Kena: Bridge of Spirits

 PlayStation 5
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1291 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,034 out of 1291
  2. Mixed: 162 out of 1291
  3. Negative: 95 out of 1291

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  1. Jond7699
    Sep 23, 2021
    9
    This is a great mixture of puzzle solving, combat, and some endearing characters. Very few things I’ve found wrong in my playthrough. Highly recommended. Probably one of the best of the year so far and that’s not hyperbole
  2. Javed518
    Sep 22, 2021
    10
    Kena is an amazing game i have never played before. Its as beautiful as like playing a pixar movie. Its grand visual treat for anyone who are looking for great graphics and buttery smooth gameplay. I have been waiting for this game since last year and on my ps5 its amazing. Blown up for its beautiful presentation and not to forget its camera mode. Its something new they have tried and manyKena is an amazing game i have never played before. Its as beautiful as like playing a pixar movie. Its grand visual treat for anyone who are looking for great graphics and buttery smooth gameplay. I have been waiting for this game since last year and on my ps5 its amazing. Blown up for its beautiful presentation and not to forget its camera mode. Its something new they have tried and many big IPs should learn from this.… Expand
  3. shayed__
    Sep 22, 2021
    9
    This game gave me everything I had hoped for, from start to finish.

    It really is THAT indie game. It is so obvious to see how emberlab started out as a film studio. The sheer quality of the pre-rendered cutscenes, the ingame animations, and visual effects speaks for itself. This is one of those games where you can really feel the passion behind it. From what I've heard, the team    This game gave me everything I had hoped for, from start to finish.

    It really is THAT indie game. It is so obvious to see how emberlab started out as a film studio.
    The sheer quality of the pre-rendered cutscenes, the ingame animations, and visual effects speaks for itself.

    This is one of those games where you can really feel the passion behind it.
    From what I've heard, the team over at emberlab was only about 10 to 20 people strong when they developed this game.
    That is ridiculous for a game of such quality.
    I mean it is very obvious that each and every person that worked on this game was incredibly skilled in their craft

    Kena isn't just good looking, it also delivers a simple but effective story that warmed my heart throughout the game.
    While the concept of the story and its characters is fairly simple, the writing is really nice.
    Combine the cute writing with stellar cinematography in the cinematics and you're up for some really beautiful story beats.

    What can I say about the soundtrack other than.. it's perfect? It fits the adventurous vibe of the game so incredibly well.
    They really poured in a lot of work into the music. I mean we're still talking about an indie production here.
    It's not like the game has just a few good soundtracks no, each map section has its own little soundtrack. Variety is guaranteed.

    The gameplay is very smooth for the most part.
    The camera controls and the dead zone of the sticks felt a bit off when I first started the game,
    but it's not so severe that it impacts the overall gaming experience.
    The combat controls are for the most part very responsive and all the action animations and visual effects look and feel absolutely great. I still get surprised at how good everything looks.
    The combat also gets better the more you progress in the game due to the skill tree.

    The game's side activities aren't the most outstanding, they are fairly limited,
    but I still found great enjoyment in roaming around the map and collecting things.
    The world of Kena is brimming with beauty, it really reminds you of older games like Zelda at times.
    The combination of the well-designed lustrous world, and the soundtrack really makes the adventure outside of the main story enjoyable.

    I played on the highest difficulty that was available in the first playthrough. I really enjoyed the balance of the difficulty.
    It wasn't too hard where I'd have to fight a boss for hours on end, but it also wasn't too easy.
    I feel like it was nicely balanced for a game like Kena.
    There is a even higher difficulty setting which I assume is for new game+. From what I have heard, that newgame+ mode steps it difficulty up by a lot.

    Kena is a cute character, I really like the voice actress.
    I'm happy that they chose a more "deeper" sounding actress instead of a generic higher pitched child voice.

    The Rots are the most adorable thing I have ever seen in a game, the way they carry around things for Kena or the way the swim behind you in the water.
    Everything about them is just so wholesome.

    The game's length is totally fine for me.
    If you fully explore everything and play around with the photo mode a bit you'll spend more than 10 hours with the game.
    I've heard that, if you want to get the platinum trophy for the game it takes roughly 20 to 25 hours.
    I'm glad that this isn't a bloated empty open world game.

