Extremely Weird And Obscure Games

[Xdqwerty Xdqwerty]

 

[diet_orange]

I don’t have much to contribute here, but I can vouch for the Bonk’s Adventure port to the NES! It’s really good, and I even liked my time with it more than PC Genjin. Both I played via emulation. Made officially by Hudson, obviously.

Apparently it's quite valuable these days from what I've heard. Not to Little Samson levels, but close

I'll toss in a pair; Legend Of Kage and Demon Sword. Really like the jumping even though you can go crazy high as well as climb

 

[shadowcat]

I used to play these all the time on my family's NES as a kid.

 

[shadowcat]

NES to PS2 era preferred, but would be willing to try newer games if they pique my interest enough. Both traditional turn-based RPGs and strategy RPGS (a la Shining Force, Fire Emblem, etc) are welcome. Bonus points for any game with gripping, well written characters, as the character writing is usually my favorite thing about RPG games. Extra bonus points for an anime art style. I am always looking for a new RPG to play, and any recommendations are appreciated!

Some of my favorites (to give you an example of the things I've enjoyed)

• Shadow Hearts
• Growlanser
• Shining Force
• Grandia
• Langrisser
• Lunar
• Operation Darkness
• Dragon Quest (especially 4)
• Tales of Symphonia

Thank you in advance!

 

[Lee__Kanker]

Aah, you've already played shadow hearts, Great! But what about Koudelka?

 

[shadowcat]

Aah, you've already played shadow hearts, Great! But what about Koudelka?

Yes, I love Koudelka! It's actually my favorite PS1 game, any genre.

 

[Tonberry]

This game ROCKS

Someone on here recommended it to me earlier this year and it’s so fucking good.

 

[Bakuma1997]

Ganbare Goemon Gaiden 1 and 2, especially the second one, They are bogstandar but fun RPGs that capture the goofyness of the series, worth a pop if you can take their relic of the genre's era gameplay

If you want something far less usual, give Wizard of Oz: Beyond the yellow brick road a go, for a licensed game of a book, i've been as hooked to it as i've been to Chrono Trigger DS

 

[shadowcat]

This game ROCKS
View attachment 126820

Someone on here recommended it to me earlier this year and it’s so fucking good.

I looked at some screenshots of this one, it looks like something I would enjoy. It looks like it has a darker atmosphere to it from the look of it. I'll have to check the repo for this one soon, thank you.

 

[Tonberry]

It looks like it has a darker atmosphere to it from the look of it.

It definitely does, and it’s got that excellent PS2-era Atlus localization with a lot of crass dialogue and black humor which makes it super immersive and kind of nightmarish.

 

[shadowcat]

Ganbare Goemon Gaiden 1 and 2, especially the second one, They are bogstandar but fun RPGs that capture the goofyness of the series, worth a pop if you can take their relic of the genre's era gameplay

If you want something far less usual, give Wizard of Oz: Beyond the yellow brick road a go, for a licensed game of a book, i've been as hooked to it as i've been to Chrono Trigger DS

The Wizard of Oz one looks like fun from what I am seeing, it seems like an off-the-wall, far from the norm kind of game I would enjoy. I've heard of Goemon but never tried them. I don't mind older mechanics at all, I have a few more to check out now. Thank you

 

[Anoobis]

Thousand Arms
Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure
Earthbound, not obscure, but I didn't see it on your list

 

[shadowcat]

Thousand Arms
Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure
Earthbound, not obscure, but I didn't see it on your list

I know Earthbound. I played years ago and had fun with it. Rhapsody has been on my "want to play" list forever, just never gotten around to it, but I feel like I'd really like it since I am a huge magical girl anime/manga fan. As for Thousand Arms, that one is new to me. From looking at the screenshots, I love the art style, it has a very 90's manga look to it.

 

[Bonkers225]

MS Saga: A New Dawn
Radiata Stories
Legend of Legaia

 

[Stingy Perry Stingy Perry]

It’s an action rpg which is what we can call as a Diablo clone.

