Kena: Bridge of Spirits Reviews
Kena: Bridge Of Spirits is a great addition to the Switch 2 roster. A visually stunning platforming adventure with great storytelling and an adorable companion mechanic. Combat and enemy design leave a lot to be desired, but this doesn't do much to dent the experience of Kena's journey.
The Switch 2 gains yet another great title for its library with Kena: Bridge of Spirits. Ember Labs hit remains one of the most likeable 3D action-adventure games of the last few years, and its approachable gameplay and stunning visual design feel utterly at home on a Nintendo console.
Much sooner than we expected, here's our thoughts on the full Switch 2 release of Kena: Bridge of Spirits.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a solid port of a game that feels perfectly suited to a Nintendo console.
One of the best action-adventure games of recent years, Kena: Bridge of Spirits has made its way to Switch 2 and it's as enjoyable as ever. The visuals have taken a bit of a hit but they're still gorgeous. The only truly disappointing thing here is the lack of a performance mode, meaning you're stuck playing at 30fps.
Bridge of Spirits isn't overly unique in its gameplay, but it compensates for that with a charming story and beautiful environments. Even in handheld mode, the game holds up well and the charm remains intact. Kena: Bridge of Spirits doesn't outstay its welcome, and with luck it will continue the practice of what were once PlayStation exclusives finding a home on Nintendo platforms.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a game that captivates at first glance, with its impeccable art direction and a sensitive narrative that delicately addresses profound themes. The simplicity of its structure works very well throughout the journey, especially in exploration and the emotional development of the characters. On the other hand, the game stumbles precisely where it could shine the most: in moments of greatest intensity. The boss battles, while challenging, often go beyond what is fair and end up generating unnecessary frustration, breaking the rhythm of the experience. Still, Kena delivers a remarkable adventure that balances beauty and emotion with accessible mechanics — even if not always refined. In the end, it's a journey worth experiencing, especially for those seeking a touching experience, even with some thorns along the way.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Now, I won’t sit here and say that the game is ugly and it’s not worth a playthrough. It still has a beautiful artistic style, and it’s filled with many heartfelt moments. If you’ve never played Kena: Bridge of Spirits and you only have a Switch 2 or want to play it on-the-go, this is still a fine port that runs well. It’s by no means broken. However, if you’ve played this before, just know that you’re getting a worse looking version than the PS4 even while docked.
Kena is smooth as a pebble - a game engineered to be so unoffensive there's no reason not to play it, or to play it at all.
With its elegantly simple combat and beautiful world, Kena: Bridge of Spirits harkens back to the days of the N64/GameCube-era Zeldas, Okami, and Star Fox Adventures, while also adding modern sensibilities and a distinct personal touch.
Looks better than it plays, but it's got a good heart.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a short but sweet action-adventure game with a heartwarming story and great graphics that make it feel like a Disney movie.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a very good game that feels like it’s already been left behind by modern genre conventions. There’s nothing all that frustrating in that - we shouldn’t expect games, especially those made by studios the size of Ember Labs, to be constantly groundbreaking, but so much of Kena feels borrowed from elsewhere that it’s difficult to call it great. It’s a solid, enjoyable experience, and charming enough that you won’t care that you’ve played versions of it before. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s a pretty nice wheel nonetheless.
An agreeable adventure that's transformed into something special by its enchanting aesthetic
The world is fun to explore, and your time is rewarded with secrets galore and hats for your little Rot followers
Kena: Bridge of Spirits uses a different perspective on familiar gameplay ideas to create tons of exciting combat and a deep emotional connection with its world.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits promises magic, but can’t deliver much of it
Between those mechanical systems and cleverly arranged zones in and around the starting village, Ember Lab makes sure that players have stuff to look for and interesting systems to play with once they discover those puzzles. (And I haven't even mentioned the seriously cool, late-game magical ability that I'm not going to spoil.) By narrowing its magical abilities to only a few pickups, K:BoS emphasizes a simple, accessible path to adventurous treasure hunting. The result is the opposite of a standard "Metroidvania" in which new abilities often do a meager job unlocking new things in old zones. If you're hoping for a massive adventure with 19 different items that each expose new regions, K:BoS doesn't deliver. Personally, I enjoyed its tighter focus, which still opened previously explored regions for further investigation (complete with a handy in-game counter for secrets that have and haven't yet been found).
While we might have to arguably wait for future games to unlock the series' true potential, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is still a great first outing for Ember Lab. If the breathtaking visuals don't suck you in, then there's the satisfying and challenging combat as well, or the wide world to explore.
What Kena: Bridge of Spirits lacks in new ideas, it makes up for with an abundance of charm and gorgeous visuals.