    I'm very happy for emberlab and I congratulate them on their first game.    … Expand
  4. Unbiasedgamer23
    Sep 22, 2021
    10
    I want to say Congrats to Ember Lab on the huge success of their first game ever. The amount of doubt they got prior to release was insane. I have just platinumed this game and it is easily my GOTY so far over FIST,Deathloop,Returnal,Deaths Door and Ratchet and Clank. The game clearly takes inspiration from a lot of other games. To name a couple i’d say Pikmin and Souls games. The combatI want to say Congrats to Ember Lab on the huge success of their first game ever. The amount of doubt they got prior to release was insane. I have just platinumed this game and it is easily my GOTY so far over FIST,Deathloop,Returnal,Deaths Door and Ratchet and Clank. The game clearly takes inspiration from a lot of other games. To name a couple i’d say Pikmin and Souls games. The combat at times can feel slightly stiff but most of the time it is great and feels like a souls game. A couple frame drops here and there but other than that I have loved this game. The way they incorporated the rots is very fluent and makes sense. I’m looking forward to what Ember Lab creates in the future whether that’s a new IP or a Kena sequel or prequel i’ll be excited to play.… Expand
  5. Ker000neL
    Sep 22, 2021
    8
    Very nice visuals, good story, some gameplay challenge if you play on expert. Completely relaxing game, no hassle. Not for everyone. 8/10 its a good score for it!
  6. BenFauWriter
    Sep 22, 2021
    10
    Game of the year! A lovely game, the gameplay is fun, the fighting yet simple is dynamic, the graphics are beautiful and the music direction is awesome!
  7. stgreylv
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    This is huge shoutout to Emberlabs. I bought a PS5 for this game. Anf it was worth it. Amaizing game.
  8. RASelhanout
    Sep 22, 2021
    10
    Great game and from a small team!! Other indie devs should take note and try to polish their games up to this level. Combat, exploration etc...feel really good. The reason i gave this a 10 is to offset the freaking xbox dudes(morons) giving this game a zero my true score is around an 8,5
  9. dduong84
    Sep 23, 2021
    9
    Games visuals is gorgeous, gameplay is easy to follow and doesn't take hours to get used too, challenging battles, throwback to ps2 days with Pixar loving. Highly recommend!
  10. mozimozo
    Sep 22, 2021
    8
    What a fresh game !! Congrats to Ember lab for this little nugget !! Atmosphere, music, gameplay : T H A N K S
  11. koala_kid
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    Absolutely love this game! The art style, animations, music and sound design are absolutely breathtaking! So much heart went into this game, it's really magical!!
  12. LadrosX
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    Aquele jogo de plataforma que eu estava esperando, É uma obra de arte incompreendida que mistura zelda/jek and dexter/spyro. espero poder ver um segundo jogo em um futuro prévio.
  13. Jrw1202
    Sep 23, 2021
    9
    I am so happy that there is a game like this available on PS5 right now. It absolutely gorgeous to look at, and it is a solid platformer. Despite some criticism that it is reusing some troupes from more popular games, sometimes that is what we want. It is really challenging, engaging, and a joy to play. The fact that this is from an indie studio is amazing! I really hope we get to see aI am so happy that there is a game like this available on PS5 right now. It absolutely gorgeous to look at, and it is a solid platformer. Despite some criticism that it is reusing some troupes from more popular games, sometimes that is what we want. It is really challenging, engaging, and a joy to play. The fact that this is from an indie studio is amazing! I really hope we get to see a sequel with even more funding next time! At $40 this is easily a must-buy!… Expand
  14. Ach01nos
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    Best game 2021 with Ratchet and Clank
    Inspired from Zelda, and Pixar, i am waiting for KENA 2 with more hours to play :)
  15. Paul84
    Sep 22, 2021
    8
    For a small indie team making their first ever full game I wasn’t expecting too much but this has to be one of the best experiences. It’s a short game but every moment is just a joy, anyone who’s seen a clip will know it’s graphically stunning but the story is sincere and hits perfectly; it is like being in a Ghibli movie which is such a pure feeling, and the gameplay keeps you entertainedFor a small indie team making their first ever full game I wasn’t expecting too much but this has to be one of the best experiences. It’s a short game but every moment is just a joy, anyone who’s seen a clip will know it’s graphically stunning but the story is sincere and hits perfectly; it is like being in a Ghibli movie which is such a pure feeling, and the gameplay keeps you entertained but without breaking any new boundaries. I hope this game gets all the success it deserves with awards and sales because I feel this could easily become the staple franchise for this studio. An amazing achievement.… Expand
  16. DmitryKochurov
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    Я очень ждал эту игру и очень был рад русской локализации, потому для меня это уже +. Анимация просто бомба, такое чувство будто вы играете в мультфильм. Уровень умиления просто зашкаливает. Геймплей интересный с упором на исследование мира. Но вы можете и просто пройтись по сюжету и, по моему мнению, это будет ошибка. Я специально поставил максимальный уровень сложности и старался поЯ очень ждал эту игру и очень был рад русской локализации, потому для меня это уже +. Анимация просто бомба, такое чувство будто вы играете в мультфильм. Уровень умиления просто зашкаливает. Геймплей интересный с упором на исследование мира. Но вы можете и просто пройтись по сюжету и, по моему мнению, это будет ошибка. Я специально поставил максимальный уровень сложности и старался по максимуму исследовать мир, чтобы получить максимум удовольствия от игры. Что тут сказать ещё, играйте, пробуйте и составьте собственное мнение о ней. Если Вам нравятся милые мультфильмы с красивой графикой и хорошим сюжетом, то Вам игра понравится.… Expand
  17. Mog_3825
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    One the THE BEST game I've seen on both Playstation and Series X this generation.
  18. NoM3rcy
    Sep 22, 2021
    10
    This is one of the most beautiful and incredible games I've ever played. Charismatic, lovely, with action and passion. Soundtrack is wonderful. Everything looks handmade. The combat reminds me a mix of God of War with Horizon, it has parry, defense, melee, range, magic with the rots. Well, it's an indie game better then a lot of AAA we see around. Congratulations Emberlab.
  19. Shakil81722699
    Sep 22, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Amazing amazing work big wwwwwwww … Expand
  20. MetaPlayer6969
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    Best indie on playstation this year !

    Ember lab deliver their very first game and it is absolutely magical and a fantastic journey !

    Don't sleep on it especially for the price and those 20h of gameplay !
  21. Thaddiseus
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    There are obvious influences on this game that all come together to create game-play that is creative and fun. The graphics are outstanding and I have filled my PlayStation with screen-shots of the magnificent visuals of the game's verdant landscape. Combat is the right amount of challenging as each boss brings has its own unique skills that have to be learned and evaded. Exploration isThere are obvious influences on this game that all come together to create game-play that is creative and fun. The graphics are outstanding and I have filled my PlayStation with screen-shots of the magnificent visuals of the game's verdant landscape. Combat is the right amount of challenging as each boss brings has its own unique skills that have to be learned and evaded. Exploration is encouraged with a map full of hidden items to be discovered. The story and character development is almost non-existent, but the game gives just enough to keep game moving forward in a fun and exciting manner. I am blown away by the fact that this is an indie game and I am hopeful that this studio will have bigger and better games to come in the future.… Expand
  22. CruDlux
    Sep 22, 2021
    10
    Kena bridge of spirits is one of those every gamer should play. Everything about Kena is a joy from the music the graphics and environment are all top notch. This is definitely one of my top games of 2021. Thank you Ember Labs for this beautiful gem that you shared with us gamers.
  23. Tonyo92
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    The game looks amazing, the combat system is very good,soundtrack is wonderful,the artwork the animations,the story everything is very very good amazing job Ember Lab!
  24. Godboouy
    Sep 22, 2021
    10
    Best game of the year...............................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’nn
  25. Copyrighted50
    Sep 22, 2021
    10
    Amazing fantasy game this is a tomb rider 2 or espin of dark souls ooooooooooo
  26. Rainbowsaiddied
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    This game is a combination of Zelda and Dark Souls, and that means masterpiece!!!!
  27. Kenabridgs2
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    ((Amazing graphics is one thing, but Bridge of Spirits is so much more thanks to engaging level design and surprisingly deep combat. It's a game that overdelivers on almost all fronts, making for a truly superb and memorable adventure)) “gamer no”...best critic for best game
  28. Masterchiefcool
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    Those who gave zero to the game or did not play the game or have problems with the game publisher, otherwise what is the reason to give zero to one of the best games of this year !?
  29. SamuraiMaxis
    Nov 14, 2021
    9
    One of the Best Game of 2021. Incredible Art, Narrative, Story, Characters, Musics, Cinematics, Boss Fights, Rots, Combat. All Around Really Nice Game to Play. There are Many Things I Can Say But Just One Sentence: You Can Easily See Developer's Passion to This Game.

