Play it if
You want a beautiful, emotional platformer that flows.
Skip it if
You want a long, very challenging adventure.
Fact sheet
- Players
- Single-player
- Online play
- No
- Cross-play
- No
- Solo
- Single-player only
- Difficulty
- Demanding
- Typical playtime
- ~15 hours
- Steam Deck
- Verified
1The pitch
Ori travels beyond the forest of the first game to save Ku, a young owl, and finds a land being consumed by decay.
2How it plays
Movement is fast and graceful: bashing off enemies, grappling and burrowing through sand. Combat uses shards and abilities you can mix. Chase sequences are the highlight.
3Where it beats its rival
Against Hollow Knight: Silksong it wins on emotion and accessibility. It is shorter and gentler, and its story will move you. It is the better choice if you want beauty and flow over punishment.
4Look & sound
Hand-painted art and orchestral music are breathtaking. Every area looks like a painting in motion.
5Setup & value
It lists at $29.99, runs on Windows and is Verified on Steam Deck.
Best bits
- Gorgeous art and music
- Fluid movement
- Moving story
- Verified on Steam Deck
Watch out
- Shorter than its rival
- Less replay value
Score sheet
- Depth 25%
- 90
- Feel 25%
- 92
- Easy to start 15%
- 88
- Replay 20%
- 78
- Value 15%
- 88
90 × 25% + 92 × 25% + 88 × 15% + 78 × 20% + 88 × 15% = 87.50 → 88
The judges' verdict
Verdict
“Ori and the Will of the Wisps is pure beauty in motion. It loses the rematch on depth, but not on heart.”
By the Bet Compare Guide editorial desk · Updated 20 Oct 2026 · How we score · Report an error
