Wind Waker Meets Kiki’s Delivery Service Game Confirms Release Date

Indie developer Chibig Studio has finally revealed that Mika and the Witch’s Mountain will be released on August 21, 2024. Kiki’s Delivery Service meets the charming aesthetics of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker in Mika and the Witch’s Mountain, a cozy adventure coming to PC and Switch later this year.

Following the Nintendo Direct showcase on June 18, Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom quickly became this summer’s most wished-for game. However, an anticipated indie game drawing heavily from an earlier Legend of Zelda title was noticeably absent from the showcase. Artistically fusing the charming ambiance of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker with a narrative akin to Studio Ghibli’s classic anime Kiki’s Delivery Service, Mika and the Witch’s Mountain hopes to be one of the most aesthetically and emotionally enchanting releases of the year.

Eager gamers don’t have long to wait, as Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is officially coming to Nintendo Switch and Steam on 21 August 2024. Developer Chibig Studio revealed the launch date on Twitter, while IGN shared the official release date trailer. Heavily inspired by Kiki’s Delivery Service, this cozy game is aimed at children and adults alike. Developed by indie studios Nukefist and Chibig, the team behind Deiland Pocket Planet and Summer in Mara, Mika and the Witch’s Mountain will transport players to a gorgeous magical island on a coming-of-age journey of exploration and community. Cast down from the Stellar Lighthouse atop Mont Gaun by the Master Witch Olagari, young witch apprentice Mika must find a way to repair her broken broomstick to return to the mountain’s peak and complete her training.

When Will Mika and the Witch’s Mountain Be Released?

• Mika and the Witch’s Mountain will be digitally released on August 21, 2024, for Steam and Nintendo Switch.
• A physical edition for Nintendo Switch and digital ports for Xbox and PlayStation will follow at an unspecified later date.

Following in Kiki’s footsteps, Mika joins a delivery company to earn the money needed to repair her flying broom. Players can upgrade Mika’s broom as they complete deliveries to a cast of quirky characters, unraveling the island’s mysteries along the way. Better broomsticks will allow for more controlled and sustained flights, allowing Mika to explore all the secrets of the island’s ancient ruins and journey into the heart of the mountain itself. Although Mika’s quest will take her into the depths of caves and dungeons, there is no combat in the game. Mika and the Witch’s Mountain instead follows games such as A Short Hike, revolving around the expressive joys and freedoms of flight and friendship.

Many Studio Ghibli fans rejoiced when a game based on Hayao Miyazaki’s classic 1989 film was announced in 2022. Mika and the Witch’s Mountain proved so popular that backers smashed a 2023 Kickstarter’s $40,000 target in three days, and over 24,000 fans ultimately pledged a total of $1.3 million. With all stretch goals met, this support has allowed the developers to add tons of extra features into the game, such as new outfits, side quests, animal companions, and “three Zeldish dungeon levels.” The additional funding has also allowed for digital ports of Mika and the Witch’s Mountain for Xbox and PlayStation, along with a physical edition of the game for Nintendo Switch. However, these versions have no official release date and will only enter production after the game’s digital release on Steam and Switch on August 21.