The Japan-centered expo is a long way off from the days of the 2000s when it felt very similar to E3. These days, most of the time the focus is on mobile titles and smaller, niche titles that will never leave Japan.
That said, with everything being online-only again, this year things were a bit more interesting than usual. Square-Enix and Capcom both had shows containing major announcements, with other companies making an appearance as well to discuss their titles. Fans of Japanese games likely walked away with at least one thing they were excited for, even if it was just the announcement of some release dates for games they were looking for.
10 Dragon Quest X Offline Is Coming To PlayStation, PC And Nintendo Switch
Dragon Quest X was one of the most popular MMOs in Japan for years after it launched on the Wii in 2012. For years, fans in the West have wanted to have access to the title, and now it appears they just might get their wish, as the game was confirmed to be releasing for Playstation consoles as well as the Nintendo Switch and PC next February.
Taking place on the world Astoltia, Dragon Quest X Offline invites the protagonist to explore several massive continents to save the planet and the five tribes that inhabit the location.
9 Tales of Arise Is Working With Sword Art Online
Tales of Arise is the biggest J-RPG of the year, garnering rave reviews and rather impressive sales for its first few weeks on store shelves. So it only makes sense that Bandai-Namco has decided to partner it with one of the most popular anime franchises of the 2010s. Kirito and Asuna are coming to Tales of Arise as a boss battle in DLC, but players will also be able to outfit Alphen and Shionne with Kirito and Asuna’s outfits.
This is a pretty neat collaboration for fans of both franchises, and it offers some more customization options for the characters’ appearances.
8 Atelier Sophie 2 Takes Its Protagonists To A New World
Koei-Tecmo and Gust have another Atelier game coming with a sequel to their Atelier Sophie franchise. Atelier Sophie 2 has Sophie leaving her hometown and traveling to a place where she finds a massive tree that sucks her and her friend Plachta into a vortex.
She awakens in another world called Erde Wiege, where more adventures await her. Atelier Sophie 2 has gorgeous graphics on the level of Atelier Ryza 2, and proves that Gust isn’t taking it easy after releasing one of their best-selling titles.
7 110 Industries Premieres Three Brand New Titles
110 Industries came out of nowhere at this Tokyo Game Show, announcing not one, but three different titles at their show. The first was a third-person action title called Wanted: Dead or Alive, developed by some of the developers of Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive. They also announced Red Goes Faster, a sci-fi racing game and a mecha game called Vengeance is Mine.
Immediately popping up and announcing three AAA games is a huge deal, and the only reason it’s not even more discussed is they didn’t show a ton of footage of any of their games.
6 Sin Chronicle Is Sega's New Mobile RPG
Sega had been hyping up a new RPG announcement for months, and at Tokyo Game Show they finally announced what the game actually was. From the developers of the Chain Chronicle title, Sega is working on a new mobile title known as Sin Chronicle.
Here the focus is truly on the role-playing element, as they emphasized how the players choices will decide everything in the game, from saving friends to the world itself. Though fans might not have been excited Stateside, Sega devoted an hour of their press conference to the games, showing off the characters and its large, detailed world.
5 Echoes of Mana Is Releasing Next Spring For Phones
The Mana franchise has experienced a resurgence as of late, thanks to titles like Trials of Mana and the remaster of Legend of Mana. And Square-Enix’s not done with the franchise yet, as they’re working on a mobile title called Echoes of Mana.
This game will be set in a world where everything has already been lost, and the protagonist is trying to restore his world by traveling to different worlds, where he’ll meet Mana protagonists from the original games. Echoes of Mana not only got another release date, but they confirmed the game would be launching next Spring.
4 Monster Hunter Rise Has Ghosts ‘n Goblins and Sonic The Hedgehog Collaborations Coming
People have been waiting on news of Monster Hunter Rise’s PC version for months, and finally they got them at TGS. Monster Hunter Rise comes to PC on January 12th, with Sunbreak coming out in the Summer for both Nintendo Switch and PC gamers. But equally interesting is that Capcom is continuing its collaborations by adding crossovers with the popular series Ghost ‘n Goblins: Resurrection.
Players will be able to become Arthur by donning his armor, and their knives will become lances when thrown. Meanwhile, the Sonic the Hedgehog collaboration is still a mystery, but the fact that Capcom is willing to let their franchises have fun like this is amazing.
3 King of Fighters XV Introduces Characters K' and Isla
SNK announced it would be delaying the newest King of Fighters into 2022 earlier in the year, but that only meant they were allowed more time to give each character the attention they deserved. They’ve continued promoting the game since its delay, every week offering at least one new trailer for people.
Tokyo Game Show introduced long-time character K’ and new character Isla into the game. Director Eisuke Ogura has confirmed that Isla will be a major part of this game’s storyline alongside Shun’ei, so presumably, players will be hearing more about her soon.
2 Final Fantasy VII: First Soldier Is Coming This November
Final Fantasy VII’s massive popularity was something Square-Enix was well aware of, which is why they created Final Fantasy: First Soldier. The title is a battle royale action game set within the Final Fantasy VII universe. In it, players are in the role of being SOLDIER candidates, working underneath President Shinra.
Players battle against one another with a unique set of classes while also fighting other monsters to be the last one standing. Announced earlier in the year, the game now has a confirmed release date of November.
1 Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin Has Another Demo And A Release Date
Team Ninja and Square-Enix have teamed up to bring fans a prequel of the original Final Fantasy title, and it’s been the most talked-about game Square’s announced all year. It’s from the creators of NiOh, which means challenging combat combined with tons of loot to customize characters.
At the show, the game’s fourth protagonist was confirmed as well as the news that players will be in the role of Garland, the villain of the original Final Fantasy title. A second demo was made available along with announcing the game would be releasing March 18th.