Ori and the Will of the Wisps (v2020.11.19)

A luminous forest kingdom turns into a fragile, dangerous place when Ori’s closest friend is separated from home, sending the small spirit across the decaying land of Niwen. Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a story-driven action-platformer with the heart of a fairy tale and the momentum of a demanding Metroidvania. Its hand-painted backdrops, expressive animation, and soaring orchestral score make every swamp, frozen cave, and ruined temple feel alive. Beneath that beauty sits a surprisingly emotional tale about family, loss, healing, and finding a purpose beyond survival.

Movement is the main attraction: Ori runs, double-jumps, climbs, dashes through the air, burrows beneath sand, grapples from lanterns, and eventually chains abilities together with remarkable speed. The world opens gradually as new traversal powers reveal shortcuts, hidden collectibles, optional shrines, and side quests, while a central village grows as stranded characters return to it. Combat is much more flexible than in the first game, letting players equip melee weapons, ranged attacks, spells, and defensive abilities, then tailor Ori through collectible Spirit Shards. Boss fights demand sharp platforming as much as aggression, and the game offers a forgiving save system alongside tougher challenges for players who want to master its movement.

Niwen stands apart through its fluid controls and the way it blends exploration with cinematic chase sequences, elaborate environmental puzzles, and carefully designed combat arenas. It feels closest to Hollow Knight in its interconnected world and upgrade-driven discovery, but Ori is faster, brighter, and more focused on momentum than on bleak isolation. Optional trials, time-attack races, collectibles, and build experimentation provide reasons to revisit areas after the credits, even though the campaign remains primarily a polished single-player adventure. Fans of the original, modern Metroidvanias, and precision platformers should consider it essential, while newcomers can enjoy it without prior knowledge as long as they are ready for a few demanding late-game encounters.