Japan, a global gaming powerhouse, is home to some of the most influential and groundbreaking gaming events in the world. These gaming conventions unite developers, publishers, and enthusiasts, providing a space to celebrate the industry's latest innovations and achievements. In this article, we delve into the top 10 biggest gaming events in Japan, exploring the captivating experiences they offer to gamers and professionals alike.
10. Tokyo Indies
Bazookrash and Shinyuden portfolio presented at Tokyo Indies, May 16th, 2017: This is a video of a creator presenting at Tokyo Indies.
Tokyo Indies serves as an informal monthly gathering where independent game creators come together to share their projects and discuss innovative ideas. The event welcomes indie developers, doujinshi enthusiasts, students, professionals, and anyone with a passion for creating or learning about games. This convivial setting offers a prime opportunity for developers to present their work to peers and receive real-time feedback.
By fostering an inclusive and collaborative atmosphere, Tokyo Indies aims to strengthen the bonds within the game development community. With its open invitation to all who share a love for games, the event encourages the exchange of knowledge, creativity, and inspiration. Don't miss out on this chance to connect with like-minded individuals and contribute to the dynamic world of game development.
Attendance: unknown but smaller than other events on this list
Event Highlights:
- Join this casual event and grab a drink!
- You can present your game or project at any stage of development!
- Meet like-minded people!
Twitter: @tokyo_indies (https://twitter.com/tokyo_indies)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tokyoindies/
Come join this small, casual event!
9. Tokyo Game Dungeon
【ゲーム業界・開発】東京ゲームダンジョン レポート！ゲームイベントに出展してきました【ゲームクリエイターズギルド】: A Japanese creator vlogging their experience at Tokyo Game Dungeon.
Tokyo Game Dungeon presents a unique platform for displaying digital games crafted by independent Japanese creators and compact teams. This highly accessible event provides an economical solution for participants to exhibit and test their creative works, complete with all necessary facilities. The driving force behind this exhibition is an indie game developer who independently produces games.
Tokyo Game Dungeon can energize and elevate the domestic indie gaming community in Japan. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with local talent and explore fresh gaming experiences. Join Tokyo Game Dungeon in championing and nurturing the growth of Japan's burgeoning indie game industry!
Attendance: unknown but smaller than other events on this list
Event Highlights:
- Independently run!
- All exhibitioners are small creators or teams who want their games to be tested!
- Comparably cheap to enter and showcase!
Twitter: @TG_Dungeon (https://twitter.com/TG_Dungeon)
Come check out some Japanese games created by small teams or individuals!
8. Tokyo Indie Games Summit
TOKYO INDIE GAMES SUMMIT ステージイベント【12時〜本配信スタート】: Japanese livestream of Tokyo Indie Games Summit.
The Tokyo Indie Games Summit is a novel indie game event launched in 2023, with the goal of becoming a hub where diverse talents in the indie gaming sphere can congregate and strive for excellence. The event takes place in a vibrant area where a multitude of creative talents, including animation, manga, and music, converge and interact beyond just gaming.
For developers, the summit offers a chance to showcase their unique creations while engaging with both players and fellow creators. Meanwhile, attendees have the opportunity to uncover and immerse themselves in new games and their creators' visions. By hosting the event a little outside of intercity Tokyo, they hope to foster a space where creators, enthusiasts, and the broader community can unite, paving the way for new possibilities in the indie gaming realm.
Attendance: As it is a new event, attendance is unknown!
Event Highlights:
- A lineup of speakers that includes idols, VTubers, and more!
- Wide-open venue with many games to try out!
- Located outside of Tokyo to showcase different talents!
Twitter: @TOKYO_IGS (https://twitter.com/tokyo_igs)
Check out some of these indie games!
7. TOKYO SANDBOX
【実写動画】「TOKYO SANDBOX 2022」1日目の会場の様子をレポート！: This is a vlog of a person’s experience at TOKYO SANDBOX!