    A Game You Should Definitely Experience. Game Obviously Shines With it Art. But There is More Than That İn This Cute    One of the Best Game of 2021. Incredible Art, Narrative, Story, Characters, Musics, Cinematics, Boss Fights, Rots, Combat. All Around Really Nice Game to Play. There are Many Things I Can Say But Just One Sentence: You Can Easily See Developer's Passion to This Game.

    A Game You Should Definitely Experience.

    Game Obviously Shines With it Art. But There is More Than That İn This Cute Game. There is Actually a Really Nice Story, Great Narrative With the Support of Nicely Directed Cinematic . I'm not Going to Spoil Anything, You Should Experience Yourself. Gameplay Feels Really Smooth, A Lot of Boss Fights and They Are Not Easy, Mission Designs Are Good, You Are Not Getting Lost in Those Puzzles or You Are Not Losing Your Way in the Missions. Music Supports the Atmosphere Beautifully. And Many More Things

    I Think There is No Massive Negative Side of the Game. Only Little Things, That Even the Best Games Has. Parrying Requires Absolute Perfect Timing but Not That Rewarding. Core Mission Designs of Story is a Bit Repetitive. But You Are Not Feeling That Repetitiveness due to Different Locations, Art Designs and Kena's Upgrades. Also Kena's Biggest Upgrades Comes With Story But I Wished Skill Tree Was More Rewarding. Picking Outfit for Kena Would be Nice. Also At The Beginnings You Are Not Connected to Kena Much. She is 2 Level Above From No-Face No Voice FPS Characters in the Beginning. But Later You Are Connecting to Her But İt Could Have Been Earlier.

    I Hope We See a A Sequel. I Created This Account Just For This Review and I Want to Thank Ember Lab for This Amazing Piece of Art.    … Expand
  30. CrapshootR
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    How come critics give such a game a meta of 82. In fact, these are games that have a lot of technical and visual problems and are not fun at all, but they get a score of 89, for example.
  31. leviathanarg
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    Game Specs. on PS5 (performance mode).
    60 FPS. Dynamic 4K. HDR. Sound accepts Night Mode (reduced range). Game length, 15 hours one playthrough on normal difficulty. Genre: Adventure, exploration with combat. Level of woke-ness very low.
    Pros: Graphics are vivid. Music is great. Style is nice and cute, similar to a Pixar movie. Exploration is perfect, the world is not too big (to    Game Specs. on PS5 (performance mode).
    60 FPS. Dynamic 4K. HDR. Sound accepts Night Mode (reduced range). Game length, 15 hours one playthrough on normal difficulty. Genre: Adventure, exploration with combat. Level of woke-ness very low.
    Pros: Graphics are vivid. Music is great. Style is nice and cute, similar to a Pixar movie. Exploration is perfect, the world is not too big (to discourage you if you work or have other activities) yet has many nooks and crannies.

    You can define this game by saying that it is a Soul's like game if the producer were a Pixar guy.
    Bosses on normal difficulty are quite hard (not as hard as a Souls like). I anticipate the platinum will not be easy. The gameplay is fun.
    The story is sad yet entertaining, set in what could be a fantasy south east Asia. No woke elements pushed through. Characters are original and well developed. Mechanics are interesting.
    Recommended.    … Expand
  32. bouxesas
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    Amazing game from a small studio.
    Graphics,story,combat,music, characters almost a Pixar movie.
    Well done emberlab.
  33. GetRaki
    Sep 25, 2021
    10
    Игра не без технических косяков, но а большим уважением к игроку. Одна из лучших игр за 2021
  34. Lucifer_Inferno
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Игра просто отличная и заслуживает самой высокой оценки.
    Вносить собой некое разнообразие в жанр.    … Expand
  35. fabius86
    Sep 22, 2021
    10
    Absurdamente bonito e bem feito. Jogabilidade fantástica. Animações, combates, gráficos, trilha sonora. Um dos melhores jogos deste ano! Fodasi IGN e PushSquare
  36. Ernest_vzla
    Sep 23, 2021
    9
    Amazing this game was made by a 15 people studio. It looks beautiful and runs very smoothly. It's very polished, I didn't find any game breaking bugs or glitches, Gameplay and level design is Zelda-like with surprisingly difficult combat. The story is good and very well animated but I was left wanting to know more about the main character (Kena). It also needed a bit more variety in combatAmazing this game was made by a 15 people studio. It looks beautiful and runs very smoothly. It's very polished, I didn't find any game breaking bugs or glitches, Gameplay and level design is Zelda-like with surprisingly difficult combat. The story is good and very well animated but I was left wanting to know more about the main character (Kena). It also needed a bit more variety in combat skills but there's many type of enemies to compensate.

