SELECTED INDIE 80 / SOWN2026

SELECTED INDIE 80

TOKYO GAME SHOW (TGS) 2026 provides a platform where indie developers (individuals and corporations) can play an active role, and with the aim of contributing to the growth of the global game industry, TGS2026 accepts applications for the "SELECTED INDIE 80" slot, where indie game developers can exhibit for free with the support of our sponsoring companies. Check out the application qualifications and conditions, etc., and apply for "SELECTED INDIE 80" with your own title. The exhibitors will be selected by the SELECTED INDIE 80 screening committee (80 titles are planned to be selected).

TGS Management Office will be screening for qualified exhibitors. The selected exhibitors will be automatically entered as candidates for the presentation event "SENSE OF WONDER NIGHT 2026" (SOWN2026).

The personal information submitted for the "SELECTED INDIE 80" will be collected by Nikkei Business Publications Inc. It will then be managed in full compliance with Privacy Statement of Nikkei Business Publications Inc. Also, the same information will be provided to respective third parties, the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) , the organizer of TOKYO GAME SHOW 2026 and Sony Music Solutions, the co-organizers of TOKYO GAME SHOW 2026 for the purpose of the sending information (e-mail, direct mail and research questionnaire etc.). After Providing Personal Information to the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) and Sony Music Solutions each will then manage your information on its own responsibility.

The information related to the title entered at the time of entry will be posted on the website, etc., and will be shared with outsourced companies that have signed confidentiality agreements, judges, and sponsor companies that support "SELECTED INDIE 80."

In addition, TGS Management Office sends e-mails, etc., on behalf of various sponsor companies (information on meetings, products/services, exhibitions/seminars/events, etc.) and requests for surveys, etc.

Please only apply if you agree to provide your registration information. Application deadline: April 30(Thu.), 2026, 5:00 PM JST. Qualified/Unqualified result about "SELECTED INDIE 80": By email around May 20

If you do not meet the conditions of this project, or if you are not selected for the "SELECTED INDIE 80," please consider exhibiting at the "Indie Game Area" as usual (paid exhibit).

Inquiries about SELECTED INDIE 80
To Apply

【Application Period】: February 10, 2026 - April 30, 2026, 5:00 PM (Japan Standard Time)

Starting with TGS2026, exhibitors will be able to select their booth location in the order of application entry. However, booth location selection will be limited to the top 40 companies (planned). Furthermore, for game exhibits requiring non-standard space, special display formats (e.g., VR games), or cases where wiring constraints necessitate a fixed booth location, TGS Management Office will determine the booth position. Booth positions for the 40 companies that applied later will also be determined by TGS Management Office.
As access may become congested near the deadline, please apply well in advance. No applications will be accepted after the deadline.

Application Conditions and Outline for SELECTED INDIE 80

Venue	Makuhari Messe (2-1, Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba-city, 261-8550 Japan)
Period	September 17(Thu.) - 21(Mon.), 2026
Application Period	February 10, 2026 - April 30, 2026, 5:00 PM (Japan Standard Time) Starting with TGS2026, exhibitors will be able to select their booth location in the order of application entry. However, booth location selection will be limited to the top 40 companies (planned). Furthermore, for game exhibits requiring non-standard space, special display formats (e.g., VR games), or cases where wiring constraints necessitate a fixed booth location, TGS Management Office will determine the booth position. Booth positions for the 40 companies that applied later will also be determined by TGS Management Office. As access may become congested near the deadline, please apply well in advance. No applications will be accepted after the deadline.
Screening	Selection will be conducted by TGS Management Office
Exhibition Fee	Free
About Screening	①To whom wish to apply for SELECTED INDIE 80, please check whether you meet "Group or Organization that can be exhibited" and your work submitted for entry meet "What can be exhibited" first, then click on the link below, named "Application" to fill out the web form and submit it. If you apply for more than one title for "SELECTED INDIE 80," please apply for each one. ②After the application deadline, we are supposed to review all applications to select the titles presented for the exhibition. We will then directly inform individual or company applicants who passed the screening. ③The selected exhibitors will be automatically entered as candidates for the presentation event SENSE OF WONDER NIGHT 2026 (SOWN2026).
Qualification	Open to all individuals regardless of nationality, age, or occupation (students, game producers, etc.) and to all corporate bodies.
Group or Organization that can be exhibited	Only those who can exhibit at Makuhari Messe for 5 days For annual sales of the developer (individual or corporate) of the submitted title: Corporate: Annual Sales with USD500,000/JPY50 Million or less Individual: Annual Sales with USD100,000/JPY10 Million or less If the developer of the submitted title is a corporation, it must be fully independent in terms of capital.
What can be exhibited	A completely original game (Derivative content cannot be exhibited regardless of whether or not it is licensed.) Created for a platform for which an applicant has the right to develop Works that comply with the CESA Code of Ethics and the CERO Code of Ethics CESA "Global Event Compliance Policy" https://www.cesa.or.jp/compliance/index-en.html About CERO https://www.cero.gr.jp/en/publics/index/3/ And do not fall under any of the following items: ①An expression that conflicts with or that may conflict with Attached Appendix 3 "Banned Expressions" of the CERO Code of Ethics (http://www.cero.gr.jp/en/publics/index/18/) is included. ②Works for which an "Z" rating category was assigned by CERO or an expression equivalent to the"Z" rating category may be included. ③Works that have already been released overseas and for which a "17+" (MATURE) rating category was assigned by an overseas examination body (e.g. ESRB). ④Works planned to be released overseas for which a "17+" (MATURE) rating category is expected to be assigned by an overseas examination body (e.g., ESRB) (excessively bloody works that cannot be regarded as being equivalent to a "13+" (TEEN) rating category.)

