What order do I play Ni no Kuni in?

As an avid fan who has eagerly awaited and completed every Ni No Kuni game, I recommend playing in the following order for the most magical experience:

1. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
2. Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
3. Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds

Let‘s dive deeper into each enchanting installment…

1. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch – The Emotional Beginning

Wrath of the White Witch is the place to start your journey for several reasons. Launching the series in 2013 for PlayStation 3, this critically beloved RPG dazzled with its visual storytelling. After Oliver‘s world is shattered following his mother‘s tragic death, he embarks on an epic quest through a parallel world, meeting friends and familiars along the way.

Key Plot Points (Spoiler-free):

• A tearful tragedy shakes Oliver‘s world
• The fairy Lord High Lord of the Fairies invites Oliver to save his mother
• Oliver journeys between worlds to defeat the dark Djinn Shadar
• Restore vanished pieces of people‘s broken hearts
• Support ranges from the steadfast Mr. Drippy to esteemed wizards

This poignant narrative about grief, courage, and compassion set to Studio Ghibli‘s evocative art style immediately struck a chord. As one reviewer shared, "Wrath of the White Witch tells a heartwarming story interwoven with light humor…the journey itself is an endearing one."

Beyond story, what truly shines here is the junction between narrative and gameplay via the Wizard‘s Companion. Oliver doesn‘t just level up and learn skills – he studies this expansive tome to gradually master intricate magics, mirroring his growth from uncertain child to formidable wizard.

Gorgeous Visual Direction

Wrath evokes Studio Ghibli films with its soft palettes and beautifully hand-drawn worlds. Fields stretch lush with roaming creatures, while dusty ruins tower imposing yet picturesque. Iconic Ghibli character designer Yoshiyuki Momose shapes distinct regions and beings brimming with personality. From Ding Dong Dell‘s spiraled cats to Castaway Cove‘s salty dogs, every locale enchants.

Innovative, Strategic Combat

Beneath lovely visuals lies one of the most original and satisfying JRPG battle systems. With over 200 tamable familiars, players can capture, feed and evolve AIs to build devastating skill sets unlocking more strategic opportunities than a simple equipment treadmill. Thoughtfully swapping between familiars mid-fight based on match-ups makes victories feel earned.

Coupled with real time free movement adding spatial elements absent from turn-based fare, a stellar soundtrack punctuating blows, and party member tactics to tweak, Wrath‘s combat never grows old over 50+ hour adventures.

Critical Reception and Lasting Popularity

Cementing its must-play status, Wrath originally scored 83 on Metacritic based on 48 critic reviews. It also boasts a stellar 85% positive rating from over 8,500 Steam player reviews. As one such review notes, “A game that made me feel like a kid again…filled with adventure, whimsy, and heart."

Over 1 million copies were sold worldwide as of 2020. With 2019‘s well-received Switch and PC ports extending its life, this treasured experience only becomes more accessible.

Completion Length

Offering a meaty main quest overflowing with side content, Wrath averages 44 hours focusing on critical path progression, up to 92 hours 100% completing all missions, bounties and errands.

Key Takeaways as a Series Entry Point:

☑ Sweeping, poignant adventure interwoven with Studio Ghibli charm
☑ Innovative real-time combat stacked with strategic depth
☑ Memorable journey across 50+ hours with little filler
☑ High accessibility and critical acclaim

2. Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom – Streamlined and Grandiose

Where Wrath hooks players with emotional beats, 2018 sequel Ni No Kuni II reels one in with its daring scope. Shifting to follow young king Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum, it retains signature stylistic magic while expanding mechanics into grander territory.

After a violent coup abruptly ends Evan’s reign, he pledges to build an egalitarian haven where all are welcome. This philanthropic premise drives an epic reasonably-paced roughly 40 hour quest befitting a precocious prince‘s glorious ambitions. All with a colorful cast including skyfaring swashbuckler Tani and half-human half-weapon Roland.

Key Plot Points (Spoiler-free):

• Child king Evan‘s kingdom crumbles in a violent coup
• Evan and crew work to establish new harmonious kingdom
• Evan must collect potential ally kings who wield magical prism weapons
• An insidious nation seeks to weaponize Evan‘s drive to unite fractured lands
• Evan leads allies in an all-out assault to thwart catastrophic plans

Revenant Kingdom’s “world is joyously colorful…with an excellent maps to explore, fun travel methods…and an enormous amount of side content.” Much was polished following Wrath – now towns bustle with lively NPCs, sweeping world maps overflow with dungeons and secrets, while smoothing pesky difficulty spikes that once deterred casual fans.

