Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition

Few games come close to being this well made, this lovingly animated, and so madly pleasurable to play.

What we have here is a flawless port of a game which absolutely deserves all of the praise it has received. From start to finish, Ori and the Blind Forest is a real joy to play.

Definitive Edition clearly exists to ensure the best possible version of Ori and the Blind Forest is on the market, and Moon Studios has undoubtedly succeeded in that regard. If you haven't made the time for this magical Metroidvania yet, this is the way to go. If you already own a copy of the original game and are itching for another playthrough, readmission is worth the $5 upgrade. The new additions don't extend the length of the game by much, but they do freshen things up and breathe some new life into an already wonderful experience.

Ori and the Blind Forest was great when it first came out and it's still great in the Definitive Edition. It has an emotionally effective story and gameplay that is worth the price of admission alone. Once finished you'll come back to these comments to connect with someone who also understands the journey you took. Now go save Nibel in what's sure to be a classic in the platforming genre.

The charm of a beautifully-rendered forest world and its adorable denizens belies a challenging Metroidvania experience in Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition, an updated re-release of the 2015 indie hit. Will you be able to restore light to the forest, or will you fall prey to the razor-sharp talons of the dreaded Kuro?

The Switch's catalogue of Metroidvania titles was already impressive - though ironically it's still lacking an actual Metroid - and now its ranks have been bolstered by one of the best in recent memory. Ori and the Blind Forest is an absolute masterpiece, a beautiful story polished to perfection in both its artistic design and core gameplay mechanics. The utterly beautiful presentation and soundtrack crafts a charming and memorable world and there are more stories in that world to come as Ori and the Will of the Wisps landing on Xbox One in a few months. Hopefully, the Switch version comes shortly after.

Ori and The Blind Forest: Definitive Edition is a nugget of the metroidvania genre that Switch players must absolutely do. A deep and unforgettable journey carried by a sumptuous OST, which clearly does not leave indifferent. An essential masterpiece.

Finally, one of the best metroidvania of this generation arrives on Switch thanks to its Definitive Edition. If you never experienced the story of Ori and the Blind Forest, this is your chance to guide the hero through a beautiful and meaningful journey.

I can’t help but love Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition. Sure, it’s far harder than I expected, even on Normal, but that doesn’t take away from the glory of this experience. In my playthrough, I uncovered about 75% of the map, and still have plenty to unlock. And that’s not taking into account the many achievements you can fulfill (though I’m not even trying for Unhinged). For only $19.99, it’s hard to turn it down. While it’s true some of the mechanics and controls were a bit finicky for me, overall the game played like a dream. If you love emotional and unique experiences that truly draw you into the game, you have to play Ori and the Blind Forest. Even if you don’t think you’re good at platformers, you can always try on the easiest difficulty, because this is an adventure that demands to be experienced. Kudos to Moon Studios for developing it and to Microsoft for bringing it to another console.

Ori and the Blind Forest is a truly beautiful game that plays amazingly, features an excellent musical score, and is fine-tuned down to the absolute tiniest details. It's a masterclass in game design, and its presence on Switch in the form of Definitive Edition only adds to the long list of compelling reasons to buy into the platform. If this is any indication of Microsoft's plans for releasing any of its first-party back catalog on Switch, then the future looks extremely bright.