10 Games With Studio Ghibli Vibes

On the global animation stage, there are few names as well-known and well-regarded as Studio Ghibli. Since the 1980s, this Japanese animation studio has produced some of the most breathtaking films in the history of the medium.

Anyone with even a small affinity for animation or film in general has seen at least one of this studio’s certified bangers, such as Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke.

Naturally, there are fans of these films across all industries, gaming included. Quite a few games, big and small, have similar vibes to Ghibli’s films, whether in visuals, story, or general tone.

We can’t say for sure these similarities are intentional, but you can’t help but draw parallels.

10 Spiritfarer

The Joy Of Life And What Comes Next

Mortality is a major theme in some of Studio Ghibli’s heavier works, with the most obvious example being Grave of the Fireflies.

While dying is sad, it is something that happens to all of us. Spiritfarer reminds us to approach the concept with as much joy as we can muster.

Much like some Ghibli films, Spiritfarer’s world of the afterlife is very bright and whimsical on the surface.

However, there is an undercurrent of sadness that permeates it, as you’re regularly reminded that the spirits you bring onto your boat will eventually depart for whatever comes next.

9 Forgotton Anne

No, That’s Not A Typo

Some of Studio Ghibli’s more whimsical films make extensive use of animated objects in somewhat abstract worlds.

Puzzle-platformer Forgotton Anne explores the concept of animate objects from an interesting perspective: a world where all things go when they’ve been lost and forgotten.

Every random object our protagonist Anne encounters is a person in itself, longing for a purposeful existence that it had previously.

How you interact with these Forgotlings and solve their problems subtly affects how the story unfolds between exploratory and platforming sections.

8 Spirittea

Even Spirits Need A Soak

The primary setting of Spirited Away is an otherworldly bathhouse where mysterious entities appear for a relaxing soak and snack.

It’s not the kind of place you want to be forcefully conscripted to work at, but if you’re the one in charge, then things take on a slightly different tone.

Spirittea approaches the spiritual bathhouse concept from a more practical angle, placing you in charge of a declining bathhouse servicing disgruntled spirits who have gone unnoticed by humanity.

Not only do you need to maintain the bathhouse and please the spirits, but you need to befriend the human townsfolk as well to enrich the village overall.

7 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

A Massive, Beautiful World

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Systems

Released

March 3, 2017

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Engine

Havok

ESRB

E for Everyone: Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol, Mild Suggestive Themes

How Long To Beat

50 Hours

X|S Optimized

no

Metascore

97

Steam Deck Compatibility

yes

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Cross Save

no

Cross-Platform Play

no

Expand

While more overt Ghibli influences seem to appear more readily amongst smaller or indie games, you could draw some comparisons to more prolific releases as well.

Case in point, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has some of those Ghibli vibes, particularly in its massive open world.

Not only do Hyrule’s enormous vistas bring multiple Ghibli productions to mind, but some gameplay aspects do as well.

The image of Link sailing through the air on his paraglider past enormous Guardians and Divine Beasts reminds us of scenes similar to those in films like Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.

6 Hoa

A Small Critter In A Magical Forest

Some Ghibli films like My Neighbor Totoro and The Cat Returns play around with the idea of mythological creatures and happenings occurring just out of sight, often in natural settings.

Hoa is a puzzle platformer that takes full advantage of this, placing you in the role of one such little critter.

Hoa follows the titular protagonist on her journey through a magical, hand-painted forest packed with all kinds of odd little creatures, critters, and entities.

It’s a generally laid-back, low-stakes affair, more in line with some of Ghibli’s less thematically-intense productions.

5 Eastward

A Fantastical Setting Full Of Mystery

Ghibli films have a certain way of mashing up both fantastical and contemporary settings. Films like Porco Rosso and Ponyo show us worlds that are ostensibly normal, but have a clear undercurrent of fantasy, sci-fi, or other paranormal elements to them.

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Studio Ghibli: 10 Most Enchanting Worlds, Ranked

Dive into Studio Ghibli’s magical worlds like Spirited Away’s bathhouses and Totoro’s lush countryside.

Eastward has that same general vibe, set in a world on the verge of collapsing with towns dotting a dilapidated train line.

The journey of John and his young ward Sam starts fairly simply, with the two living a humble life in a slum, but quickly escalates into potentially world-ending proportions.

4 Behind The Frame: The Finest Scenery

The Importance Of Art

If Ghibli’s films make you appreciate anything, it’s the vital importance of art in this world and how artistic expression can have real, lasting impacts on other people.

Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery is a brief, yet poignant puzzle game that explores the world of artwork, both in front of and behind the canvas.

The game’s visuals are very similar to Ghibli’s signature style in broad strokes, with simple, yet expressive characters set against vibrant, lived-in settings.

It’s the kind of game that you can finish in one or two sittings, but the message it sends might just stick with you for the rest of your life, not unlike some of Ghibli’s best productions.

3 My Time At Portia

A New Life In A Reviving World

Films like Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind take place in post-apocalyptic settings, though unlike other works, that doesn’t necessarily make them grim and gritty places to live.

Even after the world experiences unparalleled turmoil, life can always find a way to thrive. Not only does My Time at Portia have this kind of reviving world setting, but it even advertises its Ghibli influences on its Xbox store page.

My Time at Portia is a farming and adventure simulator. With the help of your father’s old workshop, you can gradually improve and revitalize the town of Portia, as well as delve into ancient ruins to uncover the history of a world once lost.

2 Mika And The Witch’s Mountain

Hire A Delivery Witch

Kiki’s Delivery Service is one of Ghibli’s most well-known classics, a story of a young witch who leaves home to establish a courier business in a port town. Kiki’s lovable tale has cemented her as one of the standout protagonists of the Ghibli lineup.

It’s pretty much a given that any scenario involving witches and delivery services is going to be inspired by Kiki’s Delivery Service to an extent, and Mika and the Witch’s Mountain isn’t shy about that similarity.

Using your flying broom, you can explore every nook and cranny of the colorful island community Mika calls home.

Naturally, this is vital for completing deliveries between residents, though you can also use your flying ability to explore magical, mysterious ruins that dot the mountainside.

1 Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch

Literally Co-Produced By Ghibli

Studio Ghibli is a film production studio, first and foremost, but it has been known to dabble in other mediums from time to time.

One of those dabblings came about in 2013 with Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, a co-production between Level-5, Bandai Namco, and Studio Ghibli itself.

As you’d expect, the game is full of the studio’s signature character and background art, albeit rendered in 3D rather than 2D.

This art is used to tell a classic Ghibli-style story of a young boy on an adventure in a magical world in the hopes of reviving his mother from her untimely death.

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