you're eager to learn more about it, take a look at our Super Mario Run review!
Downwell
Downwell splices together elements of a classic Japanese shmup with those of a classic Japanese platformer - and then shoots it all through with a hefty roguelike structure. You might expect to see titles such as this one in old-style arcade machines, but no, you get to experience it right at your own location, on your very own mobile device. And yes, it is a premium game, but the premium price is truly nothing compared to the amazing experience while playing it. As we've mentioned in our Downwell review, it's a brilliant roguelike that is only worthy of praise.
Final Fantasy IX
Which Final Fantasy game is best? It's usually a choice between VI and VII, but on mobile, we'd have to go with IX. Not only is it arguably the last great classically styled entry to the series, but it's also a brilliant conversion job.
Dragon Quest VIII
Dragon Quest VIII takes an already brilliant JRPG and judiciously tweaks it for mobile play. It's been a popular pick for a while for a number of reasons, and one of the leading ones is that this brilliant game has all the key elements to make it a timeless choice. Players can run through fields, exploring all the corners of the (slightly outdated) world, all while encompassing the role-playing flavours that are not often seen in recent releases. It's worth your time, and if you want to learn why, read our Dragon Quest VIII review!
Jujutsu Kaisen Phantom Parade
Phantom Parade is a turn-based gacha with a story that follows the original anime. You'll have well-made animated sequences as you progress through the story that look almost exactly like the original!
You'll have to level up various characters and create team synergies in order to progress. If you ever get stuck, use our Jujutsu Kaisen Phantom Parade tier list, which will narrow down your choice of characters.
Epic Seven
Epic Seven is an RPG that has kept a loyal player base through constantly rewarding players on a daily basis. You control and unlock a bunch of characters who are able to explore the world around you. Epic Seven has lots of cinematic scenes to set the story, as well as different attacks that various characters can do. It is often compared to Fate/Grand Order and Granblue Fantasy, but is centred around a side-scrolling map with lots of different fight encounters and turn-based battles.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
The game that put the 'vania' in Metroidvania (alongside Super Metroid) is now playable on iOS courtesy of Konami. This is one of the finest, most ambitious, and just plain meatiest action-platformers ever made. This brilliant Japanese mobile game can compete with more recent creations from every single point of view. Pixel graphics? Check. Engaging platformer action? Double-check. A story to tie everything together? Triple-check. The list goes on; you get the point.
Tsuki's Odyssey
Tsuki's Odyssey is a relaxing fantasy adventure for Android devices. It offers relief from all those action games and real eye candy. The artwork is exceptional and cute, but clear enough that you'll be able to decorate your interior in many ways, from simple stone furniture to the most modern and futuristic design, or even try to mix a few styles. Besides the decoration, you can fish and try to bond with different cutesy characters. If you love peace and tranquillity, don't skip this one.
Aka to Blue
Aka to Blue is the next best thing to having an actual Cave shmup on your phone. It's a faithfully Cave-esque bullet-hell shooter from a company headed up by a former Cave employee. The hardcore shooter approach is not often seen in Japanese games for Android, but Aka to Blue makes that possible in a unique way, one with spot-on controls and engaging interactions.
Streets of Rage 4
Streets of Rage 4 is a true descendant of the beloved franchise that will have you wander dangerous streets and fight thugs and bosses of a vile syndicate. Each character in Streets of Rage 4 has different combos and a slightly different playstyle. Some will prefer boxing, some will prefer kung fu, taekwondo, kickboxing...It's up to you to choose the one that suits you best.
Chrono Trigger
Unlike some of the Japanese games for Android we've already listed, Chrono Trigger isn't a perfect port. However, at its core, it remains one of the finest JRPGs of all time, with a stunning time-bending plot and real-time(ish) battles. Read our Chrono Trigger review if you haven't done so already. We have criticised all the aspects of the game, including why we don't see it as a perfect port. And while Chrono Trigger doesn't stand out as much as it did back in '95, more than a decade later, it's still a pretty solid choice - only adapted to different devices.
