Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

 Switch
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 137 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 94 out of 137
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 137
  3. Negative: 22 out of 137
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  1. M1sfiT
    Sep 3, 2023
    6
    Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaameeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees! nnk
  2. latenightcritic
    May 6, 2023
    5
    The art style and sound design are gorgeous, but the gameplay itself is very slow paced (and kinda boring sometimes). The game suffers from a too linear and too easy main quest, even while having an interesting combat system. There are times when you have to go out to speak with a character just to go back right away to get an item that now you can have after learning how this new mechanicThe art style and sound design are gorgeous, but the gameplay itself is very slow paced (and kinda boring sometimes). The game suffers from a too linear and too easy main quest, even while having an interesting combat system. There are times when you have to go out to speak with a character just to go back right away to get an item that now you can have after learning how this new mechanic works. It almost look like a infinite tutorial on how the game works.… Expand
  3. AlexMakesToast
    Nov 23, 2022
    6
    Ni no kuni = 6/10
    .........................................................
  4. Roscar
    Jul 11, 2022
    10
    Just go play this game right now!
    It's incredible in every posible way you can think: the music, the art stile, the story, the characters, etc.
    You'll probably want more of it once you finish the story and good for you becouse this game haves lots of post game content for you to enjoy.
  5. ELYS1UM
    Sep 20, 2022
    7
    Really good, but simple. I'd say my opinion of this game is more positive rather than mixed, but I can't rate it an eight. Consider it a 75/100. It's a beautiful game, and tells a pretty interesting story, but the world, characters, gameplay, and even the pretty interesting story are not all that memorable. I had a good time, and the game succeeded in doing everything it set out to, but itReally good, but simple. I'd say my opinion of this game is more positive rather than mixed, but I can't rate it an eight. Consider it a 75/100. It's a beautiful game, and tells a pretty interesting story, but the world, characters, gameplay, and even the pretty interesting story are not all that memorable. I had a good time, and the game succeeded in doing everything it set out to, but it feels like there was something more it could have done to make an impression on me.… Expand
  6. Rhokin
    Aug 10, 2022
    5
    This game is quite charming in many ways. The story is not bad, the characters are quite memorable and the game looks great on the switch. The part that really hurts the game for me is the combat and progression. The combat I found to be unintuitive although I can see what they tried to accomplish. I don’t feel they executed the combination of real time and turn based styles well. TheThis game is quite charming in many ways. The story is not bad, the characters are quite memorable and the game looks great on the switch. The part that really hurts the game for me is the combat and progression. The combat I found to be unintuitive although I can see what they tried to accomplish. I don’t feel they executed the combination of real time and turn based styles well. The progression system and abilities are very basic. Ultimately the combat and progression system, as the bulk of the game, really fell short for me, hence the rating.… Expand
  7. SnaperoCL
    Jul 8, 2022
    10
    Absoluta obra maestra, uno de los mejores RPG modernos y en la switch es una BOMBA, corre muy bien, cuando crees que el juego ha llegado a un techo siempre descubres un rascacielo nuevo, uno de mis juegos favoritos de los últimos 10 años, increíble obra maestra de LEVEL 5 y Studios Gibli, 100% recomendado, las primeras 15 horas son lentas pero lo que viene adelante es INOLVIDABLE.
  8. Shinyscyther
    Jun 2, 2022
    9
    A really nice game, with lovely graphics and the always charming style of Ghibli in both music and story. The combat system was really fun once you get the grip of it, and overall was a game with enough challenge to be a really fun experience. Is not perfect, has some issues, especially with the localization, but is not short of an amazing game.
  9. horatii
    May 22, 2022
    9
    Music and art are both phenomenal. The story is great but the cut scenes are not skippable. I've put 50 hours in the game and most of it is grinding exp. Nonetheless, it is a great game.
  10. Premier991
    Nov 23, 2021
    0
    The game itself is excellent, although I'd advise getting this on a different console. The Nintendo Switch version has too many crashes. I've lost hours of progress. Other than the frequent loss of save data, the game and Gameplay would have been around a 9 for me, but the loss of progress was infuriating. I wouldn't buy this game for the Switch if I could do it over. Frequent crashes on aThe game itself is excellent, although I'd advise getting this on a different console. The Nintendo Switch version has too many crashes. I've lost hours of progress. Other than the frequent loss of save data, the game and Gameplay would have been around a 9 for me, but the loss of progress was infuriating. I wouldn't buy this game for the Switch if I could do it over. Frequent crashes on a game that doesn't auto save is unacceptable. I played this towards the end of 2021,so there isn't an excuse to have crashes on a finished remaster from years ago.… Expand
  11. robomartion
    Nov 15, 2021
    7
    The Studio Ghibli influence is strong and that at least adds up to fantastic sense of place in the game and a beautiful art style. The story is very charming, and starts off very strong, however, after the intro and the revelation that you run around as a mini version yourself on the map the game quickly goes downhill.