 

[moonbits]

Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss (English Patched) PSX ISO – CDRomance

Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss (English Patched) PSX ISO Game ID: SLPS-00742. Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For Sony PlayStation.

cdromance.org

 

[Bandini]

snes:
alcahest
the 7th saga
aretha I & II
hero chronicle
dark half
energy breaker
tengai makyou-far east of eden
mystic ark
xak
princess minerva
hourai high
lennus II
chaos seed
smt last bible

 

[Rocket2049]

• Tales of Symphonia

if you actually enjoyed symphonia and weren't annoyed by it, then you'd absolutely LOVE every single other tales games, especially any of them after, huge improvements on the game, combat, AI (ESPECIALLY AI, symphonia has one of the worst AI i've seen in a game period)
even SNES phantasia, and PS1 eternia are better games. Eternia is actually one of my favorite tales game.

anyways, there's a LOT of JRPGs i can name off, but i'll name some that were actually "Fun" for me:
Bahamut lagoon, it's a SRPG with dragons, they can change form and such depending how you feed them, they can do things like freeze water and break open paths, its pretty unique in some points.

Seiken Densetsu 3 (or as it's remake is called, Trails of Mana)
basically the game after secret of mana, it features 6 different main characters (you pick 3, the main choice is the one the story follows, there's 3 different final bosses based on that)
i believe it was 3 player co-op on SNES.
the Remake, while also very fun, is MUCH different of a game, easier, faster, and nothing like SNES mana games at all.

Post automatically merged: Nov 12, 2025

Summon night swordcraft story (there is 3 games on GBA)
basically a simple and fun RPG game, combat is like side scroller but you weapon switching and using your summon for magic.

 

[TheImmortalP]

I have a lot of love for obscure, under the radar 90s games. Looking for other people that also love these. If you do, have you gone through any of these? If so, please give your thoughts.

Xmas Lemmings '91(Good Puzzle game, Amiga)

Dark Seed (Good, atmospheric Geiger inspired Horror game, AmigaCD32)

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York DOS (Good Pure Fun side scrolling action game, DOS)

Dragon's Curse(Great, Improved version of Wonder Boy 3: The Dragon's Curse, PC Engine)

Astyanax NES (My 2nd Fave NES Game, Emotionally Compelling Story Focused Side Scrolling Action Game, NES)

Wurm: Journey To The Center Of The Earth NES(My Fave NES Game, Emotionally Compelling Story Focused Side Scrolling Action Game, NES)

Horror Zombies From the Crypt (Good 1990 shooter platformer game, Amiga)

THE NIGHT IS GREY (Great, atmospheric, Silent Hill-like 2d Animated Point and Click Adventure game)

Savage Reign (Good 1995 Arcade Fighter, Arcade)

Doomsday (God and Win SNES Zombies Ate My Neighbors Fangame)

Life on Earth: Reimagined (Great Contra inspired side scrolling Cyberpunk shooter, Genesis)

Neutopia (Great Zelda 1-like Action RPG, PC Engine)

Prehistorik (DOS)(Good, fun, bizarre, short AND satisfying Action-Platformer game, DOS)

Vice: Project Doom (Great Story Rich Side Scrolling Action game, NES)

Harley's Humongous Adventure (Bad, but entertaining Action Platformer, SNES)

Ganbare! Daiku no Gen-san aka Hammerin' Harry (Very Good SNES Action Platformer that's like Kirby Super Star if you kept the hammer)

Ganbare Goemon 2 aka The Legend of the Mystical Ninja 2(Great Pure Fun Action-RPG)

Back to the Future Part II Amiga (Bad 1990 Amiga Action Game, Amiga)

Super Cars II (Great Isometric Racer, Amiga)

It Came from the Desert 2: Antheads(One Of The Best, terrifying 1990 horror adventure game, Amiga)

Hugo's House of Horrors(Bad 1991 Graphic Adventure Game, DOS)

Violent Storm (Great 1993 Capcom Arcade Beat-Em Up, Game)

Rise of the Dragon (Great 1993 Cyberpunk First Person Adventure game, PC)

The Wheel Of Time(One of the most fun FPS's I've ever played, Amazing story rich medieval magic based FPS, PC)

Kingpin: Life of Crime Remastered (Great Pure Fun, Story-Rich, Hard 1999 FPS with RPG elements, PC)

Powerslave: Exhumed (Great 90's FPS)

PaRappa the Rapper (watched this fun, Story-Rich qte game, PS1)

Project: Horned Owl (Good anime themed Story-Rich 1996 Light Gun game, PS1)

Tenchu: Stealth Assassins (Great, So Bad It's Good Story-Rich, Isometric Stealth Action game, PS1)

Bomberman World (Bad, Barely Fun 1998 action game that isn't even ironically fun, PS1)

Time Crisis (Good 1997 Arcade Port of a Light Gun Shooter, PS1)

Soul of the Samurai (Great 1999 Story-Rich Samurai Action-Adventure with RPG elements, Played as Kotaro, PS1)

Wolverine: Adamantium Rage(Great Superhero action platformer where you kill who you fight, Genesis)

