Ori and the Will of the Wisps triples the first game's map size and adds direct melee combat to the precision platforming that defined Blind Forest. The hand-painted art and orchestral score from Gareth Coker carry the game's emotional weight. Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. GPA scores it high on Emotional Story and Graphics — the Metroidvania that reaches the widest audience because of its visual and narrative quality.
Game Characteristics
Graphics
90%
Emotional Story
82%
Action
75%
Story Depth
70%
High Difficulty
65%
Puzzle
65%
Player profile fit
Recommended for: Beginner to Advanced players (A score of 50 or higher indicates a good fit.)
Ori and the Blind Forest introduced the Soul Link manual save system and a precision platforming vocabulary that the sequel expanded on. Moon Studios' debut is smaller and more focused than Will of the Wisps. Switch, Xbox One, and PC. GPA scores it high on Emotional Story and Action — the compact Metroidvania origin point that told a complete story in 8 hours.
Tag Similarity
Graphics
85%
Emotional Story
80%
Action
72%
Story Depth
68%
High Difficulty
68%
Puzzle
65%
Chart tags: Graphics / Emotional Story / Action / Story Depth / High Difficulty / Puzzle
Cave Story was built alone by Daisuke Amaya over five years and released free in 2004, establishing the template for what one developer could produce. The story of Quote and Curly in an underground world carries genuine emotional weight. Switch, PS4, PC. GPA scores it high on Emotional Story and Action — the individual-developer landmark that showed the world what indie games could be.
Tag Similarity
Graphics
55%
Emotional Story
72%
Action
72%
Story Depth
65%
High Difficulty
65%
Puzzle
60%
Chart tags: Graphics / Emotional Story / Action / Story Depth / High Difficulty / Puzzle
Hi-Fi Rush chains character-action combat to a persistent music beat, with every enemy attack and environmental cue synchronized to the soundtrack. Missing the rhythm reduces damage output. GPA scores it high on Action and Graphics — the rhythm-action hybrid that generated the year's biggest positive surprise from its shadow-dropped release.
Tag Similarity
Graphics
90%
Emotional Story
65%
Action
85%
Story Depth
60%
High Difficulty
50%
Puzzle
0%
Chart tags: Graphics / Emotional Story / Action / Story Depth / High Difficulty / Puzzle
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart uses the PS5's SSD to transition between dimensions instantaneously within gameplay. The Rift Tether ability moves players through rifts without loading screens. GPA scores it high on Action and Graphics — a technical showcase that also works as a character-driven platformer with genuine narrative warmth.
Tag Similarity
Graphics
95%
Emotional Story
60%
Action
85%
Story Depth
50%
High Difficulty
40%
Puzzle
0%
Chart tags: Graphics / Emotional Story / Action / Story Depth / High Difficulty / Puzzle
Celeste climbs a mountain while working through anxiety and self-doubt, encoding the protagonist's mental state into the level design. Assist Mode lets players adjust any parameter without disabling achievements. GPA scores it high on Difficulty and Emotional Story — two axes that rarely align, and that together describe what makes this platformer different from its peers.
Tag Similarity
Graphics
70%
Emotional Story
85%
Action
85%
Story Depth
75%
High Difficulty
80%
Puzzle
0%
Chart tags: Graphics / Emotional Story / Action / Story Depth / High Difficulty / Puzzle
Titanfall 2 combines wall-running pilot mobility with Titan mech combat in a single-player campaign widely considered among the best FPS stories made, alongside one of the most creative single levels in game design. The predecessor to Apex Legends. Respawn Entertainment, EA. PS4, Xbox One, PC. GPA scores it at the top for Action — the FPS that proved movement system design could be as distinctive as weapon design.
Tag Similarity
Graphics
72%
Emotional Story
72%
Action
92%
Story Depth
72%
High Difficulty
65%
Puzzle
0%
Chart tags: Graphics / Emotional Story / Action / Story Depth / High Difficulty / Puzzle
Astro Bot is built around the DualSense controller's haptic and adaptive trigger features, making the hardware the medium as much as the game is. The PlayStation IP cameos deepen for fans of the history. GPA scores it at the top for Action and Graphics among platformers, with the highest Beginner score in the action category.
