Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom

Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom from Level-5 is a JRPG sequel to the successful first game, this time without direct involvement from Studio Ghibli, though its visual style retains the fairy-tale, colorful aesthetic reminiscent of an animated film. The player takes on the role of young King Evan, who after losing his throne sets out to build a new kingdom and gather allies across a vibrant fantasy world. The combat system abandons the previous game's turn-based approach in favor of real-time action combat with the ability to switch between characters, complemented by tactical command of small sprites called Higgledies in a separate mode.

A major part of the game is building and managing your own kingdom, where the player takes in new citizens, constructs buildings, and develops technologies, giving the game a distinct management dimension beyond a traditional RPG. On Xbox One the game ran technically without major issues and offered a colorful, fairy-tale world accompanied by music from an experienced composer who carried forward the melodic quality of the first game. Contemporary reviews praised the variety of content and pleasant atmosphere, though some players missed the deeper emotional connection offered by its predecessor thanks to the collaboration with Studio Ghibli. Even so, Revenant Kingdom remains one of the most accessible and visually pleasant JRPGs of its generation, ideal even for players less familiar with the genre.

A smaller side mode featuring battles of the Higgledies sprites, resembling simplified real-time strategy, adds variety beyond the main combat system and unlocks its own progression independent of the main characters' level. Travel between kingdoms takes place on a stylized world map, where the player encounters random battles and hidden treasures, so the game's structure alternates between free exploration and a regular return to developing your own kingdom. The colorful, almost childlike aesthetic contrasts with fairly serious themes of betrayal and a ruler's responsibility, giving Ni no Kuni II a distinctive tone among the JRPGs of its time.

Why play it: For fans of JRPGs with a childlike, colorful aesthetic and more serious themes of betrayal and responsibility, Ni no Kuni II also offers a diversion in the form of Higgledy sprite battles and building your own kingdom.