Japan Game Awards: Game of the Year winners

The Japan Game Awards named 3 Games of the Year on record here, 1996–2023; the latest is Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak (2023). With 1 census season on record, how often it agrees with the whole field is not yet measurable. In the season calendar it comes 1 of 10: September, at Tokyo Game Show.

Japan's official industry award, presented at Tokyo Game Show.

The most recent winners: 2023, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak; 1999, Final Fantasy VIII; 1996, Sakura Wars.

WhenSeptember, at Tokyo Game Show
Who votesJapanese industry body CESA
First edition1996
CountryJapan

3Winners listed
1996–2023Years verified
3Different winners

Every Japan Game Awards Game of the Year

Year	Game of the Year
2023	Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
1999	Final Fantasy VIII
1996	Sakura Wars

Winner list from this site's own award rows, one cited source per pick.

Updated 2 October 2026 · Source: the Meta Awards database, where every award row cites where it was published.