Like so many game developers of this generation, the films of Studio Ghibli have had a significant impact on the work of Swedish studio Wishfully. The studio cites Spirited Away as a key inspiration behind its debut – and even if you didn’t know this before playing, it wouldn’t take you long to notice the resemblances. In these vibrant hand-painted vistas, foliage sways in the breeze, strange little creatures scurry about in the woods, and a resplendent orchestral soundtrack ushers you through a rural idyll.
Yet the appeal of a Ghibli film extends beyond its art style, typically exploring environmentalist themes. Where lesser games would merely borrow the aesthetic, is clearly keen to tackle these broader ideas, and does so in a remarkably sophisticated way – using almost every tool imaginable to elicit a strong emotional response from the player. At the core of this story is the idea that a warped relationship between humans and nature favours no one: an imbalance that can be solved by creating a more interconnected society.