Tag Similarity
Graphics
95%
Emotional Story
60%
Action
80%
Story Depth
50%
High Difficulty
50%
Puzzle
0%
Chart tags: Graphics / Emotional Story / Action / Story Depth / High Difficulty / Puzzle
Planet of Lana follows Lana and her creature companion Mui across a hand-painted world occupied by a mechanical invader, with puzzle stealth sections built around their abilities working in tandem. Wishfully Studios. Switch 2, Xbox, PC, Game Pass. GPA scores it high on Emotional Story and Graphics — the debut game that most successfully translated Studio Ghibli's visual language into a playable format.
Tag Similarity
Graphics
88%
Emotional Story
78%
Action
0%
Story Depth
65%
High Difficulty
0%
Puzzle
65%
Chart tags: Graphics / Emotional Story / Action / Story Depth / High Difficulty / Puzzle
ENDER MAGNOLIA continues the Ender Lilies world decades later, sending Lilac the Attuner through the Land of Fumes to purify corrupted Homunculi. Built in Unreal Engine 5, expanding the map and combat variety of the predecessor. Switch, PS4/5, Xbox, PC, January 2025. GPA scores it high on Dark World and Emotional Story — the sequel that delivered on every expectation the first game built.
Tag Similarity
Graphics
78%
Emotional Story
76%
Action
74%
Story Depth
70%
High Difficulty
70%
Puzzle
58%
Chart tags: Graphics / Emotional Story / Action / Story Depth / High Difficulty / Puzzle
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero restores the Budokai Tenkaichi format with a roster exceeding 180 characters and destructible arenas. The what-if story modes extend the Dragon Ball narrative into alternate timelines. GPA scores it high on Action and Emotional Story — the return of the series' most chaotic arena fighter format for fans of the original games.
Tag Similarity
Graphics
85%
Emotional Story
55%
Action
90%
Story Depth
40%
High Difficulty
65%
Puzzle
0%
Chart tags: Graphics / Emotional Story / Action / Story Depth / High Difficulty / Puzzle
Sayonara Wild Hearts is a 40-minute pop album you play, running a heartbroken woman through motorcycle chases, dance battles, and flying sequences synced to 24 original songs. Simogo and Annapurna Interactive. Switch, PS4, PC, Apple Arcade. GPA scores it high on Graphics and Emotional Story — the game where the album structure and the gameplay are the same thing.
Tag Similarity
Graphics
85%
Emotional Story
78%
Action
0%
Story Depth
60%
High Difficulty
0%
Puzzle
55%
Chart tags: Graphics / Emotional Story / Action / Story Depth / High Difficulty / Puzzle
Neva follows warrior Viola and her wolf companion through a hand-animated action game where the wolf's behavior changes as she grows from pup to adult. The combat timing rewards patience. GPA scores it high on Emotional Story and Action — a combination that correctly identifies a game where the relationship between the two characters is the mechanical engine.
Tag Similarity
Graphics
90%
Emotional Story
80%
Action
85%
Story Depth
70%
High Difficulty
65%
Puzzle
0%
Chart tags: Graphics / Emotional Story / Action / Story Depth / High Difficulty / Puzzle
13. Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles
GPA match 68%
Nintendo SwitchPS5PS4steamXbox
CyberConnect2
Genre: Brawler
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — The Hinokami Chronicles adapts the anime's major arcs into 2v2 fighter mechanics, with Breathing Styles as the special move framework. GPA scores it high on Emotional Story and Action — a positioning driven by the source material's emotional investment rather than the game's mechanical originality.
Tag Similarity
Graphics
85%
Emotional Story
60%
Action
85%
Story Depth
50%
High Difficulty
50%
Puzzle
0%
Chart tags: Graphics / Emotional Story / Action / Story Depth / High Difficulty / Puzzle
ENDER LILIES sets its Metroidvania in a rain-destroyed kingdom where Lily the White Priestess summons purified undead spirits as her combat set. The Mili soundtrack is one of the highest-rated in the genre. Switch, PS4, Xbox, PC. GPA scores it high on Dark World and Emotional Story — the Metroidvania where the melancholy atmosphere is the primary draw alongside the combat.
