Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a strong choice if you want a fluid platforming adventure with expressive animation, striking environments and an emotional story. Its expanded combat adds variety, though some boss attacks can be hard to read. The phrase “an exhilarating, emotional masterpiece” is GamesBeat’s praise, not a neutral description or a verdict every player should take for granted.
Is Ori and the Will of the Wisps worth playing?
For players drawn to exploration, precise movement and a story-led adventure, yes. The game’s greatest strength is how traversal and discovery work together: new abilities open routes and make familiar spaces more interesting to navigate. Combat is more elaborate than a purely platform-focused adventure, but boss readability is a notable weak spot.
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Ori and the Will of the Wisps - Xbox One | $51.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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![Ori and the Will of the Wisps - Xbox One [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51OPvlE422L._SL160_.jpg)
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Ori and the Will of the Wisps - Xbox One [Digital Code] | $29.88 | Buy on Amazon |
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![Ori and the Will of the Wisps - Collector's Edition [Xbox One]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41DNsH-YYIL._SL160_.jpg)
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Ori and the Will of the Wisps - Collector's Edition [Xbox One] | $89.99 | Buy on Amazon |
That assessment aligns with GameSpot critic Steve Watts’ 8/10 review. He praised exploration, movement, combat, story, animation and environments, while flagging difficult-to-read boss attacks and occasional visual bugs. Watts said he played roughly 15 hours on Xbox One X and completed a handful of sidequests; this is his review account, not independent testing for this article. Read GameSpot’s review.
How does it improve on Blind Forest?
The sequel builds on the movement-led exploration of Ori and the Blind Forest with a broader combat toolkit. Official descriptions highlight new spirit weapons, spells and attacks, plus Spirit Shards that can be customized. The result is a game with more ways to approach encounters as well as a continuing emphasis on getting through the world by mastering movement. These are documented features; their presence alone does not establish how well every player will enjoy them.
#1 Best Overall
- Explore a vast, beautiful, immersive, and dangerous world filled with gripping enemy encounters, challenging puzzles and thrilling escape sequences. Unravel Ori’s true destiny in this emotionally engaging, hand crafted story driven adventure.
- New combat system. Wield dozens of new spirit weapons, spells and skills offering new dynamic combat mechanics to the world of Ori.
- Customize your style of play. Choose your tools for adventure from dozens of newly acquired attacks, spells, and skills to match your style of play.
- Encounter epic adversaries. Face large epic bosses and seek support from discoverable allies who will provide services and cast optional quests to extend the adventure.
- Available exclusively on Xbox One consoles and Windows 10. (PC hardware requirements may vary for games on Windows 10.)
GameSpot characterized the sequel’s scope as wider and more operatic, and its story as darker and more bittersweet than its predecessor. That is the critic’s interpretation, rather than an objective measure of the story. Nintendo’s Switch listing also describes hand-crafted storytelling, environments, orchestral music, larger bosses and Spirit Trials—speed-run challenges built around completing sections quickly.
How do movement, exploration and combat feel?
Traversal and progression
Movement is the central appeal. GameSpot praised the feel of platforming and described exploration as increasingly engaging as abilities unlock. That progression gives exploration a practical reward: skills can make new routes reachable and change how you move through areas you have already seen.
Combat and bosses
The added weapons and skills give combat more variety than simply avoiding danger while platforming. The main qualification is clarity. Watts found some boss attack tells difficult to perceive, and said large bosses could make it hard to tell what was vulnerable or dangerous. Players who enjoy learning patterns may find this an acceptable challenge; those who want every threat to be clearly signposted may find it frustrating.
Rank #2
- Immerse yourself in a hand-crafted narrative experience. Unravel Ori’s true destiny in this emotional and engaging story driven adventure with a stunning soundtrack. Explore vast, exotic, and strikingly beautiful environments.
- Master new skills. Guide Ori through a journey of untold danger using newly acquired spirit weapons, spells, and attacks. Utilize an all-new shard system to power-up Ori’s newfound abilities and customize your style of play.
- Face epic enemies and challenging puzzles. Encounter larger-than-life bosses and seek help from an expansive cast of new characters who will help you uncover Ori’s mysterious fate.
- Experience a new thrilling mode. Race to the top of the leaderboards in the all-new Spirit Trials mode where players dash, burrow, grapple, and leap to high scores in unique speed-run challenges throughout the game.
What are the story, visuals and music like?
Official descriptions emphasize hand-painted environments and an orchestral soundtrack, while GameSpot praised the environments, animation and story. The presentation is a core part of the game’s appeal: expressive character animation and carefully composed scenery support its emotional tone. GameSpot’s view that the sequel is more operatic and bittersweet offers a useful expectation, but it is a critical reading, not a promise that its story will land the same way for everyone.
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Steam reproduces several outlets’ review blurbs and scores, with its list dated March 17, 2020: GamesBeat gave it 98/100 and called it “an exhilarating, emotional masterpiece”; Game Informer gave it 9.5/10; IGN gave it 9/10. Those are attributed outlet opinions reproduced on the storefront, not a single consensus score. Steam notes the quotations refer to Windows PC and/or console versions. See the Steam listing and its review excerpts.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Ori and the Will of the Wisps difficult?
Xbox Wire documented Easy, Normal and Hard difficulty modes at launch. Difficulty also depends on what challenges you: movement sequences demand platforming precision, while bosses can be difficult to parse when their attacks and vulnerable points are unclear. Spirit Trials offer an optional speed-run challenge for players who want to test route execution and pace. The available review evidence does not establish a universal difficulty level for every player.
Rank #3
- Das Buch "The Art of Ori and the Will of the Wisps" (nur in Englisch)
- Eine SteelBook-Hülle mit ikonischer goldener Feder
- Will of the Wisps" Spiele-Disc
- Will of the Wisps" Soundtrack
- Custom Ori Art Book
Where can you play it, and what should you check before buying?
Moon Studios developed the game and Xbox Game Studios published it. Steam records a Windows PC release on March 10, 2020; Xbox Wire reported its worldwide launch on March 11, 2020, for Xbox One, Windows 10 PC and Steam. The one-day difference reflects the dates recorded by those sources; use the relevant storefront for current availability in your region.
Nintendo has an official Switch listing marked digital. Steam lists the PC game, an Ori collection bundle and a soundtrack add-on. Xbox Wire also documented a historical retail release and Limited Collector’s Edition, but those announcements do not establish current stock, price or availability. Before purchasing a physical or digital copy, check that the live listing names the platform, edition and format you want. Subscription catalogs change, so Xbox Wire’s report that the game was included with Game Pass at launch in 2020 should not be read as confirmation of present access.
The historical Collector’s Edition announcement listed the game, a golden-feather SteelBook case, a Piano Collections soundtrack CD, a soundtrack download code and The Art of Ori and the Will of the Wisps book. Xbox Wire also reported a two-disc vinyl soundtrack partnership with iam8bit. These are descriptions of announced products, not confirmation that either is currently available. Xbox Wire’s launch report covers the release and edition details.
Quick Recap
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