JP box art of Western games

[hazys]

Everyone knows that the original box art of Japanese games is usually superior to the Western counterpart. However, are there Western games that received better, or just more interesting, box art in Japan? I actually don't know too many examples, but I'm curious if anyone else does.

I think Gex is a pretty well-known example, since he looks completely different. I like this goofier Gex though, lol

The Japanese box art for Perfect Dark is also pretty well-known. It's far more stylish than the Western one.

Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy got an undeniably superior box art in Japan, courtesy of Shinkiro.

I find the JP cover for Ghost Recon fascinating, not because of the illustration's quality, but because they chose to depict the soldiers relaxing outside of battle, something that you'd never see in a Western release.

 

[Cu-Neo]

There's this PS2 game called Castleween the USA boxart look like this

"Nightmare fuel at his finest"
But the Japanese one is completely different

 

[Glimbo]

I actually have a thread about Western box art that's better than the original Japanese version.

Regional box art you like more than the original Japanese version

I always see discussions about the better Japanese boxes but not so much the other way around. I really like the European box art of Shinobi with it's ink look.

retrogametalk.com

Someone in that thread also posted the Japanese box art of Tomb Raider IV which I really liked.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24]

Many JP box arts are actually just very slight edits of the U.S. ones, usually with added text.

And then there is this:

 

[RustySK]

That Gex cover and its completely different character design reminded me of Pandemonium! / Magical Hoppers. (took me ages to remember the names)

 

[hazys]

I actually have a thread about Western box art that's better than the original Japanese version.

Regional box art you like more than the original Japanese version

I always see discussions about the better Japanese boxes but not so much the other way around. I really like the European box art of Shinobi with it's ink look.

retrogametalk.com

Someone in that thread also posted the Japanese box art of Tomb Raider IV which I really liked.

I'm sorry, I hadn't seen your thread. I wonder if they can be merged.

That Gex cover and its completely different character design reminded me of Pandemonium! / Magical Hoppers. (took me ages to remember the names)

Yess, I was thinking of this one but couldn't remember the title(s), either. I think the Japanese designs are more appealing, but the uncanny 3D renders of the Western release are probably more interesting/unique.

 

[Glimbo]

I'm sorry, I hadn't seen your thread. I wonder if they can be merged.

Nah it's fine, I think they're different enough. Yours is about Japanese box art of Western games and mine is the opposite. I just mentioned it because you were curious about it.

 

[pHoeniX_WRIght]

I actually have a thread about Western box art that's better than the original Japanese version.

Regional box art you like more than the original Japanese version

I always see discussions about the better Japanese boxes but not so much the other way around. I really like the European box art of Shinobi with it's ink look.

retrogametalk.com

Someone in that thread also posted the Japanese box art of Tomb Raider IV which I really liked.

damn these look much better

 

[BigTony]

I always found the European and Japanese versions of Gex to be kind of weird it seems like they tried to make him cuter and a little more family friendly in the japan.

 

[TotzOnGaming]

 

[Ikagura]

I like that concept.

 

[Barriel]

NFSU US

NFSU J

And the japanese version have extra liveries.

 

[Zachery2112]

Crash Bandicoot always has a softer more cartoony design in the Japanese covers.

 

[Ikagura]

View attachment 47495

Crash Bandicoot always has a softer more cartoony design in the Japanese covers.

It feels a bit like a bootleg lol.

 

[fake-kun]

View attachment 47495

Crash Bandicoot always has a softer more cartoony design in the Japanese covers.

Look at this silly goober.

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

Wait what the fuck why isn't this the international boxart

Post automatically merged: Mar 23, 2025

Ohhhh Limited Run, and apparently it does have that box art everywhere, my fault

 

[Saru's Paw]

the Japanese box art looks better for maximo:

Jp Box

US Box Art

Post automatically merged: Monday at 1:04 AM

The Japanese box art for the Metroid Prime games looks better as well.

 

[Gamma]

Katsuya Terada the Goat himself did the Super famicon cover for Prince of persia.

Also shout for Hidari doing a Civ cover.

 

[WaifuLoser]

Originally was not gonna post on this forum, but this topic peeked my interest, and the fact that no one has mentioned this one yet, easily the first example that comes to my mind.

Sudeki, essentially a JRPG that was not actually made by a Japanese studio, pretty sure this was an English studio that also made Silent Hill Shattered Memories later, the American cover art is atrocious.

Surprisingly imo, the Japanese version received an entirely different cover art, considering how poorly the first Xbox did in Japan. This cover art is so much better, and makes the original American cover art look like amateur hour.

 

[Midori Shimada VT]

Katsuya Terada the Goat himself did the Super famicon cover for Prince of persia.
View attachment 47572
Also shout for Hidari doing a Civ cover.
View attachment 47575

Didn't knew Civ Rev 2+ had a better anime box art used in the Physical versions (in Japan and Asian releases, since USA/EU version didn't get any Physical releases), since the Western one was the cartoony Lincoln from Civ Rev 1 in the app icon (and a mobile port).

 

[stealthRUSH]

Future Cop: LAPD, Loaded, Spawn: The Eternal, Jersey Devil, Rascal, Croc: Legend of the Gobbos.




You have Courier Crisis minimalist blue and red artwork. Tunnel B1 went through a few changes on all three regions. The Horde became cute. I prefer Grid Runner color scheme on the Japanese boxart although Solar Eclipse became worse off in my opinion. Quarantine had name changes as well. Jet Moto looks more like a comic book and Wild 9 like a manga or anime.

Post automatically merged: Monday at 8:04 PM

Baldies, ClockWerx, Johnny Bazookatone, Mr. Bones, Mass Destruction, Star Fighter



Then you have Shellshock minimalist black and red silhouettes. MechWarrior 2 with the stage present in the background. Total Eclipse Turbo alien on the cover. Creature Shock has an interesting render of a monster.

 

[snes9x]

I wanted to see what Japan did with the box art of Wild Woody but it doesn't look like it got a release there. Their loss.