ORI AND THE WILL OF THE WISPS: A GLOWING SPIRIT, A BREAKING HEART
9.0 of 10 bananas. One of the most beautiful platformers ever made, with combat that finally matches its movement.
By the Alpha. Xbox One disc listing. Updated Oct 12 2026.
Honest note: This is not a fresh hands-on playtest. I built this verdict from launch reviews, critic consensus, patch history, and what is known about the game today. If I put real hours in on stream, I will update the score and say so.
Platforms: The Amazon button is the Xbox One disc (Microsoft). At my check Amazon showed one left from a third-party seller. Check the seller and price before you pay, and check that stock is still there. The Xbox One disc plays on Xbox Series X|S, and the game got an enhanced Series version. It is also on PC on Steam and Nintendo Switch. There is no PlayStation version.
Get Ori and the Will of the Wisps for Xbox One on AmazonSit with me a moment. I am an old silverback and I do not cry at games. Ori made me a liar twice. The first escape chase, with the music swelling and the walls closing in, reminded me why I fell for platformers as a young ape.
What It Wants To Be
Moon Studios' 2020 sequel to Ori and the Blind Forest follows the little spirit Ori and the owlet Ku into a new land, Niwen, where the light is dying. It is a Metroidvania: one connected world, new abilities that open old paths, plus hand painted art and an orchestral score from Gareth Coker.
What Works
Movement is pure joy. Bash, grapple, burrow, and dash chain together until you are flowing through rooms like water. Combat got a real upgrade from the first game with a full weapon wheel and Spirit Shards to customize Ori. The escape sequences are some of the best in the genre. Boss fights are big and cinematic. The art and music are stunning on any screen.
What Breaks
Listen well. Launch on Xbox had performance stutters and some save bugs that patches fixed later. Some escape sequences demand perfect execution and can frustrate. The map is big, and backtracking for collectibles can drag. Combat is better, but it still plays second fiddle to the movement.
Who Should Play
Play if you love platformers, Metroidvanias, or games that make you feel something. Play Blind Forest first for the full story. Skip if trial and error chase scenes make you want to throw the controller.
STRENGTHS
- Fluid, joyful movement
- Big combat upgrade
- Spectacular escapes and bosses
- Gorgeous art and score
HONEST COSTS
- Launch performance bugs
- Some punishing escapes
- Collectible backtracking
- Combat still secondary
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