Major Game Titles by CERO Rating

	Nintendo Switch	PS5	Xbox Series X❘S
CERO:A for all ages	Nintendo Switch Super Mario Party Jamboree Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 etc.	PS5 ASTRO BOT Gran Turismo 7 EA SPORTS FC 25 etc.	Xbox Series X❘S Minecraft SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS Fall Guys etc.
CERO:B for 12-year-olds and above	Nintendo Switch DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake Yu-Gi-Oh! EARLY DAYS COLLECTION Tales of Graces f Remastered etc.	PS5 Dynasty Warriors: Origins GRANBLUE FANTASY: Relink FANTASIAN Neo Dimension etc.	Xbox Series X❘S Forza Horizon 5 DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 Marvel's Avengers Definitive Edition etc.
CERO:C for 15-year-olds and above	Nintendo Switch Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Persona 5 Tactica Freedom Wars Remastered etc.	PS5 Monster Hunter Wilds Metaphor: ReFantazio SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada DELUXE EDITION etc.	Xbox Series X❘S ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON Hogwarts Legacy Xbox Series X\|S Version Fortnite OG etc.
CERO:D for 17-year-olds and above	Nintendo Switch Bayonetta 3 METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.1 Night Slashers: Remake etc.	PS5 Stellar Blade Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii FINAL FANTASY XVI etc.	Xbox Series X❘S DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT Halo Infinite SCARLET NEXUS etc.
CERO:Z for 18-year-olds and above only	Nintendo Switch S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: LEGENDS OF THE ZONE TRILOGY TSUKIHIME -A piece of blue glass moon- THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD: Remake etc.	PS5 Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Resident Evil 7 biohazard Cloud etc.	Xbox Series X❘S The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Saints Row GUNGRAVE G.O.R.E etc.

SELECTED INDIE 80 Benefits

TGS2026 will provide the following services to exhibitors (For SELECTED INDIE 80) with free of charge.

●A dedicated booth will be set up in Indie Game Area at the Makuhari Messe venue. (See the booth image)
●Rental of equipment such as PCs and display monitors (planned)
●5 exhibitor passes
●Internet WiFi Access at the booth (no guaranteed bandwidth)
●Posting exhibitor names on the TGS official website "Exhibitor List/SELECTED INDIE 80" page
●Exhibitor introduction pages (Japanese and English) are provided
●Exhibited titles will be posted on the TGS special site installed on Steam (if titles for Steam are available)
●Use of TGS Business Matching System
●Use of Indie Meetup Area (Meeting Space)

Booth image

Application guidelines

Deadline	April 30, 2026, 5:00 PM (Japan Standard Time) Starting with TGS2026, exhibitors will be able to select their booth location in the order of application entry. However, booth location selection will be limited to the top 40 companies (planned). Furthermore, for game exhibits requiring non-standard space, special display formats (e.g., VR games), or cases where wiring constraints necessitate a fixed booth location, TGS Management Office will determine the booth position. Booth positions for the 40 companies that applied later will also be determined by TGS Management Office. As access may become congested near the deadline, please apply well in advance. No applications will be accepted after the deadline.
Application	Submit Indie Game "SELECTED INDIE 80"
Schedule	Qualified/Unqualified result about "SELECTED INDIE 80" By email around May 20. TGS Management Office do not accept inquiries by phone.
Contact	For inquiries about SELECTED INDIE 80, please put your inquiry through the link button below.

Inquiries about SELECTED INDIE 80
To Apply

SENSE OF WONDER NIGHT (SOWN)

"SENSE OF WONDER NIGHT (SOWN)" is an event that aims to discover game ideas that will trigger a "Sense of Wonder" (a feeling of something changing in one's world the moment one sees or hears the concept). SOWN2026 is open to companies selected for the SELECTED INDIE 80, as well as companies that have secured paid exhibition space in the Indie Game Corner (excluding online exhibitors).

