For 11 consecutive years, Famitsu magazine has asked Japanese developers to name the best game of the year and awarded the winner the title of "Ultra Popular Game." In 2025, the winner was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
The top 5 is as follows:
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
- Ghost of Yōtei.
- Urban Myth Dissolution Center.
- Donkey Kong Bananza.
- Mario Kart World.
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191 developers participated in the survey. Among the respondents were:
- Koji Igarashi (Castlevania).
- Koshi Nakanishi (Resident Evil).
- Hideki Kamiya (Okami, Bayonetta).
- Tomohiko Sho (Dynasty Warriors).
- Yoshinori Kitase (Final Fantasy).
- Naoki Hamaguchi (Final Fantasy).
- Naoki Yoshida (Final Fantasy XIV).
- Shun Nakamura (Sonic).
- Katsuhiro Harada (Tekken).
- Hidetaka Suehiro (Deadly Premonition).
Previously, the title of "Ultra Popular Game" was awarded to Marvel’s Spider-Man, Death Stranding, Elden Ring, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.