Tag Similarity
Graphics
72%
Emotional Story
75%
Action
72%
Story Depth
68%
High Difficulty
68%
Puzzle
55%
Chart tags: Graphics / Emotional Story / Action / Story Depth / High Difficulty / Puzzle
SteamWorld Dig 2 sends Dorothy through underground caverns to find the previous game's protagonist, building a wider Metroidvania map structure around the series' mining mechanic. Image & Form's sequel delivers tighter design and more variety than the first. Switch, PS4, PC. GPA scores it high on Action and Puzzle — the mining Metroidvania that perfected its loop in the sequel.
Tag Similarity
Graphics
65%
Emotional Story
0%
Action
68%
Story Depth
0%
High Difficulty
58%
Puzzle
72%
Chart tags: Graphics / Emotional Story / Action / Story Depth / High Difficulty / Puzzle
Sonic X Shadow Generations is a definitive high-speed action collection that pairs a fully remastered version of the acclaimed Sonic Generations with an all-new narrative campaign centering on Shadow the Hedgehog. While the Classic and Modern Sonic segments offer a nostalgic journey through beautifully enhanced iconic stages, Shadow's standalone adventure introduces a darker, more mature narrative tone. Controlling the Ultimate Life Form, players unleash devastating "Doom Powers" to confront his arch-nemesis, Black Doom, blending traditional physics-based platforming with intense, action-oriented combat mechanics.
Tag Similarity
Graphics
70%
Emotional Story
50%
Action
95%
Story Depth
50%
High Difficulty
60%
Puzzle
0%
Chart tags: Graphics / Emotional Story / Action / Story Depth / High Difficulty / Puzzle
Gran Turismo 7 presents motorsport culture alongside racing mechanics, with a Car Museum and Café system that contextualizes vehicle history. The physics simulation is the benchmark for console racing. GPA scores it high on Action and Graphics, with a positioning that describes a racing title built around automotive knowledge as much as lap times.
Tag Similarity
Graphics
95%
Emotional Story
40%
Action
60%
Story Depth
40%
High Difficulty
40%
Puzzle
0%
Chart tags: Graphics / Emotional Story / Action / Story Depth / High Difficulty / Puzzle
Hades follows Zagreus through escape attempts from the underworld where story advances regardless of success or failure. GPA scores it at the top for Roguelike and high on Action, with Emotional Story above 70.
Tag Similarity
Graphics
75%
Emotional Story
70%
Action
85%
Story Depth
70%
High Difficulty
75%
Puzzle
0%
Chart tags: Graphics / Emotional Story / Action / Story Depth / High Difficulty / Puzzle
Sonic Frontiers redefines the classic high-speed platforming experience by introducing the series' first "Open Zone" gameplay. Developed by Sonic Team, the adventure follows Sonic the Hedgehog as he explores the mysterious Starfall Islands in search of the Chaos Emeralds. Players navigate vast, expansive landscapes filled with ancient ruins, solving puzzles, engaging in dynamic combat, and conquering traditional linear Cyber Space levels. The title blends signature kinetic momentum with freedom of exploration and a deeply melancholic narrative.
Tag Similarity
Graphics
70%
Emotional Story
60%
Action
90%
Story Depth
60%
High Difficulty
40%
Puzzle
0%
Chart tags: Graphics / Emotional Story / Action / Story Depth / High Difficulty / Puzzle
Pilotwings 64 launched alongside the N64, using the hardware's 3D capability to demonstrate flight physics across hang glider, jetpack, and rocketbelt disciplines. A technical showcase that functioned as a game. Available through Nintendo Classics. GPA scores it high on Action — the flight game that made the N64's launch feel genuinely new.
Tag Similarity
Graphics
60%
Emotional Story
0%
Action
65%
Story Depth
0%
High Difficulty
55%
Puzzle
50%
Chart tags: Graphics / Emotional Story / Action / Story Depth / High Difficulty / Puzzle
About "Ori and the Will of the Wisps"
▸Game Composition (GPA Analysis)
オリ ウィル オブ ザ ウィスプス（Ori and the Will of the Wisps） leads with its Metroidvania identity, anchored by the core feel of "Ori and the Will of the Wisps triples the first game's map size and adds direct melee combat to the precision platform…." The headline profile reads Graphics 90% / Emotional Story 82% / Action 75%, making it a strong pick for fans of Graphics and Emotional Story. Accessible enough for newcomers while offering enough depth to satisfy veterans.
