Studio Ghibli Quietly Drops Free-to-Play Game with Totoro

Studio Ghibli Quietly Drops Free-to-Play Game with Totoro

As a longtime fan of Studio Ghibli, I can confidently say that this latest offering from the legendary animation studio has sent my heart soaring! The free-to-play board game, “Ghibli Park,” is a delightful treat for fans worldwide. It’s like stepping back into those magical worlds we all fell in love with, and it serves as an excellent promotional tool for their new theme park.


For quite some time now, Studio Ghibli has been a significant player in the anime world, leading transformations within the industry. From Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata’s exceptional works, the studio has left an indelible mark on our memories. Over the years, Studio Ghibli has excelled in various mediums like film and television, but video games have been a missing piece from their portfolio. However, that gap has finally been filled. In Japan, Studio Ghibli recently unveiled a free-to-play game, inviting fans to reconnect with the beloved character Totoro following an adventure through Ghibli Park.

The special tabletop game made its debut in Japan, and Studio Ghibli made sure the gift was accessible to everyone. Goro Miyazaki, one of the top execs behind Ghibli Park, decided to make the board game in a bid to promote the tourist location. The team at Studio Ghibli put together a simple board game that doubles as a newspaper ad, and it comes complete with cut-out standees. So if you want to experience Studio Ghibli’s take on Candy Land, you are in luck.

Studio Ghibli Quietly Drops Free-to-Play Game with Totoro

What Is This Ghibli Game About?

As you can see here, a full PDF of the Ghibli Park board game is available to download and print at home. The file will let you print the game’s very colorful board but its four player tokens as well. A dice printout is also included, and it features a Soot Sprite for good measure. Once you piece together this board game, the rules are simple enough. The game asks for fans to pick a token and simply take turns rolling the dice. The mission is to be the first to reach Totoro who is waiting for players at the center of Ghibli Park. But of course, the board is filled with spaces that make that goal difficult to reach.

In this board game, players will be guided to explore various settings from Studio Ghibli’s collection of movies, such as Howl’s famous Moving Castle and the village in Princess Mononoke. This tabletop game offers a glimpse into the diverse landscapes featured in Ghibli Park. It was truly smart of Miyazaki and his team to design this game. What makes it even more appealing is that it’s free, and it draws inspiration from Studio Ghibli’s beloved intellectual properties to support its theme park. From a marketing perspective, the company has undeniably scored a home run with this move, and fans are equally thrilled because who wouldn’t enjoy playing this charming game with friends?

How to Play the Ghibli Park Game

Currently, the board game can only be found in its Japanese version, however, we’ve got a guide on how to play it. For those interested in trying it out at home, remember that your journey begins at the bottom right, where there’s a blue dot with a train icon next to it. From there, players will determine their turn order by rolling the dice. The objective is to navigate through the board and reach Totoro first. Each space on the board is marked with a location’s name and specific instructions. You can either use a translation app to understand these instructions in English or refer to this guide provided by SoraNews24. Keep in mind that the instructions for each space are crucial, as some may require you to move backward, while others will let you hop on the Catbus for an express trip.

If you find this board game insufficient, then here’s something more enchanting – Studio Ghibli Park has officially opened! This tourist attraction welcomed its first visitors in November 2022, offering a real-life experience of the Studio Ghibli universe. Spread across five distinct zones, the park is a tribute to beloved films like My Neighbor Totoro and The Cat Returns. Tickets for this magical destination can be purchased online, but remember, they are limited due to the park’s commitment to sustainability. If you’re a fan of Studio Ghibli’s captivating cinematic world, then a visit to Ghibli Park should definitely be on your itinerary when in Japan.

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2024-09-18 18:09