Wow, I'm saving this in my bookmarks for sure, impressive list!

Sweet mother of pearl JACKPOT!

Forgive me for Necroing an old thread, but I have been sorting through the famicom games as part of my project for my Hyperspin setup, and I just wanted to share the list of games that I found playable in English. Also, sorry for any repeats from the previous list.

Famicom games that are English Friendly

Argus (Japan)
Arkanoid II (Japan)
Astro Robo Sasa (Japan)
Atlantis no Nazo (Japan)
Attack Animal Gakuen (Japan)

B-Wings (Japan)
Babel no Tou (Japan)
Ballblazer (Japan)
Baltron (Japan)
Banana (Japan)
Battle City (Japan)
Binary Land (Japan)
Bird Week (Japan)
Blodia Land - Puzzle Quest (Japan)
Bokosuka Wars (Japan)
Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa (Japan)
Bio Force Ape (Japan) (En) (Proto)
Booby Kids (Japan)

Chack'n Pop (Japan)
Challenger (Japan)
Championship Lode Runner (Japan)
Chiisana Obake - Acchi Socchi Kocchi (Japan)
Choplifter (Japan) (En) (Rev 1)
Choujin Sentai - Jetman (Japan)
Circus Charlie (Japan)
Cosmic Epsilon (Japan)
Crazy Climber (Japan)
Crisis Force (Japan)
Cycle Race - Road Man (Japan)

Deblock (Japan)
Dig Dug (Japan)
Don Doko Don (Japan)
Donald Land (Japan)
Door Door (Japan)
Doraemon (Japan) (Rev A)
Dough Boy (Japan)
Dragon Buster (Japan)
Dragon Buster II - Yami no Fuuin (Japan)
Dynamite Bowl (Japan) (Rev A)

Exciting Boxing (Japan)
Exed Exes (Japan)

F-1 Race (Japan)
Fantasy Zone 2 - Opa-Opa no Namida (Japan)
Field Combat (Japan)
Final Lap (Japan)
Flappy (Japan)
Flipull - An Exciting Cube Game (Japan)
Flying Hero (Japan)
Formation Z (Japan) (Rev A)
Front Line (Japan)

Galaxian (Japan) (Rev A)
Game Party (Japan)
Garfield - A Week of Garfield (Japan)
Geimos (Japan)
Gekitotsu Yonku Battle (Japan)
Goonies (Japan)
Gorby no Pipeline Daisakusen (Japan)
Gradius II (Japan)
Great Deal (Japan)
Gyrodine (Japan)

Hello Kitty no Ohanabatake (Japan)
Hokuto no Ken (Japan)
Holy Diver (Japan)
Hyper Sports (Japan) (Rev 1)

Ikinari Musician (Japan)
Ikki (Japan)
Insector X (Japan)

J.League Fighting Soccer - The King of Ace Strikers (Japan)
JJ (Japan)
Jumbo Ozaki no Hole in One Professional (Japan)
Juuouki (Japan)

Karateka (Japan)
Kekkyoku Nankyoku Daibouken (Japan) (Rev 1)
King Kong 2 - Ikari no Megaton Punch (Japan)

Layla (Japan)
Lost Word of Jenny - Ushinawareta Message (Japan)

Madoola no Tsubasa (Japan)
Magnum Kikiippatsu - Empire City - 1931 (Japan)
Mappy (Japan)
Metro-Cross (Japan)
Mini Putt (Japan)
Minna no Taabou no Nakayoshi Daisakusen (Japan)
Miracle Ropit's Adventure in 2100 (Japan)
Moai-kun (Japan)

Nagagutsu o Haita Neko - Sekai Isshuu 80 Nichi Daibouken (Japan)
Ninja Hattori-kun - Ninja wa Syugyou de Gozaru (Japan)
Ninja Jajamaru-kun (Japan)
Ninja-kun - Majou no Bouken (Japan) (Rev 1)
Nuts & Milk (Japan)

Onyanko Town (Japan)

