17 Games To Play If You Love Studio Ghibli

168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Studio Ghibli was founded back in 1985 and has since become a household name across the globe. They've made animated movies that span a wide range of genres, periods of time, and even worlds. From friendly spirits to mischievous giant babies, Studio Ghibli movies have always had a certain charm. And it is tha🐎t charm that has 🐼captivated audiences for so long.

Some people are likely content to enjoy Studio Ghibli movies as a one-and-done experience - however, many others are left wishing they could immerse themselves further into these magical worlds. While some well-known console games 168澳洲幸😼运5开奖网:have been reimagined as Studio Ghibli films, what many fans want are games that offer the player experiences, worlds, and characters similar to those found in Studio Ghibli's seminal films. So, for t🐻hose keen on living out the Ghibli dream, these are the best games for it.

Updated April 7, 2022 by Tom Wilson: The level of influence that the amazing work of Studio Ghibli has on all kinds of media simply c🐽annot be understated. So, it comes as no surprise that more and more games are releasing or being unearthed that feature nods, winks or even full-blown homages to their fantastical films.

For the budding Ghibli fan, there's a very good chance that you'll want to get your hands on more Ghibli-esque experiences, and what better way to do that than by playing some games. From pretty puzzle platformers that replicate the animation aesthetic to a tee to narrative-focused games that adopt similar themes and tones from the movies, these games are perfect for anyone looking for a game that embodies the spirit of Studio Ghibli.

17 Hoa

a wide angle shot of a giant moustachioed rock creature from Hoa surrounded by thick branches and trees

Outside the truly magical Ni No Kuni series, the wonderfully peaceful puzzle platformer, Hoa, is likely the closest most players will get to experiencing a game that practically recreates the Ghibli aesthetic. Its gorgeous hand-painted backgrounds, lavishly detailed 3D models and melodic score thওat accompanies you on your fantastical journey make it one of the most wholesome Ghibli-like games available.

It is also just a lot of fun, featuring a series of varied environments for you to explore from lush forests not too dissimilar to those seen in the likes of Princess Mononoke, to factory-like environments akin to the bathhouse in Spirited Away. Hoa is easily a recomm🔴endable game to practically ꧙every Ghibli fan out there.

16 Clawfish

a mid shot of a sleepy train station bobbing on the water with posters on the wall and potted plants scattered about

Clawfish may be a short game, but it is perhaps one of the sweetest, most wholesome games you can experience. In this hour-long journey, you g🎐et to explore a surreal and magical train station floating on water while you wait for your train.

You can peruse the posters and decorations scattered across the station, sail from area to area in search of new things, or engage in the game’s central mechanic, the Clawfish game. However, no matter what you do, Clawfish’s inviting world, gorgeous visuals and wonderful atmosphere will undoubtedly elicit feelings of a Ghibli film within you.

15 ♏ 🐽 Nostalgic Train

a wide angle shot of an empty street in the Japanese countryside with a house on the right and a row of trees in the distance

If you’ve ever wanted to explore the Japanese countryside without actually going there, and you wanted to do it in near-photorealistic detail, then Nostalgic Train is fo🅰r you. Once again, this is a much shorter experience, and as a result, may not offer the in-depth gameplay some people aඣre looking for.

However, if you simply embrace the game’s world and poetic narrative that plays out as you wander through its beautifully rendered environments, then you’ll get a truly one-of-a-kind experience. Nostalgic Train may lack the more fantastical aspects of a Ghibli film, but its dedication to recreating one of the most scenic locations in the world is absolutely commendable.

14 ﷽The Kids We Were ꦇ

a wide angle shot of a voxel Japanese street with a few shops on the left, a temple gate on the right and a boy in the centre

The Kids We Were’s gorgeous voxel aesthetic may be the antithesis of the painting-esque quality of a Ghibli film, but its narrative manages to encapsulate the very essence of one. Following the story of two siblings who are thrown back in time to the 1980s in aℱn att⛄empt to save their family, this has all of the trappings you’d find in a Ghibli film.

T🔜he ওsetting of a small, sleepy Japanese suburb fits perfectly with the Ghibli MO, and the fantastical nature of its time-hopping narrative encompasses the coming-of-age, mystery and magical elements you can see in films like Spirited Away. This is a fantastic cinematic adventure, and perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli’s work.