The Dame was Loaded (Great 1996 era Live Action 1940's Film Noire Detective Adventure game, PC)

Lost In Time (The worst story rich game I played in 2024, It's a 1993 first person live action point and click adventure game, PC)

Scooby-Doo!: Showdown in Ghost Town (Good Point and Click Adventure Game, The Learning Company, PC)

Atomic Robo-Kid Special (Good 1990 Shoot-Em-Up, PC Engine)

Vegas Stakes (1993, The Best Casino game, SNES)

Tom & Jerry in Mouse Attacks! (Good Platformer Game, GBC)

Wally Bear and the NO! Gang(Best "Bad" game on the NES, Anti-drug PSA Action Platformer, NES)

Last Alert(Amazing Semi Story-Rich Isometric Rambo-like Action Shooter, PC Engine CD)

Disney's Magical Quest 3 Starring Mickey And Donald (Mega-Man inspired platformer, SNES)

Final Fantasy 4 Namingway Edition(The Best SNES FF Fangame)

Action Doom (Great original game made on the Doom engine, 90's fps, PC)

Armored Warfare (1992) (VERY Good Mecha beat-Em-Up, Arcade)

1941: Counter Attack (1990) (Great WW2 top down shoot-em up, Arcade)

Zero Team (93)(Good, Fun Beat Em Up Action game, Arcade)

Aliens 3 (BAD, ONE OF THE WORST GAMES I'll probably play all year, Light Gun Shooter, Arcade)

Thunder Fox (1990) (Good side scrolling action game, Arcade)

The Crystal Key (1999) (Good Myst-like Point And Click Adventure Game)

Metamorphic Force (Great 1993 Beat Em Up, Arcade)

 

[Tortuga]

Evil Islands, I know this game is obscure because nobody played it except me
Very good RPG with with stealth and item and magic crafting that actually good, not to mention tons of other interesting mechanics

Other good obscure rpgs i can recommend is
Prince of Qin and Sudeki

 

[qw90700]

Since I can't know what popular games you don't even know I wrote "the games I like that are not mentioned much" by excluding most popular ones and the ones already written by others:

[MSX]

Illusion City (English) - CDRomance

Illusion City (English) Languages: English Patched For the MSX.

cdromance.org

SD Snatcher (English Patched) MSX - CDRomance

SD Snatcher (English Patched) MSX Languages: English Patched For the MSX.

cdromance.org

Super Cooks (Not on the repo)

[NES]

Metal Max (English Patched) NES ROM – CDRomance

Metal Max (English Patched) NES ROM Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For the NES.

cdromance.org

God Slayer: Haruka Tenkuu no Sonata (English Patched) NES ROM – CDRomance

God Slayer: Haruka Tenkuu no Sonata (English Patched) NES ROM Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For the NES.

retrogametalk.com

God Slayer: Haruka Tenkuu no Sonata (English Patched) NES ROM – CDRomance

God Slayer: Haruka Tenkuu no Sonata (English Patched) NES ROM Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For the NES.

cdromance.org

Lagrange Point (English Patched) NES ROM – CDRomance

Lagrange Point (English Patched) NES ROM Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For the NES.

cdromance.org

Magician (USA) NES – CDRomance

Magician (USA) NES Languages: English. For the NES.

cdromance.org

STED: Iseki Wakusei no Yabou (English Patched) NES ROM – CDRomance

STED: Iseki Wakusei no Yabou (English Patched) NES ROM Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For the NES.

cdromance.org

[SNES]

Metal Max Returns (English Patched) SNES ROM – CDRomance

Metal Max Returns (English Patched) SNES ROM Languages: English Patched, Japanese, Spanish Patched. For the Super NES.

cdromance.org

Shadowrun (USA) SNES ROM – CDRomance

Shadowrun (USA) SNES ROM Languages: English. For the Super NES.

cdromance.org

G.O.D: Mezame yo to Yobu Koe ga Kikoe (English Patched) SNES ROM – CDRomance

G.O.D: Mezame yo to Yobu Koe ga Kikoe (English Patched) SNES ROM Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For the Super NES.

cdromance.org

Cyber Knight (J+English Patched) SNES ROM – CDRomance

Cyber Knight (J+English Patched) SNES ROM Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For the Super NES.

cdromance.org

Cyber Knight II: Ambitions of the Terran Empire (J+English Patched) SNES ROM – CDRomance

Cyber Knight II: Ambitions of the Terran Empire (J+English Patched) SNES ROM Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For the Super NES.