Pachicom (Japan)
Pac-Land (Japan)
Palamedes II - Star Twinkle, Hoshi no Mabataki (Japan)
Parallel World (Japan)
Peepar Time (Japan)
Penguin-kun Wars (Japan)
Perfect Bowling (Japan)
Pescatore (Japan) (Proto)
Pizza Pop! (Japan)
Pooyan (Japan)
Power Blazer (Japan)
Power Soccer (Japan)
Puyo Puyo (Japan)
Puzslot (Japan)

Quarth (Japan)

Robocco Wars (Japan)
Route-16 Turbo (Japan)

Shanghai (Japan)
Shanghai II (Japan)
Sky Destroyer (Japan)
Son Son (Japan)
Space Harrier (Japan)
Space Invaders (Japan)
Space Shadow (Japan)
Splatter House - Wanpaku Graffiti (Japan)
Star Luster (Japan)
Stick Hunter - Exciting Ice Hockey (Japan)
Summer Carnival '92 - Recca (Japan)
Super Arabian (Japan)
Super Black Onyx (Japan)
Super Dyna'mix Badminton (Japan)
Super Pinball (Japan)
Super Xevious - Gump no Nazo (Japan)

Takahashi Meijin no Bugutte Honey (Japan)
Tetrastar - The Fighter (Japan)
Tetris (Bulletproof) (Japan) (Rev B)
Tetris 2 + Bombliss (Japan) (Rev A)
Thexder (Japan)
Titan (Japan)
Top Rider (Japan)
Tower of Druaga, The (Japan)
Transformers - Convoy no Nazo (Japan)
Triathron, The (Japan)
TwinBee (Japan)

Uchuu Keibitai SDF (Japan)
Urusei Yatsura - Lum no Wedding Bell (Japan)

Volguard II (Japan)

Warpman (Japan)
Wit's (Japan)

Yie Ar Kung-Fu (Japan) (Rev 1.4)

Zippy Race (Japan)
Zunou Senkan Galg (Japan)

Also, here is a list of games with a readily available translation patch

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons - Dragons of Flame (Japan) (T-Eng)

Adventure Island IV (Japan) (T-Eng) (aka Takahashi Meijin no Bouken-jima IV (Japan))

Airwolf (Japan) (T-Eng) (Gameplay is very different from US/Eur releases)

Akumajou Special - Boku Dracula-kun (Japan) (T-Eng)
American Dream (Japan) (T-Eng)
Ankoku Shinwa - Yamato Takeru Densetsu (Japan) (T-Eng)
Armadillo (Japan) (T-Eng)
Astro Fang - Super Machine (Japan) (T-Eng)
Banana Prince (Germany) (T-Eng)

Bio Senshi Dan - Increaser Tono Tatakai (Japan) (T-Eng) (US prototype exists - Bashi Bazook - Morphoid Masher (USA) (Proto))

Bloody Warriors - Shan-Go no Gyakushuu (Japan) (T-Eng)
Cadillac (Japan) (T-Eng)
Captain Silver (Japan) (T-Eng)
Captain Tsubasa Vol. II - Super Striker (Japan) (T-Eng)
Castle Quest (Japan) (T-Eng)
Cat Ninden Teyandee (Japan) (T-Eng)
Chaos World (Japan) (T-Eng)
Chester Field - Ankoku Shin e no Chousen (Japan) (T-Eng)
Chevaliers du Zodiaque, Les - La Legende d'Or (France) (T-Eng)
Chuuka Taisen (Japan) (T-Eng)
Cocoron (Japan) (T-Eng)
Columbus - Ougon no Yoake (Japan) (T-Eng)
Cosmo Genesis (Japan) (T-Eng)
Cosmo Police Galivan (Japan) (T-Eng)
Daimeiro - Meikyuu no Tatsujin (Japan) (T-Eng)
Daisenryaku (Japan) (T-Eng)
Dark Lord (Japan) (T-Eng)
Deep Dungeon IV - Kuro no Youjutsushi (Japan) (T-Eng)

Destiny of an Emperor II - The Story of Zhuge Liang (Japan) (T-Eng) (aka Tenchi o Kurau II - Shokatsu Koumei Den (Japan). Using Rev A with the patch causes a CPU Jam! in Nestopia.)

