When I first played this game a few years ago, I wasn’t entirely sure it was for me. However, revisiting it in 2025 turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The game holds up remarkably well, both technically and creatively in my opinion.

One of the standout features for me is its visual presentation. The Ghibli-inspired art direction, whimsical character designs, and environments are stunning. Even compared to some more recent JRPGs, the visuals feel both timeless and detailed. The world is full of charm and personality, making exploration a pleasure.

Gameplay-wise, the experience remains solid. The real-time combat is responsive and fluid for an action JRPG, at least that's how it felt to me. I encountered no technical issues, even when running the game at over 100 FPS (though I capped it to 144 using NVIDIA’s app for consistency). In addition to combat, the game introduces several side systems — such as kingdom building, community development, and simplified army skirmishes. While not entirely essential to progression, these elements add welcome variety and some level of depth.

This was actually my first time playing a Level-5 title, and it left a strong impression. It led me to explore their recently released game, FANTASY LIFE I: The Girl Who Steals Time. One thing that I personally appreciate in their design philosophy is how they reward exploration without excessive hand-holding. The game evokes the spirit of classic SNES-era RPGs — not just through nostalgia, but by encouraging curiosity and discovery over checklist-driven objectives.

That approach feels particularly refreshing in contrast to many modern open-world games, which can sometimes feel bloated or hollow despite their scale. While this game does have some minor pacing issues and content repetition in places, it largely avoids feeling overwhelming or unfocused. It strikes a nice balance between scope and structure.

The soundtrack is another highlight. While I’ve seen mixed opinions with some players finding the background music repetitive over time, I personally found it reminiscent of Dragon Quest, and consistently fitting for the tone and setting.

Overall, this game has aged well and still offers a rich, charming, and rewarding experience. Whether you're approaching it for the first time or returning after a break, it’s a journey worth taking — one that manages to feel both classic and fresh in all the right ways.

It´s a solid sequel of the first Ni No Kuni game despite taking the story in a different direction and barely acknowledging the first game. Although it doesn´t have the same emotional impact as the first, Evan's journey is memorable.

Review from 2018:
A great follow up to the first game that drastically chances the combat for the better, the kingdom building aspect is enjoyable, the side quests are fetch quest tedium but the main game is charming and driving that make up for that short coming

Personally, I felt that Ni No Kuni 2 was leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessor. The game being a fantasy action RPG excelled in every aspect. While I felt that the story doesn’t quite reach the level of NNK1, it was still enjoyable, with the characters taking the spotlight and being thoroughly likable. The combat in the game shares some similarities with the Souls series, with the key difference being that most bosses don’t one-shot the entire party, making the experience more forgiving through the use of revival items. NNK2 actively encouraged grinding through a well-thought out system in the form of a end-game quest that spanned across the entire game's timeline. Furthermore, the city-building feature in NNK2 added a sense of natural progression and depth to the world-building. The only gripe I had was the skirmish feature, it felt out of place and was ultimately repetitive and unengaging.

All in all, NNK2 was clearly designed as a stress-free experience for children, however, I believe adults can also enjoy it as a way to relive the carefree spirit of childhood. It offered a good and simple story fit for passing time.