TOKYO SANDBOX seeks to promote the distinctive charm of Japanese game creators and indie developers by featuring lectures and panel discussions with prominent figures in the gaming industry, networking events, and showcasing uniquely Japanese games. The event aims to share this allure with the global community and further amplify its impact. It serves as a platform for game developers active in the industry to engage with general gaming enthusiasts, broadening their appeal and fostering greater recognition worldwide.
Visitors to the event can enjoy a rare opportunity to play the latest indie games and experience titles that have not yet been released. In addition, TOKYO SANDBOX has plans to host activities such as video game competitions. By attending, participants can immerse themselves in an exciting world that highlights the creativity and talent of Japan's game development community.
Attendance: Exact attendance numbers are unknown, but there are over 80 exhibitors!
Event Highlights:
- Play uniquely Japanese games!
- Experience unreleased titles!
- Enjoy a creative and talented Japanese game development community!
Twitter: @TokyoSandbox (https://twitter.com/TokyoSandbox)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tokyosandbox/
Too many games to choose from!
6. LIVeNT
【セミナー】2022 ライブ・エンターテイメント EXPO 特別講演: An example of a lecture from the event.
A little bit of a different entry on the list, LIVeNT focuses on the business and B2B side of gaming and events.
The comprehensive exhibition features three distinct expos: Live Entertainment EXPO, Events EXPO, and eSports EXPO. Attendees can expect to find displays showcasing production equipment, merchandise, ticketing services, event planning solutions, supplies, playground apparatuses, e-sports tournament organization, and e-sports facilities. The event will attract promoters, music offices, production companies, event organizers, and planning businesses from across the nation.
Visitors will include advertising and sales promotion professionals, as well as e-sports organizers. The Live Entertainment EXPO focuses on exhibiting essential equipment and services for hosting concerts, plays, and various performances. The Events EXPO highlights the necessary planning, equipment, venues, and playground apparatuses for organizing events. The eSports Business EXPO serves as a B2B negotiation platform for the e-sports industry, featuring exhibits on e-sports competition planning, operation, IP, facilities, and services for teams and athletes.
Attendance: the number of attendees is not published!
Event Highlights:
- A different kind of gaming event–get to see the other side of the industry!
- This event is for business professionals and larger companies!
- Learn about the business of eSports!
Could not find any social media, but here is their website: https://www.event-week.jp/en-gb/about.html
Get to mingle with other businesses in the industry!
5. INDIE Live Expo
INDIE Live Expo Winter 2022 DAY1 : Let’s Play (English)
The INDIE Live Expo is a content-rich program that provides the latest indie game news to enthusiasts worldwide. Broadcasted in Japanese, Chinese, and English, it has attracted over 57 million views and introduced over 1,500 games. Day 1 is a ‘Let’s Play’ day, and Day 2 is the awards ceremony day!
The program features a variety of segments, such as INDIE Waves, which showcases a rapid succession of released games across all platforms, and Game Pick-up, which highlights noteworthy games selected by the INDIE Live Expo Board and Media Partners. Additionally, the expo includes segments like Let's Play Games, where content creators play incredible indie games, and Publisher Selection, which introduces new information and exclusive footage from games handpicked by publishers. The expo's Special Feature segment, made possible by the support of numerous sponsors, shares valuable information for gamers, developers, and publishers, focusing on sponsors' initiatives and services.
Attendance: Over 57 million viewers!
Event Highlights:
- No need to come to Japan, this is an online event!
- Get exclusive content and footage!
- Watch the awards ceremony to learn about the best games of the year!
Twitter: @INDIELiveExpo (https://twitter.com/indieliveexpo)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/INDIELiveExpo/
Check out a screenshot from their livestream!
4. Game Market
【初日】ゲームマーケット2022秋に潜入！: Here is a walkthrough of Game Market!
Game Market is a Japanese gaming convention that showcases "analog games," which do not require electricity, such as board games and card games. Game Market occurs twice a year at Tokyo Big Sight during spring and autumn, as well as once a year in Osaka. Focusing on non-electric games, a niche genre within the gaming community, Game Market features booths operated by both commercial enterprises and enthusiast groups.
