Based in Japan, Studio Ghibli is one of the most well-known animation companies in the world. Their films are known for flowing motion, gorgeous natural landscapes, fantastical worlds, spunky protagonists, and promoting ideas of environmentalism and pacifism. Studio Ghibli has created movies like Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro, The Cat Returns, and many others.
Their movies have inspired other creators, including those who make video games. After all, both anime and video games are part of Japan’s major international influence. Video game writers and developers have captured in some of their games the same essence of laid-back fantasy as Ghibli films often have. Some of these games are well known, while others are hidden gems.
10 The Ni No Kuni Series
While this entire series has some commonalities with Studio Ghibli’s works, there are certain titles that have Ghibli magic more than others. Those titles are Dominion of the Dark Djinn and Wrath of the White Witch. Those two particular games are worth checking out because their animated sequences were actually created by Studio Ghibli.
The game’s music was even made by Joe Hisaishi, a man who has worked on a lot of the music for Studio Ghibli films. The first Ni No Kuni came out in 2010 and the latest in 2018 with about six titles in all.
9 Okami
Since its release in 2006, Okami is still one of the most creative and beautiful out there. Like Studio Ghibli, the series builds much of its fantasy elements on Japanese folklore. It tells an environmental message and pushes for a peaceful world through the power of a god’s paintbrush.
The art style of the game is unique, making it look like a calligraphy painting. Powers the player gains is in their paintbrush techniques which can make trees grow, flowers bloom, and the sun rise. It is known as one of Capcom’s best games.
8 Attack Of The Friday Monsters
For the 3DS, this hidden gem title came out in 2013. Its story and characters are whimsical, much like Studio Ghibli’s. Players take the role of a young boy whose family owns a dry cleaner in a small town. Much of the game is about childish innocence, friendship, and family, and goes forward with episodic mysteries to solve in the town.
The game’s developer is actually the same one that makes the Ni No Kuni games, Level-5.
7 Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
While all Legend of Zelda games are arguably like Studio Ghibli in terms of their setting and fantastical whimsy, Breath of the Wild stands out due to its design and laid-back method of storytelling. In Breath of the Wild, Link wakes up in a Hyrule that is mostly ruins and wilderness. The game is quite open world, so the player can take their time foraging, looking for Koroks, and just exploring the land.
The comparison between the Legend of Zelda series and Studio Ghibli isn’t new, but it has been more compared than ever since Breath of the Wild was released. After all, some fans argue that it’s the best Legend of Zelda game to date.
6 Forgotten Anne
Released in 2018, this hand-animated game looks just like Ghibli’s visual style. In terms of gameplay, the title is a puzzle 2D platformer. As for story, it is on the same level of creativity as a Studio Ghibli film. It introduces a place called The Forgotten Lands, where creatures called Forgotlings live and long to be remembered by the human world.
Players play as Anne, someone who keeps order in The Forgotten Lands. The story and characters are stunning, though players have complained that the game’s movement is pretty clunky.
5 Battle Chef Brigade
This title has a ton of positive reviews with the only criticism being that players loved it so much that they wish it was longer. The game consists of side-scrolling combat, interactive towns, six chapters, cooking duels, and charming characters. The story follows two characters as they take down fantastical monsters and turn them into delicious meals.
The game has been compared to Studio Ghibli for both its art style and fantasy elements. Even if the chefs are making food out of monsters, they end up looking absolutely delicious by the end.
4 Dark Cloud
Dark Cloud and its sequel are also games developed by Level-5. The first game was released internationally in 2001 on the PS2, so it has aged quite a bit since its launch. The story revolves around a young boy going on a journey to stop a Dark Genie from controlling the world. He visits various areas and picks up companions on the way. It is the typical hero’s journey with Ghibli elements in its quaint locations and characters.
In terms of gameplay, both games are RPGs with a little bit of town building.
3 Ori And The Blind Forest
Unlike many titles compared to Studio Ghibli, Ori and The Blind Forest is not made from Japanese studios. The platform adventure game was actually made by an Austrian developer called Moon Studios. The designers of the game themselves admitted that they were inspired by works of Studio Ghibli like Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.
The game basically tells a coming-of-age story for a guardian spirit. The world is lovely and full of original creatures with fascinating designs. The game got near perfect reviews by game journals such as Polygon, Gamespot, and Game Informer. It also won awards for its audio, art direction, and animation.
2 Mutazione
This game takes place in a holiday resort that was struck by a meteor 100 years ago. While many died, those that remained mutated made an isolated community called Mutazione. The games’ story is a personal one through the eyes of a 15-year-old girl named Kai that is living in Mutazione. While the game takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, the gameplay and overall mood of the story is a slow-place slice-of-life.
Like Ori and The Blind Forest, this game is also not Japanese made. However, parts of the game’s themes and its soundtrack were inspired by Studio Ghibli movies. At least that is the case according to game designer Douglas Wilson in an interview with Polygon.
1 Jade Cocoon
Released internationally in 1999, Jade Cocoon was made in a collaboration with a character designer from Studio Ghibli, Katsuya Kondō. Kondō has been a part of a ton of Studio Ghibli movies such as Kiki’s Delivery Service, Castle in the Sky, Pom Poko, My Neighbor Totoro, From Up on Poppy Hill, and a ton of others. In terms of games though, he has only worked on Jade Cocoon and its sequel.
In Jade Cocoon, the world is covered in a dangerous and dense forest full of monsters called Minions. The silent main character, Levant, has the job of capturing and purifying the Minions. The game received pretty average reviews, but it is quite unique for Kondō’s collaboration.
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