Jun 5, 2025
1. Mario Kart World
Nintendo Switch 2・Nintendo
Nintendo's newest Mario Kart launched on June 5, 2025, the same day as the Nintendo Switch 2, and became the reason many people bought the console.
Read the story ›Home › 10 Japanese games the world is playing right now (2024–2026)
Oct 25, 202610 Japanese games the world is playing right now (2024–2026)
10 Japanese games the world is playing right now (2024–2026)
From Mario Kart to Monster Hunter: 10 Japanese games selling around the world, read through the publishers' own numbers.
This feature leans on official sales announcements from publishers. Steam concurrent-player peaks and US chart data fill in the gaps, and anything that only exists as an estimate is labeled as one. Every figure carries a date.
The Nintendo Switch 2 launch and strong overseas demand for horror, fighting and hunting games made 2024–2026 a breakout period for Japanese games worldwide.
Mar 5, 2026
2. Pokémon Pokopia
Nintendo Switch 2・Nintendo / The Pokémon Company
Released on March 5, 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2, this is a slow-paced Pokémon game about building a life and a town together with Pokémon, not about battles.
Read the story ›
Feb 28, 2025
3. Monster Hunter Wilds
PlayStation 5 / Xbox Series X|S / PC (Steam)・Capcom
Released on February 28, 2025 worldwide, this is the newest entry in Capcom's flagship Monster Hunter series.
Read the story ›
Mar 22, 2024
4. Dragon's Dogma 2
PlayStation 5 / Xbox Series X|S / PC (Steam)・Capcom
Released on March 22, 2024, Capcom's action RPG is a sequel arriving 12 years after the first game from 2012.
Read the story ›
Sep 25, 2025
5. SILENT HILL f
PlayStation 5 / Xbox Series X|S / PC・Konami
Released on September 25, 2025, this new entry in Konami's Silent Hill horror series is the first set in Japan.
Read the story ›
Jan 26, 2024
6. Tekken 8
PlayStation 5 / Xbox Series X|S / PC (Steam)・Bandai Namco Entertainment
Released on January 26, 2024, this is the latest entry in Bandai Namco's 3D fighting series Tekken.
Read the story ›
Jun 26, 2025
7. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
PlayStation 5・Kojima Productions
Released on June 26, 2025, this is the sequel to Death Stranding from director Hideo Kojima's studio, Kojima Productions.
Read the story ›
Oct 11, 2024
8. Metaphor: ReFantazio
PlayStation 5 / PlayStation 4 / Xbox Series X|S / PC (Steam)・Atlus
Released on October 11, 2024, this is a new fantasy RPG from the Atlus team behind the Persona series.
Read the story ›
Jul 17, 2025
9. Donkey Kong Bananza
Nintendo Switch 2・Nintendo
Released on July 17, 2025 for Nintendo Switch 2, this is a 3D action game starring Donkey Kong.
Read the story ›
Feb 29, 2024
10. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
PlayStation 5 / PC・Square Enix
Released on February 29, 2024, this is the second part of a trilogy remaking the 1997 classic Final Fantasy VII.
Read the story ›