    Overall it's an excellent game and would absolutely recommend to give it a chance.    … Expand
  37. gr0ode
    Sep 22, 2021
    10
    Plays like old 3d zelda games. There are fighting elements, puzzle elements and platforming elements and they‘re all held together by a solid art direction. Only thing I dislike is the voice for the main character and the weird facial expressions. Fantastic game I can‘t put it down.
  38. nino10
    Sep 22, 2021
    10
    Literally is the best game indie of the 2021 it have a mix between Legends of Zelda and God of War.
    Is soo amazing
  39. Bazlighter
    Sep 25, 2021
    10
    Хорошая игра, добрая , местами грустная. Первая игра данной студии. Круто!
  40. lj87
    Sep 22, 2021
    10
    ive been looking forward to this game since the first trailer, and it didn't let me down, the art style is so nice, the music goes well with the game,to say its there first game, im really impressed, i cant wait to see if the will add any dlc ore just carry the game on to different lands
  41. Psytim3
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    Good game 10/10 like design and sound that very cool.
    Thanks to studio make a good game again
  42. DARK__SPIRIT
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    Very beautiful and eye-catching game with good gameplay and interesting story
  43. filipfico202011
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    beautiful graphics and music,
    and a great gameplay balance
    only missing greater utilization of haptic feedback
  44. superkapitan82
    Sep 22, 2021
    9
    Игра буквально позволила вспомнить радость и магию первого столкновения с видеоиграми в детстве. По-настоящему волшебная графика, простой и понятный геймплей, незатейливый добрый сюжет. Оказалось, что больше ничего не надо и что всего этого не было так давно.

    Мне напомнило золотую эру PC адвенчур 90-х, Kyrandia, Stormlord, Jazz Jackrabbit, Lands of Lore, Simon the Sorcerer. Но судя по    Игра буквально позволила вспомнить радость и магию первого столкновения с видеоиграми в детстве. По-настоящему волшебная графика, простой и понятный геймплей, незатейливый добрый сюжет. Оказалось, что больше ничего не надо и что всего этого не было так давно.

    Мне напомнило золотую эру PC адвенчур 90-х, Kyrandia, Stormlord, Jazz Jackrabbit, Lands of Lore, Simon the Sorcerer.
    Но судя по всему каждому она напоминает свое.    … Expand
  45. Wisdomn17
    Sep 22, 2021
    10
    The studio is incredibly talented for this being their very first game. Loved. Loved. Loved it.
  46. Nikita1298
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    Kena is a masterpiece game with an amazing story, world, music. As the game progresses, it gets more and more interesting. I don’t want this game to end. * if u are playing on PS5 then use performance mode
  47. Gajahunter
    Sep 22, 2021
    10
    Wenn ein Indie Spiel zum Absoluten Pflichtkauf für jeden PS5 Besitzer wird. Kena: Bridge of Spirits scheint kaum schwächen zu haben. Story, Animationen, Grafik, Sound und Gameplay. Unfassbar was das mini Studio Ember Lab hier geleistet hat. Es macht einfach Spaß die fantastisch gestaltete Spielwelt zu erkunden.
  48. Lapin888
    Sep 22, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Great game congratulations to ths team ok xbajkznsjzn sja ajs nns n ja bjs abjs sj ns… Expand
  49. Kena_B
    Sep 22, 2021
    10
    Kena bridge of spirits ist ein wunderschönes Spiel mit einer grandiosen Atmosphäre, einer tollen Heldin, atemberaubender Grafik, kniffligen Puzzles und je nach Schwierigkeitsgrad sehr fordernden Kämpfen Ich hatte eine super Zeit beim durchspielen, Das Spiel ist ein absolutes Muss für jeden Fan von Action adventure games.
  50. Perroperuano
    Sep 22, 2021
    10
    Buen Gameplay, excelente animación, excelente diseño de personajes , excelente actuación, excelente historia y excelente precio. no esperaba éste producto final por parte de emberlab. Un juego para disfrutar cada segundo
  51. MyPizzameta
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    This game is a masterpiece game best fantezy music and strong gameplay and good boss fight
  52. Robertrivesh
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    Great graphics fun gameplay best control good story game...................
  53. Ps5masterlook
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    Awesome music awesome hero Awesome beautiful animals Awsome ps5 use Awsome Gamplay to be honest this game is real Woah !!!
  54. Photeki
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    Amazing game in all aspects, beautiful and a joy to play in every meaning of the word. I played on hard, and the combat can be really very challenging. So many puzzles and secrets to find. I was not expecting the game to be so huge. If you finish the game in 9 hours then you just didn't play the game sorry paid reviewers. Up to the second big boss and I'd put in about 25 hours. The gameAmazing game in all aspects, beautiful and a joy to play in every meaning of the word. I played on hard, and the combat can be really very challenging. So many puzzles and secrets to find. I was not expecting the game to be so huge. If you finish the game in 9 hours then you just didn't play the game sorry paid reviewers. Up to the second big boss and I'd put in about 25 hours. The game has a few minor bugs and glitches at launch but considering how big the game is I'm surprised it runs so smoothly. And those boss battles! Damn! Game of the year by a long shot!… Expand
  55. Upidie64
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    The game's combat system is not boring and repetitive at all. In fact, the combat system is full of interesting and strange ideas that can not be criticized at all, and also the rest of the things are completely perfect.
  56. Judgement20
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    As the first AAA production, a 20-person animation studio is unique........
  57. OriVinci
    Sep 23, 2021
    9
    great game.
    the story,the world and the graphic.
    but it's too easy to kill bosses and monsters.
    anyway,you must to play this game.
  58. SCRito
    Sep 25, 2021
    10
    インディゲームとは思えないほどの高画質です。オープンワールドと言いつつハマって動けなくなる所はありますが、ゲームシステム、操作性などは抜群だとお思います。ゼルダ＋ピクミンみたいな印象です。
  59. coolcrowe
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    This game does well in most areas, but one thing that really stood out to me was the way that it is designed so that you are rewarded for doing good deeds and cleaning up areas instead of destroying things. People say this game is like Zelda, but you won't find this protagonist breaking all the pottery in the world to find the money inside... instead she notices a statue that has fallenThis game does well in most areas, but one thing that really stood out to me was the way that it is designed so that you are rewarded for doing good deeds and cleaning up areas instead of destroying things. People say this game is like Zelda, but you won't find this protagonist breaking all the pottery in the world to find the money inside... instead she notices a statue that has fallen over and restores it to its place in the forest shrine, and is rewarded. This might seem like a small change but it really makes a big difference in allowing the player the feeling of being a benevolent force instead of a destructive one, and I'd like to see more game studios design their world interactions from a place of positivity in this way in the future.… Expand
  60. alex82101
    Jun 10, 2023
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. KENA: Bridge of Spirits is a heartwarming game about dealing with grief, guilt, and bonds between people. The game's graphics are very pleasant to look at, being very similar to the style of Disney/Pixar movies. Combat is very fast-paced and Souls-like. The highlight of this game is definitely the story and the combat but the music and graphics shine as well. This one definitely has the potential for a sequel and I am sure there are a lot of fans who are eagerly waiting for one Collapse… Expand
  61. TomasLacerda
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    + Visually stunning
    + Realy wholesome
    + Challenging
    + Gorgeous sound design
    + Inspiration from BOTW feels new, unique and well put together
    + Immersion
    + Clean, clean UI