    With a mix of turn-based and realtime gameplay you would think this    The Studio Ghibli influence is strong and that at least adds up to fantastic sense of place in the game and a beautiful art style. The story is very charming, and starts off very strong, however, after the intro and the revelation that you run around as a mini version yourself on the map the game quickly goes downhill.

    With a mix of turn-based and realtime gameplay you would think this would be an improvement however it just ends up being a mind numbingly slow grind. Overall the combat is badly designed and boring and the battle music is extremely bad and that combined with the downgraded over-world once you leave the first town (the first in the fantasy party of the game) the game is just not worth playing after the beginning - which is a very beautiful and promising beginning to be sure. The gameplay in dungeons and areas outside of the overworld are just far too linear and Ni No Kuni never feels like it lives up to its own promises.

    Dragon Quest VIII is a far superior game and the artstyle and gameplay even holds up today and I think the challenging combat and depletion of mana and HP is to thank for that. If Ni No Kuni simply had DQVIII gameplay and world traversal with a Studio Ghibli aesthetic it would be an absolutely hit title for sure. I'm sure this game will hold a special place in many peoples hearts and the story and world is more charming than nearly any other game out there but the gameplay just doesn't make it worth while. As it stands they made too many changes to the formula and it just doesn't end up being any good.    … Expand
  12. DinoBeam
    Oct 23, 2021
    3
    The world this game creates makes you feel like you might just be on the adventure of a lifetime, and then it tears that all apart every way it can! I warn you about this game, and am amazed and appalled at the high ratings it keeps getting. The only way this can get high ratings is from underdog-identifying jrpg obsessed fans that refuse to see flaws because they use a mindless grind toThe world this game creates makes you feel like you might just be on the adventure of a lifetime, and then it tears that all apart every way it can! I warn you about this game, and am amazed and appalled at the high ratings it keeps getting. The only way this can get high ratings is from underdog-identifying jrpg obsessed fans that refuse to see flaws because they use a mindless grind to cope with reality.

    First of all, that beautiful, unique, aesthetic world is constantly ruined with puns. The spell to open doors is Open-says-a-me! HAHHAHAHAHAHA. WOW SO FUNNY! Imagine if Bloodborne or Skyrim ruined it's aesthetic like this. Wow this cave is called "Bandits think they aren't about to get killed Cave!" HAHAHAHAHA. The only reason this isn't brought up is because the large majority of jrpg fans are extremely trashy. Skip this Game

    Oh before I started writing this, when I was giving the game a final chance, the game crashed when I was saving, loosing loads of mindless-grindy progress. Just putting this here in case you were thinking this was too negative and wouldn't read all this. Skip this Game.

    You are from the normal Earth world and go to a fantasy style world. You meet a cute companion and bring her back to your world. How does she react???? SHE DOESN'T REACT AT ALL. Skip this Game.

    You have to collect milk from the milk fountains in town. You go to one only to find it isn't the one the game decided you should go to, the prompt just doesn't show up at all, you had to somehow predict that the developers wanted you to only collect milk from a certain fountain even though that isn't part of the story or quest at all. Skip this Game.

    How is the grind? If you have the Remastered or preordered the original, then you have Griffy and the grind is grindy. If not, then you have to constantly consume expensive health and mana potions all the time. Most of the Pokémon are completely weak and useless. [oh, and this is true on Easy difficulty] Skip this Game.

    Did a quest, it isn't completed because it's glitched. Skip this Game!

    You thought the art style was good? Wait until you see the most appallingly ugly talking tree design you have ever seen or imagined. Skip this Game!

    What a severe disappointment.    … Expand
  13. nanoka
    Oct 7, 2021
    3
    The style is gorgeous and its even more hard to admit that the game has horrible balance and difficulty spikes. Unfortunately, I couldn't enjoy the game since all your progress is being constantly reset by another level spike and you can't really feel any improvement as a player. Encounters are more boring than interesting, the game just spams them in you and its quite a mess.
  14. Laundry
    Sep 29, 2021
    4
    Game is nice. Controls are awful. Seriously, I haven't been annoyed like that for a while