Refined, Flashy Combat

Combat also received an invigorating boost ditching turn-based trappings. By letting players directly control party members in real-time against mobs in open arenas, encounters feel snappier and more action-oriented without sacrificing substance. While familiars are sadly missing, weapon swapping and special skills keep Evan, Tani and Roland‘s fights varied and vibrant with charmingly exaggerated effects.

Visually it pops as one of the PS4‘s best looking cel-shaded titles. Vast draw distances displaying fantastical architecture underscore Evan‘s kingdom building ambitions. It runs smoothly as well – PC ports uphold lusciously locked 60 FPS for buttery combat even on dated hardware.

Reviews and Reception

In an impressive feat given its predecessor’s renown, Revenant Kingdom meaningfully iterates upon and even exceeds the original for many critics as demonstrated on review aggregate sites:

Crowning its critical success, Keza MacDonald‘s 9/10 IGN review applauds its ability to “balance funny, moving, and wonderful gameplay."

Sales figures also cement its popularity, shipping over 1.5 million copies as of 2020 while garnering a passionate cult following, as a Discord server with over 6000 members can attest to!

Key Takeaways as a Follow-Up:

☑ Standout kingdom builder elements
☑ Snappy real-time combat without sacrificing depth
☑ More accessibility for casual fans
☑ Self-contained story independent from previous titles

So while you miss out on some lore nods skipping Wrath, both standalone stories serve up quintessential good versus evil themes bundled with charm – making neither a bad starting spot.

3. Ni No Kuni: Cross Worlds – The Ongoing Online Adventure

As a relatively newer spin-off, Ni No Kuni: Cross Worlds whisks the franchise into mobile MMORPG territory with appealing results. Blending single player progression with multiplayer co-op, its automated questing and class/kingdom system upholds the IP’s identity while catering to on-the-go sessions.

Players create a character serving the Errand Network to assist Evan (yes, the very same protagonist king you potentially spent 40 hours guiding in Revenant Kingdom!) in administering his now well-established kingdom of Evermore. While light on narrative beyond introductory missions, brief character story vignettes propel leveling through varied locales.

Key Features:

☑ Solo and co-op monster hunting
☑ Hero collection offering skills to mix
☑ Customizable outfits to craft
☑ 6 character classes with unique playstyles
☑ Pet collecting from creatures across series
☑ Base building components

The automated questing system also bears mention – while afk leveling mechanics are increasingly common in mobile MMOs to retain engagement amidst busy lives, the execution here feels especially harmonious. Chibi avatar characters sprint around impressively detailed 3D worlds filled with easter eggs for previous games, with loot and rewards doling out offline progress when logged out. Relaxing music accompanies these automated treks, making Cross Worlds ideal for passive entertainment.

Revenue has reportedly exceeded $100 million since launching in May 2022, speaking to quickly cultivating its niche. While admittedly containing increasingly normalized free-to-play gacha monetization elements, Cross Worlds emanates franchise charm.

Takeaways as a Complementary Online Outing:

☑ Mechanics streamlined for speedy progression tied to mobile and seasonal content models
☑ Lower barrier to entry attracting franchise newcomers
☑ Appeals to fans craving ongoing multiplayer adventures

So while certainly not for all fans, Cross Worlds retains remarkable production value for the platform with balanced monetization. If desiring to continue adventuring yearly content updates promise more kingdoms to build.

Should You Play Ni No Kuni Games in Order?

In short – yes, I wholeheartedly recommend playing Ni No Kuni titles in release order. Not only does this let you appreciate the fascinating game-by-game evolution, but starting from Wrath‘s more gently challenging quest primes one for successive grander outings.

Revenant Kingdom enhances world building and combat first pioneered in Wrath of the White Witch rather than fully re-inventing wheels. You unlock little lore nuggets noticing how hijinks of past characters enabled events now depicted. These subtle interweavings demonstrate masterful franchise architecture many studios fail at constructing.

And for JRPG newcomers, Wrath‘s plentiful side content and accommodating difficulty eases players into engrossing systems without undue frustration – important foundation before diving into Revenant Kingdom‘s scope.

Lastly, witnessing protagonist Evan mature over years just feels special given the burdens weathered solely so fellow citizens may thrive free of fear. He exemplifies growth mindsets lifting communities through unrelenting empathy and idealism – traits we desperately need more celebration of.

So embark on this moving transformative journey without further delay! Haunting and heartwarming moments await exploring every fascinating offshoot…not to mention double jumping for hours through those Tooty Flutey glide challenges!

Let me know in comments if you have any other questions – I’m happy to offer further Ni No Kuni insights and recommendations!