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.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won the Breakthrough Award, recognizing innovation in game design and development. The Movement Award went to Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, highlighting games that created new trends or movements in 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.