    Also, beginning of the game is reeeeeeaaallly sloooww
  15. matt1184
    Jul 28, 2021
    0
    This game is dreadfully awful. Thankfully, you might find it on sale. The story is very boring and the gameplay is fraught with annoyances. Don't bother playing this unless you very much don't like yourself.
  16. Onioncreature
    Jun 19, 2021
    8
    A flawed yet beautiful RPG with involvement from the renowned Studio Ghibli. The music in particular, composed by famed composer Joe Hisaishi, is a stand-out element that elevates the rest of the experience. The gameplay is generally quite enjoyable, with fairly dynamic battles and deep systems to experiment with. There are a wide variety of collectible monsters, dubbed familiars, whichA flawed yet beautiful RPG with involvement from the renowned Studio Ghibli. The music in particular, composed by famed composer Joe Hisaishi, is a stand-out element that elevates the rest of the experience. The gameplay is generally quite enjoyable, with fairly dynamic battles and deep systems to experiment with. There are a wide variety of collectible monsters, dubbed familiars, which are pretty fun to obtain and manage. Unfortunately the game is held back from it's full potential by some irritating decisions. For one, there's simply too much padding, it feels as though portions of the game are arbitrarily long and serve only to increase the length of your journey. Another issue is the difficulty, which is pretty unbalanced, certain familiars were over-powered at times, while some were borderline useless. Additionally, some bosses were braindead easy, but others required far more effort than should've been necessary. There's also a notable lack of voice acting for much of the game, which is understandable, but it's absence does deafen the impact of some story moments which should've been more emotionally resonant. One of the selling points of the game, the involvement by Studio Ghibli, is also a bit thin, as the included 2D animated segments feel far more sparse than would be expected. Fortunately the story is actually very good, and though imperfect does hit the right notes and ends up being quite memorable and poignant. The characters are also strong, the cast includes a fair number of memorable and charming characters, with Drippy in particular stealing the show. I would recommend Ni No Kuni if you're willing to put up with a few rough patches, the overall experience did leave me satisfied in spite of the issues I encountered.… Expand
  17. haskasu
    May 27, 2021
    2
    I was excited to play this Ghibli animated JRPG, and turned out very disappointed.
    The animation is awesome and touched. The battle system is ok.
    The problem is the story that is insanely stupid that I couldn't stand it after 10 hours of playing.
  18. mtkf
    Apr 14, 2021
    4
    Game looks great, music is great, but the battle mechanics are so clunky it becomes an absolute chore any time you fight a strong enemy. Played a lot of ports on my switch and this one def feels like a PS2/early PS3 game. Probably won't finish it.
  19. Da3_who_knows
    Apr 5, 2021
    9
    An amazing game, a great port. I wish they did something better with the camera in fights, its extremely annoying at times. And also the tame rates, i guess they are just unfair at times. However, those are just some minor thing, the game all in all is god damn amazing. No spoilers no nothing, if you are a fan of JRPG or just like the art style go play this game, its not extremelyAn amazing game, a great port. I wish they did something better with the camera in fights, its extremely annoying at times. And also the tame rates, i guess they are just unfair at times. However, those are just some minor thing, the game all in all is god damn amazing. No spoilers no nothing, if you are a fan of JRPG or just like the art style go play this game, its not extremely challenging, very beginner friendly.… Expand
  20. shado474
    Jan 3, 2021
    7
    The story is great and charming and the art style and music are beautiful. The main thing this game suffers from is its combat, which is what nearly ruined the game for me. I had to switch it to easy difficulty to make battles as short as possible toward the end because I had no fun at all fighting bosses.
  21. Legrand
    Nov 16, 2020
    10
    Great game, good grafics and history!! Banda sonora espectacular bonito de principios a fin
  22. eschano
    Dec 15, 2020
    10
    Playing this game puts a smile on my face. Flipping charming. Love Mr Drippy!
  23. Ritooon
    Nov 23, 2020
    9
    Le jeu est beau, les animations sont magnifiques, l'histoire est intéressantes.

    Les seuls bémols sont les dialogues, parfois un peu nian-nian, voir "idiots" (Comme si les personnages avaient 2 de QI), et le système d'XP qui peut gêner si on ne farm pas les niveaux (J'ai parfois dû passer quelques heures à farm pour atteindre un niveau suffisant pour pouvoir réussir à passer certains    Le jeu est beau, les animations sont magnifiques, l'histoire est intéressantes.

