Mika and the Witch's Mountain is the latest fantasy platformer to capture the interest of the public eye, with the title becoming fully funded on Kickstarter within just two hours of its campaign launch. While this isn't Chibig Studio's first game, this is the first of its 3D adventures to garner attention due to its inspiration from the beloved Studio Ghibli film Kiki's Delivery Service. After the studio combined the wholesome Ghibli undertones with similar mechanics to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, it's no surprise that many are excited about the game's release scheduled for later this year.
2023 is shaping up to be quite the year for witchy games if one considers how quickly Hogwarts Legacy became a top-selling title. While Mika and the Witch's Mountain does not feature combat or a wizarding school, lovers of magical fantasy worlds may still enjoy exploring this colorful indie after being treated to beautiful in-game animations and meeting its spunky main character. In this RPG players become Mika, a young witch in training, who hopes to become a fully-fledged witch in her own right. Climbing aboard her magic broom will eventually see players uncovering hidden secrets around the mountain in a relaxing adventure meant to enchant and compel its audience.
Chibig Studio's Prominent Influences
According to the official Kickstarter campaign page, the open-world game is being marketed as a "delivery service adventure," which serves as a not-so-subtle nod to the 1989 film, Kiki's Delivery Service. Chibig Studio did confirm that their games consistently take inspiration from Studio Ghibli movies and Kiki's Delivery Service was at the forefront of their minds during the development of Mika and the Witch's Mountain.
After being unexpectedly cast from the top of a mountain by the Great Witch Olgari, Mika's broomstick snaps and is rendered unusable. Determined to ascend the mountain once more, she takes it upon herself to navigate the unfamiliar terrain of Mount Gaun in order to find a way to repair her broom. In true Kiki fashion, she accepts a position as a delivery assistant whereon completion of deliveries to the townsfolk means coins and upgrades to her broom.
Reaching the peak once more will allow Mika to reintroduce herself to her would-be mentor and continue her magical training. A few elements throughout the open-world title may even remind players of the trek to the mountain peak from the exploration game A Short Hike with a more fantastical twist. Of course, with the ability to fly now unlocked, fans of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker may notice a similar aesthetic in Mika's flying style to Toon Link's from the 2002 video game.
The little mountain island is surrounded by powerful winds that players can boost themselves from to get air time, much like how Link used his parachute to soar. There are even segments where Mika can fly over the ocean and land on boats, akin to the Great Sea featured in The Legend of Zelda's Land of Hyrule. Unfortunately, the first few iterations of Mika's broom are rather shoddy and this directly affects her ability to maneuver properly, which may result in frustration, or laughter, as the young girl bumps into rooftops and bollards. Players should exercise caution when carrying packages as perfect deliveries earn payment while anything less results in nothing.
The open-world delivery title has seen great reception so far if its 24,159 Kickstarter backers are anything to go off of. The Kiki's Delivery Service-inspired game is expected to launch in just a few months, following the developer announcement that the game was "in a state of advanced development" in March. If all goes according to plan, Kickstarter patrons should be receiving their exclusive goods as soon as October, which slates the game for a close release.
Mika and the Witch's Mountain will release in October 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.