Spirit of the North Reviews
An oftentimes-gorgeous game whose shifts in gameplay focus make way for a dispiriting experience as time goes on.
What you should take away from this, then, is that Spirit of the North: Enhanced Edition isn’t a great game. I’d even struggle to call it good. It’s overly simple at times, and when the puzzles do ramp up, they quickly become repetitive or let down by the game’s stilted controls. But it’s not all bad. You’ll no doubt enjoy taking in the picturesque scenery and listening to the game’s wonderful soundtrack, and there are some pockets of fun to be found. If you’re after something a little bit different and have a lot of patience, give it a try, especially if you like foxes. If not, steer clear, or maybe pick it up in a sale.
Some players might be put off by Spirit of the North due to how heavily it relies on its players to figure things out, but that’s also its biggest charm.
Not the worst game in the world and although on paper the pros slightly outweigh the cons I'm finding it incredibly hard to really recommend it beyond it being a nice idea.
What Spirit of the North: Enhanced Edition does, it does well. Essentially, what is on offer here is a beautiful relaxing experience accompanied by a haunting and fitting soundtrack. Occasionally some sort of gameplay element and extremely light puzzling will be experienced, although this is often hampered by janky controls and glitching. The sheer gorgeousness of the world old red inhabits is worthy of admission alone, and the overall style and presentation of the package is what elevates this from "leave well alone" to "give it a lazy Sunday try." If already owning the original release, there's nothing here to justify jumping back in for, but for newcomers looking for something a bit different, certainly consider giving this fox a fumble.
Spirit of the North: Enhanced Edition is a beautiful remaster of an average game. If you enjoy wandering around pretty environments and solving some light puzzles, then this is a fantastic "chill out" game, but anything beyond that is somewhat forgettable. Add on some frustrating bugs and the lack of meaningful improvements over the last-gen version beyond visuals, and it isn't a must-buy for anyone who has played the original title. It's worth experiencing if you haven't played it before, but you should perhaps wait for a price drop, since the $35 price tag isn't worth it when you can purchase a last-gen copy for $20.
Spirit of the North: Enhanced Edition is a short adventure game that does a great job of telling an emotional tale without words thanks to some great visual and audio design. The game doesn’t offer much to those who already played it though so unless you really want to play with a couple new skins and better visuals and performance you may want to pass on it. Those who have yet to play it and are looking for a more tranquil experience will likely enjoy exploring these beautiful vistas as a fox for the few hours that it lasts.
Spirit of the North's enchanting journey is magnificent on the Nintendo Switch Lite's screen, as played on for this review, and is even better on a large TV screen. The, at times, challenging game, has collectibles that add to the replay value, and playing as an unlocked snow fox in the snow magnifies the immersion of the game, with levels that beg to be experienced again simply for the fun of enjoying their beauty.
Red fox in mysterious landscapes of Iceland. Sounds good, but gameplay is not very adequate, as well as controls.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Spirit of the North almost nails it.
It's visually quite stunning and features a solid but overplayed soundtrack. There are moments of brilliance sprinkled in with an otherwise thoroughly mediocre experience. I wouldn't say I hated my time with Spirit of the North, but I'd certainly have rather spent it elsewhere.
Spirit of the North may have been a noteworthy game if it released a decade prior but it's far too uninspired in today's gaming market.
