For three days, from July 18th to July 20th, 2025, Japan’s largest indie game festival, BitSummit was held at Miyako Messe in Kyoto. As a co-organizer of the event, KYOTO CMEX supported it through public relations. This article captures the excitement of this event that colored the hot Kyoto summer, making it enjoyable even for BitSummit beginners.

About BitSummit

BitSummit is Japan’s largest indie game festival, held annually in Kyoto. It was launched in late 2012 with the mission of promoting interesting domestic indie games to the world. While the number of visitors in its early days was around 200, it has grown into an event that attracted over 42,000 people in 2024, marking its 13th anniversary this year.

Here, we’ll share how to fully enjoy this ever-growing event, complete with photos.

Web: https://bitsummit.org/en/
X: https://x.com/BitSummit

Play Various Indie Games You Like!

Numerous booths were set up by game creators and companies. With so many options, it could be overwhelming to decide which games to play, so it was a good idea to decide on the booths you wanted to visit in advance. Playing the games often got you stickers, can badges, and acrylic cards, which could also be a fun goal.

PIGGY ONE SUPER SPARK

This booth belonged to room6, an indie game company based in Kyoto. It drew a crowd with its neon-style exterior and a Steam Deck connected to a CRT TV. The playable title was the eagerly anticipated PIGGY ONE SUPER SPARK, a classic 2D action game that was simple to control yet offered a challenging experience. Cute stickers were also being given away, which were a must-get.

Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2780230/_SUPER_SPARK/

HYKE:Northern Light(s)

This new game project by Akatsuki Games and Aniplex is a 2D top-down action RPG set in a world devastated by a war between humans and witches. The soft touch of the key visuals attracted the attention of many. The booth was designed to match the game’s worldview, and up to three people could play the demo at a time. Participants received an original acrylic card. The game is scheduled for release in the summer of 2025, so it’s one to add to your wishlist.

Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2680380/HYKENorthern_Lights/

Experience the New Nintendo Switch 2!

Visitors also had the chance to get their hands on the Nintendo Switch 2, which had just debuted in June 2025 (some sessions required a reservation). The game I played was “PICO PARK 2 + MOUSE STAGE,” where you use the “Joy-Con 2” like a mouse.

I teamed up with four people who just happened to be there, and we worked together to clear the stage. It was amazing how much fun we had, even though we were complete strangers, and it really made me feel the power of games.

You Can Play Board Games Too

There was also a dedicated area for board games, with about 20 booths lined up this year. If the creators were at their booths, you could even play games with them. If you found one you liked, you could buy it and take it home, so it was easy to try them out!

The photo shows the booth of Mousou Games, the board game developer which was previously featured on KYOTO CMEX. “BitSummit is a very international event”, said H1R0, the owner of Mousou Games; there were many participants from overseas and Chinese and English could be heard frequently throughout the venue.

Hungry? Head to the Food Area

The venue had an area for eating and drinking, so there was no need to worry about getting hungry. The photo shows the Isekai Sakaba (Otherworldly Tavern) by the fantasy event planning guild, Bahamut. The dish in the bottom right was actually edible.

Chat with Virtual Streamers (V-Liver)

V-Livers active on 17LIVE were also “visiting” the venue. The image shows Hakuro Ruru. They moved around fleely on screens attached to carts, making it easy to interact with them. Chatting them was free, so it was a great opportunity to share your BitSummit memories!

BitSummit Confirmed for 2026!

How was it? If it sounds fun, you should definitely visit BitSummit. From trying out the latest indie games and experiencing the newest hardware to engaging in heated board game matches and interacting with V-Livers, you could see participants coming together to have fun everywhere. The event was filled with the unique charm of BitSummit, where you could directly feel the passion of game creators and get excited about cooperative play with people you’ve just met. The ways to enjoy the event introduced in this article are just a few examples, so I hope you find your own way to have a blast at BitSummit.

Furthermore, at the closing ceremony of “BitSummit the 13th,” the dates for the next BitSummit were announced. It will be held for three days from May 22nd to May 24th, 2026, at the Miyako Messe in Kyoto. Accordingly, the application period for general exhibitors is scheduled to begin around November 2025. Be sure to visit Kyoto in the early summer next year and experience the passion of indie games for yourself.

Web: https://bitsummit.org/en/