diff --git a/backend/handler/metadata/ss_handler.py b/backend/handler/metadata/ss_handler.py
index 201b690b3..380ab06af 100644
--- a/backend/handler/metadata/ss_handler.py
+++ b/backend/handler/metadata/ss_handler.py
@@ -400,19 +400,36 @@ def extract_metadata_from_ss_rom(rom: Rom, game: SSGame) -> SSMetadata:
         except (ValueError, TypeError):
             return ""
 
-    def _get_lowest_date(dates: list[SSGameDate]) -> int | None:
-        lowest_date = min(dates, default=None, key=lambda v: v.get("text", ""))
-        if not lowest_date:
-            return None
-
+    def _parse_date(date_text: str) -> int | None:
         try:
-            return int(datetime.strptime(lowest_date["text"], "%Y-%m-%d").timestamp())
+            return int(datetime.strptime(date_text, "%Y-%m-%d").timestamp())
         except ValueError:
             try:
-                return int(datetime.strptime(lowest_date["text"], "%Y").timestamp())
+                return int(datetime.strptime(date_text, "%Y").timestamp())
             except ValueError:
                 return None
 
+    def _get_lowest_date(dates: list[SSGameDate]) -> int | None:
+        if not dates:
+            return None
+
+        for region in get_preferred_regions(rom):
+            region_dates = sorted(
+                (d for d in dates if d.get("region", "unk") == region),
+                key=lambda v: v.get("text", ""),
+            )
+            for region_date in region_dates:
+                parsed_date = _parse_date(region_date.get("text", ""))
+                if parsed_date is not None:
+                    return parsed_date
+
+        for date in sorted(dates, key=lambda v: v.get("text", "")):
+            parsed_date = _parse_date(date.get("text", ""))
+            if parsed_date is not None:
+                return parsed_date
+
+        return None
+
     def _get_genres(game: SSGame) -> list[str]:
         return [
             genre_name["text"]
diff --git a/backend/tests/handler/metadata/test_ss_handler.py b/backend/tests/handler/metadata/test_ss_handler.py
index f5f7c870c..3ccb1b659 100644
--- a/backend/tests/handler/metadata/test_ss_handler.py
+++ b/backend/tests/handler/metadata/test_ss_handler.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from handler.metadata.ss_handler import (
     _is_notgame,
     add_ss_auth_to_url,
     extract_media_from_ss_game,
+    extract_metadata_from_ss_rom,
     get_preferred_regions,
 )
 
@@ -203,6 +204,35 @@ class TestExtractMediaFromSsGame:
         assert "box-2D(us)" in result["box2d_url"]
 
 
+class TestExtractMetadataFromSsRom:
+    def _make_rom(self, regions: list[str] | None = None) -> MagicMock:
+        rom = MagicMock()
+        rom.platform_id = 1
+        rom.id = 100
+        rom.regions = regions
+        return rom
+
+    def test_release_date_prefers_tagged_region(self):
+        config = _make_config(region_priority=[])
+        rom = self._make_rom(regions=["Japan", "USA"])
+        game = cast(
+            SSGame,
+            {
+                "dates": [
+                    {"region": "us", "text": "1990-02-12"},
+                    {"region": "jp", "text": "1988-10-23"},
+                    {"region": "eu", "text": "1991-08-29"},
+                ],
+                "medias": [],
+            },
+        )
+
+        with patch("handler.metadata.ss_handler.cm.get_config", return_value=config):
+            metadata = extract_metadata_from_ss_rom(rom, game)
+
+        assert metadata["first_release_date"] == 593568000
+
+
 class TestIsNotgame:
     def _game(self, notgame: str = "false", names: list[str] | None = None) -> SSGame:
         return cast(