GTA VI Is Not in Japan's Top Five: What Famitsu's Most Wanted Games Chart Really Shows
If you've seen the headlines saying GTA VI can't crack Japan's top three, they're technically right, but the full picture is more interesting. In Famitsu's latest reader poll of the most anticipated games in Japan, Rockstar's open-world game lands in sixth place, behind Nintendo and Atlus heavyweights. Here is what the chart says, what it doesn't, and why the result is less dramatic than it sounds.
Quick Answer: In Famitsu's Most Wanted poll (votes cast September 2 to 8, 2026), GTA VI ranks sixth in Japan with 244 votes. Pokémon Winds/Waves leads with 569, followed by Persona 6 and the Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. It is a reader poll, not a national survey.
Table of Contents
- The Famitsu Most Wanted Chart: Top 10
- Why Japanese Games Dominate the Chart
- GTA 6 in Japan: Steady, Not Sinking
- How to Read This Poll
- What Could Change Next
- FAQ
- Conclusion
The Famitsu Most Wanted Chart: Top 10
Famitsu, Japan's long-running gaming magazine, publishes a weekly "Most Wanted" ranking based on reader votes. The version covered here reflects votes cast between September 2 and September 8, 2026, and was reported by Nintendo Everything and iXBT Games. Platform tags come from the chart itself.
| Rank | Game | Platform | Votes |
| 1 | Pokémon Winds / Waves | Switch 2 | 569 |
| 2 | Persona 6 | PS5 | 477 |
| 3 | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | Switch 2 | 445 |
| 4 | Persona 4 Revival | PS5 | 416 |
| 5 | Final Fantasy VII Revelation | PS5 | 323 |
| 6 | Grand Theft Auto VI | PS5 | 244 |
| 7 | Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World | Switch 2 | 212 |
| 8 | Final Fantasy Resonance | Switch 2 | 170 |
| 9 | Xenoblade Genesis | Switch 2 | 159 |
| 10 | Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World | Switch | 154 |
Pokémon Winds/Waves collected more than twice GTA VI's vote total (569 vs. 244). The Switch 2 version of Metaphor: ReFantazio also appeared on the list for the first time, though it sits well outside the top ten.
Why Japanese Games Dominate the Chart
Every game in the top ten except GTA VI comes from a Japanese studio, and most are RPGs or long-running Nintendo franchises. That pattern isn't new. When the same poll placed GTA 6 eighth in late August, TheGamer pointed out that the top seven were all made by Japanese developers and leaned heavily toward RPGs.
Famitsu's readership has traditionally been tied closely to Japanese franchises, and a German outlet covering the same poll made that point too. The Pokémon, Zelda, Persona, Dragon Quest, and Final Fantasy names sitting above GTA VI are among the biggest brands in the Japanese market.
Persona 6 is a good example of how much brand loyalty matters. It still has no release date, yet it holds second place. Long-running franchises can rank high on anticipation alone.
GTA 6 in Japan: Steady, Not Sinking
The "not even in the top three" framing suggests GTA VI is losing ground in Japan. The weekly numbers don't show that. Across the 2026 charts, it has moved around the fifth to tenth positions:
- Late March: seventh place (196 votes)
- Early April: eighth place (207 votes)
- Late July: fifth place (270 votes)
- Early September: sixth place (241 votes), then eighth (233 votes), then sixth again (244 votes)
The trend is a stable presence in the top ten, with small changes from week to week that mostly reflect which Japanese games happen to be in the news. Aroged described it as the first Western game to appear on the list, now a regular in the top ten and competing for a few votes with the games around it.
There is also a different signal from the industry. In January, Famitsu surveyed 171 Japanese game developers about 2026, and many of them named GTA VI as the release they were most looking forward to. Fans and developers in Japan clearly don't feel the same way about it.
How to Read This Poll
A few points keep this chart in perspective:
- It is a reader vote. The results show what participating Famitsu readers are excited about, not the whole Japanese gaming population.
- It doesn't predict sales. Anticipation votes and sales are different things, and a game can rank modestly here and still perform well.
- It reflects a specific week. The votes were cast in early September, so this is a snapshot rather than a final verdict.
- Platform splits matter. The same game can appear on the chart several times under different platforms, as Dragon Quest Monsters does here, which spreads its votes.
What Could Change Next
Nintendo Everything noted that games shown in the most recent Nintendo Direct may start appearing in upcoming charts. That could push new Switch 2 titles into the top ten and shuffle the lower positions. Pokémon Winds and Waves are listed for Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027, so their lead has been built on anticipation for a game that is still well over a year away.
Because the chart in this article covers early-September votes, newer weekly rankings may look different. Check Famitsu's latest results for the current order.
FAQ
What is Famitsu's Most Wanted chart?
It is a weekly ranking from the Japanese magazine Famitsu based on votes from its readers about which upcoming games they most want to play.
Where does GTA VI rank in Japan?
In the chart covering votes from September 2 to 8, 2026, it is sixth with 244 votes.
What is the most anticipated game in Japan right now?
Pokémon Winds/Waves for Nintendo Switch 2, with 569 votes in that chart. It has held first place in most recent weekly results.
Is GTA VI unpopular in Japan?
No. It has stayed in Famitsu's top ten for months. It simply ranks below several major Japanese franchises with strong local fan bases.
Does this poll predict how well GTA VI will sell in Japan?
No. It measures reader anticipation, not sales, and only reflects people who vote in Famitsu's poll.
Why are most games on the chart Japanese?
Famitsu's readers have a long-standing connection to Japanese franchises, and many entries are RPGs or Nintendo titles with large domestic followings.
When do Pokémon Winds and Waves come out?
They are slated for Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027. Check official Pokémon and Nintendo channels for a specific date.
Conclusion
GTA VI's sixth-place finish makes for a punchy headline, but the data tells a calmer story. The game is a consistent top-ten fixture in a poll dominated by Japanese RPGs and Nintendo franchises, and its vote totals have stayed in a similar range for months. The real takeaway is how differently anticipation works across regions, and that Persona, Pokémon, and Zelda still carry enormous weight in Japan. With more Nintendo Direct titles likely to enter the chart, the rankings may shift again soon.