Ori and the Will of the Wisps Reviews

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is ranked in the 99th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Cubed3
Top Critic
9 / 10
Jul 28, 2021

The Xbox brand has taken great strides in diversifying its portfolio of first party offerings, and Ori and the Will of the Wisps is quite literally genre-defining. Slightly more linear in nature than its predecessor, Will of the Wisps still manages to make exploration feel fresh and traversal fluid. Stunning graphics, a wholesome and immersive soundtrack, tight controls and fun varied combat truly make Ori and the Will of the Wisps a must-own for Xbox Series X|S owners.

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9.5 / 10.0
Mar 12, 2021

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is an entire cohesive package where you get great gameplay, a fantastic storyline, superb graphics, and fitting soundtracks to go along. Having played the game on the switch, I feel it would be a great addition to your collection of switch games. The controls are simple and feel intuitive to play. The graphics also aren’t too bad and provides a fully immersive experience on the go. All in all, moon studios did yet another fantastic job with this game, and I have no qualms with calling it a masterpiece.

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Essential
Feb 10, 2021

Will of the Wisps is, like it’s forebear, an instant classic that’s a step forward not only for Moon Studios, but also for video games as a whole.

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9 / 10.0
Dec 29, 2020

Ori and the Will of the Wisps combine intricate ambience and agile pace to create an immersive adventure. It is great to control Ori, as his movements are fluid and varied, and there are always many options when it comes to overcoming obstacles - it is rewarding to understand when to use each technique, especially to reach hard to access places. The spirit's skills are put to the test in an extensive world with diverse navigation puzzles, platform sections and many optional areas full of secrets. In addition, the Niwen forest has beautiful and richly built areas, explored in an exciting and gentle fable of fantasy and friendship. In the end, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a magical and exceptional experience.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

93 / 100
Dec 8, 2020

If you don't have Xbox or PC, or simply wanna enjoy it in portable mode, Ori and the Will of the Wisps it's one of the greatest adventures of 2020, and now arrives in a neat physical edition that will let you treasure it with other extras like the ost and a bunch of postcards. A great conversión of a superb metroidvania.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

9 / 10
Nov 18, 2020

Time and the enhanced power of the Xbox Series X has given Ori and the Will of the Wisps the superior technical performance to match its smart, precise gameplay.

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4.5 / 5.0
Nov 12, 2020

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a must have arcade game on the new Xbox Series X that delivers a next-gen gaming experience that looks and plays magnificently!

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Hardcore Gamer
HG Staff
Top Critic
5 / 5.0
Nov 10, 2020

There are times when you feel obliged to find faults no matter how minor, but in the ten-plus hours spent with Moon Studios' latest, there are none.

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8 / 10.0
Oct 23, 2020

Ori and the Will of the Wisps on Nintendo Switch is not the best way to play this emotional, magical adventure but it is an impressive feat of engineering that mostly works well.

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Oct 22, 2020

"Smells like fighting spirit."

Review in Finnish | Read full review

9 / 10.0
Oct 14, 2020

Ori and the Will of the Wisps manages to be more than just a plain old sequel. It changes just enough and introduces great new mechanics and characters to truly feel like a completely separate game while being unmistakably Ori at the core. More importantly, it runs perfectly well on the Switch with only minor visual adjustments. Will of the Wisps stands as tall as its predecessor as a beautiful action-platformer that everyone should try.

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Essential
Oct 12, 2020

It's clean and crisp and plays like a dream. I can't remember a single time where I actually saw a framerate drop, or a resolution fall, or any of the usual performance thieving tricks...And while I'm not the most sensitive to these things, I can usually at least see it if I'm looking for it. Does it get there by seemingly pushing the Switch to its absolute limits? Sure. Does it sometimes leave things a bit at the ragged edge, just barely keeping from having to drop performance somehow? Sure thing. Does it matter? No! The only reason not to play this game is if you want to start with the first one. Which I can't speak to the Switch port of that one, but if it's even half as well done as this one, it's gonna be a plenty good experience.

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9.5 / 10.0
Oct 9, 2020

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a gorgeous game with fast-paced action, an enormous, beautiful world to explore and a solemn story crafted very well.

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9 / 10.0
Oct 5, 2020

It was said plenty when Ori and the Will of the Wisps launched earlier this year but now that it’s on Switch I’ll say it again: play this game. It takes everything that made the first Ori one of the most memorable experiences this generation and further builds on it with a more expansive and varied world along with expanded combat options

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95 / 100
Oct 2, 2020

Sure, the visuals are not quite as crisp (especially in docked mode), but you’d have to be really looking to notice, or really care. No, this huge little game is a must-play on the Switch, and it is in every way a worthy successor to an iconic game classic.

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8 / 10.0
Oct 1, 2020

The Ori and the Will of the Wisps Switch port is a game where it not only fits perfectly on the system, but works in sublime ways you would never expect.

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8 / 10.0
Sep 28, 2020

It leaves Will of the Wisps in a strange position – on the one hand, basically every element of the game is either equivalent to or superior to its predecessor, meaning that if I had to choose between playing one or the other, I’d take this one at every opportunity. But at the same time, the experience of playing Blind Forest for the first time was much more striking, leaving me with fonder memories of the first game despite the fact that I think it wasn’t as good.

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9.5 / 10.0
Sep 28, 2020

The combat has plenty of options for all sorts of playstyles and puzzles make you feel clever for solving them. For players young or old, veterans or newcomers and hardcore or casual players, this game is enjoyable for everyone to play and to watch. There are a few titles on the Nintendo Switch that I'd consider as must-haves, but I am happy to add Ori and the Will of the Wisps to that list.

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The Digital Fix
Daisy Treloar
Top Critic
10 / 10.0
Sep 28, 2020

Ori and the Will of the Wisps drastically improves upon its predecessor, with stellar gameplay, visuals and music. A true testament to what the Switch is capable of, this stunning sequel is not to be missed.

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9.5 / 10.0
Sep 27, 2020

Ori and the Will of the Wisps improves upon the already great foundation set out by Ori and the Blind Forest. Its map is brimming with details and secrets to discover while new weapons and movement abilities create real depth to both combat and platforming. Ori's journey through Niwen is filled with emotional ups and downs that all feel earned and act as the perfect payoff for fans of the series. The injection of RPG elements like side quests and a hub area anchor you to this gorgeously realized world, and the fantastic conversion to Switch means that you won't be missing out on a thing. Ori and the Will of the Wisps is one of the best 2D platformers on Switch and a game that shouldn't be missed.

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