Tokyo Otaku Mode attended the Japan Game Awards 2025 ceremony on September 23 at Iino Hall in Tokyo. The event celebrates the best games released in Japan between April 1 2024 and May 31 2025. More than three thousand titles entered the competition. Public voting and a judging panel narrowed the list from June 9 to July 18. The awards highlight innovation, storytelling, and design excellence.
Grand Prize Winner: Metaphor ReFantazio
The Grand Prize in the Annual Works category went to Metaphor ReFantazio. Judges praised its epic fantasy world, a dramatic fight for the throne, and a battle system that blends action with tactical depth. The game offers beautiful music, a user interface that feels like a Western painting, and a massive amount of content. Players meet many diverse races, each with unique looks, abilities, and motives. The rich character drama earned enthusiastic fan support and secured the Grand Prize win.
Breakthrough Award: Clair Obscur Expedition 33
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 earned the Breakthrough Award for its innovative battle system. The game introduces a “Reactive Turn Based RPG” style that mixes turn based mechanics with real time actions such as parrying and free aiming. This fresh approach captured player interest and impressed the selection committee.
Game Designers Award: INDIKA
INDIKA received the Game Designers Award. While its core system resembles a common third person action game, the title stands out for its deep thematic exploration. The story examines inner landscapes, anti‑establishment religious views, virtue, and personal growth. Such religious themes are rare in games, giving INDIKA a unique voice. The studio’s background adds depth: the leader grew up in a monastery and later left the faith, and the studio moved from Russia to Kazakhstan after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Publisher 11 Bit Studios plans to donate part of the game’s profits.
Full List of Winners and What to Expect at TGS 2025
Other winners include the Grand Award (Metaphor ReFantazio), Excellence Awards for eleven titles such as Dragon Quest III HD‑2D Remake and Elden Ring Nightreign, the Movement Award for Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, and the Special Award for PlayStation®Store. The judges panel featured Masahiro Sakurai, Toby Fox, Yoko Taro, and Hideki Kamiya.
The Future Category winner will be announced at the Tokyo Game Show 2025. Online voting runs from September 25 to September 27. Eligible games are unreleased titles shown at TGS 2025 or listed in official exhibitor programs. Tokyo Otaku Mode will cover the Future Category announcement and provide full TGS 2025 coverage, including booth videos, cosplay, and more.
Source: Otaku Mode