Football Manager 2024 Mobile
While Football Manager 2024 Mobile is made in the UK, it's published by Japanese titan Sega. And any chance to squeeze this comprehensive footy sim into a list is gratefully received. It features console-quality graphics, immersive gameplay, and smooth controls, with a management sim mechanic at its core. You'll devise pretty complicated tactics, adapt during the match and manage transfers, players, and a whole lot of things.
Shin Megami Tensei Liberation
You get the same demon-collection impetus and anime-inflected presentation as the core series, and we loved every part of the game. This includes the anime graphics, the music and audio elements, as well as the turn-based card battles in each round. Check out our Shin Megami Tensei Liberation Dx2 review to see what we've got to say about it. Short answer? Play it! It's worth it, especially if you love JRPGs.
Final Fantasy VIII
FFVIII Remastered presents a polished take on one of the more melodramatic entries to the series. The graphics and controls feel a lot better than you might expect, and that's exactly why FFVIII is on this list. Many players grew up with it, and it's got massive replay value.
SaGa Scarlet Grace
Co-developed by Square Enix and Studio Reel, this twelfth entry in the sprawling SaGa series comes to iOS after debuting on PS Vita in 2016. It's a lavish JRPG with a tight battle system and some unusual text-based exploration. SaGa Scarlet Grace has a fairly unique approach in terms of graphics, but the gameplay fits right in with the other JRPGs from the developer. It's not that well-known, but it still lands a spot on our best Japanese games for Android list.
Fire Emblem: Heroes
Considering Fire Emblem Heroes is a turn-based strategy game based on one of Nintendo's deepest franchises, it works remarkably well as a bite-sized mobile experience. In our Fire Emblem Heroes review, we've mentioned how it combines all the right elements that make a free-to-play RPG great, and if you're also a fan of the genre, it's worth a try. We have a FEH tier list too if you're unsure about your character choices!
Kartrider Rush+
This must be awkward for Nintendo. KartRider Rush+ from South Korean-Japanese publisher NEXON arguably plays a better, more fully-featured game of Mario Kart than Mario Kart Tour. At least, in our books, it clearly comes out on top. Similar to Mario Kart Tour, players have a number of collectables - karts, pets, racers, and so much more.
Raiden Legacy
Raiden Legacy bundles in a huge stack of brilliant 2D shmups, and Raiden Fighters Jet, in particular, is considered by many aficionados to be one of the finest examples of the genre. This premium shooter with retro shoot 'em-up elements is a fitting title for the list, alongside some JRPGs from back in the day. Read our Raiden Legacy review to learn why we consider it a must-buy, because it indeed is a must-buy.
Street Fighter: Duel
There's no 1 vs. 1 Japanese fighting game as popular as Street Fighter. It was released by Capcom years and years ago, and we have seen many different versions since then, most of which were excellent, in my opinion.
Street Fighter Duel steers a bit from the set path, as this is a gacha with team fights and multiple characters on the screen trying to bash each other's heads at once. Vega, Ryu, Gen and other fan-fave faces pop up too, so if you're confused about which characters to pick, our Street Fighter Duel tier list should come in handy.
Ni No Kuni: Cross Worlds
Studio Ghibli features prominently here for the most part, and you might know them as the producers of Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Tonari no Totoro and many other fantastically vivid animated films. They have joined forces with Netmarble and made this little jewel. If you do decide to give it a try, feel free to use some of our Ni No Kuni Cross Worlds codes as they will give you a proper head start!
Disgaea 1 Complete
This complete (re)package comes to both iOS and Android devices, and it's still ruddy lovely. Yes, yes, it's a little bit pricey - but is it really worth it? The truth is... yes and no. If you would do anything to play and unfold the story in Disgaea and Laharl, Etna and Flonne in their adventure, then go for it. Otherwise, there are other titles that play just as well and are completely free to play. It's all up to you!
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel
Another lovely title from Konami, Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel is a staple card game that has amassed millions of downloads. Players can choose from over 10,000 cards (yes, TEN THOUSAND cards - talk about a big collection) and put together a deck that can take on anyone and anything.
It's got a solo mode and, of course, a PvP mode, where players can compete with each other and learn more about the lore of YGO. We consider it to be a proper choice to close our list of Japanese games for Android!
