Nintendo's best games that have never released in North America

Summary

• Nintendo has the history of gaming exclusively in Japan and leaves some iconic titles such as Kuru Kurus, unreleased in North America.

• Some highly anticipated games, such as Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Adventure Team, have remained Japanese-exclusive despite progress in the game.

• Classic games Nintendo as Super Mario Bros.: Lost levels and Mysterious Murasame Castle were not released in the west.

Nintendo He was one of the largest conglomerates of video games since the mid -80s when they innovated home console technology with Famicom, published outside Japan as Nintendo Entertainment. As the years have continued, they were one of the leading giants throughout the video game industry, as evidenced by the recent edition of the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2.

Due to the origin of Nintendo in Japan, however, there are many titles, especially in the history of society that have never been published in North America. Some games were sufficiently located for European markets, while others remained lost in history. These are the best Nintendo games that missed North America, although several selected of them have since debuted in the virtual console.

Kuru

Strange franchise puzzle from Nintendo

Kuru He was released at Game Boy Advance exclusively in Japan in 2001 and was a pretty eclectic title of the first party, which unfortunately never caught overseas overseas. In the game, players control a helicopter helicopter known as Helirin and have to move through a series of mazes at each level without touching the walls that make Helirin grow at every level of difficulty.

It was a simple and easily nice game for fans of puzzles, enough to get a continuation of Game Boy Advance and also Threequel on Gamecube, which never got into the states. The only western confirmation KuruBut he was in Super Smash Bros. BrawlWhere Helirin seems to be an assistance trophy, which, when summoned, acts as a new platform on stage.

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Adventure Team

3D debut Mystery Dungeon is buried with Wii

Of all Pokemon franchises spin-off, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon He is perhaps the one who has his own life. After debuting about Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS at the same time in 2005 continued franchise Roguelike well until the end of 2000, when the trio containing Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Adventure Team Published as exclusive WiiWar in 2009.

The Adventure Team Trio was a big step forward in the franchise of Roguelike and for the first time fully passed a series to 3D graphics (with models like similar Pokemon rumble and My Pokemon Farm). Unfortunately, because they were never made available in North America and because WiiWare was terminated as a service, Pokemon Fans can only play this title by unofficial means.

Animal forest

Animal Crossing is a modest but known beginnings

Most fans Animal crossing were presented in the series with its expected first installment, Animal crossingfor Gamecube. However, not many people know that it was not the original version of the Simulatory series early-to-oo-octa from Nintendo. In fact, it started like Dōbutsu no mori Nintendo 64, which was released earlier in the same year as his counterpart Gamecube.

Although both versions of the game are identical, Dōbutsu no moriaka Animal forestStopped edition in the west until the Gamecube version was caused by its own Nintendo reserves with a game, such as this translation for the western audience, given how dialog-tending is. At a time Animal crossing: New Horizons He was released at Switch in 2020, Nintendo did not hesitate to succeed.

Captain Rainbow

Superhero for the dark icons of Nintendo

Captain Rainbow It has a very special place in Nintendo history. The Japan-Exclusive Wii game combines an uncomfortable life simulation Animal crossing With a high octane event, when players exchange between the ordinary nickname and his superhero alter ego, Captain Rainbow, whose interactions are with lesser -known characters from Nintendo, including the devil from Devilish worldLips from Panel de Ponand birdo from Mario.

Although the game has received good reviews, although some criticized its “vulgar” humor, Captain Rainbow I have never seen a western edition and it was probably for the best. A game whose whole identity is concentrated around incredibly unclear, often for most American audiences, classic Nintendo titles would probably be too strange. It is a kind of dark game that is fun but works well in Japan.

Sim City 64

If only America got Nintendo 64DD

The Nintendo 64DD was a supplement to Nintendo 64, which never saw a release outside Japan, but allowed some technically advanced games to be released on the consoles. One of the most memorable editions for 64DD was Sim City 64Introduction franchise in the city to 3D graphics, which also introduced many changes in quality of life in the series.