Devil Man (Japan) (T-Eng)
Dezaemon (Japan) (T-Eng)
Doraemon - Giga Zombie no Gyakushuu (Japan) (T-Eng)
Downtown Special - Kunio-kun no Jidaigeki Da yo Zenin Shuugou! (Japan) (T-Eng)
Dragon Ball Z Gaiden - Saiya Jin Zetsumetsu Keikaku (Japan) (T-Eng)
Dragon Ball Z III - Ressen Jinzou Ningen (Japan) (T-Eng)
Dragon Ball Z - Kyoushuu! Saiya Jin (Japan) (T-Eng)

Dragon Scroll - Yomigaerishi Maryuu (Japan) (T-Eng) (Correctly working IPS patch is a bit difficult to find)

Dream Master (Japan) (T-Eng)
Eggerland - Meikyuu no Fukkatsu (Japan) (T-Eng)
Elysion (Japan) (T-Eng)
Esper Bouken Tai (Japan) (T-Eng)
Esper Dream 2 - Aratanaru Tatakai (Japan) (T-Eng)
Famicom Wars (Japan) (Rev 0B) (T-Eng)

Final Fantasy II (Japan) (T-Eng) (US Prototype exists, Final Fantasy II (USA) (Proto))

Final Fantasy III (Japan) (T-Eng)
Fire Emblem (Japan) (T-Eng)
Fire Emblem Gaiden (Japan) (T-Eng)
Foton - The Ultimate Game on Planet Earth (Japan) (T-Eng)

Fudou Myouou Den (Japan) (T-Eng) (Different from US release Demon Sword, has more levels)

Fushigi no Umi no Nadia (Japan) (T-Eng)
Fuzzical Fighter (Japan) (T-Eng)
Ganbare Goemon! - Karakuri Douchuu (Japan) (T-Eng)

Gegege no Kitarou - Youkai Daimakyou (Japan) (T-Eng) (Released in US as Ninja Kid (USA), everything changed in localization).

Gegege no Kitarou 2 - Youkai Gundan no Chousen (Japan) (T-Eng)
Getsufuu Maden (Japan) (T-Eng)
Grand Master (Japan) (T-Eng)
Hello Kitty World (Japan) (T-Eng)
Heracles no Eikou II - Titan no Metsubou (Japan) (T-Eng)
Hinotori - Houou Hen - Gaou no Bouken (Japan) (T-Eng)

Higemaru Makai-jima - Nanatsu no Shima Daibouken (Japan) (T-Eng) (US Prototype exists, Makai Island (USA) (Proto))

Hirake! Ponkikki (Japan) (T-Eng)
Hottarman no Chitei Tanken (Japan) (T-Eng)
Hyaku no Sekai no Monogatari - The Tales on a Watery Wilderness (Japan) (T-Eng)
Ike Ike! Nekketsu Hockey-bu - Subette Koronde Dairantou (Japan) (T-Eng)
Jajamaru Gekimaden - Maboroshi no Kinmajou (Japan) (T-Eng)
Jajamaru no Daibouken (Japan) (T-Eng)
Jigoku Gokuraku Maru (Japan) (T-Eng)
Jikuu Yuuden - Debias (Japan) (T-Eng)
Joy Mech Fight (Japan) (T-Eng)
Just Breed (Japan) (T-Eng)
Kaguya Hime Densetsu (Japan) (T-Eng)
Kaiketsu Yancha Maru 3 - Taiketsu! Zouringen (Japan) (T-Eng)
Kanshakudama Nage Kantarou no Toukaidou Gojuusan Tsugi (Japan) (T-Eng)
Kero Kero Keroppi no Daibouken (Japan) (T-Eng)
Kero Kero Keroppi no Daibouken 2 - Donuts Ike wa Oosawagi! (Japan) (T-Eng)
Keroppi to Keroriinu no Splash Bomb! (Japan) (T-Eng)
Kouryuu Densetsu Villgust Gaiden (Japan) (T-Eng)
Kujaku Ou (Japan) (T-Eng)
Kujaku Ou II (Japan) (T-Eng)
Kunio-kun no Nekketsu Soccer League (Japan) (T-Eng)
Kyouryuu Sentai Juuranger (Japan) (T-Eng)
Labyrinth (Japan) (T-Eng)
Lupin Sansei - Pandora no Isan (Japan) (T-Eng)

Mad City (Japan) (T-Eng) (Released in the US as Adventures of Bayou Billy, The (USA), Mad City has multiple endings, a quiz mode, and is easier compared to the US version).