The convention attracts a diverse crowd, including families and couples, and offers a variety of booths catering to young children, as well as free spaces designated as play areas. To maintain a family-friendly atmosphere, the event enforces a strict ban on the exhibition of adult games. This inclusive environment ensures that the Game Market remains a welcoming space for all ages and interests.
Attendance: 29,000 (in 2019)
Event Highlights:
- Unplug and get to play with some analog games!
- Browse the immense amount of games and discover a new game!
- Enjoy the friendly atmosphere!
Twitter: @GameMarket_ (https://twitter.com/GameMarket_)
So many booths to visit!
3. BitSummit
BitSummit 2022 Is Hotter Than We Thought
BitSummit, Japan's premier independent game development festival in Kyoto, was established in late 2012 with the aim of providing Japanese indie game creators with a platform to showcase their games globally. Since its inception as a small, industry-only gathering, BitSummit has grown exponentially into a large event. The event has garnered support from various industry leaders and has become a prominent stage for indie developers to present their talents to the world.
Apart from highlighting exceptional indie games, BitSummit distinguishes itself by featuring outstanding indie gaming musicians from Japan and around the globe. The event has received extensive worldwide coverage. Moreover, BitSummit has been a focal point for panel discussions at renowned conferences such as Game Developers Conference, IndieCade, IndieCade East, and CEDEC.
Attendance: 11,000 (in 2018)
Event Highlights:
- Located outside of Tokyo in Kyoto!
- Highlights the greatest indie games out in Japan!
- They also feature indie gaming musicians!
Twitter: @BitSummit (https://twitter.com/BitSummit)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bitsummit/
Check out one of the performances!
2. Indie Games Connect
60ブース以上集まったインディーゲーム即売会IGCにいってきました！【Indie games connect 2022】: Here are some of the games showcased at Indie Games Connect!
Centered around the theme of "fostering connections with indie creators," the Indie Games Connect event has generated buzz for offering both free booth exhibition spaces and complimentary admission to the venue. Driven by the desire to help creators share their unique games with as many people as possible, KONAMI, the sponsor, is committed to producing products that enable wider access to these imaginative works. The goal is to support creators who wish to bring their artistic visions to a broader audience.
Starting in 2022, the event also aims to establish a platform for creators to engage with one another and exchange ideas. By removing financial barriers, Indie Games Connect seeks to cultivate an environment where indie creators can showcase their work and develop meaningful connections with fellow developers and enthusiasts. This inclusive approach ensures that the event remains an accessible and inspiring space for the indie game community.
Attendance: unknown since this is a relatively new event
Event Highlights
- Entirely free for everyone allowing anyone to showcase their games!
- An event focused on building connections and exchanging ideas!
- A new event and a new take on a gaming event!
No dedicated Twitter for the event, but here is the sponsor’s account: @KONAMI537ch (https://twitter.com/KONAMI573ch)
Inside the event!
1. Tokyo Game Show
Extensive walk at Tokyo Game Show 2022 ・4K HDR
Tokyo Game Show (TGS) is a notable video game trade fair and convention. TGS primarily showcases Japanese games but also features upcoming international releases and related hardware. Spanning four days, the first two are reserved for industry professionals, while the general public is welcome during the final two days.
The TGS layout changes annually, with past events featuring diverse exhibition areas that include business, public, education, and merchandise sales spaces. At the heart of the show is the General Exhibition Area, where prominent companies present their latest offerings. TGS also spotlights emerging Asian game developers, as well as games aimed at younger audiences, digital art and animation, and even cosplay.
Attendance: almost 300,000 in 2018!
Event Highlights:
- Join one of the world’s largest gaming events!
- Get a sneak peek of new games from prominent companies!
- Days for industry professionals and the general public!
Twitter: @tokyo_game_show (https://twitter.com/tokyo_game_show)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tokyogameshow/
I would get lost in here…
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