There's been a surge in demand for comforting games in recent years, as evidenced by the tremendous hype surrounding Wholesome Direct, and the explosive popularity of titles like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Stardew Valley. Shiba Pixels, the one-man developer of the forthcoming life-sim, Yokai Inn, is inspired by both of those titles, featuring evolving character relationships, farming, crafting, fishing, cooking, and home improvement mechanics. But Shiba is adding a third element to the equation that draws from equally comfy source material: Studio Ghibli films.

Studio Ghibli—and the films of Hayao Miyazaki in particular—have inspired the narratives and aesthetics of dozens of video games, including the Ni No Kuni series, and the recently released indie puzzler, Behind the Frame. But when the cozy color palates and charming character designs of Ghibli films are translated to a retro pixel art style, as per Yokai Inn, the impact is at once refreshingly distinctive and keenly nostalgic. Game Rant spoke with Shiba Pixels about his fondness for Studio Ghibli and the specific films that inspire his work-in-progress.

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A Game Dev's Love Letter to Ghibli

Given the life-sim's premise—players assume the role of an innkeeper for spirits in the Taisho Era—it may be easy to guess the game's primary Ghibli inspiration:

"The concept of Yokai Inn was drafted while taking inspiration from many Studio Ghibli films, especially Spirited Away. The main places where this inspiration manifests are in the character designs and color palettes."

Spirited Away is a masterful piece of animation and could be arguably considered Miyazaki's most beautiful work. In the film, a young girl ends up indebted to a witch who runs a bathhouse that caters to strange spirits, very much like traditional Japanese yokai. Apart from setting the stage for a heartwarming coming-of-age story, that whimsical premise provides an ideal foundation for a wholesome gameplay experience.

It must be said, Yokai Inn is not intended to function as a direct adaptation of any Ghibli properties, and the game has a charming identity unto itself. Rather than being pressganged into service, the player is the proprietor of the inn, and their interactions with the inn's otherworldly guests seem to be less harrowing than those Spirited Away's heroine faces. But there is no question that the heartwarming indie title owes a glad debt to Studio Ghibli, and could be considered a love letter to the studio's films.

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Borrowing from the Best

Spirited away on train

Throughout the art design process, Shiba has repeatedly returned to the Ghibli films that inspired him. And that effort is evident in Yokai Inn's art; particularly its warm, nuanced color palettes.

"I’ve watched and rewatched my favorite Studio Ghibli films multiple times over the course of development. Among them include Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and Whisper of the Heart."

Studio Ghibli is known for it's charming cast of simply-designed characters, incredibly detailed backgrounds, fluid animation, and vibrant colors. To date, the pixel art Shiba has released for Yokai Inn does away with much of that background verisimilitude; crowding too many details into a top-down pixel-art game would actually make backgrounds appear muddy or claustrophobic. Rather, the buildings, foliage, and characters that have been revealed are vibrant, alive, and brimming with character.

If anything, the apparent simplicity of the pixel graphics—and Shiba's meticulously chosen color palettes—have an intrinsic, approachable appeal, much like Studio Ghibli's protagonists.

Sincerest Flattery

yokai inn makoto

Gamers drew comparisons between Yokai Inn and Studio Ghibli when the game was first unveiled at E3's wholesome direct, and the recently released art update seems to be bringing the game even closer to its most prominent influences. Shiba is pleased that gamers sense the "same vibes" in his work. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, having one's imitation recognized is both humbling and encouraging. It may also be the hook Yokai Inn needs to stand out in a crowd of retro-style, pixel art games, and Stardew Valley-inspired titles.

Despite the recent art update, a release date has yet to be set for Yokai Inn. The game is also earlier enough in development that the art style may undergo more evolutions and refinements before the title releases, as Shiba incorporates new mechanics, cosmetic items, and characters. Even though the wait seems long and there are plenty of other wholesome games to keep players occupied in the meantime, Yokai Inn is a title to keep an eye on—especially for Studio Ghibli fans.

Yokai Inn is currently in development for PC and Switch.

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