    - Some character animations could be a bit smoother
    - I explored every single bit yet I failed to find some memories, I feel that they could have been a bit more easy to grasp them
  62. Mareli
    Sep 25, 2021
    10
    I don't know what this game does perfectly but it does it!

    If you played games like Jak and Daxter, Beyond Good & Evil back then on the PS2 and enjoyed them you will love Kena! Bridge of Spirits plays very much like an old PS2 game what I mean by that is gameplay-wise it keeps it simple but has an entertaining story and cool boss fights. It's so nice to have such a beautiful game    I don't know what this game does perfectly but it does it!

    If you played games like Jak and Daxter, Beyond Good & Evil back then on the PS2 and enjoyed them you will love Kena!
    Bridge of Spirits plays very much like an old PS2 game what I mean by that is gameplay-wise it keeps it simple but has an entertaining story and cool boss fights.

    It's so nice to have such a beautiful game done by a small development team that is more enjoyable than most AAA games.
    Everything fits perfectly together with great gameplay mechanics cool fights nice music a beautiful detail-rich world and a story you will care about.
    Somehow It's just one of the better games I played and I hope to see more games from this Studio.

    + The World is beautifully designed and is not too big so it makes sense and is fun to explore.
    + Gameplay is simple but addicting
    + Storytelling is done phenomenal!
    + The soundtrack is really enjoyable
    + Fights are cool and don't feel repetitive
    + Boss fights are so much fun!
    + It has a PS2 game vibe (Jak and Daxter)

    - The only little con I can think of is the Kena Character Animation it's not that bad but could just be a little smoother.

    Respect Ember Lab's and thank you for this masterpiece!    … Expand
  63. DragonMan85
    Jan 25, 2022
    9
    Playing on Master gave me a near Dark Souls challenge with the bosses. I found all bosses to be well crafted with great mechanics. The story had a spiritual charm to it, and the art style constantly had me thinking Disney + Studio Ghibli = Kena. Hope they make a sequel.
  64. timeslider
    Sep 26, 2021
    9
    Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a great game but it has some flaws.
    Pros
    • Art style The cuteness of this game is almost unbearable. The Rots look so cute! I love how the voice actress sounds when she’s interacting with them. It’s so adorable. Like a dog lover interacting with a puppy. The art style reminded me of Jak and Daxter from the PS2 era in the best possible way, as if there’s    Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a great game but it has some flaws.
    Pros
    • Art style
    The cuteness of this game is almost unbearable. The Rots look so cute! I love how the voice actress sounds when she’s interacting with them. It’s so adorable. Like a dog lover interacting with a puppy.
    The art style reminded me of Jak and Daxter from the PS2 era in the best possible way, as if there’s another way. You meet some sage guy early on and he reminds me of Samos Hagai, the old man from Jak and Daxter 1 who had logs strapped to his head and feet.

    The layout of the environment is beautiful but it gets complicated towards the end. Sometimes I was frustrated because there wasn’t a clear sense of which direction to go. I did notice that I did better when I calmed down and let the spirits of the forest guide me. No joke, there was a puzzle that somehow I just knew how to beat but I don’t know how or why I knew it. Other puzzles were more challenging but often the environment will give hints. Sometimes things will need to be done in order but there will be a subtle hint that might be hard to pick out. Once you understand one of them, subsequent puzzles are easier.
    I personally loved the character designs. Kena was very charming. Her animations and voice acting made her an adorable character. But don’t let her cuteness fool you. She is an absolute beast in combat. I was a little shocked with how aggressive her voice acting was but it was fitting.

    The animations were top notch. I remember the first time I climbed up a ledge and Kena spun her staff around, I was thoroughly pleased with how satisfying it was.

    •Story
    I’m sad we didn’t get to explore Kena’s past as much as I’d like. The story overall was very sparse on details. A lot of things were left up to interpretation. It was very short in scope. Literally three spirits are trapped in this world because of grief and whatnot and they’re not being able to move on which causes corruption. Kena shows how their grief was the wrong attitude and they understand and move on. The music and animation told me my heart strings should be plucked but I just didn’t get as emotionally attached to the characters I was saving over the roughly four and a half hours it took to save them. I was more emotional during the first 20 minutes of The Last of Us than at any point during this game. I’d say the story was the weakest part of the game but it wasn’t enough for me to stop playing or lose my motivation.

    •Gameplay
    But I don’t play games because of their story. I play games for the gameplay and always have and this is where Kena really shines. It reminded me of a lot of past games: Jak and Daxter, Uncharted, God of War, Ratchet and Clank, and Final Fantasy X. All the mechanics were smooth and satisfying to play. My biggest problem with gameplay was the progression system. You get Karma to upgrade your abilities which is fine. But there are also crystals that are only used to buy cute hats for the Rot. I would have loved to see more uses for the crystals. I understand this is their first game so I can’t knock them too much.

