Ni No Kuni 2 Will Be First Level-5 Game To Come To PC; New Screenshots Released

It isn't often that a JRPG comes to PC. For many years PC gamers had no choice but to invest in a console if they wanted to play the best JRPGs available. This is particularly unfortunate when you consider that modern PC hardware can be of great benefit to the expansive worlds of games like Persona 5 and Dragon Quest XI.

Times are changing, and now the PC platform is more alluring than ever for developers. Responsible for over $36 billion of revenue in 2016, made possible in-part by Valve's Steam platform, it has become the recipient of notable games from genres that traditionally have been console exclusive, including JRPG.

During recent years, Square Enix and Namco Bandai have spearheaded efforts to bring JRPGs to PC, with games like Final Fantasy XIII and Tales of Berseria hitting the platform. PC gamers have been understandably enthusesd about the trend, and it's only getting better from here, as Nier: Automata and Atelier Firis indicate.

For one reason or another, Level-5, best known for its creation of Dark Cloud and newer Dragon Quest games, has been persuaded. It will bring Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom to PC when the game launches later this year, marking the first time the prestigious developer has delivered a game to the platform during its 18 years of existence.

The original console release of the series, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, was considered one of the greatest JRPGs available on the seventh generation of consoles. However, it was exclusive to PS3, leaving Xbox, Nintendo, and PC gamers on the sidelines.

Ni No Kuni was considered to have all the attributes of a great JRPG: an epic story, admirable characters, a fun combat system, and a large world to explore. It had charisma and incredible play value. It is exactly the sort of game that PC has been desperately missing. Although it might not be ported to the platform, its successor will, and that might just be an even better deal.

Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom's arrival on PC also opens up opportunity for modding. In the case of Final Fantasy XIII, this meant graphical tweaks, new abilities, additional missions, and more. In other words, a game already equipped with dozens of hours of content will become even more substantial.

Ni No Kuni 2 is shaping up to be one of the year's most attractive games. As seen in the new screenshots available in the gallery above, it's a colorful title with a great aesthetic. It might not currently have a release date, but it's scheduled to debut before the end of 2017 on PS4 and PC.