Games inspired by Studio Ghibli films

Co-founded by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki, Studio Ghibli has changed the landscape of Japanese anime since its creation in 1985. The animation studio’s talent for telling beautiful stories with important messages has touched creative media around the world, from film and television to games. For example, in 2010, Studio Ghibli collaborated with developer Level-5 for the role-playing game. Ni no Kuni franchise producing animated sequences in games.

Even outside of direct collaboration with developers, Studio Ghibli’s impact is evident in several games, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and soul frame. The Japanese animation studio’s influence shows no signs of stopping anytime soon and continues to inspire game developers to create some of the most striking artistic games in the industry.

Updated October 1, 2024 by Mark Sammut: Studio Ghibli’s influence extends beyond anime, and the studio’s reach spans manga, Western animation, and games. The article has been updated with a new Studio Ghibli inspired gamealong with galleries and specifications for each title included.

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The wandering people

Inspired by Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Princess Mononoke

In The wandering peoplesociety has been driven from their homes by toxic plants and spores. While seeking shelter, they encounter a colossal, wandering creature they call “Onbu.” They settle on the creature’s back and develop a symbiotic relationship as they both search for a new, uncontaminated home.

Described as a “city ​​building game with a unique twist“, the main crux of The wandering people reminds a lot of Howl’s Moving Castle. But developer Stray Fawn’s main inspiration for the game was actually Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and princess mononokeas mentioned in your Kickstarter campaign. “As for the rest of the images, we wanted to go for a detailed painterly style, matching the Ghibli aesthetic,” said Markus Rossé, animator and tech artist at Stray Fawn Studios. 80 level.

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hoah

Inspired by my neighbor Totoro

hoah is a game that takes players directly into the hand-painted backdrops of Studio Ghibli through the eyes of a little fairy. Developed by Scrollcat Studios, hoah is a relaxing platformer that features a variety of magical creatures that help Hoa on his journey through stunning forests and other Ghibli-style landscapes.

The game’s art director, Son Tra Le, took her love for my neighbor totoro and inserted it into hoahgiving players the same experience she had watching the movie.

“If you take a still photo of my neighbor totoro“You will want to spend the rest of your life there,” he said. Los Angeles Times. As for how they approached transferring Ghibli’s art style to the game format, hoa’s Leader Ryo told him 80 level that they “spent a lot of time watching all the Ghibli films, researching their background art, analyzing the techniques, and then finding a way to recreate them.”

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Europe

Inspired by Ghibli in general

Its launch is scheduled for October 2024. Europe It takes place on the smallest of Jupiter’s four moons. Players take on the role of Zee, an android who traverses the terraformed landscape to uncover the mysteries of the abandoned Utopia, including what happened to the last human to live on the colony. Zee sets out on his journey by running, sliding and flying via the Zephyr jetpack, which can be upgraded to a point where Zee can fly endlessly across Europe.

Europe developers Helder Pinto they have not shared any direct Studio Ghibli influence on their game. But looking at the trailer and its concept art, it’s clear that Europa’s environments and world-building draw heavily from the beautiful work of the artists at Studio Ghibli. And its focus on telling an “intimate story about humanity’s growth and relationship with nature” will be very familiar to Ghibli fans.

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Yokai Inn (in development)

Inspired by Spirited Away

Yokai Hotel It wouldn’t be in development if it weren’t for Studio Ghibli. “The concept of [the game] was written taking inspiration from many Studio Ghibli films, especially Spirited Away“its developer Shiba Pixels told Game Rant, adding that princess mononoke and whisper of the heart They also influenced the design process. “The main places where this inspiration comes through are in the character designs and color palettes.” Additionally, Shiba wanted to use the “sense of wonder and adventure” of these films to bring his game to life.

Players can expect to receive spirits (yokai) at their inn, which they will progressively improve through foraging, farming, and crafting. Described by Shiba as a “mixture of animal crossing and harvest moon“with a touch of Stardew Valley, Yokai Hotel It effortlessly combines the best of these games with a Ghibli-infused spirit.

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spiritual traveler

Inspired by Spirited Away

Developed by independent studio Thunder Lotus, spiritual traveler helps players explore the complex process of death and grief. The game follows Stella, a girl who replaces Hades’ ferryman, Charon, as he guides souls to the afterlife. While doing so, Stella completes quests on their behalf so they can rest in peace.

Inspired by Greek mythology, spiritual travelerThe detailed inclusion of different spirits and their stories has its roots in Studio Ghibli. Spirited Away.

In a documentary presented by The escapistThunder Lotus marketing director Rodrigue Duperron said the game “was very inspired by Spirited Away and the idea of ​​that spirits hotel.” 2D artist Marie-Christine Levesque noted that the bathhouse provided a significant influence on her work, “with all its disorganization and simply conviviality. And to have someone who is dedicated to this and tries to solve things, do housework and take care of people,” like Stella does in Spiritual traveler.

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rogue spirit

Inspired by Studio Ghibli in general

In rogue spiritPlayers become the Ghost of the Prince of the Kingdom of Midra. The land he once called home is under attack by a demonic evil known as the armies of Chaos, and it is up to the Prince to possess these enemies and absorb their abilities to defeat them.

Developed by independent studio Kids With Sticks, the game was inspired by the work of Studio Ghibli from the beginning. However, there is no specific film that the team used as a reference. Instead, they used the collective feel and aesthetic of Ghibli’s art to support their game’s narrative. “What we took from a handful of Miyazaki films is mostly color and design,” Kids With Sticks said. 80 level. “Contrast and appropriate color space are the basis of our work. Thanks to the fact that Ghibli films use traditional painting techniques (watercolor, gouache), the palettes are very different.”

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I forgot Anne

Inspired by Ghibli in general

A striking visual style that is unashamedly Ghibli, I forgot Anne He wears his influences on his sleeve. As explained in a interview with GamePilgrimTwo of the game’s animators studied directly under Ghibli’s creators, and that educational background is instantly demonstrated through the opening scene, which is truly impressive. The similarities go beyond the hand-drawn art style, as I forgot AnneThe setting and story are reminiscent of Ghibli’s fantastic and emotional creations.

While it’s easy to recommend to die-hard fans of the Japanese anime studio, I forgot Anne It could also hit the mark with players who simply crave a story-driven puzzle game with well-written characters and fascinating world-building. The campaign even has branching paths to encourage replayability.