The long-anticipated free-to-play MMORPGNi no Kuni: Cross Worldshas finally arrived worldwide as of Jul 31, 2025. A combination between acclaimed animation powerhouse Studio Ghibli and South Korean developer Netmarble, the game is available for mobile devices and PC players, though it isstill in beta for PC and requires a log-in from a mobile devicefirst.
Although this is certainly not the first and likely not the last Level- 5Ni no Kunito be published,Cross Worldsis the first multiplayer open-world title in the Ghibli universe that people can freely explore. Under the premise that players enter the game through virtual reality machines, called Soul Divers, they quickly learn that this is much more than augmented reality and musttame familiars and team up with alliesin order to restore peace. Truly, this is Netmarble’s most ambitious project yet, as this new game drastically varies from the singleplayer role-playing and social card iterations that came before.
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Separate Storylines Keep the Games Distinct
While every title released under theNi no Kunibanner has been a visually beautiful experience with similar characters and storylines, they are overall separate from one another. Rarely are there any mentions or references to previous games, though it has happened. For example, a puzzle in the early scenes ofNi no Kuni: Revenant Kingdom IIrelays the events of the firstNi no Kuni: Dominion of the Dark Djinn,and players may also find a statue of King Tom later in the game.
With this in mind, there are not many recurring characters, excludingWrath of the White Witchwhich was essentiallyan enhanced version ofDominionwith a few name changes and an elongated ending. Oliver and his best friend, Mark (or Phil depending on the game), are the only two characters to have a real impact on the plot when seen across different games.
Is Mr. Drippy the Great Fairy?
Mr. Drippy, formerly known as Shizuku, acts as Oliver’s fairy guide in bothDominionandWhite Witch. Heralded as the mascot of the franchise, Drippy is a popular character, so it would make sense tobring him back for nostalgia and as a deredere commentator. He is most identifiable from his light yellow skin oval-shaped build, spindly little limbs, thin eyebrows, and elongated snout with a ring at the tip that typically holds a lantern.
In the beginner-friendlyCross Worlds, there is another character called the Great Fairy who shares an uncanny resemblance to Drippy, except the Great Fairy sports a white beard and dons extravagant clothing. Interestingly, inWhite Witch, Drippy was the self-proclaimed “Lord High Lord of the Fairies,” which is a title that doesn’t sound that different from calling oneself “Great Fairy.”
Upon the Great Fairy’s introduction inNi No Kuni: Cross Worlds, Cluu, the Royal Protector of the Nameless Kingdom, disappointedly points out that the Great Fairy “looks like a regular old fairy.” This comment is then followed by Chloe gushing over how adorable the fairy is, along with the “lantern dangling off his nose.” Fans were quick to connect the dots, as there is another fairy that often wears a lantern on their nose, and that is Mr. Drippy.
Because of how similar the Great Fairy looks to Mr. Drippy, some fans of the franchise are pondering if they are actually the same character, asking if the beloved Drippy is in disguise for some future plot twist. He could also just be older and wiser.Crossworldsis said to take place 300 yearsafter the remasteredWhite Witchgame, which would make Drippy anywhere between 400 and 500 years old.
However, some players believe that this is not Mr. Drippy, but perhaps someone related to him, or simply a similar looking character. A large reason for this is that Mr. Drippy spoke with a southern coast Welsh accent inWhite Witch, whereas the Great Fairy seems to be from the east. Perhaps as the game progresses and updates, more information will become available. If Mr. Drippy turns out to be the Great Fairy, it could open the door for the game developers to introduce fan-favorite characters from past titles, or even their descendants.
Ni no Kuni: Cross Worldsis available now for mobile devices and PC.
