Studio Ghibli Inspired Game Confirms July Steam Launch, One To Watch

Studio Ghibli is a powerhouse when it comes to animated feature films, but the studio hasn’t really ventured over into the world of gaming.

It’s dabbled in animation on a few gaming projects, but there are no game adaptations of Studio Ghibli films.

That feels unlikely to ever change, but there are plenty of wonderful games that have clearly taken inspiration from the works of Studio Ghibli.

Some of my personal favourites include Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Neva, and Planet of Lana.

I’ll seemingly soon be adding Lost in Tandem to that list, a gorgeous upcoming indie platformer that’s confirmed it’ll be launching on PC this July.

It Shares A Striking Resemblance With Laputa: Castle In The Sky

Set within a post-apocalyptic world, Lost in Tandem is a co-op title where a young girl and a defective robot known as Mech-ute team up to fulfil the robot’s mission.

Oftentimes, Studio Ghibli-inspired games borrow from Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, or Kiki’s Delivery Service.

Here though, the Laputa: Castle in the Sky vibes are incredibly strong.

Don’t worry if you don’t have anyone to enjoy Lost in Tandem with, as it’s fully playable solo too with the girl directing the actions of the robot.

Juicebox Studios

That being said, Lost in Tandem is designed to primarily be played via couch co-op with devs noting that that’s the best experience.

“At the end of the '90s, a cataclysm marks the end of the world as we know it. Over numerous decades of humanity's absence, the Earth slowly recovers as nature finally reclaims its rights,” the synopsis teases.

“In this post-apocalyptic world, a solitary young girl stumbles upon an obsolete and defective robot known as a Mech-ute.

“Together, they embark on a journey guided by the sole information still programmed in the Mech-ute's deteriorated system: a set of geographic coordinates.”

Throughout the game, you’ll journey through lush landscapes, uncover lost relics, encounter “peculiar individuals” and traverse an uneven world in what devs refer to as a “heartfelt story”.

There are various puzzles you’ll have to overcome with the robot able to levitate objects, restore old electronics, and more. You can upgrade and unlock additional abilities as the game progresses.

For you collectible hunters, there are fun stickers hidden through Lost in Tandem which you can actually put on Mech-ute to decorate it.

You’ll also be able to unearth objects which’ll reveal more about the lore of this post-apocalyptic world.

Developed by Tempete Studio and set to be published by Juicebox Studios, Lost in Tandem hasn’t set a precise release date yet beyond that promise of July 2026.

We also know that it’s currently only scheduled to land on PC storefront Steam with no console launch planned.

There’s no demo available for Lost in Tandem but if you like the look of it, it can be wishlisted now on Steam.

If you do that, you’ll be able to stay up to date on its progress.

READ MORE: 6 Must-Play PlayStation Games That Feel Like Studio Ghibli Films