JP RETRO GAMES｜Japanese Famicom & Retro Games

🇯🇵 JP RETRO GAMES

Japanese Famicom & Retro Games from Japan

Welcome to JP RETRO GAMES — sharing Japanese Famicom games, real hardware tests, gameplay, guides and Japanese retro gaming culture with retro gamers around the world.

🎮 Watch our videos & follow JP RETRO GAMES

📖 Web
JP RETRO GAMES Web

🎬 TikTok
JP RETRO GAMES on TikTok

📸 Instagram
JP RETRO GAMES on Instagram

🛒 Mercari
JP RETRO GAMES on Mercari

🇯🇵 Real Hardware. Real Games. Real Results.

🇯🇵 How to Start Playing Japanese Famicom Games

Have you ever seen Japanese Famicom games and wondered:

“How can I actually play them?”

The Japanese Famicom is one of the most iconic retro game systems from Japan.

And you don’t need a huge collection to get started.

In this guide, I’ll show you the basic equipment you may need to enjoy Japanese Famicom games on a modern TV.

I will also show you my own Famicom collection , so you can see the real hardware and games I use for JP RETRO GAMES.

🎮 My Japanese Famicom Collection

This is part of my personal Japanese Famicom collection.

I collect Japanese Famicom games because I love the games, the cartridges, the artwork and the unique gaming culture of Japan.

Some games are famous internationally.

Others are much more obscure.

That’s one of the things I love about Japanese retro gaming.

Every cartridge has a story. 🇯🇵

🕹️ What Do You Need to Play Japanese Famicom Games?

There are several ways to build a setup.

The equipment you need depends on your TV and the type of console you choose.

The basic setup can be:

Famicom → TV

or

Famicom → AV to HDMI Converter → TV

You may also choose a compatible FC console with modern video outputs.

① 🇯🇵 Original Japanese Famicom

The original Japanese Family Computer is the authentic way to experience Japanese Famicom games.

You get the original hardware, original controller design and the classic Japanese Famicom experience.

However, there is one important point:

Many original Famicom consoles were designed for older Japanese TV connections.

Modern TVs may not have the same inputs.

So you may need additional equipment depending on your TV.

② 🔌 AV-Modified Famicom

Another option is an AV-modified Famicom .

My own Famicom has been modified for AV output.

This allows me to connect the Famicom to a TV using AV cables.

My setup:

Famicom → AV → TV

I actually tested this setup with a Japanese Famicom game.

And it worked.

🎮 Real Hardware. Real Game. Real Result.

③ 📺 AV → HDMI Converter

If your modern TV doesn’t have the appropriate AV input, an AV-to-HDMI converter can be useful.

My setup looks like this:

Famicom → AV → HDMI Converter → HDMI → TV

This is the setup I tested in my previous article.

It allows an AV-output Famicom to connect to a modern TV through HDMI.

👉 Recommended equipment:
HDMI変換器販売店

④ 🎮 Compatible FC Console

Another option is a modern compatible FC console.

These systems can be convenient because some models offer HDMI or AV output .

However, there is an important warning.

⚠️ Compatibility is not always guaranteed.

I tested the same Japanese Famicom game on:

🇯🇵 AV-modified Famicom
→ Japanese text displayed correctly

⚠️ Compatible Console
→ Japanese text became garbled

The same game.

The same scene.

Different hardware.

Different result.

That’s why I recommend checking compatibility before buying a compatible console.

🔌 What Other Accessories Might You Need?

Depending on your setup, you may also need:

HDMI Cable

For connecting an AV-to-HDMI converter or HDMI-compatible console to a modern TV.

👉 [楽天アフィリエイト：HDMIケーブル]

🎮 Extra Controller

Useful if you want to play multiplayer games or keep a spare controller.

👉 [楽天アフィリエイト：FC互換コントローラー]

🧼 Cartridge Cleaning Supplies

Old cartridges may have dirty or oxidized contacts.

Keeping your cartridges clean is an important part of maintaining a retro game collection.

👉 [楽天アフィリエイト：ゲームカートリッジクリーナー]

📦 Cartridge Storage

If you’re starting to collect Japanese Famicom games, storage quickly becomes important.

👉 [楽天アフィリエイト：ゲームカセット収納]

🛒 My Recommended Starting Setup

You don’t necessarily need everything at once.

A simple starting setup could be:

OPTION A — Original Hardware

🇯🇵 Japanese Famicom
↓
📺 TV

OPTION B — Modern TV

🇯🇵 AV-output Famicom
↓
🔌 AV cable
↓
📺 TV

OPTION C — HDMI TV

🇯🇵 AV-output Famicom
↓
🔌 AV
↓
📺 AV → HDMI Converter
↓
🔌 HDMI
↓
📺 Modern TV

OPTION D — Compatible Console

🎮 Compatible FC Console
↓
🔌 HDMI / AV
↓
📺 Modern TV

Which setup is right for you depends on your TV, console and the games you want to play.

⚠️ One Important Thing Before Buying

Don’t assume that every Japanese Famicom game will behave exactly the same on every compatible console.

My real hardware test showed that the same game can display differently depending on the hardware.

For example:

Original/AV-modified Famicom

🇯🇵 Japanese text
✅ Clear

Compatible console

⚠️ Japanese text
❌ Garbled

This doesn’t mean every compatible console has the same problem.

It means compatibility should be checked before buying , especially if you want to play Japanese text-heavy games.

🎮 So What Should You Buy?

If you want the authentic Japanese Famicom experience , look for original Japanese Famicom hardware.

If you already have an AV-output Famicom, an AV-to-HDMI converter may be a practical way to connect it to a modern TV.

If you want a simpler modern setup, you can also consider an FC-compatible console with HDMI output .

The important thing is to check:

• Video output
• TV compatibility
• Japanese Famicom compatibility
• Controller compatibility
• Compatibility with the specific games you want to play

🇯🇵 And Then… Start Your Collection

Once your setup is ready, the fun really begins.

You can start with one game.

Then another.

And before you know it…

you have a shelf full of Japanese Famicom cartridges. 🎮🇯🇵

That’s exactly how JP RETRO GAMES started.

I collect Japanese Famicom games and share real hardware tests, gameplay and Japanese retro gaming culture with the world.

🛒 Looking for Japanese Famicom Games?

I also sell Japanese Famicom games from Japan on Mercari.

If you’re looking for Japanese Famicom cartridges, check out my current collection:

🛒

Japanese Famicom Games from Japan

メルカリ

New games may be added as I find interesting Japanese retro games.

🌏 From Japan to the World

JP RETRO GAMES is about more than just selling games.

It’s about sharing the experience of Japanese retro gaming.

🎮 Real Hardware
🕹️ Real Games
📺 Real Results
🇯🇵 From Japan to the World

If you’re interested in Japanese Famicom games, follow JP RETRO GAMES.

📖 More from JP RETRO GAMES

How to Play a Japanese Famicom on a Modern TV
→ [第1記事へのリンク]

Japanese Famicom vs Compatible Console | Real Compatibility Test
→ [第2記事へのリンク

More Japanese Famicom & Retro Games
→ [ Mercariへのリンク ]

🇯🇵 JP RETRO GAMES

Discover Japanese Retro Games.