    •Cons
    Some of the environments are bugged but the latest patch fixed some of them but I haven’t confirmed. There was an invisible hole in the ground that you could fall through and get stuck. I found a board that looks like you can walk over but Kena will stop at it and you have to jump over even though there’s another board right beside it that you can walk over. I found a ledge that has some strange collision geometry making jumping across difficult. I could have loved to see better collision geometry overall. You can't stand on many things that look like you can. I’ll report all this stuff to the devs eventually and hopefully they’ll fix it. The initial release had a few game breaking bugs but many of them have been patched. I think with a few more updates I could remove this cons paragraph completely.
    Overall, I’d say the experience is worth it. I played on the Deluxe Edition but I don’t think the Golden Rot and Staff was worth it unless you want to support the devs. I would love to see them make more games like this. Hopefully this will be financially successful and they can fund much larger games.    … Expand
  65. NathanChan
    Sep 24, 2021
    9
    Nice graphics, beautiful art style and varied puzzles, for an indie game made by a first timer, it's all surprises, the only drawback is combat part which is a little repetitive.
  66. Pan_T
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    Kena is like 3D Ori or Zelda in next-gen visuals. I was afraid the game would be too small, but I've been playing for 15 hours, and I still haven't collected everything. At this price? I have nothing to complain about. Amazing!
  67. gregdelbene
    Sep 26, 2021
    9
    Kena: Bridge of Spirits exceeded every expectation and shattered every pre-conceived notion I had. Not only was the gameplay deeper and more engaging than I had assumed, but the story was deep, emotional, and thoughtful. On top of all of that, Ember Labs’ animation background really shines. During Kena’s cutscenes I would often forget that I was playing a game because it looked EXACTLYKena: Bridge of Spirits exceeded every expectation and shattered every pre-conceived notion I had. Not only was the gameplay deeper and more engaging than I had assumed, but the story was deep, emotional, and thoughtful. On top of all of that, Ember Labs’ animation background really shines. During Kena’s cutscenes I would often forget that I was playing a game because it looked EXACTLY like a Pixar film. I was truly blown away by the quality of the animation and it’s safe to assume everyone else who played the game felt the same. Aside from its short runtime, this game is near perfect. The $40 price tag easily puts the length into perspective at the end of the day though. This is a game I will revisit often just to enjoy the animation and story again - truly next-level. I look forward to a sequel or whatever Ember Labs works on next.… Expand
  68. lMickaelo2
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Mon Goty 2021 à coup sur. Une découverte incroyable du début à la fin. J'ai rarement pris une baffe comme ça, peut être parce qu'on avait déjà beaucoup d'appréhension du au faites que ça soit le premier jv du studio Ember Labs et on s'attendait à une mini expérience. Grandiose, somptueux, musique sublime. Une aventure poétique, gameplay bien plus intelligent qu'il n'y paraît avec des animations.. Wow, merci Ember Labs … Expand
  69. OttoFonKarius
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    clear perfect game with amazing sound design and visual grafics effects i like it
  70. Sunradiance
    Sep 23, 2021
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Incredible Game!

    Starts of abit repetitive but thats quickly washed away. Art is gorgeous and now after the patch cinematic is 60fps not anymore 30fps*. The game offers enjoyment , relaxation , cuteness , all in all totally worth its money.

    Game really worth playing.    … Expand
  71. VTHokies1999
    Dec 7, 2021
    9
    I think this is a great game and I wish I could give it an 8.5 but I'll round up. The story was good, the graphics are amazing, and I found the combat pretty good. I think if Ember Labs could improve the combat in the next game by making it a bit more deep, more moves and growth, it could be a truely amazing game.
  72. Rixam
    Jan 13, 2022
    8
    There is much to love with this game. The graphics are sweet, Rot creatures are super cute, music is beautiful and there is plenty of things to find and discover. I felt like the length of the game was perfect. Not too long, not too short. New mechanics are also introduced at a nice pace.

    On a personal level the storytelling is a bit too disconnected to keep me tightly hooked. The    There is much to love with this game. The graphics are sweet, Rot creatures are super cute, music is beautiful and there is plenty of things to find and discover. I felt like the length of the game was perfect. Not too long, not too short. New mechanics are also introduced at a nice pace.

    On a personal level the storytelling is a bit too disconnected to keep me tightly hooked. The gameplay, although for the most part very fun and clever, is occasionally too unforgiving for my liking. My wife noted that on many occasions I was saying "This is not fun" out loud even after switching difficulty level to Story Mode. I usually play games on normal difficulty and I felt like the options were either too unforgiving or too easy.

