TL;DR: Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a visual and emotional masterpiece, but it’s not a "relaxing" game. It is significantly harder than the average Mario title and carries an emotional weight comparable to the first ten minutes of Up or the ending of The Wild Robot.
Recommended for: Ages 10+ (8+ if they are experienced gamers and you're okay with them crying over a glowing spirit creature).
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If you’ve seen the trailer for Ori and the Will of the Wisps, you probably thought, "Oh, how pretty! My kid will love this glowing fox-cat thing." And you’re right—it is arguably one of the most beautiful games ever made. The music is orchestral perfection, and the hand-painted environments make Minecraft look like a pile of wet cardboard.
But here is the "Parent PSA": Ori is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Or rather, a high-stakes, precision-platformer in a glowing spirit's clothing. Before you drop $30 on the Nintendo eShop or download it on Game Pass, you need to know if your kid is ready for the "Ori Dilemma"—the intersection of punishing difficulty and genuine heartbreak.
This is a "Metroidvania" game. If you aren't a gamer, that’s just shorthand for a game where you explore a massive, interconnected map, but certain areas are blocked off until you find a new ability (like a double jump or a dash).
It’s the sequel to Ori and the Blind Forest. While you don’t have to play the first one to understand the story, the sequel is better in almost every way—better combat, better movement, and more side quests. However, it also ramps up the complexity.
Let’s be real: some kids (and adults) have a low "tilt" threshold. If your child throws the controller when they lose a match in Fortnite or falls into lava in Roblox, Ori might be a challenge for your domestic tranquility.
The "Escape" Sequences
In most games, you fight a boss, you win, and you move on. In Ori, there are sequences where you have to outrun a collapsing ruin or a giant monster. There are no checkpoints during these runs. If your kid misses one jump at the 90% mark, they start back at the beginning. It requires muscle memory, timing, and—most importantly—patience.
Combat and Customization
Unlike the first game, Will of the Wisps has a much deeper combat system. There are "Shards" to manage (think of them as power-ups) and multiple weapons to swap between. For a 7-year-old, managing a loadout while dodging purple acid and spiked enemies can be overwhelming.
The Silver Lining: There is an "Easy" mode. It makes enemies weaker and Ori harder to kill, but it doesn't make the platforming (the jumping and swinging) any easier. If the physical act of timing jumps is the struggle, Easy mode won't save them.
We live in an era of "brain rot" content—YouTube channels where people scream at toilets and games that are just dopamine loops with zero soul. Ori is the antidote to that, but the cost is feelings.
The game deals heavily with:
- Grief and Loss: The opening sequence alone involves a character being separated from their family and the implied death of a parent figure.
- Environmental Decay: The world is dying, and you see the toll it takes on the creatures living there.
- Sacrifice: The ending is... a lot. It’s beautiful, but it’s a "bittersweet" ending, not a "happily ever after" Disney ending.
If your child is highly sensitive to themes of loneliness or "sad animals," you might want to play this alongside them. It’s a great opportunity for talking about grief through media, but it isn't light entertainment.
To give you some context on where Ori sits in the gaming landscape:
- Easier/Happier: Super Mario Odyssey. Pure joy, much more forgiving checkpoints.
- Similar Vibe, Less Stress: Stardew Valley. Still has some depth, but the stakes are much lower.
- Harder/Darker: Hollow Knight. If Ori is a PG-13 movie, Hollow Knight is the indie horror-action film that will actually make your kid want to retire from gaming out of spite.
- The Emotional Equal: Spiritfarer. This is a "cozy" game about death. It’s less mechanically difficult than Ori but just as likely to make you cry.
Check out our guide on the best "Cozy Games" for sensitive kids
Ages 5-7: Not Recommended
Unless you want to be the one playing 90% of the game while they watch, skip it for now. The controls are too complex, and the "chase" sequences will likely lead to tears or a broken Switch screen.
Ages 8-10: The "Maybe" Zone
This depends entirely on the kid. If they’ve beaten Minecraft Legends or are decent at Brawl Stars, they have the dexterity. Just be prepared to step in during the boss fights.
Ages 11-14: The Sweet Spot
This is the ideal age. They are old enough to appreciate the artistic metaphors and the "found family" themes, and they have the persistence to handle the difficulty spikes. This is a "core memory" type of game for this age group.
Look, this game is essentially a masterpiece. In a world of microtransaction-filled garbage, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a complete, poetic experience.
However, it is stressful. There is a specific type of "gaming anxiety" that comes from these escape sequences. If your kid is already struggling with school stress or anxiety, adding a game where a giant owl tries to crush them while they navigate a maze of thorns might not be the "wellness" break you think it is.
Safety Note: There is no online chat, no blood/gore (enemies just poof into light or dust), and no "predatory" monetization. Once you buy the game, you own the game. That alone makes it a winner in my book.
If your kid is playing Ori, ask them these questions to help them process the experience:
- "How do you feel when you finally beat a really hard part?" (Helps them recognize the reward of persistence).
- "Why do you think the villain (Shriek) is so mean?" (The game gives the villain a tragic backstory, which is a great lesson in empathy).
- "What would you do if you were lost in a forest like Ori?"
Is it too hard? For some, yes. Is it too sad? It’s heavy, but in a healthy, "artistic" way.
If your kid is a "gamer" and has a decent emotional maturity level, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a must-play. It is a rare example of a video game that actually feels like high art. Just maybe keep a box of tissues near the couch—for both of you.
Next Steps:
- If they haven't played the first one, start with Ori and the Blind Forest.
- If they find Ori too stressful, try Animal Crossing: New Horizons for a complete vibe shift.
- Take our Screenwise Survey to see how Ori fits into your family's digital balance