Magical Doropie (Japan) (T-Eng) (US version is called The Krion Conquest (USA). US version had all the cutscenes removed basically).

Majou Densetsu II - Daimashikyou Galious (Japan) (T-Eng)

Mickey Mouse 3 - Yume Fuusen (Japan) (T-Eng) (Released in the US as Kid Klown in Night Mayor World (USA) with different sprite graphics. US Prototype exists as well Mickey Mouse - Dream Balloon (USA) (Beta)).

Minelvaton Saga (Japan) (T-Eng)
Mirai Senshi - Lios (Japan) (T-Eng)
Mirai Shinwa Jarvas (Japan) (T-Eng)
Mitsume ga Tooru (Japan) (T-Eng)
Moon Crystal (Japan) (T-Eng)
Motocross Champion (Japan) (T-Eng)
Mottomo Abunai Deka (Japan) (T-Eng)
Mouryou Senki Madara (Japan) (T-Eng)
Musashi no Bouken (Japan) (T-Eng)
Nakayoshi to Issho (Japan) (T-Eng)
Nekketsu! Street Basket - Ganbare Dunk Heroes (Japan) (T-Eng)
Niji no Silk Road (Japan) (T-Eng)

Ninja Jajamaru - Ginga Daisakusen (Japan) (T-Eng) (US proto exists, Squashed (USA) (Proto)).

Ninja-kun - Ashura no Shou (Japan) (T-Eng)
Oishinbo (Japan) (T-Eng)
Perman Part 2 - Himitsu Kessha Madoodan o Taose! (Japan) (T-Eng)
Radia Senki - Reimei Hen (Japan) (T-Eng)
Romancia (Japan) (T-Eng)

Saiyuuki World 2 - Tenjoukai no Majin (Japan) (T-Eng) (Released in US as Whomp 'Em. Graphics were changed).

Sanrio Carnival 2 (Japan) (T-Eng)
Sanrio Cup - Pon Pon Volley (Japan) (T-Eng)
Seirei Gari (Japan) (T-Eng)
Shikinjou (Japan) (T-Eng)
Shinsenden (Japan) (T-Eng)
Shufflepuck Cafe (Japan) (T-Eng)
Silva Saga (Japan) (T-Eng)
Softball Tengoku (Japan) (T-Eng)
Spartan X 2 (Japan) (T-Eng)
Spelunker II - Yuusha e no Chousen (Japan) (T-Eng)

Star Wars (Japan) (Namco) (T-Eng) (2 different games were released in Japan with the same name. This one is completely different from the other one that was released in the US/EU as well.)

Sted - Iseki Wakusei no Yabou (Japan) (T-Eng)

Storehouse No. 18 (Unl) (Russia) (T-Eng) (Not included in No-Intro sets currently).

Sugoro Quest - Dice no Senshitachi (Japan) (T-Eng)
Sweet Home (Japan) (T-Eng)
Tao (Japan) (T-Eng)
Tashiro Masashi no Princess ga Ippai (Japan) (T-Eng)
Time Zone (Japan) (T-Eng)

Tokkyuu Shirei - Solbrain (Japan) (T-Eng) (Released in US as Shatterhand. Several differences).