The presentation will be held on Thursday, September 17, the first day of the event, at Makuhari Messe. Footage of the presentation will be archived and released as part of the TGS official program on Friday, September 18, the second day of the event. On the day of the presentation, the winners of the "Audience Award Grand Prix" "Audience Award Semi-Grand Prix" "Best Technological Game Award" "Best Arts Award" "Best Experimental Game Award" "Best Game Design Award" "Best Presentation Award."

Last year's "SENSE OF WONDER NIGHT 2025" can be viewed on TGS Official YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/live/Dn6WoTJweCs

Objectives of SOWN

●To introduce game with a game design and ideas that are experimental and creative, and that cannot be called conventional or traditional
●To raise awareness of the great value of "Sense of Wonder" in games, which may transform the common sense of game, and lead to invigorate the game industry
●To provide future opportunities for those who are developing experimental and creative games
●To create new domains in the game industry

SOWN targets games that meet the following five criteria.

❶ A game that realizes a totally new, never-seen-before gaming experience: A game that employs technologies that have not previously been used successfully, such as natural language processing, physics engines, image recognition or gesture control, to present a new kind of experience.

❷ A game that challenges the common sense of games: A game that pursues new ways of gaming expressions and changes the player's vision of the world after playing and experiencing it.

❸ A game with emergent features: A game that brings user's activities into the game world by embedding features such as AI interactions and social elements.

❹ A game that makes people want to play it immediately: A game that makes everyone thinks that they want to enjoy the new experience for themselves and feel that they want to treasure it.

❺ An amazing game: Any kind of new, eye-grabbing and impressive game!!

Acknowledgement

The "SENSE OF WONDER NIGHT" event has received a lot of inspiration from the "Experimental Gameplay Workshop" that was started at the Game Developers Conference in 2001. We would like to express our thanks to the many people who helped to make these workshops a success and to all our friends.

SOWN2026 Implementation Outline

Date	September 17 (Thu.), 2026
Venue	TGS2026 Scheduled in Makuhari Messe venue
Prize Money	Grand prix (Audience Award Grand Prix): USD 3,000 Other awards: USD 500 Audience Award Semi-Grand Prix Best Technological Game Award Best Arts Award Best Experimental Game Award Best Game Design Award Best Presentation Award
Eligibility	SELECTED INDIE 80 exhibitors, Indie Game Area exhibitors (excluding online exhibitors)
Application Period and Method	Exhibitors selected for the SELECTED INDIE 80 will automatically be entered as candidates for the presentation event "SENSE OF WONDER NIGHT 2026" (SOWN2026). Indie Game Area exhibitors The application method and application period differ for exhibitors in the regular Indie Game Area. Application period: Late June 2026 [planned] to Tuesday, July 14 TGS Management Office will send an entry guide to Indie Game Area exhibitors (from mid-June (planned)).
What can be exhibited	A completely original game (Derivative content cannot be exhibited regardless of whether or not it is licensed.) Created for a platform for which an applicant has the right to develop. Works that comply with the CESA Code of Ethics and the CERO Code of Ethics CESA "Global Event Compliance Policy" https://www.cesa.or.jp/compliance/index-en.html About CERO https://www.cero.gr.jp/en/publics/index/3/ And do not fall under any of the following items: ①An expression that conflicts with or that may conflict with Attached Appendix 3 "Banned Expressions" of the CERO Code of Ethics (http://www.cero.gr.jp/en/publics/index/18/) is included. ②Works for which an "Z" rating category was assigned by CERO or an expression equivalent to the"Z" rating category may be included. ③Works that have already been released overseas and for which a "17+" (MATURE) rating category was assigned by an overseas examination body (e.g. ESRB). ④Works planned to be released overseas for which a "17+" (MATURE) rating category is expected to be assigned by an overseas examination body (e.g., ESRB) (excessively bloody works that cannot be regarded as being equivalent to a "13+" (TEEN) rating category.)
Selection	Yes Regarding the selection of the 8 SOWN finalists TGS Management Office will contact the relevant companies from August onwards (date to be confirmed). The selection and decision will be made by the SOWN judge. Exhibitors selected as SOWN finalists will be finalized upon agreeing to the following conditions. Participation in the SENSE OF WONDER NIGHT (SOWN) (with a preliminary rehearsal) Submission of a video introducing the exhibitor Presentation by the game developer (with a question-and-answer session by the SOWN judges) Simultaneous interpretation between Japanese and English will be provided The content is subject to change.