Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,297 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom Game Cover
An absolute joy, like a whippy ice-cream on a hot summer’s day, it’s sweet and fun and you will want more.
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In Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom, players become King Evan as they build a new kingdom, explore various lands, and fight in real-time battles with unique creatures called Higgledies. The game features a captivating story, stunning visuals, and a charming soundtrack. Players will need to strategically manage their kingdom and form alliances to strengthen their forces against the looming darkness.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,297 reviews
story1,226 positive mentions
grinding495 negative mentions
  • Charming art style and visuals reminiscent of Studio Ghibli, creating an immersive experience.
  • Engaging gameplay with a mix of real-time combat, kingdom building, and skirmish mechanics that keep the experience varied.
  • Heartfelt story with lovable characters, providing a light-hearted and whimsical adventure.
  • Weak and predictable storyline that lacks depth and character development compared to the first game.
  • Repetitive side quests and grinding mechanics that can feel tedious and detract from the overall experience.
  • Combat can become simplistic and unchallenging, leading to a lack of engagement in battles over time.
  • story4,431 mentions

    The story of *Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom* is often described as charming yet simplistic, appealing primarily to a younger audience with its fairy-tale themes and predictable plotlines. While some players appreciate the lighthearted narrative and character interactions, many criticize it for being shallow, lacking depth, and relying heavily on repetitive fetch quests that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a visually stunning world and engaging gameplay, but its story does not reach the emotional heights of its predecessor, leaving some players feeling underwhelmed.

    • “Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is a charming RPG that blends whimsical storytelling with engaging gameplay.”
    • “With its heartfelt story, memorable characters, and a perfect mix of action and strategy, Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is an enchanting adventure for players of all ages.”
    • “The story this time uses a very different theme, as it goes from 'a boy saving his mother' fairy tale to a 'man running a fictional nation' strategy book, in which if you don't mind the deviation, then this story would feel very divine to go through.”
    • “The characters are boring and the story is just a typical hero saves the world from a big baddie.”
    • “The story is very basic and the characters barely interact with the world, making it feel hollow.”
    • “The story is childish and predictable, with no real character development or depth.”
  • gameplay1,573 mentions

    The gameplay of *Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom* is characterized by a blend of action RPG mechanics, kingdom-building elements, and tactical skirmishes, offering a diverse experience that keeps players engaged. While many appreciate the fluid combat and charming visuals, some criticize the gameplay for being repetitive and lacking depth, with certain mechanics feeling underdeveloped or overly simplistic. Overall, the game provides a mix of enjoyable mechanics, though opinions vary on their execution and impact on the overall experience.

    • “The gameplay includes dynamic real-time combat, kingdom-building mechanics, and exploration of beautifully crafted dungeons and open areas.”
    • “I really like the kingdom building mechanics, and there is something here for everyone.”
    • “The gameplay is a mix of real-time combat and kingdom building.”
    • “The gameplay is a mix of real-time combat and kingdom building, but it feels like a chore and halts gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is split into three parts; hack-and-slash, base builder/kingdom management, and military strategy, all of which hardly interact with each other and ends up feeling like you're playing three different 'mini' games which are all watered down versions of what you'd find in other games.”
    • “The gameplay is very wide, ranging from kingdom management to skirmishes, but I'm constantly overwhelmed with different mechanics and having to manage different things that the game is making me feel seriously anxious whenever I play it.”
  • graphics1,116 mentions

    The graphics of "Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom" are widely praised for their vibrant, Studio Ghibli-inspired art style, which creates a visually stunning and immersive experience. Many players appreciate the charming character designs and lush environments, although some express disappointment over the lack of animated cutscenes and inconsistencies in the art style between different game areas. Overall, the game's visuals are considered one of its strongest aspects, contributing significantly to its appeal.

    • “The graphics are a visual feast, with landscapes that belong in a watercolor painting and character designs straight out of a children’s storybook.”
    • “The charming Studio Ghibli-inspired aesthetics create a magical and immersive atmosphere.”
    • “Visually, Ni no Kuni II is a feast for the eyes, with its vibrant art style and lush environments that evoke a sense of wonder and nostalgia.”
    • “I mean the overall graphics improved, but the game lost the unique style.”
    • “The graphics look very dated and the art style doesn't match at all with what you see when exploring a forest area or a city, or while in combat.”
    • “Unfortunately, the only ghibli influence left in this game seems to be the character designs and general art style, and little else.”
  • music751 mentions

    The music in "Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom" has received mixed reviews, with many praising the enchanting compositions by Joe Hisaishi, known for his work on Studio Ghibli films. While some players find the soundtrack beautiful and immersive, others criticize it for being repetitive and not always fitting the game's atmosphere, leading to a sense of monotony during extended play. Overall, the music is often highlighted as a standout feature, though its limited variety can detract from the experience for some players.