    Still overall I think the game was a very nice experience and I'm really glad I played it. The shortcomings taxed the experience for me but I can definitely recommend the game to anyone. Especially if you are into more unforgiving and precise games.    … Expand
  73. Rouabah
    Sep 26, 2021
    9
    La DA du jeu est juste magnifique les ROTS sont ❤️ Combat fluide et a pas trop simple le challenge est la si on le cherche ❤️
  74. Marcz3ra
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    Amazing graphics is one thing, but Bridge of Spirits is so much more thanks to engaging level design and surprisingly deep combat. It's a game that overdelivers on almost all fronts, making for a truly superb and memorable adventure.
  75. Cryptic_Vyper
    Sep 23, 2021
    9
    Awesome game. My only issue being a PS5 player and playing in 60 FPS is the 30 FPS cut scenes. Other than that, extremely enjoyable, love the story, AAA quality from this small studio with their first production. Yes it pulls ideas from other games, but it blends them in a unique way that work well enough to stand on its own the one critique I have as far as the Kena world, is it should beAwesome game. My only issue being a PS5 player and playing in 60 FPS is the 30 FPS cut scenes. Other than that, extremely enjoyable, love the story, AAA quality from this small studio with their first production. Yes it pulls ideas from other games, but it blends them in a unique way that work well enough to stand on its own the one critique I have as far as the Kena world, is it should be more open world and character should be able to climb all rocks that she can jump above instead of invisible walls. Otherwise I loved it.… Expand
  76. roberth13
    Sep 25, 2021
    10
    Esse game é incrível, o combate é divertido e desafiador, a exploração é bem feita e os cenários nem se fala, não consigo dar nota menor que 10 ainda mais por ser o primeiro jogo da empresa, deu um banho em muita empresa grande.
  77. NxtDoc
    Sep 25, 2021
    9
    Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a charming, fun, yet simple game. The combat is simple, but fun. Kena does not over stay its length. As every game does not need to be over fluffed with empty side quests, and ridiculously arbitrary grind.
  78. Shenandoah
    Mar 30, 2022
    10
    Kena is a true masterpiece. It’s one of the best games you can play right now. The visual artwork is incredibly good. Also gameplay and world design is polished to a maximum. Emberlab has crafted an amazing game which delivers an unique experience. This a simply a must-have for every Playstation owners.
  79. Kynneas
    Sep 25, 2021
    10
    Muitas coisas lindas para dizer do game. Historia cativante, emocionante e profunda dos personagens envolvidos na trama.
    Personagens (Rots) muito fofos que te ajuda, muito pelo caminho e uma historia surpreendente por trás dessas criaturinhas tão fofas.
    Lore profunda e batalhas bem dinâmicas, boos fights com seu grau de dificuldade mas muito emocionante que com toda certeza vale o game.    Muitas coisas lindas para dizer do game. Historia cativante, emocionante e profunda dos personagens envolvidos na trama.
    Personagens (Rots) muito fofos que te ajuda, muito pelo caminho e uma historia surpreendente por trás dessas criaturinhas tão fofas.
    Lore profunda e batalhas bem dinâmicas, boos fights com seu grau de dificuldade mas muito emocionante que com toda certeza vale o game.
    Parabéns Emberlab por criar um jogo no qual eu amei e irei carregar pra sempre comigo com carinho.    … Expand
  80. Abroadus123
    Sep 23, 2021
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. After playing several hours of the the game, it has lived up to my expectations. The controls are tight, the combat is fast and challenging. The graphics are Pixar level quality with amazing film like cut scenes that make you fall in love with the people you're helping. Emberlab has made a beautiful game & i hope to see more from them.… Expand
  81. AlexZakhar
    Sep 24, 2021
    10
    Побольше бы Инди проектов такого качества
  82. Tectosaurus
    Sep 26, 2021
    10
    One of my favourite games of this year, and of all time. Visually stunning with a captivating story. The fact that this is Ember Lab's first game is insane to me. The attention to detail in the world is amazing, they made it so well, everything just flows. I loved the variety in enemies, especially bosses. A lot of games (like God Of War) have few bosses which are very similar or areOne of my favourite games of this year, and of all time. Visually stunning with a captivating story. The fact that this is Ember Lab's first game is insane to me. The attention to detail in the world is amazing, they made it so well, everything just flows. I loved the variety in enemies, especially bosses. A lot of games (like God Of War) have few bosses which are very similar or are exactly the same except different colours, the bosses in Kena are all completely different, from their appearances to the way they fight. When you play the game you notice right away that they put a lot of love and effort into it. I give the game a solid 10/10 as it was simply an amazing experience.… Expand
  83. saramity
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    This game is a masterpiece in every sense of the word, from the music to the visuals and a beautiful story. Definitely a Game of the Year, the best PS5 game yet
  84. js83667
    Nov 4, 2021
    9
    Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a beautiful, wonderful game. Amazing visuals, stellar cutscenes, and solid gameplay. My only gripes are where the AA nature of the game starts to show.

    For some reason, the walking animation is just so clunky. It is the one of the weirdest walking animations I have ever seen in a game, especially when everything is else so high quality. The final two bosses are    Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a beautiful, wonderful game. Amazing visuals, stellar cutscenes, and solid gameplay. My only gripes are where the AA nature of the game starts to show.

    For some reason, the walking animation is just so clunky. It is the one of the weirdest walking animations I have ever seen in a game, especially when everything is else so high quality.

    The final two bosses are disappointing. The second to last boss can be entirely cheesed by using a pattern of attacks/upgrades you get by endgame. The final boss has a large difficulty spike, and it is quite long with multiple phases and no checkpoints.

    Besides the two final bosses, combat has been tight, fun, and rewarding. Also the game is on the short side, but for its price, it is well worth it.    … Expand
  85. leon29
    Sep 25, 2021
    9
    awesome graphics the combat and the music. im excited to play this game the display design is awesome and the characters too.
  86. Uncle_Sam
    Sep 23, 2021
    8
    A company with 15 creative and competent collaborators delivered a playable animated movie, where you can connect with the characters and feel an ocean of emotions.
    The game is by no means a cake walk, it is challenging enough, specially during boss fights.
    Being the first game they create, sets big expectations for the future!
    A solid 8/10 for me.
    Congrats
  87. Mauriciogallego
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Es un video juego bastante llamativo con respecto a su historia y a su animación Es demasiado hermoso Con una jugabilidad excelente Y una banda sonora con mucho nivel Es un juego para todas las edades 100… Expand
  88. b_escobar
    Jan 25, 2022
    10
    My gosh, this game is absolutely amazing! When I first began playing it, I had the same feelings as when I first played Jak and Daxter on the PS2 with the vibrant colors, whacky characters, and simple move set. It’s a very cute story and world. The visuals are beautiful. All this may give the sense that it’s an easy game, but that is far from the truth. I’m playing it on expert (second toMy gosh, this game is absolutely amazing! When I first began playing it, I had the same feelings as when I first played Jak and Daxter on the PS2 with the vibrant colors, whacky characters, and simple move set. It’s a very cute story and world. The visuals are beautiful. All this may give the sense that it’s an easy game, but that is far from the truth. I’m playing it on expert (second to last difficulty) and some of the fights are hard and frustrating (in a good way). Honestly, the combat reminds me very much of the Soul’s games where I’m constantly rolling to avoid enemy attacks. I also like that the game uses the PS5 remote’s adaptive trigger. Overall, it’s a great game and I would definitely recommend to play.… Expand
  89. SonyBros
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    The game is absolutely fantastic. Although I will say unless you care about hats for your creatures, theres really no incentive to actually explore. I wish instead of pointless currency the devs would have put collectibles in the chest from the villagers. It could help expand on the lore. Regardless fantastic debut from Ember Lab. Cant wait to see what else they come up with.
  90. StefanoC
    Sep 22, 2021
    10
    Gran calidad de juego, emberlab sorprendiendo con este hermoso juego con una historia bellísima y un diseño-jugabilidad espectacular. La experiencia ha superado la expectativa . 10 puntos
  91. hsnnoznn
    Sep 23, 2021
    8
    First of all, I want to talk about the cons. I would expect storytelling from a game like this, albeit short, at the beginning. The absence of this created a small question mark. The other part that caught my eye so far was the cutscene transitions. These transitions could have been a little smoother. Another minus is watching the boss fight cutscene and watching it again when it restarts.First of all, I want to talk about the cons. I would expect storytelling from a game like this, albeit short, at the beginning. The absence of this created a small question mark. The other part that caught my eye so far was the cutscene transitions. These transitions could have been a little smoother. Another minus is watching the boss fight cutscene and watching it again when it restarts. Of course, he gives the right to pass, but he could have started directly with the fight.

