I thought my most-anticipated Zelda-meets-Ghibli game was already locked in, but now it turns out that this Kiki's Delivery Service-style adventure was also inspired by Wind Waker

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Two of my favorite things in one

Mika and the Witch's Mountain trailer screenshot showing a cartoon-style young girl with bright red short hair and blue eyes falling while holding a broom in hand
(Image credit: Chibig)

Not only is Mika and the Witch's Mountain an adorable Kiki's Delivery Service-style gem, but it also appears to be directly inspired by one of the best Zelda games - Wind Waker.

Mika and the Witch's Mountain is one of my most highly anticipated games this year, and I'm not surprised why - it turns out that Chibig, the independent studio behind the witchy title, is looking to two of my favorite things for inspiration: Studio Ghibli and Zelda. While Ghibli vibes are immediately obvious upon first glance at Mika, the video game version of Kiki's Delivery Service, the upcoming game is also drawing from Wind Waker.

In a new post comparing footage from Mika and Wind Waker side by side, Chibig reveals the charming Zelda game "was a great inspiration for the art of Mika and the Witch's Mountain." The attached clip shows little witch Mika running across sandy beaches, soaring above vibrant waters, and dodging obstacles - with Link doing much of the same in Wind Waker. Everything from character actions to the two worlds' art styles lines up between both games.

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This means that Europa - another upcoming indie we've got our eyes on - isn't the only open-world take on Ghibli and Zelda to look forward to - we cozy stans are truly eating good. I'm especially excited myself as Chibig, the developer behind Mika, previously headed Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara, another Ghibli-inspired platformer with its own Wind Waker vibes. Mika and the Witch's Mountain is set to release next month on August 21, which means there's now not long left to wait for the studio's whimsical new adventure.

Need more to look forward to? Check out these other upcoming indie games if so.

Anna Koselke
Anna Koselke
Staff Writer

After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she's not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she's probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she's spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you'll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.