Previously posted on Bluesky, the following is an organized list of my personal top 14 favorite PC-FX titles (plus a few honorable mentions!), complete with a scoring system:
Head + Heart + JP Bias.
🧠 Head: Quality of game design and overall polish (out of 5).
❤️ Heart: Vibes or impact of story, music, art, etc. (out of 5).
JP Bias: Arbitrary bonus points!
The PC-FX doesn’t hold the same place in my heart as the PC Engine and its incredible library of software, but it does have a solid selection of games that I believe are overlooked and undervalued. I hope that this list will help others who are curious about the system find a place to jump in and experience it for themselves.
Notes:
1. I have played all of these titles through to completion.
2. This entire list is VERY subjective, of course, so please don’t take the numbers too seriously!
Honorable Mentions: Chip Chan Kick! (Action/Platforming – 1996)     First Kiss Story + HuneX Fighters ’98* (Romance Sim/Visual Novel/Fighting – 1998) *Bonus fighting game included in the PC-FX release of First Kiss Story.     Miraculum: The Last Revelation (RPG – 1996)     Power DoLLS FX (Strategy – 1996)     |
No. 14 – Last Imperial Prince (Action/RPG – 1997)  Head: 🧠🧠 Heart: ❤️❤️ (JP Bias +2) Score: 6/10 A competent but exceedingly linear Falcom-esque sidescrolling action RPG. Compelling in concept, its tactical combat system is unique, but the game otherwise lacks an interesting draw or identity.    |
No. 13 – Tengai Makyō: Dennō Karakuri Kakutōden (Fighting – 1995)  Head: 🧠🧠 Heart: ❤️❤️❤️❤️ (JP Bias +0) Score: 6/10 A well-animated FMV fighter with a colorful roster. Combat itself plays out much like a complex game of timed rock paper scissors. Fun once mastered, though not especially deep.    |
No. 12 – Farland Story FX (Strategy/RPG – 1996)  Head: 🧠🧠 Heart: ❤️❤️❤️ (JP Bias +1) Score: 6/10 A simple and low-stress take on the fantasy SRPG formula. Features an all-star voice cast as well as beautifully animated cutscenes and sprite work. Unfortunately held back by gratuitous loading.    |
No. 11 – Team Innocent: The Point of No Return (Action/Adventure – 1994)  Head: 🧠🧠🧠 Heart: ❤️❤️❤️ (JP Bias +1) Score: 7/10 Alone in the Dark, but in space…and anime. Split into short, replayable chapters. Unique and memorable, even if it lacks the polish and depth of certain similar titles.    |
No. 10 – Zen-Nihon Joshi Pro Wrestling: Queen of Queens (Fighting – 1995)  Head: 🧠🧠 Heart: ❤️❤️❤️ (JP Bias +2) Score: 7/10 An FMV fighter notable for employing live-action footage of real wrestlers. Extremely silly in action, but quite engaging after learning the mechanics.    |
No. 9 – Battle Heat! (Fighting – 1994)  Head: 🧠🧠🧠 Heart: ❤️❤️❤️❤️ (JP Bias +0) Score: 7/10 A beautifully animated FMV fighter with character designs by Junichi Hayama of Hokuto no Ken fame. Chaotic until fully grasped and difficult to master, but rewarding once learned.    |
No. 8 – Fire Woman: Matoi-gumi (Romance Sim/Life Sim – 1996)  Head: 🧠🧠🧠 Heart: ❤️❤️❤️ (JP Bias +1) Score: 7/10 A sim masquerading as an RPG. Visuals are hit-or-miss, but sprite work is impressive. Most celebrated for its unique combat system and outstanding degree of player freedom.    |
No. 7 – Chōjin Heiki Zeroigar (Shooting – 1997)  Head: 🧠🧠🧠 Heart: ❤️❤️❤️❤️ (JP Bias +0) Score: 7/10 The PC-FX’s sole shooter. Gameplay is average, but visual presentation is excellent, particularly its anime interstitials. Includes an experience and leveling system unusual for the genre.    |
No. 6 – Comic Road (Life Sim – 1997)  Head: 🧠🧠 Heart: ❤️❤️❤️❤️ (JP Bias +1) Score: 7/10 A charming manga artist take on Princess Maker. Makes up for admittedly less-than-refined game design by cramming in 3 hours of FMV content for countless random events. Even includes readable manga samples.    |
No. 5 – Kishin Dōji Zenki FX: Vajra Fight (Action/Platforming – 1995)  Head: 🧠🧠🧠 Heart: ❤️❤️❤️❤️ (JP Bias +1) Score: 8/10 A licensed anime title and the PC-FX’s unexpected go-to action game. A compact 40 minutes of varied brawler setpieces that demonstrate the potential of the hardware.    |
No. 4 – Boundary Gate: Daughter of Kingdom (RPG – 1997)  Head: 🧠🧠🧠 Heart: ❤️❤️❤️ (JP Bias +2) Score: 8/10 A breezy JRPG disguised as a first-person dungeon crawler. Imperfect, but its mature fantasy vibes and striking art style differentiate it from the rest of the library.    |
No. 3 – Blue Breaker: Ken yori mo Hohoemi o (Romance Sim/RPG – 1996)  Head: 🧠🧠🧠 Heart: ❤️❤️❤️❤️ (JP Bias +1) Score: 8/10 A seminal combination of romance sim and RPG, developed with involvement from Ryuga Tateishi—one of the minds behind Tokimeki Memorial. Greater than the sum of its parts.    |
No. 2 – Der Langrisser FX (Strategy/RPG – 1996)  Head: 🧠🧠🧠🧠 Heart: ❤️❤️❤️❤️ (JP Bias +1) Score: 9/10 Perhaps the most complete and well-rounded game for the system. Considered the definitive version of Langrisser II by many, with amazing music arranged by composer Noriyuki Iwadare himself.    |
No. 1 – Kokū Hyōryū Nirgends (Visual Novel/Flight Sim/RPG – 1996)  Head: 🧠🧠🧠 Heart: ❤️❤️❤️❤️ (JP Bias +2) Score: 9/10 An unusual mix of genres that is carried to greatness by a compelling plot—one built upon a well-developed setting and cast. Uniquely leverages the system’s video capabilities.    |