Ori and the Blind Forest

Without question it's the best game Microsoft has published since the onset of the Xbox One era and one that's pleasingly, satisfyingly easy to recommend.

Its difficulty might keep some from seeing the credits roll, but the sense of achievement and experiencing how the story ends makes any hardship along the way well worth the ride.

Ori and the Blind Forest is proof that those who want a game with a deep story and top-notch gameplay can have their cake and eat it to.

Ori and the Blind Forest is a must-own for anyone who loves Metroidvania games.

This gem of a title will captivate your heart and test your skill, providing a soul-inspiring experience that will remain long after the game has been put down.

Ori and The Blind Forrest is simply on of the very best games, if not the best game, currently available on Xbox One. Moon Studio's game has a tremendous emotional charge, and amazingly beautiful graphics.

A staggeringly beautiful puzzle-platformer that remains a masterpiece despite occasional spikes of difficulty.

Ori is an artistic masterpiece in movement and a outstanding game. An unforgettable experience you shouldn’t miss.

Ori and the Blind Forest isn't a revolution in genre, but is brilliant in all mechanics and level design. A challenging, difficult and intelligent game with impressive visuals and a great soundtrack.

One of the best games of the year, and should be a no-brainer for anyone looking for an exciting new adventure to dive into. That said, it comes with a warning: Expect to be humbled by its difficulty. Death comes quickly.

From a mechanical standpoint, Ori and the Blind Forest isn't an evolution of the genre, and you've seen most of what's on offer here before. But aesthetically it's in a league of its own, and everything it does, it does well. If you're looking for a metroidvania, I'd consider this a new classic.

I loved every second of Ori and the Blind Forest. It’s as fun as it is pretty, which is an incredible achievement when its one of the most gorgeous games I’ve ever seen.

Ori and the Blind Forest sets a new standard for the platform/adventure genre, by managing to handily surpass the games that inspired it in terms of storytelling, gameplay, and presentation.

The game's compelling narrative and magical world, and, yes, its challenging gameplay make Ori and the Blind Forest easy to recommend to most gamers, especially if they relish a challenge, and to all of those who can appreciate a well-crafted and beautiful game.

Don't be fooled by the looks of it. Behind the delicate and beautifully handcrafted visuals lies a truly hardcore experience, built on top of intense mechanics. You will scream, cheer, and curse as you progress through the cleverly designed platform puzzles with their exquisite soundtrack. Ori and the Blind Forest is a must-have experience for this season on Xbox One.

Ori and the Blind Forest is still enjoyable, obviously…it's just that those strengths are so strong that it's hard to imagine what would've been needed for that one ever-so-slightly-weaker element to match up with them. Nonetheless, it's still one heck of an accomplishment, and it's well worth your investment.

Ori and the Blind Forest is a title that has set the bar high for modern day “Metroidvania” games. From the original artwork and the enveloping soundtrack to the pixel perfect control and heartfelt narrative, anyone who plays this game will find themselves hooked from the get-go.

A beautifully presented, wonderfully designed game that spins an emotional yard and will challenge every gamer instinct in your body. An essential exclusive. [Issue#123, p.70]

This is still something very special, a work of rare craft and beauty, and almost certainly the best exclusive on Xbox One. Essential.

I took interest in Ori by chance, looking for something colorful for my kid. What I found instead was the hardest but also the best metroidvania of this decade. It became this year’s most pleasant surprise for me and I plan to return to it regularly for years to come. [05/2015, p.58]

Stunningly beautiful visuals, a wonderfully grounded score, and effortlessly graceful controls make Ori a must-have for anyone looking for the new exemplar of ability-gated platforming.

The story plays out subtly throughout the adventure and adds that something special to make the game more than just a pretty platforming journey.

The payoff is something else. A euphoric rush of relief and heart-pounding glee, accompanied by the flourish of the forest returning to life, the colour filling the trees and the irresistible pull to carry on, even though you know more of those lethal bloody rocks lie in your way. The Siren call of the Xbox One’s best game to date.

Ori and the Blind Forest is an aesthetically breathtaking adventure. Immaculately detailed environments coupled with engaging gameplay, all driven home by an emotionally driven plot makes this journey one for the ages.

Ori and the Blind Forest excels in so many areas. The fantastic level design, the inventive abilities, the touching story, the wonderful score and of course those scintillating visuals all stack up for one hell of an experience. Demanding a place in your collection, Ori and the Blind Forest is the best game I’ve played this year.

Ori and the Blind Forest is a 2d platformer that sticks to its bread and butter. It’s beautiful to watch and listen to and for the price you get a lot more than you pay for.

From the moment the game begins, to the moment the credits start rolling, it’s obvious that Moon Studios were crafting this out of love. While most may play a second time to earn every achievement, many will just want to experience the fantastic presentation one more time.

It’s rare to see a game with stunning visuals and excellent gameplay, but Ori and the Blind Forest does exactly that. As long as you’re prepared for a serious challenge, then this is one game not to miss.

The extreme highs carry Ori and the Blind Forest through to greatness if not quite flawlessness. Rarely is a game able to be so devilish in its gameplay yet so touching in its story.

Ori and the Blind Forest is a true masterpiece, be it in terms of visuals or gameplay. You can't miss it.

With a gorgeous world, beautiful music in the background, and a surprisingly difficult challenge, Ori and the Blind Forest will take gamers on a journey that will test their reactions and wits, yet make them appreciate just what a beautiful game has been created for them.

Ori and the Blind Forest doesn’t add anything new to the genre of gaming that it was inspired by, but few other games can match the polished gameplay and humbling difficulty of this charming little fella.