    • “The music is pure magic, with melodies that tug at your heartstrings and battle themes that make you feel invincible.”
    • “Accompanied by an enchanting musical score composed by Joe Hisaishi, the game's presentation is nothing short of magical, drawing players into its fantastical world with every note and brushstroke.”
    • “The soundtrack to Ni no Kuni 1 is one of my favorite soundtracks of all time, and this soundtrack certainly does not disappoint!”
    • “I ended up turning it off and just played my own music alongside.”
    • “The music is loud and obnoxious for a single purpose, to mask the lack of terrible ambience.”
    • “The music is very fitting and although not entirely memorable, the characters aren't bad.”
  • grinding507 mentions

    The reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding, particularly in the late game and post-story content, which many players found tedious and time-consuming. While some players enjoy the grind as part of the RPG experience, others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, especially with repetitive fetch quests and the need to level up for side content. The kingdom-building aspect, while initially engaging, often becomes a chore due to the extensive resource gathering and upgrading required.

    • “Not very grindy; I felt like I was the appropriate power level for every main quest.”
    • “In my experience with RPGs, not grindy at all.”
    • “I wouldn't argue that Ni no Kuni II does any of these things exceptionally well, but it still manages to do each of the things it tries to do in a fun and engaging way that isn't tedious or obnoxious.”
    • “Plus some of the side quests require you to be level 90 or higher to complete, so I gave up grinding midway. I have better things to do than kill mobs again and again for hours on end.”
    • “The game is needlessly grindy in very weird aspects.”
    • “The quests I've had so far are mostly fetch quests or kill X monsters, and the combat is a boring exercise in grinding.”
  • emotional138 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom" is a mixed bag, with many players praising its heartwarming story, charming characters, and beautiful visuals that evoke a sense of nostalgia and joy. However, some critics feel that the narrative lacks the depth and emotional resonance of its predecessor, leading to a disconnect with the characters and a more generic storyline. Overall, while the game offers wholesome moments and a delightful atmosphere, it struggles to achieve the same emotional highs as the first installment.

    • “The narrative is beautifully crafted, blending elements of fantasy and adventure with themes of courage, compassion, and redemption, resulting in a tale that is as heartwarming as it is compelling.”
    • “The story is gripping and emotional, the characters are excellently written, and the voice acting is superb.”
    • “It's a heartwarming tale about wanting the world to live in peace so everyone could be happy.”
    • “Absolutely nothing like 'Wrath of the White Witch' with poor mechanics and uninteresting characters along with a boring storyline.”
    • “The gameplay is good, but the story feels like a children's movie; it's predictable and boring.”
    • “However, every time you go into a cutscene, the dialogue is about 3-5 times slower to spam through... not great on a boring story.”
  • character development131 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant lack of depth and growth for most characters, aside from the protagonist, Evan. While the character designs are praised for their aesthetic appeal, the storytelling is often criticized for being shallow and lacking meaningful interactions or backstories, leading to a disconnect between players and the characters. Overall, the game is seen as visually stunning but falls short in delivering a compelling narrative and character progression.

    • “The storytelling was bar none amazing to me since it delved into personal character development and how each one played their own role into the beginning, middle, and end.”
    • “The character development is strong, as the game instantly makes me care about the main characters and their well-being.”
    • “Character development: watching Evan grow as a character and leader throughout the game is a rewarding experience.”
    • “No character development whatsoever, no logic in the sequence of events, extremely naive story, 'good' characters doing inexplicably evil things for no reason and not being called out.”
    • “No story at all, no background story for characters, no character development, just some narrative to keep the game going and give you 'newer' dungeons in which they only change colors on the trees to make it seem like something changed (but it didn't).”
    • “The plot is also undermined by a lack of visible character development for the main character Evan.”
  • optimization126 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its performance on various hardware configurations, reporting smooth gameplay and high frame rates, while others have experienced significant stuttering, crashes, and performance issues, particularly on older systems. Many users noted that while the game can run well under certain conditions, it still suffers from random lag spikes and audio desyncs, leading to frustration for some players. Overall, the optimization appears to be inconsistent, with a notable divide between those who find it well-optimized and those who encounter persistent issues.

    • “The game is perfectly optimized for PC as well!”
    • “I can say, without a doubt, that this is one of the best optimized PC games that I've ever had the pleasure of playing.”
    • “The game seems to be well optimized, playing it on ultra with an overclocked 970 and i7 4790k 4GHz, and the game did not drop below 60fps.”
    • “This game is a highly unoptimized mess of a port.”
    • “The port is terrible, I have tried everything to stop the damn stuttering and still no joy.”
    • “Unacceptable graphical stuttering.”
  • humor63 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, engaging voice acting, and whimsical character designs, often blending heartwarming moments with absurdity. Players appreciate the funny dialogues, quirky side quests, and the overall lighthearted tone that enhances the experience, although some note inconsistencies in humor across different language versions. While the game successfully incorporates humor into its narrative and gameplay, a few reviewers feel that it occasionally leans too heavily into silliness, detracting from the story's depth.