Spirit of the North is an adventure that places atmosphere and artistic expression at the heart of its identity. Through its imagery, music, and deliberately understated storytelling, Infuse Studio creates an experience that seeks to engage players on an emotional level rather than through conventional gameplay spectacle. Its journey unfolds across evocative Nordic landscapes, ancient ruins, and abandoned places that hint at the remnants of a forgotten civilisation. By allowing the environment to carry the narrative, without relying on dialogue or traditional exposition, the studio establishes a distinctive approach to storytelling, encouraging players to piece together the history of this world through what they see and discover. This emphasis on atmosphere is reflected in almost every aspect of the presentation. The landscapes, architectural remains, and supernatural effects associated with the game's spiritual elements give the world a coherent visual identity, while the soundtrack reinforces its sense of solitude and quiet wonder. The fox is equally well suited to this setting. Its presence offers a perspective that feels removed from the conventions of the traditional adventure protagonist, allowing the journey to unfold through observation and interaction rather than dialogue or elaborate characterisation. At its best, Spirit of the North understands the value of restraint, giving its environments room to breathe and allowing individual scenes to make an impression without overstating their significance. The same level of assurance is not always evident in the gameplay. Although exploration and environmental puzzles provide a consistent framework for progression, the mechanics rarely develop enough to maintain a comparable level of interest. Puzzles tend to rely on relatively familiar ideas, with limited variation in their execution, while platforming sections occasionally expose shortcomings in movement and control precision. The environments can also feel more expansive than the activities they contain, leaving stretches of traversal that do little to deepen the experience. These limitations become increasingly apparent as the adventure progresses, particularly when the promise of discovery is not matched by equally engaging interactions. The narrative presents a similar contrast between intention and execution. Its reliance on environmental storytelling is entirely consistent with the game's broader creative direction, and the absence of dialogue helps preserve the contemplative atmosphere. However, the limited information provided about the world and the events that shaped it can make the story difficult to follow. Some of the ideas introduced along the way suggest greater thematic and emotional depth than the narrative ultimately achieves. A more developed account of the civilisation's fate and the journey's central relationship could have given these elements greater significance without necessarily compromising the game's minimalist approach. Ultimately, Spirit of the North is an adventure whose artistic ambitions are more fully realised than its gameplay design. Infuse Studio has a clear understanding of the atmosphere it wants to create, and the visual and audio presentation frequently succeeds in bringing that vision to life. The problem is that the experience built around it does not always offer enough variety, refinement, or narrative substance to sustain the same level of engagement. Its slower pace and minimalist structure are deliberate creative choices, but they cannot entirely compensate for puzzles that lack depth, occasional frustrations in traversal, or an exploration loop that becomes predictable over time. Despite these shortcomings, Spirit of the North remains an appealing experience, particularly for players who value atmosphere, environmental storytelling, and a more reflective approach to adventure games. Those expecting intricate puzzles, consistently polished platforming, or a richly developed narrative may find it less satisfying. Its appeal ultimately depends on an appreciation of what it sets out to achieve, rather than on the mechanical depth of what it offers. I regard Spirit of the North as a distinctive, occasionally captivating adventure that never quite fulfils the potential of its own artistic vision. Its world is memorable, its presentation often beautiful, and its approach to storytelling gives it a character of its own. Yet the limitations of its gameplay and narrative prevent those qualities from coming together as convincingly as they might have. It is not an adventure that excels across the board, nor one that is likely to satisfy every kind of player. What it does offer, however, is a quietly evocative journey that makes its strongest impression through the images it creates and the atmosphere it leaves behind. In that respect, its achievements are worth recognising, even if the experience as a whole falls short of the promise of its underlying ideas.
Spirit of the North is an experience that places great emphasis on the emotional aspect of the adventure, offering an evocative journey through enchanting Nordic landscapes accompanied by a symbolic and quiet narrative. However, some technical and gameplay limitations can greatly affect the overall experience of the title. We still recommend giving it a chance, however, for those looking for a relaxing and exciting adventure.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Spirit of the North will not revolutionize the industry, it will not change your view of games or the world, but it manages to provide an enjoyable evening. Even if it will be accompanied by some inconveniences in places. You'll play it, you'll have quite a bit of fun, and then you'll probably quickly forget about this game.
Review in Polish | Read full review
When I go to PAX I tend to book my days to the brim with appointments but that doesn't mean I lose the opportunity to uncover some additional gems along the way...
Spirit of the North is a work of excellent quality, which is worth playing on both PS4 and PS5. Its Enhanced Edition is an excellent opportunity to enjoy the gaming experience on next gen, and in addition to giving credit to the work of the developers, it greatly improves practically every part of the adventure, with particular results in the graphics sector. The goal is therefore centered and whether it is your first trip, whether it is the umpteenth time that you find yourself traveling through the snow-capped mountains, Spirit of the North: Enhanced Edition is an opportunity to be seized immediately, and now everyone has the possibility to do it on next gen thanks to the work of Infuse Studio. The mountains will be cold and the valleys will be lonely, but following the fox is a great way to make sense of the journey.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Spirit of the North: Enhanced Edition is a relaxing, atmospheric adventure title that benefits from a gorgeous visual style and musical score. In terms of content and gameplay, it doesn’t offer up a lot of depth, but what is here provides a worthwhile distraction for those looking for a slightly slower paced adventure game.
Spirit of the North Enhanced Edition takes cues from other adventure games like Journey, but it doesn’t offer the same level of replayability. However, it does have a super cute fox.
Aside from the graphical upgrades, there’s not much else new to find here. If you’re hoping for great use of PS5’s unique UI and controller, this is absolutely not a showcase title for that. But if you’re interested in a PS5 game on the cheaper end of the scale that will leave you with some lasting memories, Spirit of the North Enhanced Edition will certainly tug those heartstrings, occasionally tax the gray matter, and even give you a few reasons to smile.