Summary

Studio Ghibli ’s iconic art vogue and world-wide themes palpate perfectly suited to the culture medium of video games , with the companionship even having direct involvement in theNi No Kuniseries , as well as inspiring numberless games . Whether it ’s the grand , surreal , and wonderful adventures ofSpirited Away , or the whimsical explorations of childhood inMy Neighbor Totoro , there is tidy sum to draw from when it come to Ghibli ’s library of work .

While its easy to spy games that adopt the iconic visual stylings of Studio Ghibli ’s motion picture , it ’s gruelling to find those that are more subtly revolutionize . luckily , there are a plethora of games both obviously and inconspiciously inspired by Ghibli . From some ofthe most relaxing games on the Nintendo Switchto activeness - pack adventures , there are more than enough games that are perfect for the budding Ghibli fan .

Cozy games have become a popular genre in the past few years , and several incredible - looking titles fitting this theme are planned for 2024 handout .

Cozy Games Coming In 2024 Collage

10Baldo: The Guardian Owls (NAPS Team)

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Baldo : The Guardian Owlswas release to harsh decisive reception . It had a few trouble at launching that have fortunately been fix , with the developer even releasing three destitute lengthy DLCs . This is a Brobdingnagian relief for those who are fan of Studio Ghibli , asBaldo : The Guardian Owlshas both a optic stylus and a narrative that are heavily urge by its celluloid .

The best orderliness to playBaldo : The Guardian Owlsis as play along : The 3 Fairies , The Elemental Temples , The Guardian Owls , The Final Chapter . This will give musician the correct level of challenge at each stage , and grant the events to spread out chronologically .

InBaldo : The Guardian Owls , players will explore dungeons , resolve puzzles , and embark on an aroused journey . All of this is go with by a gorgeous Ghibli - esque artstyle and an amazing soundtrack . For those look for an action adventure game in the style of Studio Ghibli , Baldois a gross fit .

A Short Hike, Disney Dreamlight Valley, Fae Farm and Pikmin 4

9Yo-Kai Watch 2 (Level 5)

Platforms: Nintendo 3DS

TheYo - kai Watchseries took what madePokémongreat and put it in a slightly more realistic setting . In the second game , Yo - kai Watch 2 , player get to search a small Nipponese town , as well as a countryside village , all of which feel very much like the options ofMy Neighbor Totoro , Ocean Waves , Only Yesterday , and more . Players take on the function of a young boy or girl as they go on adventure and fulfil quirky hard drink , not unlikeSpirited aside .

There are three version ofYo - kai Watch 2 : Fleshy Souls , Boney Spirits , andPsychic Specters . The best variation to trifle isPsychic Spectersas it has the most content and improves on the original two games .

A previous ingress in the series , Yo - kai Watch 4 , bring out the heart humankind as an explorable location , and it ’s extremely similar to that ofSpirited Away . There are plenty of Ghibli vibraharp to be found in the Yo - kai Watch serial . The second game , which greatly expand on the original title , is by far the good entering decimal point for starter .

imagery from The Boy and the Heron

In today ’s feverish world , sometimes a restorative cozy game is incisively what we all need , and here are some great single 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 assailable - earth life sim game that adopt intemperately from both Studio Ghibli filmsand , surprisingly , Breath of the Wild . It leave players to explore a rural Japanese townsfolk as a young boy during his summertime holiday . The game is set across one month , with each day lasting around twenty minutes or so .

Natsu - Mon : 20th Century Summer Kidis a spiritual heir to theBoku No Natsuyasumiseries , which had a very similar vibration and gameplay loop . instrumentalist can entrance bug , hang out with their booster , solve detective cases , go fishing , and so much more . With a informal , colorful artstyle , a soothe 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 plot Studio Ghibli join forces on , but it ’s probably the best get laid . The animated cutscenes inNi No Kuni : anger of the White Witchwere actually animated by Studio Ghibli , while the music was draw up by regular Ghibli collaborator , Joe Hisaishi . This is by far the closest fans will get to an official Studio Ghibli game .

