Overview
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom, developed by LEVEL-5 and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, arrives as a bold, standalone RPG that expands on its predecessor's foundations while charting its own creative course. Released on March 23, 2018, the game centers on Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum, a young cat-eared king violently ousted from his throne in the kingdom of Ding Dong Dell. Joined by Roland, a modern-world politician mysteriously transported into this animated realm, Evan embarks on a sweeping journey to establish a new kingdom built on the promise of peace and belonging for all.
The story opens with striking urgency: Roland witnesses a catastrophic explosion in his own world before vanishing entirely, reappearing beside Evan just as the royal advisor Mausinger executes a calculated coup. The conspiracy runs deep, revealing that Mausinger poisoned Evan's father and intends to eliminate the young prince to seize permanent control. With the sacrifice of Evan's governess Aranella securing their escape, the two unlikely companions set out with a single driving purpose. The narrative balances genuine emotional weight with the warmth and whimsy characteristic of the Ni no Kuni series.
Gameplay and Mechanics: What Makes Ni no Kuni II's Combat System Work?
Ni no Kuni II moves decisively away from the turn-based command structure of its predecessor, adopting a real-time action RPG combat system that places players directly in the heat of battle. Evan and his companions engage enemies across open environments, with each character offering distinct weapon types and combat rhythms. The most distinctive mechanical layer comes from the Higgledies, small elemental spirit creatures that accompany the player party and contribute passive bonuses, elemental attacks, and magical abilities during combat.
Key gameplay features include:
- Real-time action RPG combat with multiple playable characters
- Elemental Higgledy creatures for spell-casting and support
- Open-world exploration across a richly detailed map
- Kingdom-building management mechanics at Evermore
- Skirmish large-scale tactical battle sequences
The kingdom-building element, centered on the player's growing settlement of Evermore, adds a compelling strategic dimension to the adventure. Recruiting citizens, constructing facilities, and dispatching teams on resource-gathering errands creates a satisfying loop that runs parallel to the main story progression. It transforms Evermore from a simple hub into a living, evolving reflection of Evan's ambitions.
World and Setting: A Beautifully Crafted Animated Realm
The world of Ni no Kuni II is an extraordinary visual achievement, rendered in a cel-shaded art style that evokes the warmth of hand-drawn animation. Character designs by Yoshiyuki Momose, a veteran animation artist, bring a distinctly cinematic quality to every major figure in the cast. The environments range from lush green highlands to sun-drenched port towns, each region carrying its own cultural identity and visual personality.
Complementing the visuals is a full orchestral soundtrack composed by Joe Hisaishi, whose work spans decades of celebrated animated films. His score elevates even quiet exploration sequences, lending the journey an emotional resonance that few RPGs achieve. The combination of Momose's character artistry and Hisaishi's music creates a sensory experience that feels genuinely crafted rather than assembled.
Impact and Legacy: Awards, Reception, and Platform Availability
Ni no Kuni II earned significant recognition before its release, winning seven E3 Awards and receiving sixteen nominations, including the prestigious Game Critics Award for Best of E3 2017. That level of pre-release acclaim reflected the gaming community's genuine enthusiasm for LEVEL-5's return to the franchise. The final product holds a strong user rating of 4.65 out of 5 on the PlayStation Store across nearly nine thousand ratings, underscoring its lasting appeal among players.
The game is available across PlayStation 4, PC via Steam, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, ensuring broad accessibility for RPG fans regardless of platform. The Nintendo Switch version ships as the Prince's Edition, which includes additional content for players seeking the most complete experience.
Conclusion
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom stands as one of the more accomplished action RPGs of its generation, weaving together a heartfelt story, inventive combat mechanics, and a kingdom-building layer that adds genuine strategic depth. The collaboration between LEVEL-5, Yoshiyuki Momose, and Joe Hisaishi produces a cohesive artistic vision that elevates the experience well beyond genre convention. For fans of open-world RPGs with rich narrative foundations and distinctive visual identity, Evan's journey to build a kingdom worth believing in remains a compelling and rewarding adventure.