Tokyo Game Show 2025 is open to the public until the 28th. According to the secretariat, the event drew 52,352 visitors on day one and 54,779 on day two, totaling 107,131 attendees in just two days. Expect even higher turnouts as the doors open to the general public on the 27th and 28th.

Despite the overwhelming crush of gamers, a few standout titles managed to steal the spotlight. While I couldn't possibly play everything, I’ve hand-picked the most impressive, high-quality titles I managed to get my hands on. They are listed in alphabetical order.

Onimusha: Way Of The Sword brings a soul-like sensibility to katana combat. You have distinct light and heavy attacks mapped to one-handed and two-handed strikes. Defeating enemies leaves souls scattered about, which you can absorb with your gauntlet to restore health. Mastering the katana’s guard is essential; perfectly timed blocks trigger a satisfying parry.

The demo culminated in a boss fight against the iconic villain Kojiro Sasaki. He’s a real piece of work, forcing you to learn his patterns and navigate unblockable attacks. Parry aggressively to create openings; once his stagger gauge under his health bar hits zero, you can land a devastating 'Issen' critical strike. Use it on the head for raw damage or the body for extra souls—it’s a tactical call you’ll need to make on the fly.

The Professor is back. While there is talk of a Korean language release, the TGS demo was strictly limited to English and Japanese. We were treated to the opening sequence where Layton reunites with Luke. The steam-filled town captures that quintessential steampunk charm with a uniquely 'Layton' flair, and seeing an older Luke is a welcome delight.

I tackled about three puzzles. They are classic Layton—deceptively tricky, but painfully obvious once the lightbulb goes off. The presentation, however, is much slicker, with refined animations and sharper visuals. Watching the Professor’s newly dynamic animations upon solving a puzzle makes you really feel the passage of time.

Developed by Naked Rain under the NetEase umbrella, this subculture RPG drew the biggest crowds at TGS—though the free cute bags might have helped. The demo covered early combat, vehicle traversal, and urban exploration. It’s a testament to the prowess of Chinese developers, with combat quality that feels truly substantial. The environmental interactions are impressive; you can blast enemies into parked car windows or clear rooms with well-placed skills.

Vehicle chases are equally reactive—shoot the engine to trigger an explosion or the tires to blow them out. It’s effectively a AAA action game with an anime coat of paint, complete with well-integrated QTEs. However, the console key mapping felt a bit clunky, and with abilities like swinging between buildings using tentacles or binding groups of enemies, comparisons to 'Marvel's Spider-Man 2' are inevitable.

Developed by China’s Manjuu, this is a monster-taming RPG that feels less like Pokémon or Palworld and more about duo-combat. You field a team of three, each paired with a creature called a 'Kibo'. Skills are split between character-specific moves, ultimates, and special skills tied to your Kibo.

The graphics are stellar, and the creature designs are undeniably charming. Combat is standard fare—dodge and weave through enemy AOE attacks—but the flashy skill animations make it a visual treat. The riding mechanics were limited in the demo, and given it's still in development, the controls and sense of speed felt a bit lacking.

In the demo, just like the final release, you can pick between the two titles from the start. Yakuza Kiwami 3 drops you into early-game Okinawa, where Kiryu crosses paths with Rikiya Ryudo. You can cycle through styles—the classic 'Dragon of Dojima' to pummel foes, or the 'Ryukyu Style' to wield shields, swords, and bo staffs. It’s always a bit odd that Kiryu’s bare fists pack more punch than a literal weapon.

The side story lets you witness the first meeting between Yoshitaka Mine and Kanda. Mine’s 'Shoot Boxing' style is a highlight, featuring grapple-to-kick combos and high-flying aerial attacks. Engaging 'Dark Awakening' mode reduces incoming damage while boosting your own, letting you stay on the offensive. You can also hear Mine belt out 'Baka Mitai' and deal with Kanda, the absolute 'human trash' who somehow always finds trouble.

The latest from Studiobside CEO Ryu Geum-tae, the man behind 'CounterSide'. You play as a 'Director' nurturing 'Saviours'—you can train them, send them to earn cash, or just feed them good food. The time-based progression feels like a cheeky nod to 'Princess Maker'.

Combat is turn-based, focusing on exploiting enemy weaknesses with the right characters. True to Ryu’s reputation for character-focused design, the skill animations are flamboyant and brimming with personality. Even in the management phase, the attention to detail in character expressions and animations is quite something.

Capcom’s long-awaited 'Pragmata' was another massive draw. The demo focused on its unique mechanics and boss encounters. The controls are particularly interesting: one hand handles your firearm, while the other guides the girl, Diana, through hacking puzzles. You move a cursor across a grid to reach a target; it's not strictly about hitting every node, but each one you pass strips away the enemy android’s armor.

Your kit includes a pistol, a shotgun found mid-stage, and a 'Stasis Net' to slow enemies down. The pistol reloads automatically, but the shotgun and net are one-and-done until you find more. The boss, a giant robot, features a much larger and more complex hacking grid. With its relentless charges and barrages, the dance of shooting, moving, and hacking is genuinely engaging.