Play-Asia vs CDJapan vs Nin-Nin Game: Import Stores Compared

Three retailers dominate the English-language market for physical import games from Japan: Play-Asia, CDJapan, and Nin-Nin Game. All three are legitimate, long-running operations. But they're built differently and serve different purchasing patterns. Here's how they stack up.

At a Glance

Play-Asia

Best for: Broad selection, pre-owned games, multi-region browsing, USD pricing, accessories.

Play-Asia is the largest English-language import retailer. Founded in 2002 and based in Hong Kong, they stock games from Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, and wider Asia. Their catalogue covers JPN, AS, HK, KR, US, and EU region variants — if you want to compare the AS and JPN editions of the same game side by side, Play-Asia is where you do it.

Strengths: - Widest game selection of the three - AS/HK editions well stocked alongside JPN editions - Graded pre-owned catalogue at competitive prices - Fixed USD pricing — no currency fluctuation risk - Gaming accessories and hardware stocked alongside games - Frequent seasonal sales (20-40% off during New Year, Golden Week, Black Friday) - Ships from Hong Kong — slightly faster and cheaper to many Western destinations than Japan Post

Weaknesses: - Customer service is ticket-only, slow during peak periods - Economy shipping tracking is minimal until the package reaches your country - For very niche JPN-only titles, CDJapan or Nin-Nin may have better coverage

CDJapan

Best for: Japanese music CDs, soundtrack-bundled editions, domestic Japan-market prices, deep JPN catalogue.

CDJapan has been operating since 1998 and started as a music CD importer — the name reflects that. Their games section has grown significantly but their roots in music mean their coverage of game soundtrack CDs, music-bundled limited editions, and anime merchandise is unmatched.

Strengths: - Deepest catalogue for JPN-region-only releases, particularly visual novels and niche JRPGs - Best selection of OST CDs and music-bundled game editions - Ships directly from Tokyo — Japan Post origin - JPY pricing reflects domestic Japanese market; beneficial when yen is weak - Strong track record for accurate pre-order fulfilment on niche titles - English customer support quality is high

Weaknesses: - JPY pricing means costs fluctuate with exchange rates - Pre-owned game selection is minimal - Gaming accessories and AS/HK editions less comprehensively stocked than Play-Asia - Ships from Japan (not HK), which can mean slightly higher shipping costs to some destinations

Nin-Nin Game

Best for: Niche JPN game pre-orders, competitive pricing on Japan-market games, buyers who want direct Japan-origin shipping from a Europe-connected retailer.

Nin-Nin Game is a French-operated retailer specialising in Japanese games. Despite being run from France, they source products from Japan and handle customs clearance differently for European buyers than a direct Asian shipper would. Their catalogue focuses almost entirely on JPN-market games with a particular strength in niche JRPG, visual novel, and anime game releases.

Strengths: - Pre-order coverage for niche Japanese titles is often ahead of Play-Asia - Competitive pricing, particularly on new JPN releases - European buyers may find shipping costs and customs handling smoother than with Asia-origin retailers - Good coverage of limited edition and first-press variants - Ships products from Japan

Weaknesses: - Narrower catalogue than Play-Asia — no AS/HK editions, limited accessories - No pre-owned inventory - Less brand recognition and fewer public reviews than Play-Asia or CDJapan - Website UX is functional but dated compared to Play-Asia - Stock can be less predictable on high-demand titles

Pricing Comparison

No single retailer consistently offers the cheapest prices. Comparison-shopping for individual titles is worthwhile:

• New JPN releases: CDJapan and Nin-Nin often match or beat Play-Asia's new JPN prices, especially for niche titles
• Sale pricing: Play-Asia's seasonal sales are aggressive. CDJapan and Nin-Nin run sales but less prominently
• Pre-owned: Play-Asia wins significantly — neither CDJapan nor Nin-Nin has meaningful pre-owned inventory
• AS/HK editions: Play-Asia wins — CDJapan and Nin-Nin focus on JPN editions

Which Should You Use?

Default for most buyers: Play-Asia. Broadest selection, AS editions available, pre-owned inventory, USD pricing, frequent sales.

For niche JPN-only releases and music-bundled editions: Check CDJapan. Their depth in the domestic Japanese catalogue and music coverage is unmatched.

For niche pre-orders and European buyers: Nin-Nin Game is worth checking for very specific JPN releases, particularly in the JRPG and visual novel space.

For the best price on a specific title: Check all three. Price differences of $5-15 exist. The few minutes of comparison shopping pays off on expensive collector's editions.

Using All Three

Experienced importers don't commit to a single retailer. They: 1. Start with Play-Asia for AS edition availability and pre-owned 2. Check CDJapan if the title has a music/soundtrack component or if Play-Asia is out of stock 3. Check Nin-Nin Game for pre-orders on niche JPN titles Play-Asia hasn't listed yet

This site tracks Play-Asia pricing automatically. For CDJapan and Nin-Nin pricing, check their sites directly when comparing.