A fantastic experience with stunning visuals, audio and gameplay values which doesn't lack more touching moments. Moon Studios managed to carve a flawless metroidvania experience, but don't expect an easy ride: it will be as challenging as it is satisfying.

Ori and the Blind Forest is full of charm and beautiful, with captivating adventure and well-polished gameplay.

An independent ray of light in a dark forest full of triple-A projects. Inspired, hard and charming: this is one of the titles you must play this year.

A magical fairy tale engraved in a sometimes frustrating but rich, beautiful and challenging platform.

It once again showcases that there are so many games and so many ways to deliver and experience them; and this is one experience you can’t afford to miss.

Clever mechanics, awesome level design, breathtaking music and art, precise controls and a moving story make Ori and the Blind Forest one of the best games of this year. No one should miss this marvelous experience.

This is a beautiful, surprisingly poignant, and simply well-designed take on a familiar genre.

A memorable adventure, far more complex than its graphics may suggest. A new mandatory stop for every metroidvania lover.

Moon Studios has a cinematic marvel on its hands, knowing exactly where to balance the light and the dark, both visually and narratively. It's a short game, coming in at about 7 hours for me, but it's worth every precious second.

Adventure buffs and those with a flair for the nostalgic need to make Ori and the Blind Forest part of their collections immediately, for it will take players back to the glory days of adventure games in the best ways.

Ori and the Blind Forest is a beautiful picture book... that slams shut on your fingers. Get over the initial shock, and this challenging, thoughtful puzzle platformer is an adventure to cherish.

Ori and the Blind Forest rivals the very best games in terms of presentation and controls. It offers a challenging path for you to follow on this touching emotional journey. So good, so beautiful, you can't help but want more reasons to play.

A terrific blend of story, gameplay, and graphics, Ori and the Blind Forest is an unforgettable debut for indie developer Moon Studios.

Ori and the Blind Forest isn’t just a magnificent video game with impeccable mechanics and brilliant design, it’s a work of art. What could’ve easily been a journey so wrapped up in delivering its poignant narrative that it squandered away its gameplay potential, ends up being a Metroidvania that can hang with the greatest the genre has to offer.

Just a pleasure to play – and the first Xbox exclusive in some time likely to leave at least a few PlayStation owners green with envy. Download this one with confidence.

It's important, however, not to mistake Ori and the Blind Forest for being simply beautiful. It certainly is--but it is also unceasingly clever. It consistently surprises you with new tricks: gravitational divergences, new ways to move through its spaces, and carefully designed levels that require you to think quickly and respond.

Ori and the Blind Forest is a rare realization of fantastic design and production values in a space where I wasn't expecting to find it, displaying a spectacular level of confidence in what it is and what it does.

The best looking 2D game ever, there is no doubt. If you love metroidvania games, Ori and the Blind Forest is a master of the genre, despite some trial & error moments and a couple of bugs.

I was skeptical at first, but now I am a believer. Ori is an incredibly beautiful exploration platformer with constant challenges, spot-on balancing and an incredible soundtrack.

While there are areas that could be further developed and we’d certainly like to be able to collect the handful of doodads we’ve missed, make no mistake that Ori and the Blind Forest is a satisfying adventure. It doesn’t aim for style over substance, but evokes joy in movement, challenging you without being too punishing.

Moon Studios delivered a beautiful and vivid world while also providing challenging platforming that is supported by well-refined gameplay mechanics. This is Metroidvania at its finest and a great addition to the Xbox One library.

Ori and the Blind Forest is a beautiful game which combines a great story, great gameplay and great graphics in a challenging and tough game.

It's often frustrating and sometimes confusing, but its spectacular platforming, memorable world, and engrossing story wash those concerns away.

Ori and the Blind Forest had the potential to be a game that appealed to all gamers, casual and hardcore alike. Unfortunately, the difficulty spikes (and the aforementioned bugs) keep this one solely in the realm of core gamers and speed runners.

Ori and the Blind Forest is a really enjoyable game to play and to watch, although not free from defects. The combat system is not particularly sought and some levels are frustrating, especially those in the final area.

With beautiful scenery and a simple yet warm story Ori and the Blind Forest offers an unforgettable experience. The controls could be a tad better and the gameplay does not really offer anything new, but it is still a welcome and successful addition to a genre that has become somewhat forgotten in recent years.

Ori and the Blind Forest is breathtaking in more ways than one: it's dazzlingly beautiful, cleverly designed, and its demanding platforming will test your patience.

Ori and the Blind Forest underlines that shape and content should not always be seen separately. The visual style plays its own part in how the story unfolds, the gameplay evolves and the level design challenges. Unfortunately this game asks for a platform precision that is nearly unreachable.

Ori and the Blind Forest is a stunningly beautiful game that manages to live up to its appearance with brilliant and memorable gameplay.

There's some repetition and trial and error, but it's still a wonderful game, it's original and filled with care for the small details.

Ori and the Blind Forest is a stunning, impressive and unforgettable new IP, but its challenging gameplay will turn some folks off.

Gorgeous visuals and some sublime visual storytelling, Ori And The Blind Forest might not do much that is genuinely new but almost everything it does attempt is genuinely great.

Ori and the Blind Forest is a harsh and evil metroidvania concealed behind a pretty face. You’ll need to time your jump precisely, you’ll need to save at the right time, you’ll need quick reflexes, and you will swear. A lot.

As a single-playthrough experience, Ori and the Blind Forest is a wonderful example of sublime presentation, a simple but heartfelt story, and challenging platforming.

If you can steel yourself for a challenge and come to grips with an unwieldy checkpoint system, Ori and the Blind Forest will mesmerize you with its lush world and incredible artistry.