MEMORIES: TCG and Video games in Japan expo 2025
Between new video game releases and the rising popularity of TCGs, the festival’s gaming zone was once again bursting with content to try out or rediscover, much to the delight of players from all backgrounds.
They came to share their games with you!
This year, Metronomik Studio made a grand appearance to showcase No Straight Roads 2, accompanied by some truly remarkable guests!
- Hajime Tabata, director of Final Fantasy XV, founder of JP Universe, and a pioneering figure in the Japanese metaverse.
- Idir Alexander OULD BRAHAM, Executive Producer of No Straight Roads 2 and Head of Business, Production & Communications at Metronomik.
They were joined by the French voice actors of Mayday and Zuke:
- Kelly Marot (Katniss Everdeen, Sansa Stark, Nami, and more)
- Donald Reignoux (Spider-Man, Sora, Shinji Ikari, Denji, Titeuf, and many others)
Hiroshi Matsuyama, president of the game development studio CyberConnect2, met with fans for special talks on Asura’s Wrath, Fuga: Melodies of Steel, and working abroad in the gaming industry! The festival also gave visitors the chance to attend one of his autograph sessions.
Meanwhile, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 made major waves in the gaming world this year. A standout RPG and a source of national pride, this stunning title comes from Montpellier-based studio Sandfall.
On the Také stage at Japan Expo, the developers—including voice actors and graphic artists—took the audience behind the scenes, sharing insights into cinematic production, voice work, music composition, and motion capture.
A priceless moment for anyone curious about the creative side of game development!
An unprecedented crowd turned up for the occasion—a record for the Také stage!
Baguette-fits cosplays were everywhere! If this event reached the next level, it’s all thanks to you!
The Switch 2 Premieres at Japan Expo!
Launched just a month before the festival, the Switch 2 was already making its mark in Japan Expo, where visitors got an exclusive hands-on with some of the most anticipated titles:
Donkey Kong Bananza, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Kirby and the Forgotten World, and Mario Party Jamboree.
Playable demos, free tournaments, and a friendly atmosphere—Nintendo gave fans a promising glimpse of its next-gen console.
And the cherry on top? Visitors could grab exclusive goodies at the nearby Nintendo Pop-up Store!
At the SEGA booth, visitors got the chance to take control once again of the legendary ninja Joe Musashi from the iconic Shinobi series—a true staple of the Mega Drive’s golden era.
They also discovered the upcoming fighting game inspired by the hit anime Demon Slayer.
A special panel took fans even deeper into both worlds, with insights on SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2.
Cy! Cy! Cy!
Cygames' latest hits made a big splash in the video game area of Hall 6!
Gamers got to try out the newest releases from Granblue Fantasy and Umamusume.
And to top it all off, Cygames hosted an exclusive Friday night screening of the anime adaptation Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era!
On the conference side, Bandai Namco revealed gameplay for three upcoming titles:
- PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY
- DIGIMON STORY: TIME STRANGER
- Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree
Meanwhile, the Tamagotchi booth was an absolute crowd favorite—visitors just couldn’t get enough!
The iconic digital creatures made a huge splash at Japan Expo, charming fans old and new.
Gamers on the lookout for fresh releases were treated to exclusive panels revealing some of the most anticipated upcoming titles, including:
- Absolum
- Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
- Arknights: Endfield
Gaming is for everyone — including seniors!
The final round of the senior gaming competition was in full swing on the Také stage, featuring the spirited members of the Silver Geek association!
In the spirit of making digital activities more accessible to all, Xavier Dang (aka Mistermv) hand in hand with gouvernment official Sarah El Haïry, Minister Delegate for Children, to attend Safe Bear’s conference on cybersecurity.
draw your pad cowboy!
Here comes new challengers!
Competition was in full swing! Players battled it out in 2 Lives tournaments, with live commentary broadcast on big screens, or took on the challenge of Arena Gaming’s Octagon for intense one-on-one duels in the perfect setting.
Players with rhythm in their bones gathered at the JVM Events booth!
Specializing in music games, some imported directly from Japan, the booth featured classics like Just Dance, Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, Taiko no Tatsujin, and many more.
A look to the past, a look to the future—Japan Expo showcased both the roots of video gaming and its new branches!
At the Retro du Cœur and MO5 booths, visitors could replay timeless classics and learn more about the titles that shaped gaming history.
For those seeking innovation, virtual reality and hybrid experiences were also featured, like Battleswords by Codatech, a game that combines physical activity with digital immersion!
Esports was definitely part of the Japan Expo 2025 scene, with booths like On-Lan’s making a strong presence!
a kingdom of games
One of the big new features this year was the launch of the TCG Kingdom area!
Duelists faced off with great passion, engaging in intense matches, discovering new trading card games, and competing in fierce tournaments.
The main attraction of this new area was the Mana stage!
Tournament finals were now held live in front of an audience, with real-time commentary and big-screen broadcasts.
Fans will especially remember the passionate appearances of the unstoppable Tero, who brought fiery commentary and led beginner workshops on Yu-Gi-Oh! alongside France’s top champions.
Whether it’s video games, card games, role-playing games, or board games, visitors had plenty of opportunities to meet, have fun, and share their passion.
At Japan Expo, gamers always feel right at home!