Toukon Club (Japan) (T-Eng)
TwinBee 3 - Poko Poko Daimaou (Japan) (T-Eng)
Valis - The Fantastic Soldier (Japan) (T-Eng)
Valkyrie no Bouken - Toki no Kagi Densetsu (Japan) (T-Eng)
Wagyan Land (Japan) (Wai Wai World 2 - SOS!! Paseri Jou (Japan) (T-Eng)
Wily & Light no Rockboard - That's Paradise (Japan) (T-Eng)
Woody Poko (Japan) (T-Eng)

Wanpaku Kokkun no Gourmet World (Japan) (T-Eng) (Different from US version of Panic Restaraunt. Easier and different sprite).

Youkai Club (Japan) (T-Eng)
Ys (Japan) (T-Eng)
Ys II - Ancient Ys Vanished - The Final Chapter (Japan) (T-Eng)
Ys III - Wanderers from Ys (Japan) (T-Eng)
Yume Penguin Monogatari (Japan) (T-Eng)
Zombie Hunter (Japan) (T-Eng)

FDS Games

Ai Senshi Nicol (Japan)
Aliens - Alien 2 (Japan) (Proto)
All Night Nippon Super Mario Brothers (Japan)
Armana no Kiseki (Japan)
Big Challenge! Dogfight Spirit (Japan)
Druid - Kyoufu no Tobira (Japan)
Eggerland (Japan)
Eggerland - Souzouhe no Tabidachi (Japan)
Electrician (Japan)
Falsion (Japan)
Famicom Grand Prix II - 3D Hot Rally (Japan)
Family Composer (Japan)
Fire Bam (Japan)
Fire Rock (Japan)
Gall Force - Eternal Story (Japan)
Halley Wars (Japan)
Kaettekita Mario Bros. (Japan)
Kamen Rider Black - Taiketsu Shadow Moon (Japan)
Kick and Run (Japan)
Kick Challenger Air Foot - Yasai no Kuni no Ashi Senshi (Japan)
Knight Lore (Japan)
Knight Move (Japan)
Koneko Monogatari - The Adventures of Chatran (Japan)
Meikyuu Jiin Dababa (Japan)
Monitor Puzzle, The - Kineko - Kinetic Connection (Japan)
Monitor Puzzle, The - Kineko Vol. II - Kinetic Connection (Japan)
Moonball Magic (Japan)
Monty on the Run - Monty no Doki Doki Dai Dassou (Japan)
Nazo no Murasamejou (Japan)
Otocky (Japan)
Reflect World (Japan)
Replicart (Japan)
Santa Claus no Takarabako (Japan)
Smash Ping Pong (Japan)
Super Lode Runner (Japan)
Super Lode Runner II (Japan)
Super Mario Brothers 2 (Japan)
Tama & Friends - 3 Choume Dai Bouken (Japan)
Transformer - The Head Master (Japan)
Wakusei Aton Gaiden (Japan) (National Tax Agency Demo)
Wardner no Mori (Japan)
Yume Koujou Doki Doki Panic (Japan)
Yuu Maze (Japan)

Enjoy!

Thank you for both of these lists. Will certainly make life a lot easier when I eventually get a NES powerpak.

Now that's an awesome list! Time to sort my powerpak

Family Tennis should definitely be added. IIRC the player names are in Japanese, and you get a pep talk in Japanese after a match, but otherwise there are no linguistic obstacles. It's also the best 8-bit tennis game I've ever played!

I was actually working on a translation a while back, and was able to get all the player names in English -- they're based on real players, but use either phonetic transcriptions into kana (Len-do-ru for Ivan Lendl) or nicknames (Boom-Boom for Boris Becker). But I didn't have the skills/patience to fix up the pep talks.

This is an awesome list.

Thanks to the OP for compiling it.

This is getting a bookmark for sure.

So, wants to create a similar list for SNES games?

Cool, nice to see this list get updated. The only thing that sucks about these lists is that there's a lot of low-quality games on the Famicom that, while playable to non-Japanese speaking players, aren't really worth discovering anyway. But sifting through it all would take forever...

Any chance of a Super Famicom one?

It's done, BTW, with the help of several colleagues at ROMHacking.net (where the patch can be found).

I've also done some work on the other non-localized tennis game, Konamic Tennis for Famicom Disk System, but that's not finished yet.