cdromance.org

Illusion of Gaia (Retranslated) SNES ROM – CDRomance

Illusion of Gaia (Retranslated) SNES ROM Languages: English Patched. For the Super NES.

cdromance.org

Ganpuru: Gunman's Proof (English, Spanish Patched) SNES ROM – CDRomance

Ganpuru: Gunman's Proof (English, Spanish Patched) SNES ROM Languages: English Patched, Japanese, Spanish Patched. For the Super NES.

cdromance.org

Super Robot Wars Gaiden: The Elemental Lords (J+English Patched) SNES ROM – CDRomance

Super Robot Wars Gaiden: The Elemental Lords (J+English Patched) SNES ROM Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For the Super NES.

cdromance.org

[Sega Genesis]

Rings of Power (USA, Europe) SEGA Genesis ROM – CDRomance

Rings of Power (USA, Europe) SEGA Genesis ROM. A RPG game released on 1991 by Electronic Arts, Naughty Dog

cdromance.org

Crusader of Centy / Soleil (World + Russian Patched) Sega Genesis ROM – CDRomance

Crusader of Centy / Soleil (World + Russian Patched) Sega Genesis ROM. A Action RPG game released on 1994 by Atlus, Nextech

cdromance.org

Rent A Hero (English Patched) SEGA Genesis ROM – CDRomance

Rent A Hero (English Patched) SEGA Genesis ROM. A Action RPG game released on 1991 by SEGA

cdromance.org

Beyond Oasis / The Story of Thor (World) Sega Genesis ROM – CDRomance

Beyond Oasis / The Story of Thor (World) Sega Genesis ROM. A Action RPG game released on 1994 by Ancient, SEGA

cdromance.org

[PS1]

Racing Lagoon (English Patched) PSX ISO – CDRomance

Racing Lagoon (English Patched) PSX ISO Game ID: SLPS-02038. Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For Sony PlayStation.

cdromance.org

Breath of Fire IV: Uncensored + Dengeki Store Restoration (Hack) PSX ISO – CDRomance

Breath of Fire IV: Uncensored + Dengeki Store Restoration (Hack) PSX ISO Game ID: SLUS-01324. Languages: English. For Sony PlayStation.

cdromance.org

[PS2]

S.L.A.I.: Steel Lancer Arena International (USA) PS2 – CDRomance

S.L.A.I.: Steel Lancer Arena International (USA) PS2 Game ID: SLUS-20969. Languages: English. For Sony PlayStation 2.

cdromance.org

Rogue Galaxy [DVD5] (UNDUB) PS2 ISO – CDRomance

Rogue Galaxy is an action role-playing video game developed by Level-5 and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2.

cdromance.org

Metal Saga (USA) PS2 ISO – CDRomance

Metal Saga (USA) PS2 ISO Game ID: SLUS-21293. Languages: English. For Sony PlayStation 2.

cdromance.org

Steambot Chronicles (USA+UNDUB) PS2 ISO – CDRomance

Steambot Chronicles (USA+UNDUB) PS2 ISO Game ID: SLUS-21344. Languages: English, Undub. For Sony PlayStation 2.

cdromance.org

[NDS]

Metal Max 3 (J+English Patched) DS ROM – CDRomance

Metal Max 3 (J+English Patched) DS ROM Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For the NDS.

cdromance.org

Black Sigil: Reasonable Encounter Rate + x2 EXP (USA) DS ROM – CDRomance

Black Sigil: Reasonable Encounter Rate + x2 EXP (USA) DS ROM Languages: English. For the NDS.

cdromance.org

Sands of Destruction (UNDUB) DS ROM – CDRomance

Sands of Destruction (UNDUB) DS ROM Languages: English, Undub. For the NDS.

cdromance.org

Ni no Kuni: Shikkoku no Madoushi (English Patched) DS ROM – CDRomance

Ni no Kuni: Shikkoku no Madoushi (English Patched) DS ROM Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For the NDS.

cdromance.org

SaGa 2 Hihou Densetsu (English Patched) DS ROM – CDRomance

SaGa 2 Hihou Densetsu (English Patched) DS ROM Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For the NDS.

cdromance.org

Blood of Bahamut (English Patched) DS ROM – CDRomance

Blood of Bahamut (English Patched) DS ROM Languages: English Patched, Japanese. For the NDS.

cdromance.org

[PSP]

7th Dragon 2020 (English Patched) PSP ISO – CDRomance

7th Dragon 2020 (English Patched) PSP ISO Game ID: NPJH-50459. Languages: English Patched. For Sony PlayStation Portable.

