The Japan Game Awards 2025, held on 23 September 2025, have concluded, with Atlus’ Metaphor: ReFantazio taking the Grand Prize in the Annual Works category. The game, a new fantasy RPG from the Persona team, was recognized for its ambitious scale, distinctive art style, and strong reception from players. It was also given one of the Excellence Awards alongside its Grand Prize win.
Grand Prize: Metaphor: ReFantazio (Atlus)
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award: Nintendo Switch 2 (Nintendo)
Game Designers Award: INDIKA (Odd Meter Games)
Breakthrough Award: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Kepler Interactive)
Movement Award: Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket (The Pokémon Company)
Special Award: PlayStation Store (Sony)
Excellence Awards:
- Metaphor: ReFantazio (Atlus)
- Urban Myth Dissolution Center (Shueisha Games)
- Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven (Square Enix)
- Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake (Square Enix)
- Dynasty Warriors: Origins (Koei Tecmo)
- Tokyo Xtreme Racer (Genki)
- Like a Dragon: Pirates Yakuza in Hawaii (Sega)
- Monster Hunter Wilds (Capcom)
- The Hundred Line – Last Defense Academy (Aniplex)
- Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time (Level-5)
- Elden Ring: Nightreign (From Software)
The press release sent out also restated the reasoning given behind the award selections. The English press release is quoted verbatim below:
●Grand Prize Winner in the Annual Works Category: “Metaphor: ReFantagio” (sic) –
Reason for Award
A completely new fantasy RPG set in a “fantasy world,” depicting a struggle for the
throne that begins with the assassination of the king.
It features an epic story and fantastical worldview, a groundbreaking battle system that
balances action and tactics, beautiful background music and a user interface
reminiscent of Western paintings, and an overwhelming amount of content.
Furthermore, diverse races appear, each with distinct appearances, abilities, and
motives. Some even exhibit behavior that makes you want to look away.
The grand drama woven by its numerous unique characters garnered enthusiastic
support from many users, leading to this Grand Prize win.
●Breakthrough Award: “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” Reason for Award
A turn-based RPG set in a fantastical world inspired by fin-de-siècle France, where
players assemble an expedition team to undertake life-threatening missions.
The mysterious girl “Paintless,” who awakens once a year, inscribes cursed numbers
onto a monolith.
To prevent the terrifying phenomenon where people of the same age as these numbers
vanish into smoke, players aim to defeat “Paintless.”
The game’s unique battle system, dubbed “Reactive Turn-Based RPG,” blends turn-
based RPG mechanics with real-time actions like parrying and free aiming. This
innovative approach captivated many users, earning the game recognition from the
selection committee.
●Movement Award: “Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket” – Award Reason
A smartphone app enabling easy collection of “Pokémon Cards.”
The expansion packs, which allow users to open two packs for free every day, feature
cards ranging from nostalgic past illustrations to completely new designs. The app is
packed with the joy of Pokémon collecting, including card expressions and effects made
possible by the digital format.
In addition to online battles using collected cards, it offers beginner-friendly features
like auto-battle and rental decks.
The app rapidly gained users after launch and sparked a major movement, becoming
affectionately known by its nickname “Pokepoke.” This was recognized by the selection
committee, leading to its award.
●Special Award: “PlayStation®Store” – Award Reason
Launched in 2006, well before the industry-wide digital shift began.
It maximizes initial sales for many titles and maximizes lifetime value and long-term
monetization through sales promotions tied to its catalog. It continues to provide
ongoing sales support through collaboration with a wide range of publishers, from indie
to major companies. It has brought significant transformation to the revenue structure
of the game business and contributed to stabilizing publisher revenues.
It was awarded by the selection committee for its high contribution across distribution,
marketing, and user experience as a foundation enhancing the value of console games.
■Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award: “Nintendo Switch 2”
We announce that this year’s “Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award” has
been decided for the “Nintendo Switch 2” (Nintendo Co., Ltd.).
●Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award – Reason for Selection:
“Nintendo Switch 2”
Prior to its June 5, 2025, release, detailed specifications, the release date, and the
reservation-based sales method announced in April
generated significant buzz both domestically and internationally.
Its user-friendly pricing and high hardware quality garnered strong support, with global
sales exceeding 3.5 million units within the first four days̶ the highest ever for a
Nintendo dedicated game console. Cumulative sales reached 5.82 million units by June.
The award recognizes its contribution to the development of Japan’s home video game
industry, including its debut not only in Japan and Europe/America but also in East
Asian markets like Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines̶ a first for a Nintendo
dedicated game console.
●About the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award
The “Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award” was established in 2008 to
honor individuals, production teams, or projects that have contributed to the
development of the modern game industry.
Selection is conducted by the Japan Game Awards Selection Committee, which
determines the award-winning works.
■Game Designers Award: “INDIKA”
We announce that this year’s Game Designers Award has been decided for INDIKA
(Odd Meter Games). The award rationale from Masahiro Sakurai (Representative
Director, Sora Ltd.), Chair of the Game Designers Award Jury, is as follows:
● Game Designers Award – Reason for Selection: “INDIKA”
In the late 19th century, Indika, a nun of the Russian Orthodox Church, is scorned by
her fellow sisters at the convent. She sets out on a journey after being tasked with
delivering a letter.
However, she is tormented by the devil’s whispers she hears within and experiences
hallucinations.
At times, she can suppress the devil’s illusions by offering prayers.
Indika’s past unfolds through pixel-based mini-games.
Typically, the Game Designers Award primarily recognizes innovative game systems.
However, the game system of this title, ʻIndikaʼ, can be described as a common third-
person perspective action game.
Yet, its thematic exploration of inner landscapes, anti-establishment religious views,
virtue, and other elements within its story, world-building, and atmosphere creation
offers an experience unmatched by other works.
Works that prominently feature religious perspectives are rare to begin with.
While the votes were split during judging, this title ultimately received the most
support and was selected.
As an aside, the studio leader reportedly spent their teenage years in a monastery,
ultimately abandoning their faith.
The development studio apparently relocated from Russia to Kazakhstan following
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
While the game’s production background isn’t directly tied to the work itself,
considering these circumstances when engaging with the game adds depth.
Publisher 11 Bit Studios has stated that a portion of the game’s profits will be donated.
●About the Game Designers Award
The Game Designers Award, another prestigious honor within the Japan Game Awards,
is selected by top creators evaluating works from a professional perspective
based on criteria like “creativity” and “innovation,” choosing the single most
outstanding title.
Please continue to look forward to the “Game Designers Award,” presented as a
benchmark for the future development of the game industry.
The announcement and award ceremony can be viewed via the archive on the TGS
official YouTube channel.
URL: https://youtube.com/live/k__t94RqWRw?feature=share
■Japan Game Awards 2025 Annual Works Category Announcement & Award
Ceremony Overview
Name: Japan Game Awards 2025 Annual Works Category Announcement & Award
Ceremony
Organizer: COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SUPPLIER’S ASSOCIATION (CESA)
Supported by: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2025 (National Holiday)
Venue: Iino Hall (4th-6th Floors, Iino Building, 2-1-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku,
Tokyo)
Official Website: https://awards.cesa.or.jp/
