Table Top Games that were popular then DnD in Japan?

[MithrandirOlorin]

On the old now gone Forum I had once made a Thread about comparing Tolkien and Final Fantasy VII, where one of the things said in the set up was how in Japan Tolkien's influence on the Fantasy Genre is a lot more indirect then it is here, largely going through Table Top RPGs like Dungeons and Dragons.

A number of responses talked one or two maybe even three Table Top Games that in Japan at least in the 80s and 90s were more popular then DnD and probably a better references point for understanding the JRPGs then DnD was. Unfortunately I've forgotten what the names of those games were and am wondering if anyone here still remembers that thread or what they could have been?

Dragon Quest is the most popular JRPG video game franchise in Japan, and one little detail I've discovered is a give away that a generic Fantasy Anime is taking from it is the word "Orc" being used to refer not to what they mean in Tolkien but to Humanoid Boar-like creatures. I'm now wondering if maybe one of these Table Top Games had done this even before Dragon Quest?

[TGLS]

Not a tabletop RPG, but if I understand correctly Wizardry was immensely influential on early JRPGs.

[MithrandirOlorin]

Not a tabletop RPG, but if I understand correctly Wizardry was immensely influential on early JRPGs.

Thanks, I'll also look into that.

[Hero_Of_Shadows]

Call Of Ctuhlhu and games that use that system are huge hits in Japan.

[ProfessorDetective]

Call Of Ctuhlhu and games that use that system are huge hits in Japan.

Was about to mention that. STILL the biggest imported TTRPG over there.

[MithrandirOlorin]

The Wikipedia page for Record of Lodoss War mentions both Tunnels & Trolls and Runescape, both of them sound familiar like they could be what was mentioned on the old thread.

Runescape's orcs are the same as DnD's it seems, I'm having trouble googling how exactly Orcs are describe din Tunnels and Trolls.