Steam Gains Free Taster For Sequel To Beloved Studio Ghibli Inspired Game
Topics: Steam, PC, Indie Games
Featured Image Credit: PM Studios
Topics: Steam, PC, Indie Games
Studio Ghibli has never attempted to translate any of its acclaimed animated films to the medium of gaming, nor loaned out the IPs.
There are, however, hundreds of games inspired by the works of Studio Ghibli.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Spiritmaster, Neva, and Planet of Lana are a few standout examples, as is Hoa.
Hoa is a puzzle platformer that was launched by Skrollcat Studio in 2021.
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It takes place in a hand-painted world, with players controlling the titular character of Hoa, a fairy who has returned to her childhood home.
There are no grand goals or combat encounters; you simply platform and puzzle your way through the Ghibli-esque world, mending things and meeting friends new and old.
The soundtrack is by Joe Hisashi who also penned all of your favourite Ghibli soundtracks.
It’s a blissful play that can be completed in around two hours.
Several years on, Hoa 2 is now on the way although an exact release date hasn’t yet been pinned down.
This time around, Skrollcat Studio has opted for a 3D world but the general formula of Hoa 2 echoes what took place in that initial game.
“Continuing the story from the first part, this sequel sees our little fairy return in an amazing new style,” devs began.
“In Hoa 2, our courageous protagonist sets forth in a vibrant 3D world, interacting with nature, partnering with fascinating creatures and discovering new secrets and abilities in their quest to aid an old friend.”
The world is much bigger this time around with plenty of charming new puzzles for players to solve.
There are also costumes to collect, secrets to discover, and minigames to find with those minigames unlocking unique rewards.
Ahead of launch, the Skrollcat team has dropped a free demo for Hoa 2 on PC storefront Steam.
There’s no word on precisely how long the demo lasts but I’m going to assume it’s pretty brief given that the first Hoa game is in its entirety.
It should be a peaceful way to while away at least 15 minutes though, with Hoa 2’s Steam page live if you want to wishlist the game.
While Hoa 2’s demo is only available on Steam, the full game is due to come to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2 as well.
READ MORE: 6 Must-Play PlayStation Games That Feel Like Studio Ghibli Films