Tokyo Game Show 2025: Preview

People keep asking me what I'm most looking forward to playing at Tokyo Game Show. 

Upward of three people have asked. And until today, I didn't have an answer.

Everything about this year's show, running 9/25-9/28, has felt last-minute. Press-day registration was significantly delayed and I received confirmation that my application had been accepted just a few days ago. Due to the uncertainty, I hadn't looked into game lineups in any real detail, that is until I started prepping this post. But don't worry, as I am now exceedingly well informed on all things TGS.

When I'm next asked what I'm most looking forward to, I'll have an answer ready. And that answer is Once Upon a Katamari.

I must've missed the initial announcement; I had no idea that we're a month away from getting the first new Katamari in over a decade. The premise is irresistible: "the Prince must roll their katamari through time itself, collecting objects through stages in the Jurassic Period, the Ice Age, historic Japan and more to rebuild the glittering night sky". That sounds so good - history and katamari together at last! A demo will be available at Bandai Namco and I will be playing it, possibly multiple times if there are free stickers or other branded tat to be had.

Putting aside The Prince rolling up Tutankhamun, there are other things at TGS 2025 worth getting excited about. Sega and Capcom have owned the last few Tokyo Game Shows, and that dominance looks set to continue this year. Sega has already confirmed several playable titles, including Virtua Fighter 5 Revo, but it's what hasn't been announced that is of most interest. We know that there are at least four games that will be revealed between now and Thursday, a couple of which are likely to appear during the pre-show, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio stream. That's the same event where we first learned of Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii last year, which was then playable at TGS just a few days later. Signs point to a Yakuza 3, Kiwami-style remake, but I wouldn't be surprised if we got something else as well. Maybe a demo announcement for Stranger Than Heaven? (Note: about an hour after I posted this blog, the four games were revealed as being Yakuza Kiwami 3, and updated versions of Kiwami, Kiwami 2 and Yakuza 0 Director's Cut. Y3 will be playable at TGS).

Moving on from RGG Studio, we might learn something new about Sega's initiative to revive dormant franchises. A playable demo for something we already know about, like Crazy Taxi or Jet Set Radio, seems reasonable, or even an announcement for something new. Sega Rally, Skies of Arcadia, Nights - we can dream!

Capcom has a full slate which includes playable demos for Pragmata, Resident Evil Requiem and Onimusha: Way of the Sword. I'll be keen to try all three, though I suspect they'll be among the most popular titles across the entire show, and therefore getting to sample all of them might be a little difficult, regardless of how fast I walk, not run, to their booth when doors open.

Koei Tecmo is looking lively, bringing demos for Nioh 3, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, and Ninja Gaiden 4. Konami, however, looks set to have a much quieter show. Metal Gear Solid took centre stage in 2023 and 2024, via The Master Collection and Delta, but there's a distinct lack of major, impact titles this year. It's a lot of baseball, e-football, some Suikoden, and then more baseball. There is a MGS Hotline live stream on Thursday morning, however, as well as a blank space on their website for a yet-to-be-revealed title, so maybe we'll hear something about the next Master Collection? It's about time we all replayed Guns of the Patriot. 

PlayStation will be in attendance, though Sony's presence at TGS isn't what it once was. Ghost of Yotei will be playable, and I hope to spend some time with Lumines Arise. That pair aside, most of the demos at PS are duplicates of what can be found at publisher booths. There are rumours of a PS Showcase, so Sony might yet have a few surprises up its sleeves. Xbox won't be in attendance, but an Xbox Games Showcase has already been confirmed for Thursday evening, 7pm JST, which is likely to be Japan-centric and is guaranteed to disrupt my dinner.

Square Enix is going all-in on Dragon Quest, as you would expect, with the Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D Remake taking centre stage. Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intergrade for Switch 2 and Xbox will be playable as will Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, only a few days ahead of launch. If you want something much further away, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales will be hands-on, and it does look rather pretty.

Level 5 is demoing the exact same titles as last year: Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, and Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Steals Time. That probably says a lot about Level 5's fondness for delays, and/or their desire to re-use their booth design from last year. Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls will be playable at both Arc System Works and PlayStation, and Annapurna Interactive will be present for the first time, with a handful of yet-to-be-confirmed titles. They tend to do good work, so I'll be keeping an eye out. And lastly, the Panzer Dragoon Zwei demo is slated to be available on the show floor, and I intend to seek it out.

Plenty for me to do, and I haven't even touched upon the ever-vibrant, heaving indie hall. And of course, I'll be making time to visit the merchandise floor so that I can buy some t-shirts that I should be embarrassed to wear in public.

Can't wait! 

I'll be checking out Once Upon a Katamari, and possibly other things, at Tokyo Game Show this Thursday and Friday, 9/25-9/26. I'll be posting updates here and on Bluesky - @toomanywires - so be sure to check back often.