Game Market Spring

Game Market is Japan's largest tabletop game event, held twice a year in spring and autumn. This is the 2027 spring edition. Organised by Arclight Co., Ltd., the two-day event will feature more than 1,300 booths, including participation from 60 organisations across 10 countries - the largest scale in the history of the spring edition.

About Game Market

Game Market is a general-audience event dedicated to analog games - a Japanese umbrella term covering board games, card games, tabletop games, tabletop role-playing games (TRPGs), trading card games (TCGs), murder mystery games, and other non-electronic formats. Alongside the gameplay itself, these games have drawn increasing attention in recent years as face-to-face communication tools in an otherwise digital-first environment.

First held in 2000, Game Market has grown steadily over more than 25 years of operation. The autumn 2025 edition marked a milestone by drawing more than 30,000 attendees for the first time.

The event is not limited to sales. Visitors can watch stage programs, receive explanations of games directly from their creators, and try titles on the spot. The general booths showcase the latest original creations from independent designers, while corporate area booths host major product announcements, advance sales, and event-exclusive items.

New for This Edition

Expanded hands-on play areas

A significantly larger number of general exhibitor booths will offer on-the-spot play sessions, responding to attendee demand to try games before purchasing. Dedicated installations include:

• Big Game Park - oversized board games designed as a unique in-person experience.

• The World of Truly Great Eurogames - a curated area featuring classic eurogames recommended for players new to the hobby.

Improved navigation

For the first time, booths will be arranged by genre (board games, TRPGs, and so on), and new indicator stickers will mark each booth's number and whether play-testing is available. The goal is to make it easier for visitors to find specific titles and creators.

Special Stage Program

Highlights of this edition's stage programming include:

• A live cross-broadcast link with BitSummit, the indie video game festival taking place in Kyoto on the same weekend.

• An academic talk on "Board Games and Intellectual Property" held in cooperation with the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the Japan Patent Office.

• Talks on game design theory by international guests - a recurring feature of the spring event.

International Business Participation

The Overseas Business Participation Program, introduced in spring 2025, has doubled in scale for this edition, with 15 international manufacturers and buyers confirmed to attend. The program supports business meetings focused on Japanese board games, which continue to attract global attention. In addition, 45 organisations from outside Japan will be exhibiting, forming a dedicated international section on the show floor.