“Niche” is a word that is thrown around quite often when talking about small market games, though specifically those that come out of Japan.
This year had a slew of great titles that fit this category perfectly. If you can’t get enough of these kinds of games, check out the list of niche titles releasing in 2015 that you need to keep an eye on in the gallery below.
This list sums about almost all of the niche games that are known to be out in 2015, but if you think we missed a game, feel free to point it out in the comments.
Niche Report 2015
Atelier Ayesha Plus: The Alchemist of Dusk
Release Date: January 13th
Platform: PS Vita
Atelier Ayesha Plus is a port of the original game, which released on the PlayStation 3. The game will feature all DLC from the original release, along with new content. A new difficulty setting, new enemies, and the ability to change party members at any time are just a few of the additions.
Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires
Release Date: January 27th
Platform: PS4, PS3
Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires brings some big changes to the series, with horses and armies customizable. However, the biggest change comes with the ability to create your own main warrior, a first for this long-running series.
Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth2 SISTERS GENERATION
Release Date: January 27th
Platform: PS Vita
Re;Birth2: Sisters Generation is a port of the PS3 title Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2 . The port brings a new story, new playable characters, newly voiced characters, and a reworked battle system.
Criminal Girls: Invite Only
Release Date: February 3rd
Platform: PS Vita
Criminal Girls: Invite Only has players taking control of a party of girls who embody the Seven Deadly Sins. You must try and lead these girls through hell so they can be reborn, but they won't always listen to your commands. Thankfully, you can use the punish command to make them listen.
Bladestorm: Nightmare
Release Date: March 3rd
Platform: PS4, PS3
Bladestorm: Nightmare is a sequel to Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War , which released a year into the PlayStation 3 lifecycle. The game revamps the original while adding a Nightmare part, full of dragon's and wizard's in make believe battles.
Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea
Release Date: March 10th
Platform: PS3
Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea is the third installment of the Dusk story line and the 16th entry in the main series. Players have their choice between two different main characters, each with their own story and adventures to be had.
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD
Release Date: March 17th
Platform: PS4
Type-0 HD has received a lot of hate since it's announcement, with the game arriving on the PS4, skipping out on a Vita release entirely. This comes after the game was first released on the PSP in Japan and many thought it would be upgraded to the Vita in the US. Even with all the hate though, this is a good looking game that our Japanese correspondent Heath really liked .
Hatoful Boyfriend
Release Date: TBA 2015
Platform: PS4, PS Vita
I honestly don't know what to say about this game except, get ready to be completely shocked. The game is a visual novel centered around birds and a single girl, the only one in an all birds school, who must find love. The game has been praised for a complex storyline but repetitive gameplay.
Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart
Release Date: TBA 2015
Platform: PS Vita
These busty vixens and their game industry themed humor will be back at it again, though this time the game takes a FF Tactics- style approach. The game features Chibi versions of the main characters from the Neptunia series
Omega Quintet
Release Date: TBA 2015
Platform: PS4
Omega Quintet is an interesting hybrid of idol sim and Japanese RPG. Taking the role of manager to the idol group Verse Maidens, players use the power of song and dance to ward off an evil called the Beep. Omega Quintet marks Compile Heart's first PS4 title and will utilize the PlayStation Move.
Oreshika: Tainted Bloodlines
Release Date: TBA 2015
Platform: PS Vita
Oreshika: Tainted Bloodlines is a sequel to a game released back in 1999 for the original PlayStation. Tainted Bloodlines features a gorgeous art style and a rather unique gameplay element where you marry deities and have children with them to advance your story, as characters only have a two year life span. The game sold well in Japan and looks to provide a solid boost to the PS Vita at some point this year.
Persona 5
Release Date: TBA 2015
Platform: PS4, PS3
It's Persona 5 . For reason on why you should play this, simply look at our reviews for Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden . Enough said. Seriously, if you need convincing, there is an issue and it's not with the games.
Tales of Zestiria
Release Date: TBA 2015
Platform: PS3
The Tales of franchise is one that pumps out solid RPG after solid RPG, with very few misses to be found. It should come as no shock then, that Zestiria looks to follow that same tradition of excellence. The game is the 15th core game in the series, 15th!!!
The Awakened Fate Ultimatum
Release Date: TBA 2015
Platform: PS3
It's Nippon Ichi Software and it's a dungeon-crawler, go figure. Seriously though, NIS know's all about how to make a solid dungeon-crawling, anime filled romp and this should be no different. Ultimatum is a sequel to The Guided Fate Paradox , which released back in 2013 for the PlayStation 3.
Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters
Release Date: TBA 2015
Platform: PS3, PS Vita
A dark, visual novel with rpg elements, Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters promises to bring an eerie story to gamers along with a quirky battle system. Load up pre-battle, placing traps and sensors at the cost of money to try and help you locate and defeat the ghosts.
Toukiden Kiwami
Release Date: TBA 2015
Platform: PS Vita
Toukiden Kiwami is a sequel of the original Toukiden , which released back in January of 2013. Things have been peaceful since the end of the original game, but now a new monster has arrived and things return to a state of chaos.
Yakuza 5
Release Date: TBA 2015
Platform: PS3
The Yakuza series is one of my all-time favorite PlayStation series, so I am extremely pumped up about Yakuza 5 being localized. The game features a new graphics engine, five main characters, and five different settings all across Japan.