Howl's Moving Castle Meets Pokémon In New Studio Ghibli-Like RPG

Published Sep 17, 2026, 9:24 AM EDT

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If you follow game announcements, you've probably seen "Ghibli-inspired" more times than you can count. But some games actually deliver on that promise throughout the entire runtime, like the Ni No Kuni series. It wasn't just the cutscenes that delivered, but the moment-to-moment gameplay and charm. It's truly inspiring to see when someone pulls it off.

Ghibli influences run deep in many animation styles, and you can certainly see them in this new RPG, which aims to unite multiple classic art styles with creature collecting. Thanks to a new YouTube reveal, a new game is coming out that looks like it's straight out of a Ghibli-inspired anime.

Originally unveiled last year at Gamescom, the beautiful anime-inspired game Bloomwalker is closer to release. In addition to showing off new footage, publisher Netmarble confirmed this week at TGS that it'll launch on Switch 1 and 2. Amazingly, the outfit also confirmed that it's officially part of the Ni No Kuni universe, and while the implications of that remain to be seen, it should excite fans of that franchise.

Here's everything you need to know about Bloomwalker upfront:

"Travel with a moving house and restore a tainted world in this heartfelt crafting adventure. Build and tend to your own pocket dimension beyond the door, and breathe new life into the fallen world of Luminoa alongside your artisan friends, the familiars, and the little spirits known as higgledies.

Luminoa’s sanctuaries have been ravaged by pollution, and the guardians who once protected them have succumbed to madness, becoming incarnations of the pollution themselves. With even the nature spirits known as higgledies under threat, you travel to restore this land alongside your moving house."

The Ghibli inspirations are worn on Bloomwalker's sleeve. Specifically, Howl's Moving Castle, brought to life in the game as your "Moving House," which grows during your adventure and eventually becomes a "loyal companion."

The house also has a pocket dimension to tend to, which can lead to distractions beyond the campaign. At the core of the game is your relationship with Familiars and Higgledies, as you discover new ways to craft items and they repay you in return. In the official trailer, we see the main protagonist walk through the pocket dimension door and greet the denizens within, many of whom look a lot like the Kodama from Princess Mononoke.

Bloomwalker looks like it could be something special, so stay tuned as we try to nail down the game's launch plans.