Studio Ghibli is a global treasure and one of the greatest things to come out of Japan, and while a video game would be cool it’s easy to see why one hasn’t been made yet.
Films like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke are works of art meant to be experienced through film not through gameplay, but aesthetically they have a style that works very well for a number of gaming genres.
Farming simulators always feel like the type of game Studio Ghibli would work best in, and I’d kill for one about My Neighbour Totoro.
We’ll likely never get one but Tales of Seikyu seems to get pretty close, as it’s an open-world adventure game that looks truly magical.
Its Steam description reads; “Inspired by the charm of games like Fields of Mistria and Rune Factory, Tales of Seikyu is a cozy adventure filled with warmth, nature, and magic! Farm, decorate and find love in this charming and mystical fantasy farming sim.”
Like Stardew Valley for instance you’ll grow crops and make your farm your own, as well as befriend the locals to help you grow things. Also like Stardew Valley you’ll be able to romance some of the characters, which is a feature some gamers just can’t seem to live without these days.
There are some Legend Of Zelda vibes with this one too. Aesthetically it’s not far from The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom and some of the screenshots remind me of that game’s version of Kakariko Village.
Zelda games haven’t really dived into farming mechanics yet but the Nintendo Switch games did give Link a house you could customise, which is sort of close.
All in all Tales of Seikyu feels like the Studio Ghibli game we’ll never get but have always wanted.
It’s cosy, whimsical and looks visually striking, so I’d urge you to give it a go if you’re able to.
The game is out now but unfortunately there’s no free demo to speak of, meaning you won’t be able to try before you buy in this instance. That said the game is only £20 for the base version which isn’t so bad, but the price increases if you want the bundles that contain downloadable content.
If it’s a bit too pricey for your liking there’s no shame in that, and if that’s the case you could stick it on your wishlist and wait for a sale.
