How to Play Japanese Games Without Modding Your Console

Many requests come on on how to play Japanese games without modding your console. This article will focus on the older generation of classic consoles, before region locking was abandoned by publishers/manufacturers.

So here we have tried to outline some of the ways that this can be achieved:

Modding consoles is a daunting task when you’re not familiar with soldering chips and wires on a console, but the benefit is playing all of those Japanese games that were never released in the US or UK.

We don’t condone or recommend modifying your system, but if you do its entirely down to you. This information is purely provided for educational and reference purposes and the main focus is on software and adapter methods that wont require too much effort or risk damaging your system hardware.

How to Play Famicom Games on Your Nintendo

Known as the Famicom in Japan. There are a few ways to play Famicom games on your Nintendo, using a Hyperkin adapter or one of these NES Game Cartridge adapters. You can use something like a Honeybee adapter available of eBay but they are more expensive and will run you around $30. These NES Game Cartridge adapters are pretty cost friendly and you can just plug the game into the adapter and play right away.

How to Play Super Famicom Games on your Super Nintendo

Similar to playing Famicom games, you can either use a Hyperkin adapter or a Game Genie or one of these SNES Game Cartridge adapters.  Looking at Super Famicom games the region lockout is designed in the cartridges itself. When you use a Game Genie there are two tabs on the top that simulate the lock out. You can actually use an X-acto knife, or small stanley blade with a file to remove these two tabs. Alternatively you can purchase a Super Nintendo Game Genie off of eBay or grab one of these SNES Game Cartridge adapters. 

How to Play Japanese GameCube Games?

Nintendo’s first disc based system, the easiest way to play import GameCube games is to use a Freeloader which you can find on eBay. The Freeloader is a disc based solution that interrupts the system from performing a region check on the game. Simply place the Freeloader disc in the system, boot it up, and wait for the switch disc message to appear on the screen.

How to Play Sega Master System Games on your Genesis

Similar to playing Super Famicom games. A Game Genie can be used to play imports. The only difference is that you will have to enter in the corresponding code in order to play the game. A little time consuming but a Genesis Game Genie can be purchased for off of eBay.

Better still is a dedicated Game adapter which you can still find on Amazon or eBay. Which is simple plug and play no codes required.

How to play Japanese Sega Saturn Games

Sega Saturn has a lot of great shooters that were never released outside of Japan. Utilizing the memory card slot, simply pick up an Action Replay 4M Plus 3 in 1 Memory Card. Not only will you get extra save space, but this memory card acts as a simply way to play imports. Just plug it into your system along with your import and boot the console up. The Saturn Action Replay will cost around $40-50.

How to play Japanese Dreamcast Games

Another disc swap method. This one involves using a free program called Utopia which is burned onto CD-R. Simply put the disc in your Dreamcast and wait for the message to swap discs. You can actually buy these on eBay for $20-60

How to play Japanese PS2 Games

Depending on if you have a fat or slim PS2 you’ll want a disc called Swap Magic. With this method you have to interrupt the system check in a more manual way. Check out YouTube videos and the special plastic tool you’ll have to use. There are other methods of replacing your PS2 case but thats a bit more effort. A Swap Magic will cost around $30-40 with the special tool. 

How to play Japanese PS3, PS4 and Nintendo Switch Games

Buy a PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 or a Nintendo Switch and put the game in the system. It’s that easy. Sony and Nintendo have made all games region free making importing and enjoying games from round the world a breeze!

Benefits of Playing Import Video Games

• Some games are cheaper. 
• More Variety. Do you love shooters and platformers? There are a ton that never were released in the US or UK
• Nice conversation pieces and shelf candy. Any Japanese imports will really stand out on your shelf due to their incredible artwork and look.

This is a curated and edited article that was sourced from joystickjourney.com
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