Summary
Studio Ghibli’s iconic art style and general themes feel perfectly suited to the medium of video games, with the company even having direct involvement in theNi No Kuniseries, as well as inspiring countless games. Whether it’s the grand, surreal, and wonderful adventures ofSpirited Away, or the whimsical explorations of childhood inMy Neighbor Totoro, there is plenty to draw from when it comes to Ghibli’s library of work.
While its easy to spot games that adopt the iconic visual stylings of Studio Ghibli’s films, it’s harder to find those that are more subtly inspired. Fortunately, there are a plethora of games both obviously and inconspiciously inspired by Ghibli. From some ofthe most relaxing games on the Nintendo Switchto action-packed adventures,there are more than enough games that are perfect for the budding Ghibli fan.
10 Relaxing Cozy Games To Watch For In 2024
Cozy games have become a popular genre in the past few years, and several incredible-looking titles fitting this theme are planned for 2024 release.
10Baldo: The Guardian Owls (NAPS Team)
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Baldo: The Guardian Owlswas released to harsh critical reception. It had a few problems at launch that have fortunately been fixed, with the developer even releasing three free lengthy DLCs. This is a huge relief for those who are fans of Studio Ghibli, asBaldo: The Guardian Owlshas both a visual style and a narrative that are heavily inspired by its films.
The best order to playBaldo: The Guardian Owlsis as follows:The 3 Fairies,The Elemental Temples,The Guardian Owls,The Final Chapter. This will give players the correct level of challenge at each stage, and allow the events to unfold chronologically.
InBaldo: The Guardian Owls,players will explore dungeons, solve puzzles, and embark on an emotional journey. All of this is accompanied by a gorgeous Ghibli-esque artstyle and an amazing soundtrack. For those looking for an action adventure game in the style of Studio Ghibli,Baldois a perfect fit.
9Yo-Kai Watch 2 (Level 5)
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
TheYo-kai Watchseries took what madePokémongreat and set it in a slightly more realistic setting. In the second game,Yo-kai Watch 2, players get to explore a small Japanese town, as well as a countryside village, all of which feel very much like the settings ofMy Neighbor Totoro,Ocean Waves,Only Yesterday, and more.Players take on the role of a young boy or girl as they go on adventures and meet quirky spirits, not unlikeSpirited Away.
There are three versions ofYo-kai Watch 2:Fleshy Souls,Boney Spirits, andPsychic Specters. The best version to play isPsychic Spectersas it has the most content and improves on the original two games.
A later entry in the series,Yo-kai Watch 4, introduces the spirit world as an explorable location, and it’s extremely similar to that ofSpirited Away. There are plenty of Ghibli vibes to be found in the Yo-kai Watch series. The second game, which greatly expands on the original title, is by far the best entry point for newcomers.
10 Best Cozy Games On Nintendo Switch
In today’s hectic world, sometimes a restorative cozy game is exactly what we all need, and here are some great ones available on the Nintendo Switch.
8Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid (Millennium Kitchen/TOYBOX Inc)
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC
Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kidis an open-world life sim game that borrows heavily from both Studio Ghibli filmsand, surprisingly,Breath of the Wild. It allows players to explore a rural Japanese town as a young boy during his summer holidays. The game is set across one month, with each day lasting around twenty minutes or so.
Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kidis a spiritual successor to theBoku No Natsuyasumiseries, which had a very similar vibe and gameplay loop. Players can catch bugs, hang out with their friends, solve detective cases, go fishing, and so much more. With a cozy, colorful artstyle, a soothing soundtrack, and plenty to do,Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kidis one of themost relaxing simulation gamesever made.
7Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch (Level 5)
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witchwasn’t the first game Studio Ghibli collaborated on, but it’s likely the best known.The animated cutscenes inNi No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witchwere actually animated by Studio Ghibli, while the music was composed by regular Ghibli collaborator, Joe Hisaishi. This is by far the closest fans will get to an official Studio Ghibli game.
Outside its visual style and animated cutscenes,Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch’sstory is also very similar to Studio Ghibli’s films. It centers around a child protagonist named Oliver who is spirited away to a fantastical world inhabited by cat-like people and other magical races.Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch’semotionally-charged narrative is just one of the many reasons it’s such an amazing game.
6Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom (Level 5)
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdomis a worthy follow-up toNi No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, expanding on its gameplay mechanics, overall visual quality, and world design.It follows a similar story of someone spirited away to a magical world, only this time it’s an adult. Fortunately,Ni No Kuni 2still centers around Evan, a young prince who needs the help of the player.
Studio Ghibli didn’t work onNi No Kuni 2in a formal capacity as it had temporarily stopped its in-house animation projects. Instead, individual Ghibli members, including Yoshiyuki Momose, who worked onSpirited Awayamong others, and Joe Hisashi were hired to work on it.
Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdomgot a lot right when it came to copying the Studio Ghibli style, including continuing its love of magical talking cats. The world ofNi No Kuni 2feels much more akin toSpirited AwayandWhisper of the Heartthan the original, while still retaining much of what madeWrath of the White Witchgreat.It’s a perfect sequel that also works as a standalone experiencefor those who want to jump straight into it.
5Shin-Chan: Me And The Professor On Summer Vacation – The Endless Seven-Day Journey (Neos/Millennium Kitchen/Star Factory)
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC
Shin-chan: Me and the Professor on Summer Vactiontook theBoku no Natsuyasumiformula and added a funShin-chancoat of paint on top. Players take the role of the mischievous Shinnosuke whogets to spend his summer vacation in the cozy Japanese village of Assou. However, things aren’t quite what they seem, as a mysterious professor keeps popping up.
There’s a lot to love aboutShin-chan, from its picturesque backgrounds to its quirky writing. Players will get to play minigames with other characters, catch bugs, fish, and even plant vegetables.There’s a lot of coziness inShin-chan, much likeTotoroorOnly Yesterday, as well as that childish cheekiness found in many of Ghibli’s films.
4Spiritfarer (Thunder Lotus Games)
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Android, iOS
Spiritfarertakes the concepts of loss and grief from Studio Ghibli’s films and turns them into a game. InSpiritfarer, players take on the role of Stellar as she helps spirits move on to the afterlife.Each spirit has their own story to tell, as well as their own fleshed out personality, and it’s up to the player to accommodate them.
Spiritfarermay not copy Studio Ghibli’s visual style completely, butit is full of gorgeous animations and striking sunsets. It also has a phenomenal soundtrack that rivals that of some of Joe Hisaishi’s scores.Spiritfareris a must-play for any Studio Ghibli enthusiast.
3Rainy Season (Inasa Fujio)
Platforms: PC
Rainy Seasonis a sweet video game about a bored child forced to stay indoors when the rain stops his family from leaving. Players get to explore a Japanese house and talk to the other family members, as well as take photographs.There’s a bubbly atmosphere inRainy Seasonthat perfectly encapsulates the childlike wonder that comes with exploration.
There are also several dreamlike sequences that add a more magical touch toRainy Season.It’s all very Ghibli-esque in its imagery, with players seeing a giant cat and jellyfish floating in the air among other scenes. Despite only taking around an hour to complete, Studio Ghibli fans will loveRainy Season.
2Eastward (Pixpil Games)
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PC
Eastwardwas one of the best games of 2021when it launched, garnering acclaim for its mature narrative and gorgeous visuals. It remains an indie gem,one that blends elements of Studio Ghibli’s films into almost every aspect of its design. Perhaps the most obvious point of influence is the visual style, whichEastwardadapts slightly, merging its own unique pixel art visuals with Ghibli’s expressive character designs.
Fortunately, for those looking for something with a little more action,Eastwardoffers it up in droves.This is a more linear and narrative-driven experiencewith plenty of puzzles and action thrown in to spice things up. It’s easy to see whyEastwardwas such a hit when it launched and continues to be an extremely well-regarded indie darling.
1Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age (Square Enix)
Dragon Quest 11may not be the first game that jumps to players' minds when it comes to things similar to Studio Ghibli. After all, it takes its biggest inspirations from Akira Toriyama’s work. However,there is a lot to love here for the Ghibli enthusiast, including a party of unlikely heroes like inCastle in the Sky, as well as a fantastical world brimming with wonder like inWhisper of the HeartorSpirited Away.
Dragon Quest 11’s visuals are also a little Ghibli-esque, filled with color and life. Much like theNi No Kunigames,Dragon Quest 11is an adventure unlike any other, and while it veers more towards medieval fantasy thanStudio Ghibli’s films typically do, there’s still a lot that feels very reminiscent of Ghibli’s work. For those looking for something more akin to theNi No Kunigames,Dragon Quest 11is the perfect choice.
