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Ōkami HD Reviews: What Critics Praise and Which Version to Choose

Ōkami HD’s ink-painting world and Celestial Brush set it apart. Here’s what a 2018 Switch review praised, its difficulty caveat, and what to weigh when choosing a version.
Length3 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Ōkami HD is a folklore-inspired action-adventure built around a striking ink-painting style and the Celestial Brush, which lets you draw changes into the world as well as use magic in combat. For the Switch edition, the standout practical advantage is control flexibility: Nintendo lists motion input with Joy-Con in TV or tabletop mode and touchscreen input in handheld mode. A 2018 review praised those options and portability, while noting that much of the combat is forgiving.

What is Ōkami HD?

You play Amaterasu, the Japanese sun goddess embodied as the white wolf Shiranui, on a quest to restore Nippon. The official Nintendo description highlights magical abilities, attacks, and Celestial Brush techniques; Steam’s publisher description identifies the eight-headed demon Orochi as the threat behind the ruined world. Exploration, sidequests, combat, and brush-powered changes to the environment shape the adventure.

The brush is the game’s defining mechanic. Drawing strokes can affect the world, from restoring parts of the environment to changing the time of day and unlocking abilities. That makes it more than a combat gimmick: it connects puzzles, exploration, and the story’s mythic setting.

What do reviews say about Ōkami HD?

Robert Marrujo’s Nintendojo review of the Switch edition, published October 17, 2018, gave it 93% (A-). The review praised the sumi-e-inspired visuals, soundtrack, combat, exploration, and the Switch control options. Marrujo wrote: “This Switch release is a highpoint, as it merges multiple different methods of control into one version, and can be played anywhere at any time.” Read the Nintendojo review.

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#1 Best Overall

The same review raised two reservations: combat is often easy outside boss fights, and puzzles are generally not very taxing. Those are one critic’s assessments, not a guarantee of how every player will experience the difficulty. Metacritic’s archive also records 2018 Switch reviews from outlets including Jeuxvideo.com and Gaming Nexus, with excerpts praising portability and the available brush controls; those are historical review snapshots, not fresh tests. See the archived Switch critic reviews.

How do the Switch controls work?

Nintendo lists Joy-Con motion controls for TV and tabletop play, and touchscreen support for handheld mode. The different options suit different preferences: use motion input when playing on a television or tabletop, or draw directly on the screen in portable mode. Nintendo’s listing confirms those supported inputs but does not establish that any separate accessory is needed.

Rank #2
OKAMI HD - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]
  • A legendary masterpiece returns
  • Experience this acclaimed masterpiece with its renowned Sumi-e ink art style in breathtaking high resolution.
  • Use magical abilities, attacks, and Celestial Brush techniques to restore the land of Nippon to its previous glory full of life and color.
  • Not only can you play in both widescreen and the original 4:3 aspect ratio, you can now use Joy-Con (in TV mode/tabletop mode) or touch screen for intuitive, direct Celestial Brush controls.

The 2018 Nintendojo review valued having multiple methods in one edition. Its comments are useful context for the design, but they should be read as contemporaneous criticism rather than a current hands-on comparison of Switch performance.

Which version should you choose?

Choose based on where and how you want to play, rather than assuming one platform is definitively best. Capcom’s 2017 HD announcement covers the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC release; Nintendo’s US store listing covers Switch. The available information does not establish a reliable platform-by-platform performance ranking.

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Rank #3
Minecraft - Nintendo Switch
  • Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
  • Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
  • Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
  • Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
  • Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
Consideration What the sources establish What to check before choosing
Portability and play modes Nintendo lists Switch TV, tabletop, and handheld modes. Whether you want to play on a television, on the go, or both.
Brush controls Nintendo lists Joy-Con motion input in TV/tabletop modes and touch support; Nintendojo’s 2018 review praises the range of controls. Whether motion, touchscreen, or conventional input best fits your play style.
Screen presentation Capcom said the HD release supports widescreen or the original 4:3 ratio. Which presentation you prefer. Capcom’s announcement does not establish every platform’s current display settings.
Resolution Capcom announced 4K graphics on Xbox One X, PS4 Pro, and supported PC hardware. Hardware and display support; that historical announcement is not a complete current performance comparison.
Physical copy Capcom documented physical and digital formats for the 2017 PS4, Xbox One, and PC launch. Nintendo’s US store labels the Switch edition “Digital.” Current stock and availability in your region; historical launch formats do not guarantee present inventory.

Capcom also said the original loading-screen mini-game returned, letting players earn demon fangs for in-game items. The HD release date for PC and console was December 12, 2017; Nintendo lists August 9, 2018, for the Switch release. Capcom’s HD release announcement.

Nintendo’s US listing identifies the Switch version as digital, supports Japanese, French, German, and American English, and says it is compatible with Switch 2 with behavior consistent with Switch. Store prices and availability can change, so check the current listing for your region before buying. Nintendo’s US store listing.

Rank #4
Sale
Yoshi's Crafted World - Nintendo Switch
  • Explore each stage and then find even more secrets by making your way through the stage backwards on the flip side
  • Overcome varied enemies and obstacles, like Zombie Guys, Skelesaurus, Ukiki, and Monty Mole as you seek out hidden collectables; ESRB Content: Mild Cartoon Violence; Genre: Action, Platformer
  • Pass a Joy Con controller to a friend for 2 player cooperative exploration
  • Clad Yoshi in collectable, protective, handicraft costumes as he makes his way through each stage
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

How are players rating it on Steam?

When accessed October 8, 2026, Steam showed 92% positive from 4,829 English-language user reviews overall and 91% positive from 45 recent reviews. These are dynamic user-review snapshots that can change; they are not critic scores or fixed ratings. They should not be treated as sales figures. Check Steam’s current review summary.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1
Capcom Okami HD (Import)
Capcom Okami HD (Import)
4976219094894
$32.30
Bestseller No. 2
OKAMI HD - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]
OKAMI HD - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]
A legendary masterpiece returns
$19.99
Bestseller No. 3
Minecraft - Nintendo Switch
Minecraft - Nintendo Switch
Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures; Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
$29.83
SaleBestseller No. 4
Yoshi's Crafted World - Nintendo Switch
Yoshi's Crafted World - Nintendo Switch
Pass a Joy Con controller to a friend for 2 player cooperative exploration
$52.90
Bestseller No. 5
Slain: Back to Hell - Nintendo Switch
Slain: Back to Hell - Nintendo Switch
Challenging elemental-based Melee and magical combat.; Six hours of bone-crushing, metal-fueled mayhem and grisly gore.
$29.99
Best Value
Slain: Back to Hell - Nintendo Switch
  • Challenging elemental-based Melee and magical combat.
  • Six hours of bone-crushing, metal-fueled mayhem and grisly gore.
  • Full soundtrack record Boss fights, mini-boss fights, sub-mini boss fights and macro-sub mini-boss fights. d by Curt Victor Bryant, formerly of Celtic Frost.
  • No laborious levelling, no Boss fights, mini-boss fights, sub-mini boss fights and macro-sub mini-boss fights. Tedious grinding, no wimpy crafting!
  • Boss fights, mini-boss fights, sub-mini boss fights and macro-sub mini-boss fights.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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