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[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

The Japan Game Awards 2025 has announced its winners and serves as a pre-night festival for Tokyo Game Show 2025. This annual event recognizes the best games released between April 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025 with voting started last June.

The biggest winner of the night was Metaphor: ReFantazio, which claimed the Grand Award. This is the highest honor given out at the Japan Game Awards, selected from among all the winners of the Award for Excellence category. Nintendo Switch 2 received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award, one of the event's most important prizes. This award recognizes games or platforms that have made significant contributions to the industry.

Full List of Winners

Grand Award

• Metaphor: ReFantazio

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award

• Nintendo Switch 2

Breakthrough Award

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Movement Award

• Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket

Award for Excellence

• Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Urban Myth Dissolution Center
• Romancing SaGa 2 REVENGE OF THE SEVEN
• Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
• Dynasty Warriors: Origin
• TokyoXtremeRacer
• Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
• Monster Hunter Wilds
• The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-
• FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time
• Elden Ring Nightreign

The PlayStation Store received a Special Award for its significant contribution to business and the game economy in Japan. The Game Designers Award went to INDIKA, developed by Odd Meter.

The Japan Game Awards is organized by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) and serves as one of Japan's most important gaming industry recognition events. The awards celebrate both commercial success and creative achievement in the Japanese gaming market.

Source - GamerBraves & Famitsu

 

[VGA-Games]

Congratulations to Nintendo

 

[Woopah]

Great list of games there! Happy to see so many developers represented.

 

[Toots]

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award

• Nintendo Switch 2

Most Valuable Zaibatsu

 

[Boss Mog]

Grand Award to Metaphor? Over Expedition 33? I didn't know the Japanese were so chauvinistic.

Metaphor is one of the most overrated games I've ever played and I platinum'd it. It's no where near 94, it's 80 at best. The dungeons are so basic, they seem straight out of a SNES game. But even by SNES standards I would consider then basic and poor. The game also felt like it was pushing the kind of communist propaganda you'd find in modern Western games, which seems crazy for a Japanese game. At times Louis, the main antagonist, made more sense than the "good" guys.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Award for Excellence

• TokyoXtremeRacer

Well done Genki!

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

Award for excellence: Monster Hunter Wilds

HAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA

 

[Fake]

That 'Indika' box art is AI generated?

 

[daclynk]

Most Valuable Zaibatsu

well Switch 2 is CHEAPER there soo

 

[Toots]

well Switch 2 is CHEAPER there soo

Im not even sure what you mean but what i found funny was that the ministry of economy, trade and industry had a prize to give at a videogame award show

 

[xenosys]

I think this is well-deserved for Metaphor.

It's not without it's flaws, and it was nowhere near RPG of the year last year, but I'm probably one of the few that had a much enjoyable time playing it than I did E33, which I lost interest in after Act 1.

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

The Japan Game Awards 2025 has announced its winners and serves as a pre-night festival for Tokyo Game Show 2025. This annual event recognizes the best games released between April 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025 with voting started last June.

The biggest winner of the night was Metaphor: ReFantazio, which claimed the Grand Award. This is the highest honor given out at the Japan Game Awards, selected from among all the winners of the Award for Excellence category. Nintendo Switch 2 received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award, one of the event's most important prizes. This award recognizes games or platforms that have made significant contributions to the industry.

Full List of Winners

Grand Award

• Metaphor: ReFantazio

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award

• Nintendo Switch 2

Breakthrough Award

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Movement Award

• Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket

Award for Excellence

• Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Urban Myth Dissolution Center
• Romancing SaGa 2 REVENGE OF THE SEVEN
• Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
• Dynasty Warriors: Origin
• TokyoXtremeRacer
• Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
• Monster Hunter Wilds
• The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-
• FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time
• Elden Ring Nightreign

The PlayStation Store received a Special Award for its significant contribution to business and the game economy in Japan. The Game Designers Award went to INDIKA, developed by Odd Meter.

The Japan Game Awards is organized by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) and serves as one of Japan's most important gaming industry recognition events. The awards celebrate both commercial success and creative achievement in the Japanese gaming market.

Source - GamerBraves & Famitsu

Slow year

 

[Danjin44]

Fuck Yeah! Metaphor was fucking awesome!

 

[bender]

Grand Award to Metaphor? Over Expedition 33? I didn't know the Japanese were so chauvinistic.

Metaphor is one of the most overrated games I've ever played and I platinum'd it. It's no where near 94, it's 80 at best. The dungeons are so basic, they seem straight out of a SNES game. But even by SNES standards I would consider then basic and poor. The game also felt like it was pushing the kind of communist propaganda you'd find in modern Western games, which seems crazy for a Japanese game. At times Louis, the main antagonist, made more sense than the "good" guys.

Fuck Yeah! Metaphor was fucking awesome!

