Studio Ghibli movies evoke a rare sense of wonder, tenderness, and quiet magic. This list features 7 games for Studio Ghibli fans that embody that same spirit. Worlds full of emotion instead of noise. Characters you care about. Nature that feels alive. If you’ve ever wished you could step into one of their films, these games are perfect for you.
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REKA
In REKA, you play as an apprentice witch under the mysterious Baba Yaga, wandering through glowing autumn forests and secret swamps while you learn to master nature magic. What makes this game truly unforgettable is your home. You bring to life a wandering hut with actual chicken legs that marches along with you. As you decorate, customize, and infuse it with magic, the home becomes a living companion. It’s whimsical, personal, and strangely emotional.
This game is perfect if you love the moving fortress in Howl’s Moving Castle and enjoy an autumnal atmosphere. It doesn’t feature the bright, summery colors you see in the Ghibli movie but instead shines with warm brown and red tones. Your enchanted hut feels like a cousin to Howl’s impossible home, creaking and wandering across the land, full of personality and secrets tucked into every crooked corner. You get to choose how it looks, how it feels, and how it reflects your inner witchiness.
The world around you is quiet but full of meaning. You’ll gather ingredients, befriend strange creatures, make choices that affect villagers, and uncover stories carved into the land. It’s cozy, thoughtful, folkloric, and a little melancholic in that distinctly Ghibli way.
Spiritfarer
Spiritfarer hits differently. You take on the role of Stella as you build your gently creaking boat, welcome spirits aboard, and gradually become the person they trust with their final memories. You talk to them, comfort them, cook for them, and learn who they truly were before helping them move on. There is no rush, no cold countdown, just quiet companionship and the emotional honesty of saying goodbye when they are finally ready.
The game captures the same feeling of living among spirits who are messy, imperfect, funny, wounded, and sweet, much like Spirited Away does. It reflects the bathhouse vibe of spirits coexisting in a busy space while you help keep it running and assist individuals in finding peace. The hand-drawn animation is rich and soothing, with sunsets and gentle lighting. The soundtrack is beautiful, equally emotional as a Hisaishi score.
Neva
Neva draws you in with its quiet magic. You step into the shoes of Alba and journey alongside a wolf that grows from an impulsive cub into a proud, independent adult. You feel that relationship change over time. Sometimes you lead, sometimes you learn to let go. The game trusts you to understand the emotional moments without overwhelming you with dialogue. It tells its story through windswept landscapes, mournful music, and small body language cues that hit harder than any line of text.
If you love Princess Mononoke, you’ll feel right at home. Neva captures that same reverence for nature and the sadness of watching a world decay under a creeping curse. You encounter corrupted creatures and walk through fading forests, but the world never loses its beauty. There is a soulful quality to it, as if you’re walking through a living painting. The team behind GRIS brings their signature art direction and emotional storytelling, and this time incorporates light platforming and combat.
💡Tip: If you want to learn more about the developers and their creative process, check out our interview with Nomada Studio!
Games for Studio Ghibli Fans: The Wandering Village
You step into The Wandering Village as a caretaker of both people and creature. Humanity has been driven from the earth by toxic spores, and your survivors have made their home on the back of a majestic being named Onbu. Watching your small village spread across his living body feels like something straight out of Nausicaä or Princess Mononoke, where nature is powerful, mysterious, and worth protecting rather than conquering.
What makes this game so special is how it asks you to coexist. You’re not just building structures. You are building trust with Onbu. You gather resources from his body and the land you pass through, but every choice matters because he isn’t a machine. He’s alive. You decide whether to treat him as a companion or livestock, and you feel the consequences of that relationship over time.
The painterly art style envelops the world with that unmistakable Ghibli charm. Soft tones, gentle animations, and a bittersweet sense of hope make you care deeply about your villagers and the wandering colossus beneath them. There is heart in every frame and a sense of wonder in every biome you explore. If you love the environmental soul and emotional quiet of Nausicaä and Mononoke, this game will definitely speak to you.
Europa
The adventure game Europa encourages you to slow down and immerse yourself in a peaceful, stunning world. You take on the role of Zee, an android exploring a terraformed paradise on Jupiter’s moon. What makes this game unique isn’t just its beautiful lakes and sunlit meadows, but the calm way you navigate through them. With each upgrade to your Zephyr jetpack, you’ll glide farther and higher until you’re almost dancing through the sky. It feels tranquil, soothing, and nearly meditative.
You’ll discover the story of the last human and explore the ruins of a fallen utopia. The narrative unfolds gently, emphasizing emotional growth and our connection with nature. Stunning landscapes that feel alive, quiet moments of reflection, and a touch of childlike curiosity all make Europa seem like you’ve stepped into a watercolor dream. Although the developers didn’t explicitly name Ghibli as an influence, you’ll notice familiar vibes in the art style and atmosphere. It’s heartfelt, wistful, and filled with wonder.
Mika and the Witch’s Mountain
Mika and the Witch’s Mountain feels like stepping right into Kiki’s Delivery Service. You play as Mika, a young witch in training, gliding across a sunlit island and getting to know the locals as you deliver packages by broom. You’re learning your craft, earning trust, and exploring the hidden corners of Mont Gaun at your own pace.
The sensation of flight is incredible. You experience that carefree joy of soaring over rooftops, banking around cliffs, and skimming across the surf. As you improve and upgrade your broom, you start to feel like you are truly growing alongside Mika. It becomes a coming-of-age story where small, gentle interactions matter. The villagers become part of your journey, providing encouragement, personality, and a sense of community. The warm colors, cozy atmosphere, and emphasis on kindness and effort over conflict create a charming and comforting game.
💡Tip: Check out our interview with Chibig to learn more about their games and Studio Ghibli influences!
Ni No Kuni Wrath of the White Witch
Ni No Kuni Wrath of the White Witch hits that magical sweet spot where a video game truly feels like a Studio Ghibli adventure you get to live through. You’re Oliver, a kind-hearted kid who ventures into another world not for fame or greed but out of love and grief. The stakes feel personal right from the start, and that emotional core is something any Ghibli fan will recognize instantly.
What makes this game special isn’t just that Studio Ghibli animated the cutscenes or that Joe Hisaishi composed the soundtrack, though both of those facts absolutely shine. It’s the atmosphere. You’re surrounded by whimsical towns, strange creatures, and an enchanting fairy-tale logic that ignores realism in favor of pure wonder. You’ll meet cat people, floating goblins, and lantern-nosed fairies while unraveling a story that manages to be both cozy and melancholic.
The combat keeps you engaged with real-time movement and tactical decisions, and capturing and evolving familiars satisfies that collector’s urge. Sure, the AI can be goofy, and the grind is real, but the charm never fades. If you want a game that truly feels like walking into a Ghibli film instead of just watching one, this is the closest you’ll ever get.
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