    • “The voice acting is spot-on, with performances that range from heartwarming to hilariously over-the-top, like a Shakespearean drama performed by a troupe of anime characters.”
    • “And hats off to whoever did the names for monsters, NPCs, items, and events - some were genuinely funny.”
    • “The game mixes emotions and humor into one with a great blend of action, making it a fun game.”
  • atmosphere53 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its enchanting Studio Ghibli-inspired aesthetics, beautiful graphics, and immersive music, which collectively create a magical experience reminiscent of childhood nostalgia. However, some reviewers note that while the art and sound design are strong, the overall world and story atmosphere may not be as compelling as its predecessor, Ni no Kuni I. Despite some criticisms regarding character depth and repetitive quests, the vibrant environments and engaging side content contribute to a lively and captivating world that many players find enjoyable to explore.

    • “The charming Studio Ghibli-inspired aesthetics create a magical and immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The music is atmospheric and enjoyable, enhancing the emotional impact of key moments.”
    • “Beautiful graphics and Joe Hisaishi's music give it the perfect atmosphere.”
    • “Yes, we've all expected exactly that, but still, it's hard not to mention that the signature atmosphere of Studio Ghibli works is not here anymore.”
    • “Boring running around, sterile atmosphere and stupid characters, clunky movement and combat, console menus.”
    • “As soon as you are out of the castle, the ridiculous story of the game gets shoved to the forefront and all the atmosphere quickly erodes.”
  • stability39 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting a bug-free experience and smooth performance, while others have encountered significant issues such as crashes, freezes, and glitches, particularly in certain game modes and during late-game content. Many users noted that mandatory gameplay elements can be frustratingly buggy, impacting overall enjoyment. Overall, the game's stability appears inconsistent, varying widely based on individual systems and experiences.

    • “I didn't know anyone cared enough about quality to make a bug-free game anymore.”
    • “I love the story, I love everything about this game. As a glitch and bug hunter, I found 0 problems, no glitches, no bugs, no performance issues. This is a piece of art, if not a masterpiece!”
    • “It runs great with no bugs to report so far.”
    • “This game is incredibly buggy and as such I cannot recommend it; firstly, borderless full screen and regular full screen do not work.”
    • “Beautiful game but becomes absolute trash to run on PC; constant hangs, freezes, and black screens make it virtually unplayable from chapter 8 onwards.”
    • “Play all on low or max, it doesn't matter; low range or high range PC, it doesn't matter. Crashes, freezes, FPS drops even when you're idle and nothing on the world/level is happening, those enjoyable 80 FPS+ drop to 17 FPS every few seconds.”
  • replayability17 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the potential for achievements and city-building elements, many criticize it for being grindy and lacking substantial endgame content. Several reviews highlight that once the main story is completed, options for replaying are limited and feel underdeveloped, leading to a general consensus that the replay value is minimal. Overall, the game may hold some appeal for dedicated players, but it lacks the depth needed to encourage multiple playthroughs.

    • “The game offers excellent replayability, though I had forgotten just how grindy it gets after the main story.”
    • “It does have some replay value for achievements but also to do more with your kingdom in the city building.”
    • “There is plenty of replay value here, and this game will hold up for years to come.”
    • “Sadly, there is next to no replay value.”
    • “Overall, this felt like a feature they just threw into the game to try and add more playable content, without ever actually fleshing out the game itself.”
    • “There is no DLC in sight and the story does not lend itself to endgame content or replayability.”
  • monetization13 mentions

    Overall, the monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback. While players appreciate the absence of microtransactions and denuvo, many feel that the game still exhibits cash grab tendencies, particularly through its DLC content and grindy mechanics that resemble mobile game design. Some reviewers suggest waiting for a price drop before purchasing, indicating a belief that the game does not justify its current cost.

    • “The game has kingdom building, and the kingdom building is extremely enjoyable at first, but after you get to level 3 it gets really grindy and derivative... it's like it was designed for a mobile game without the microtransactions; having to wait lengthy periods for good kingsguilder returns, as well as waiting for 'research' to complete.”
    • “No microtransactions: Ni no Kuni II stands as a testament to the value of a complete gaming experience.”
    • “It's free from the distractions of microtransactions or pay-to-win mechanics, allowing players to fully immerse themselves in the world without interruption.”
    • “I haven't touched the DLC content as they are clearly cash grabs.”
    • “It's a cash grab.”
    • “I hope Studio Ghibli has more to do with the next game; this just feels like a cash grab.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

87% average critic score

Buy Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom

Play time

35hMedian play time
47hAverage play time
39hMain story
93hCompletionist
7-62hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 60 analyzed playthroughs

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