 

[Mister Wolf]

Was Metaphor really that good?

 

[Cert.in.Death]

Surprised to see Indika on that list (as someone who has ties to Eastern Europe, it was of inherent interest but taken aback somewhat by the adulation).

 

[Boss Mog]

Was Metaphor really that good?

No. It was nowhere near as good as Persona 5. It had great music, some good characters, a decent job system but the story, quest design, dungeon design and combat were all meh.

 

[Mister Wolf]

No. It was nowhere near as good as Persona 5. It had great music, some good characters, a decent job system but the story, quest design, dungeon design and combat were all meh.

I bailed on it after a couple of hours. Made me realize I don't like the Press Turn system and the characters just weren't interesting.

 

[bender]

I bailed on it after a couple of hours. Made me realize I don't like the Press Turn system and the characters just weren't interesting.

I couldn't even finish the demo.

 

[NeverYouMind]

Unironically giving an award for excellence to Monster Hunter Wilds of all games.

 

[Kurotri]

Was Metaphor really that good?

It's pretty good and has its unique identity and style despite looking like Persona at first glance, however it's nowhere near Persona 5 and imo even 3 and 4. It's just good. I would imagine you'd like it even better if it was your first Atlus or JRPG game. I'd recommend it.

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

Metaphor got the award based on their banger boss music alone!

 

[Madonis]

Metaphor's win is expected, because it's a solid piece of work, but I'm more excited about some of the other games that got recognition.

For instance, Romancing Saga 2's remake is excellent. Even if you find the Saga series to be intimidating, this game is very approachable.

For that matter, Hundred Line is such an insane and ambitious project that I'm happy we're getting more content sooner or later.

I should probably check out Dynasty Warriors: Origin sooner or later. Just waiting for a big sale.

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

Japanese judges sniffing Japanese dev farts

 

[Evil Calvin]

Metaphor came out a year ago. Fuck you Japan. Expedition 33 was a LOT better than Metaphor

 

[calico]

Can non-Japanese games even win the 'grand award'?

 

[nial]

Hideaki Nishino, President & Representative Director of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.:

The annual turnover exceeds 2 trillion yen, and Japan game companies account for about 20% of their sales in Japan and about 80% overseas, so we believe that we are making a significant contribution to game exports.

日本ゲーム大賞2025 年間作品部門 発表授賞式を87枚の写真で振り返る！大賞「メタファー︓リファンタジオ」経済産業大臣賞「Nintendo Switch 2」など（Saiga NAK）｜ｄメニューニュース

今年もこの季節がやってきた！ 東京ゲームショウ開幕を直前に控えた2025年9月23日(火)、この1年間のゲーム…

topics.smt.docomo.ne.jp

Woopah Is this relevant information?

 

[NanaMiku]

Dang, Romancing Saga 2 got in was not expected. Also didn't expect Urban Myth Dissolution Center got in. I think it's the only indie game in there.

 

[Arsic]

Hundred line being stuck with a shitty NS1 30fps version or PC only is a crime.

Bring it to ps5 or a switch 2 60fps version you cowards!!

 

[Pejo]

Wilds deserves no awards whatsoever. Embarassing. And I say that as somebody who used to have Monster Hunter as a top 3 IP in all of gaming.

 

[Yoda]

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award

Can't say I've seen that award title before.

 

[Aenima]

Was Metaphor really that good?

Nop, extremelly overated. Is just a medieval fantasy Persona, but not as good as a Persona game. Story sucks, most of the characters are boring with the vilain being the most interesting character in the game. Only thing worth praising was the dungeon exploration that is an improvement to what they do in Persona games, and the sound track was also excelent. Its a decent game, but Clair Obscure beats it in all categories.

 

[gtabro]

When did Metaphor fantaziod originally so it now ReFantazios?

Cos you can't have a remix without an original mix unless you're in Japan but even still dumbest game name 2024? Yes.

 

[NanaMiku]

Can't say I've seen that award title before.

It's been there since 2008 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Game_Awards

 

[RaZoR No1]

Tokyo Xtreme Racer and The Hundred Line got something.
I am happy

 

[Woopah]

Hideaki Nishino, President & Representative Director of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.:

日本ゲーム大賞2025 年間作品部門 発表授賞式を87枚の写真で振り返る！大賞「メタファー︓リファンタジオ」経済産業大臣賞「Nintendo Switch 2」など（Saiga NAK）｜ｄメニューニュース

今年もこの季節がやってきた！ 東京ゲームショウ開幕を直前に控えた2025年9月23日(火)、この1年間のゲーム…

topics.smt.docomo.ne.jp

Woopah Is this relevant information?

Thanks for sharing! It will be different for different companies in different years (SE will be more Japan focused this fiscal year for example) but as an average yes 20% makes sense.