cdromance.org

7th Dragon 2020-II (English Patched) PSP ISO – CDRomance

7th Dragon 2020-II (English Patched) PSP ISO Game ID: NPJH-50716. Languages: English Patched. For Sony PlayStation Portable.

cdromance.org

[3DS]

(Not on repo so their NDS versions are put when I prefer their 3DS versions)

Radiant Historia (USA + Spanish Patched) DS ROM – CDRomance

Radiant Historia (USA + Spanish Patched) DS ROM Languages: English, Spanish Patched. For the NDS.

cdromance.org

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor (USA + Spanish Patched) DS ROM – CDRomance

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor (USA + Spanish Patched) DS ROM Languages: English, Spanish Patched. For the NDS.

cdromance.org

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 (USA + Spanish Patched) DS ROM – CDRomance

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 (USA + Spanish Patched) DS ROM Languages: English, Spanish Patched. For the NDS.

cdromance.org

7th Dragon III: Code: VFD (not on repo)

[PS Vita]

Freedom Wars (USA) VITA – CDRomance

Vita3k Compatibility: Playable!

cdromance.org

Chaos Rings III (English Patched) VITA – CDRomance

Vita3k Compatibility: Playable. Translation Project by starteranimex2k9 Source: GBATemp

cdromance.org

Ragnarok Odyssey Ace (USA) VITA – CDRomance

Vita3k Compatibility: It starts but the graphic glitches make it unplayable (PC).

cdromance.org

Ar nosurge Plus Ode to an Unborn Star (USA) VITA – CDRomance

Vita3k Compatibility (PC): Playable. Had a weird issue happen with OpenGL made a very small window within Vita3k but Vulkan worked fine, had no issues with Vulkan. No way of testing this on actual Vita hardware sorry. If anyone wants to test this feel free to and let me know and will update...

cdromance.org

Valhalla Knights 3 (not on repo)

Lost Dimension (not on repo)

[PC]

- Arx Fatalis

- The Bard's Tale

- Anachronox

- Jade Empire

- Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption

- Star Ocean 4

- Tokyo Xanadu eX+

- Way of the Samurai 4

 

[DanCalibur]

I don't know if they are obscure or anything but here goes:

Robotrek (SNES): Lesser known Enix RPG by Quintet. It's about time travel, it's not Chrono Trigger but the simplicity is nice.
Crystalis (NES): Action RPG by SNK, a la Secret of Mana. Looks beautiful and plays nicely for an 8bit game.
Warlocked (GBC): RTS on the gameboy? Should be bad but it's awesome.

 

[deceptionfalls]

a shame nobody mentioned the Arc the Lad trilogy, such a great series, its a nice blend of tactical with turn-based RPGs that takes a little from both, great worldbuilding -- that reminds of me Hunter X Hunter sometimes -- and overall very fun games

 

[Lee__Kanker]

I had no idea home alone had a good game hah

Out of all of these I played parappa, metamorphic force, atomic robo kid (the arcadd game), Gen-san/hammerin harry, Project Doom/Gun Dec and Time Crisis 1

I'm gonna add Koudelka; amazing horror-rpg hybrid set in a haunted monastery where gypsy witch, an adventurer and a priest find themselves in a haunted monastery for different reasons. A bit too easy but features gorgeous atmosphere and some of the most graphic things you'll see on the ps1, like face melting and an old lady being shot in the mouth

Jigoku Gokurakumaro, a great action platformers for the famicom by Human. Everything that studio made was interesting and they were so versatile, this one controls great, is challenging and a cool setting where you're inside a computer world that looks like a demonic factory

Gekibo: gekisha boy, I guess you could call it a rail shooter;
It's a game for the pc engine where you're a photographer and you go around taking pictures of ufos, perverted men in lipstick that flash you, chun li cosplayers, indians killing people by carving their face off, and Michael Jackson.
It has a sequel on the ps2 that can be played in english called "polaroid pete" (its a beta of the eng translation, since it never came out in the west)

Incredible Crisis on the ps1; a mini game compilation kinda like Wario Ware, the american advertising warns you that if you dont have fun playing it one of the programmers is gonna fucking kill himself

 

[AceWhatever]

Violent Storm (Great 1993 Capcom Arcade Beat-Em Up, Game)

Armored Warfare (1992) (VERY Good Mecha beat-Em-Up, Arcade)

Violent Storm is Konami, not Capcom.

Never heard of Armored Warfare. A search only brings up a modern tank MMO. Is this a different game from 1994's Armored Warriors by Capcom?