    Combat mechanics were a bit lacking for me. I would like to state that I did not fully get the feeling of hitting. During the hit, it could freeze the time for milliseconds or give some effects that would increase this feeling. In the case of kill, such a situation does not exist and the feeling is sufficient.

    In some cases, the character's idle, walk, run and sprint animations may not match the character's speed. As such, the map can leave an impression as if it is sliding under you.

    On the pros, the atmosphere is quite nice, the art design is pleasant and peaceful. VFX and SFX elements are also very nice. It's a small detail, but it's a nice gesture that controller icons can be selected. Apart from these, this game is a perfect game to use in situations where there is a shortage of games to distract yourself and have a good time. I say stay away from this game. You should definitely play. We can wait more games from Emberlab.    … Expand
  92. Modelofgames
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    This game is like a double-edged sword, meaning that the left side is very beautiful, attractive and funny, and the right side is mysterious, mysterious and scary.
  93. Greatapl
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    Ign 8 gamespot 9 gamer no 10 me 10 oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooiiyeedcvhjftyhffhh
  94. HuntingCarrot
    Sep 23, 2021
    9
    Games presentation is by far it's greatest feature as the environment and cutscenes are phenomenal. The optimisation is great as long as you have bought a gaming computer within the last 2 years. I had no issues with the combat and the puzzles really complimented the mechanics nicely. I guess the only reason this is not a perfect score is because it's a semi-short game. Will take youGames presentation is by far it's greatest feature as the environment and cutscenes are phenomenal. The optimisation is great as long as you have bought a gaming computer within the last 2 years. I had no issues with the combat and the puzzles really complimented the mechanics nicely. I guess the only reason this is not a perfect score is because it's a semi-short game. Will take you between 8-10 hours to complete the main campaign but keep in mind that it's all quality content and there is no grinding or any boring quests.… Expand
  95. CJAnimeFreek
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    Game is one of the best games on PS5. One of my favorites of the year. Graphics are some of the best, gameplay is awesome and reminds me of Zelda. Soundtrack is amazing too.
  96. Quanlib
    Sep 23, 2021
    8
    Beautiful game, fun combat. There are some odd jumping & exploration mechanics. Dialogue is ok. Definitely a great game at the price point.
  97. Plusultra_012
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    O jogo não para de me impressionar, a grande surpresa foi os combates desafiadores e isso é incrível, os rot são muito fofinhos, e a gameplay é muito gostosa, mecânicas legais, a variedade nos inimigos é ótima, principalmente a movimentação dos bosses são bem rápidos o que torna o combate desafiador, e o mundo de kena tem um visual maravilhoso, parabéns para toda equipe envolvida noO jogo não para de me impressionar, a grande surpresa foi os combates desafiadores e isso é incrível, os rot são muito fofinhos, e a gameplay é muito gostosa, mecânicas legais, a variedade nos inimigos é ótima, principalmente a movimentação dos bosses são bem rápidos o que torna o combate desafiador, e o mundo de kena tem um visual maravilhoso, parabéns para toda equipe envolvida no projeto o que nos mostra que os jogos Indies tem muito potencial quando se trabalha com amor, this is awesome… Expand
  98. Usuali
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    gggggfddghhtdrjyffghjjjjgdfhjjhffghjjgdduitsgfdeyyreguyfdfghhtrrtfftfttggyyhjhgfffffghhjjjjffhhhggg
  99. BlackDiamond7
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    The graphics, the story, the struggle, the music, the characters are almost a Pixar movie. Congratulations Amberlab.
  100. Robocturn
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    It doesn't matter if you are 10 years old, 30 years old or 70 years old, you will enjoy this game. Do not pay attention to the words of the four heaters. Finally, every game has a heater. It gives you pure and all the great game sets, be sure to buy it, it is really worth $ 40, do not doubt.
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Awards & Rankings

34
#34 Best PlayStation 5 Game of 2021
11
#11 Most Discussed PlayStation 5 Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 82 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 71 out of 82
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 82
  3. Negative: 0 out of 82
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Feb 18, 2022
    80
    Kena is a playful and beautiful adventure, but it does not bring any breathtaking innovation. But it has the potential to take you to a fairy tale and let you experience the story of a young girl, which is a balanced experience.
  2. CD-Action
    Jan 19, 2022
    90
    Ember Lab didn’t try to reinvent the wheel. Instead the developers opted for tried and true mechanics that entertained us time and again in many action adventure games, and mixed them in an almost perfect way. The beginning might be a little slow, but when Kena: Bridge of Spirits gains momentum, it becomes truly great. It’s hard for me to point out any significant flaws apart from overall lack of originality. What a debut! [12/2021, p.74]
  3. Impulsegamer
    Oct 28, 2021
    100
    Kena: Bridge of Spirits should take most gamers around 10 to 12 hours to complete, depending on the amount of exploring and the level of difficulty. While the blockbusters games of 2021 continue to deliver the same ho-hum experience of 2021, Kena is a much needed ray of sunshine to the current choices of titles available and more importantly, looks fantastic on the PlayStation 5.
    Read full review
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