13 Baldo: The Guardian Owls ❀

an overhead shop of the interior of a cafe with a large chef stood behind a filled counter and two children stood in front of it

Perhaps the greatest aspect of a Ghibli film is its distinct visual style which has gone on to capture the wonderful and magical nature of the Japanese countryside and cities for quite some time. It is a visual style that is so enticing, that it only makes sense that playable video game worlds would attempt to replicate it. Baldo: The Guardian Owls aims to take the Ghibli aesthetic and utilise it to create an engrossing and immersive world full of puzzles and combat.

While Baldo: The Guardian Owls may not be the greatest game ever made🗹 - it received some criticism when it originally launched back in August of 2021 - it does do an admirable job of replicating the Ghibli look. Like the Ni No Kuni titles and Koa, this benefits your overall experience greatly as it makes its already captivating world that much more impressive.

12 Eastward

Cover art showing characters from Eastward

While there isn’t really anything that quite adds up to the unique and wonderfully fantastic experience that 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Eastward offers, it is clear where some of its inspirations lie. One of those inspirations is the movies of Studio Ghibli. Most notably, the game’s visuals, character designs and worldbuilding reflect those seen in films like Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle.

Eastward on its owﷺn is a👍 pretty spectacular narrative-focused experience, and one most players should try out regardless of its Ghibli inspirations. However, if you are at all interested in the visual style of Studio Ghibli films, then you’ll absolutely want to check out this indie gem.

11 Out🍨 Of Line

a wide shot of a young boy looking up at an ominous tree with a giant robot hand above it

Out of Line is a charming, oftentimes emotional, and engaging platform puzzler with a gorgeous storybook aesthetic. Its engrossin👍g narrative and sweeping score feel perfectly akin to a Ghibli film in the way it balances fantastical locations, creatures and heart-wrenchingly sad moments.

While the Out of Line may not always resemble a Ghibli film, the experience of playing it certainly offers up enough of the trademark features present in those animated masterpieces that fans will be overjoyed. Iꦕt also just so happens to⭕ be a fun and rewarding game.

10 The Ni No Kuni Games ꩲ

Games Like Studio Ghibli Swaine, Esther, Drippy and Oliver running down a golden corridor lined with pillars away from a giant robotic cat

The 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Ni No Kuni games may seem like the most obvious choice for fans looking for Ghibli-esque games, but there's a good reason why. The first of the Ni No Kuni games, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, was developed in collaboration with Studio Ghibli and long-time Ghibli collaborator, Joe Hisashi. While the second one no 🍌longer featured cutscenes animated specifically by them, it still retained the same art style and whimsy created by the legendary anime studio.

The Ni No Kuni games are 168澳🌳洲幸运5开奖网:some of the best Isekai games a🐓vailable, featuring characters whisked away to magical worlds filled with wonder and endless possibilities. Studio Ghibli is the master at the Isekai narrative, with Spirited Away being one of the most famous films from that genre. For those looking for a perfect film-to-game adaptation of Studio Ghibli's iconic visual, narrative and auditory style, then look no further than the Ni No Kuni games.

9 Rainy Season 🌼

Games Like Studio Ghibli wide shot of a young boy holding an umbrella and standing in the rain in his front yard with a walled gate behind him

Rainy Season is an indie game by solo developer Inasa Fujio. Players can experience the wonderful beauty of childlike wonder in this heartfelt game about magic-realism. While its visuals clearly capture the style of a Studio Ghibli film, it is its short but sweet narrative that encapsulates its essence.

For those looking to ♕live out a story similar to that of My Neighbour Totoro, Rainy Season might just do the trick. It even features a giant cat and a Ghibli-style soundtrack. What’s not to love?

8 The Friends Of Ringo Iꦐshikawa

Games Like Studio Ghibli Ringo and Masaru playing table tennis on top of the school roof with the sun setting over the city skyline in the distance

The friends of Ringo Ishikawa is an open-world 2D beat 'em up by indie developer Shin Yeo. While that may not sound quite like the family-friendly features usually made by Studio Ghibli, The friends of Ringo Ishikawa's philosophical narrative and themes of youth, friendship, love, and fears of the future make it the perfect game for a fan of Studio Ghibli's more grounded films.

While The friends of Ringo Ishikawa isn't exactly like the films Ocean Waves, From Up On Poppy Hill, and Only Yesterday, it offers up the same feelings of nostalgia, existential dread, and philosophical ponderings. It is perfect for those who want to wander around a beautiful Japanese suburb, attend school, make friends and reflect on the important things in life.