Spirit of the North

 Switch
Spirit of the North Image
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 23 Ratings

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  • Summary: Spirit of the North is a single-player 3rd-person adventure game inspired by the breathtaking and mysterious landscapes of Iceland.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 14
  3. Negative: 3 out of 14
  1. Cubed3
    Aug 3, 2020
    90
    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.
  2. Pure Nintendo
    May 7, 2020
    70
    Spirit of the North is an atmospheric, evocative adventure game with puzzle/platforming elements that—despite being clumsily implemented in parts—are ultimately rewarding if you stick with it.
  3. GameSpew
    May 11, 2020
    70
    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. You are in the shoes of a creature that can’t speak – and yet, as the game’s world and the story reveal itself to you, it speaks louder than any dialogue could. It’s not perfect by any means – the controls can be awkward, and getting stuck and needing to restart is frustrating – but look past that and you’ve got a wonderful, engaging adventure on your hands. If you’re looking for a relaxing game about exploration and discovery, Spirit of the North is a great one to pick, regardless of your age or skill level.
  4. Digitally Downloaded
    May 7, 2020
    60
    Spirit of the North almost nails it. From the art to the characterisation, and even the wordless narrative structure, the developers have clearly put a lot of thought and creative energy into this, and it shows. You might want to play on another platform to get the full scope of the vision, because on Switch it is a little limited by the hardware, but even then, Spirit of the North has moments where it soars. It's just unfortunate that it keeps crashing into walls along the way, as the developers tried to justify the existence of the game by what can only be termed "gameplay bits", and every time that happens the motor takes a while to get going again. If you can handle the clumsy pacing and arbitrary puzzles and collectibles, though, Spirit of the North really is beautifully earnest in what it is looking to achieve.
  5. Nintenderos
    May 9, 2020
    55
    Spirit of the North is a visually appealing indie game with beautiful scenery. However, when playing it, we see that it is one more game on Nintendo Switch that does not innovate in gameplay or narrative. For this reason, it may not end up finding its place among the casual audience or the hardcore gamer.
  6. Nintendo Enthusiast
    May 22, 2020
    50
    I really wanted to enjoy Spirit of the North as someone who is passionate for Nordic folklore, meditative video game experiences, and foxes. Unfortunately, amid the game’s performance issues and lackluster gameplay, the title comes across as unfocused at best and unplayable at worst. There’s a meditative, thoughtful, and even great game that’s underneath all of the uncomplimentary design decisions, and the poor technical performance of the Switch port is the nail in the coffin of an already flawed experience.
  7. Nintendo Life
    May 10, 2020
    40
    Games like this can work very well if they’re backed up by visually stunning graphics and clever gameplay, but unfortunately, Spirit of the North has neither.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 12
  3. Negative: 3 out of 12
  1. RobFlandersN64
    Sep 22, 2020
    10
    Way better on Switch than I expected. The graphics aren't as good as PC and PS4 but I almost couldn't even tell. Had to play them side byWay better on Switch than I expected. The graphics aren't as good as PC and PS4 but I almost couldn't even tell. Had to play them side by side to see a difference(I own PC, Switch. I've played a little on PS4). Controls felt smooth. Lots of games with animal protagonists are really rough but this was honestly one of the best. Graphics and controls asside... The subtle symbolism is the best part of this game. It's really moving and powerful. Took me a second playthrough to see it. Honestly, there is a lot of hidden lore in this game, but don't expect the game to feed it to you. Crazy to think only 2 guys made this.… Expand
  2. Zorron
    Jul 27, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Me encantó el ambiente nordico que quisieron trasmitir los desarrolladores y encanta que el protagonista sea un zorro… Expand
  4. janwe04
    Apr 27, 2022
    10
    I love this game. It’s probably my favourite indie game right now! Everything is so well made. It’s perfectly balanced between hard and easy.
  5. Nicolicious
    May 20, 2021
    8
    This is a beautiful game with an interesting, no story dialogue, gameplay. The Nordic setting and mythology sit beautifully with the game, asThis is a beautiful game with an interesting, no story dialogue, gameplay. The Nordic setting and mythology sit beautifully with the game, as does the music. Somewhat challenging to play, it is really a combination of puzzle-solving and wilderness wondering. Pre-set & far apart, save points are a bit annoying if you want to pick up and drop the game during the day as you'll be pulled back to the last save. That aside, it's still a fun, fascinating and enjoyable game to play.… Expand
  6. Isolatedsound
    May 29, 2020
    8
    I have very mixed feelings about this game. On one side it's a very buggy game with lackluster 3D design. Some errors in cinematic are justI have very mixed feelings about this game. On one side it's a very buggy game with lackluster 3D design. Some errors in cinematic are just amateur looking, constant popups and model glitches are annoying. Platforming in this game is not fun and can get really frustrating.. and then, when you deal with the anger coming from those problems... something beautiful emerges. This is the first and only game in my life that compelled me to taking screenshots every 3-5 minutes. And it's not that it's graphically impressive, models and textures are kinda mediocre, but the overall painting... marvelous. Along with the excellent music there is something spiritual about this game. This is one of the titles that i love, but I hesitate to recommend. There is an unexplainable bond between me and this game, which on technical level is pretty bad. But try it, maybe you'll feel the same.… Expand
  7. Starfree
    May 18, 2020
    7
    This game is cute. It’s not a massive game, and there are way better small 3D platformer puzzle games. But this game didn’t set out toThis game is cute. It’s not a massive game, and there are way better small 3D platformer puzzle games. But this game didn’t set out to accomplish much and it’s a beautiful game. It’s a tad bit easy, and in some places the area is too dark to see what your doing clearly. But overall it’s a very good game. And a good pick up if you have a few days to fill while waiting for a big release.… Expand
  8. Maroonshift
    May 17, 2020
    2
    Spirit of the North tries to follow in the steps of great games like Abzu and Journey. It many ways it succeeds, but mostly it's terrible. ISpirit of the North tries to follow in the steps of great games like Abzu and Journey. It many ways it succeeds, but mostly it's terrible. I love these types of simple, atmospheric games. I love foxes and I love Iceland. Surely there's no way I could dislike this game, right? Perhaps the experience on PC or PS4 is different, but on the Switch this is the worst game I've ever played, and I tried the Switch version of Fornite. I played the whole thing docked,, but even still the resolution looks like it's 720p and framerate is about 30 fps. The textures are blurry and washed out. Everything is sharp and jagged. It looks like a hot mess still in alpha development. For a game that's focused on visuals it looks and feels absolutely terrible. The game play feels clunky, but maybe thats partly from the dismal fps. The music is good and the idea is great, but the execution on the Switch is downright embarrassing. Do not buy this game on the Switch.… Expand

See all 12 User Reviews