Outside its visual stylus and animated cutscenes , Ni No Kuni : Wrath of the White Witch’sstory is also very standardized to Studio Ghibli ’s films . It centre around a child agonist name Oliver who is spirit up off to a fantastical world dwell by cat - like people and other wizard races . Ni No Kuni : anger of the White Witch’semotionally - charged narrative is just one of the many ground it ’s such an awful biz .

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 mechanic , overall visual quality , and world design . It keep up a interchangeable story of someone spirit away to a magical world , only this time it ’s an adult . Fortunately , Ni No Kuni 2still core around Evan , a new prince who need the assistant of the thespian .

Studio Ghibli did n’t work onNi No Kuni 2 in a schematic capacitance as it had temporarily stopped its in - house animation projects . rather , single Ghibli members , include Yoshiyuki Momose , who work onSpirited Awayamong others , and Joe Hisashi were hired to exploit on it .

Ni No Kuni 2 : Revenant Kingdomgot a lot right when it occur to copying the Studio Ghibli elan , include continue its dear 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 shape as a standalone experiencefor those who require to jump flat into it .

On the left is Sam from Eastward, in the middle is Stella from Spiritfarer, and on the right is Oliver from Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch.

Custom Image by Katarina Cimbaljevic

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 add together a funShin - chancoat of pigment on top . Players take the character of the puckish Shinnosuke whogets to spend his summer vacation in the intimate Nipponese village of Assou . However , things are n’t quite what they seem , as a mysterious professor keeps pop up .

There ’s a lot to love aboutShin - chan , from its picturesque backgrounds to its offbeat writing . Players will get to play minigames with other characters , catch bugs , fish , and even industrial plant vegetables . There ’s a lot of coziness inShin - chan , much likeTotoroorOnly Yesterday , as well as that infantile 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 heartbreak from Studio Ghibli ’s films and turn them into a game . InSpiritfarer , players take on the role of Stellar as she help spirits move on to the afterlife . Each spirit has their own tarradiddle to differentiate , as well as their own flesh out personality , and it ’s up to the player to accommodate them .

Spiritfarermay not copy Studio Ghibli ’s visual style all , 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 - meet for any Studio Ghibli fancier .

3Rainy Season (Inasa Fujio)

Platforms: PC

Rainy Seasonis a sweet video secret plan about a bored child forced to last out indoors when the rainwater stops his family from leaving . player get to explore a Japanese sign of the zodiac and verbalize to the other family members , as well as take photographs . There ’s a bubbly atmosphere inRainy Seasonthat utterly capsule the childlike wonder that comes with exploration .

There are also several dreamlike sequence that add a more magical touch toRainy Season . It ’s all very Ghibli - esque in its imagination , with musician seeing a jumbo quat and jellyfish float in the melodic phrase among other scene . Despite only taking around an 60 minutes to complete , Studio Ghibli rooter 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 matured story and gorgeous visuals . It remains an indie gem , one that blends constituent of Studio Ghibli ’s motion picture into almost every panorama of its design . Perhaps the most obvious period of influence is the visual manner , whichEastwardadapts slightly , merging its own alone pixel prowess visuals with Ghibli ’s expressive case design .

Fortunately , for those looking for something with a little more action at law , Eastwardoffers it up in drove chisel . This is a more linear and story - driven experiencewith wad of mystifier and action at law give in to spice up thing up . It ’s easy to see whyEastwardwas such a hit when it launched and go forward 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 ' mind when it comes to things similar to Studio Ghibli . After all , it contract its big inspirations from Akira Toriyama ’s work . However , there is a lot to beloved here for the Ghibli enthusiast , let in a political party of unconvincing heroes like inCastle in the Sky , as well as a antic macrocosm brimming with marvel like inWhisper of the HeartorSpirited Away .

Dragon Quest 11 ’s visuals are also a footling Ghibli - esque , make full with color and life . Much like theNi No Kunigames , Dragon Quest 11is an adventure unlike any other , and while it swerve more towards medieval phantasy thanStudio Ghibli ’s films typically do , there ’s still a hatful that sense very resonant of Ghibli ’s piece of work . For those looking for something more kindred to theNi No Kunigames , Dragon Quest 11is the perfect choice .

PC Games