These changes in the quality of life included the ability to view the city at night, differentiation between people and vehicles and the ability to import your own graphics from another 64DD edition, Mario Artist: Paint Studio. Maybe it's not so surprising that Sim City 64 took the rear seat in Nintendo, since its developer, Hal Laboratory, developed next year Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Fire Emblem: The Genealogy of the Holy War

A franchise jewel that deserves more love

Even if Super Smash Bros. The franchise made Marth the most famous character from Fire Franchise, it is surprising that the character rarely appeared in the western editions of the Strategy RPG series. While the first Fire The game recorded edition in 2020 via Nintendo Switch Online, Fire Emblem: The Genealogy of the Holy War For Super Famicom never came out in the west.

Especially in comparison with the newer Fire Post- GamesAwakening, The genealogy of the Holy War He goes through his simplicity, while at that time he still feels like a fresh view of the strategic genre of RPG. Even includes tested hub bases that would not return to the series Fire emblem Fates for 3DS. If someone else Fire The game deserves Emblem of the echo Treatment, it's this classic.

Freshly selected pink Rupeland tingle

Wannabe Fairy by Termin got his own spin-off

Tingle is weird. Nintendo 64 support figure Major's mask has become somewhat iconic Zelda the universe, reappearing Wind waker and drawing divisive reactions from fans. Current Status Tingle in Zelda He is quite sleeping, but for a short while in mid-2000 he was popular enough to have his own spin-off game.

Freshly selected pink Rupeland tingle (Quite mouth, this name) was the Japanese game DS, where players controlling armor must slowly build the tower by spending the rupees that are obtained from adventure in dungeons and exchanges with civilians for the objects that players found. It's a fresh and interesting rotation on the classic Zelda The formula, although Nintendo wisely decided to save states from more armor.

Super Mario Bros.: Lost levels

What if the original game was not evil?

For the western audience, Super Mario Bros 2 was an eclectic adaptation of the Japanese side comparison Doci panic. Japan, however Super Mario Bros.: Lost levels. Not only does this sequel use the same engine as the original Super Mario Bros.But it is also a much harder way that scared the executing in Nintendo.

Between Level' The ways of frustrating players included poisonous mushrooms, curriculum zones that send players back to players, not forward, and other hairs that make the game even more impossible. However, it influenced the future Mario The performance of Luigi, who has a joke of longer jumps than Mario, who remained constant in future games in the series.

Mysterious Murasame Castle

America deserved to grow up with this soundtrack

This title Famicom debuted in the same year as iconic franchise as Metroid, Legend Zeldaand KID ICARUSBut for whatever reason, he never received the Western edition for NES. Players dominate Takamaru, a beginning samurai, who strives for four towers in an effort for powerful gems and defeats the evil entity. The game is not different to the original ZeldaWith perspective from top to bottom and different types of weapons.

The game has never made their debut outside Japan until it was available on the 3DS virtual console in 2014 and has since appeared on the Nintendo Switch online service. It is worth trying for those who love classic Nintendo games on NES, and Takamaru even appeared as an assistance trophy in Super Smash Bros. For Wii U & 3DSWith some hoping that one day he can even be a playable warrior.

Mother 3

The one that has escaped for many Nintendo fans

Country He was not a commercial success, but became one of the most influential JRPG in the history of video games and gained cult follow -up. Unfortunately, the devoted fanbase of this franchise was unable to move the needle to Nintendo Porting The Game Boy Advance sequel, Mother 3west. Even his protagonist, Lucas, was Break He was able to increase his popularity for Nintendo.

Obviously, the biggest obstacle of transmission Mother 3 There is a lack of official English translation, although it remains quite mocking so that it is currently available on Nintendo Switch online only for Japan and not in America. Perhaps one day Nintendo decides to let the new generation of fans fall in love with Mother Franchise, but until now fans will only have emulators to experience this eclectic RPG.