    Les seuls bémols sont les dialogues, parfois un peu nian-nian, voir "idiots" (Comme si les personnages avaient 2 de QI), et le système d'XP qui peut gêner si on ne farm pas les niveaux (J'ai parfois dû passer quelques heures à farm pour atteindre un niveau suffisant pour pouvoir réussir à passer certains boss), ce qui peut un peu casser le rythme.    … Expand
  24. alan2pc
    Nov 2, 2020
    9
    I don’t generally like RPG’s but the story and animation really drew me in like few games I have ever played.
  25. Phuz
    Oct 25, 2020
    2
    OK, so I might change this review as I play more but this is not proper Ghibli. The dialogue sounds American, the names sound American. I am 20 minutes in and so far it has sounded like the production process of American rubbish. There is nothing remotely Ghibli about this other than Joe Hisaishi doing the music, which is the only reason I am continuing past 20 minutes. I really hope theOK, so I might change this review as I play more but this is not proper Ghibli. The dialogue sounds American, the names sound American. I am 20 minutes in and so far it has sounded like the production process of American rubbish. There is nothing remotely Ghibli about this other than Joe Hisaishi doing the music, which is the only reason I am continuing past 20 minutes. I really hope the dialogue picks up because so far it is dreadful. I have seen many a Ghibli film ruined by OTT American voice overs that portrayed the characters terribly, so I have gone for the Japanese audio and subs on this. Not got to any gameplay yet but the cutscenes are a big disappointment so far. Anyway like I say, if it gets better I'll return and up the score but this does not exude Ghibli at all and I've seen at least a good 75% of everything from that studio, so I have a lot to compare against.… Expand
  26. ProjectPeete
    Sep 20, 2020
    10
    As a fan of Studio Ghibli and JRPGs this is one of my favorite games ever. Only game ever that made me shed a tear. Truly fantastic story and presentation.
  27. lorddiego
    Sep 1, 2020
    8
    For the record, I'm a big JRPG and Studio Ghibli fan. Unfortunately, I could not bring myself to finish the game because of certain obnoxious mechanics in the game. However, I have to praise the soundtrack and art direction ,as well as the the plot.
  28. Dkhenny
    Aug 23, 2020
    9
    Great game, great story and great battle system. The story of two worlds and Olivers story is amazing.
  29. Biberattacke
    Jul 20, 2020
    6
    Ni No Kuni sieht wirklich toll aus. Es hat auch eine wundervollen Soundkulisse. Es ist einfach zauberhaft in seiner Erzählung. Man hat das Gefühl einen Film zu sein, und dass ist aus meiner Perspektive auch der Fluch dieses Spiels. Man fühlt sich nämlich wie auf Schienen, durchs Spiel getragen. Alles scheint vorgegeben und alles hat nur einen Lösungsweg. Die Kampfmechanik ist einNi No Kuni sieht wirklich toll aus. Es hat auch eine wundervollen Soundkulisse. Es ist einfach zauberhaft in seiner Erzählung. Man hat das Gefühl einen Film zu sein, und dass ist aus meiner Perspektive auch der Fluch dieses Spiels. Man fühlt sich nämlich wie auf Schienen, durchs Spiel getragen. Alles scheint vorgegeben und alles hat nur einen Lösungsweg. Die Kampfmechanik ist ein schlechter Witz. Man hat versucht Action und Taktik zu vereinen. Das ist so was von schief gegangen! Man hat kaum taktische Optionen und für actionlastigen Kampf ist die Steuerung zu kompliziert. Die wirklich knuddeligen und auch mir ans Herz gewachsenen Begleiter im Spiel bringen eigentlich viele Optionen, dennoch machen sie das Grundproblem des Spiels nicht wett. Nach ca. 8 Stunden Spielzeit habe ich beschlossen meinen Pile of Shame anwachsen zu lassen... leider. Aber ich mag einfach keine Zeit mehr in das Spiel stecken, wenn es so wenig Freude bringt. Das ist Schade, denn die Story hätte mich dann doch interessiert. Vielleicht schaue ich mir ein Longplay an.… Expand
  30. EmCza
    Jul 2, 2020
    4
    This game is bad. Weak story, weak gameplay, only fantastic graphic. Nothing special.
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Awards & Rankings

34
#34 Best Switch Game of 2019
34
#34 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Apr 29, 2020
    90
    Ni no Kuni took a while to come to a Nintendo system in the West. But it's been worth the wait! [Issue #43 – November/December 2019, p. 12SH]
  2. Gaming Age
    Nov 27, 2019
    100
    It’s rare to find a game that’s as visually appealing as this one, and if that means going through a bit (okay, a lot) of grinding to see all this game has to offer, it may just be a price worth paying.
    Read full review
  3. RPGamer
    Nov 18, 2019
    70
    Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is a good JRPG held back by the poor design decisions made for the battle system. Straddling the line between the turn-based system of its DS forefather Ni no Kuni: Dominion of the Dark Djinn and the full action-based system of its PS4 sequel Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom does the game no favors, but for those that can successfully battle the familiars more than the system, there’s a great deal of fun to have with this game. With a solid story and an amazing, beautiful world to explore, the White Witch on Switch is a port that many JRPG fans will enjoy, especially those like me who are getting to play this for the first time.
    Read full review
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