▸Characteristics & Analysis
Our editorial team scored "オリ ウィル オブ ザ ウィスプス（Ori and the Will of the Wisps）" by using its feel of metroidvania, emotional story, and 手描きアート as the primary lens, weighting Graphics and Emotional Story most heavily. Top similar titles include "オリ ブラインドフォレスト（Ori and the Blind Forest）", "洞窟物語＋（Cave Story+）", "Hi-Fi Rush（ハイファイラッシュ）".
Ori and the Will of the Wisps — A Beautiful Metroidvania Built Around Exploration
Game Overview
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a 2D action-platformer and Metroidvania developed by Moon Studios. Released in 2020, it continues Ori's journey from Ori and the Blind Forest, taking the spirit into a new land known as Niwen.
The game revolves around exploration, platforming, combat, and gradual progression. As Ori gains new abilities, previously inaccessible areas become reachable, encouraging players to revisit the world and discover new paths.
The sequel also expands the combat system with new spirit weapons, skills, and a Shard system that lets players customize Ori's abilities and playstyle. (Xbox Wire)
Gameplay Analysis
Exploration Is Driven by New Abilities
The core of Will of the Wisps is a simple but effective Metroidvania loop:
Explore → gain new abilities → reach previously inaccessible areas → explore further.
Early in the game, you will constantly encounter places that Ori cannot reach yet. Rather than feeling like arbitrary barriers, these locations become reminders of what you might be able to access later.
That gives exploration a clear sense of purpose.
You are not simply filling in a map. You are gradually expanding what Ori is capable of doing.
A More Flexible Combat System
Combat is another area where the sequel expands on the original.
Ori can use different weapons, skills, and abilities rather than relying on a single attack. The Shard system adds another layer of customization, allowing players to adjust Ori's abilities to suit their preferred approach. (Xbox Wire)
The GPA scores reflect this balance. The game receives 75% for Action and 65% for High Difficulty.
That makes the combat meaningful without turning the entire experience into a pure challenge game. Precision is important, but the game also gives players room to experiment with their abilities.
Platforming and Puzzles Work Together
The puzzles in Will of the Wisps are closely connected to movement.
Instead of simply stopping to solve a traditional puzzle, players often have to figure out how Ori's abilities can be used to navigate the environment.
That makes movement itself part of the problem-solving process.
The GPA gives the game a 65% Puzzle score, which fits this design well. The challenge is not only figuring out the answer, but also executing it through Ori's movement and abilities.
A World You Actually Want to Explore
The game's visual presentation is one of its strongest features, reflected in its 90% Graphics score on GPA.
Niwen is filled with hand-crafted environments, colorful effects, detailed backgrounds, and fluid character animation. The visual style makes exploration rewarding even when there is no major gameplay objective waiting at the end of a path.
The soundtrack plays an equally important role. Gareth Coker's orchestral score shifts with the tone of each scene, supporting everything from quiet exploration to intense encounters. (Xbox Wire)
The result is a world that encourages you to keep moving simply because you want to see what is around the next corner.
What the GPA Scores Tell Us
Title tendency chart (Ori and the Will of the Wisps)
Graphics ◀
90%
Emotional Story ◀
82%
Action ◀
75%
Story Depth
70%
High Difficulty
65%
Puzzle
65%
* Based on GPA sub-tag scores. Visual atmosphere, emotional story, and expanded 2D action working together.
Target player scores (50+ = recommended fit)
Beginner55
Intermediate72
Advanced60
The strongest GPA scores for Ori and the Will of the Wisps are Graphics 90%, Emotional Story 82%, Action 75%, and Story Depth 70%.
Together, these numbers show what makes the game stand out.
It is not simply a visually impressive platformer. Exploration, combat, and storytelling all support the same basic loop: travel through the world, gain new abilities, meet characters, overcome obstacles, and gradually uncover what is happening in Niwen.
The 82% Emotional Story score is particularly important. Ori's relationships and the characters encountered throughout the journey give the adventure an emotional direction rather than treating the story as background decoration.
At the same time, the 65% High Difficulty and 65% Puzzle scores show that the game still expects players to engage with its mechanics.
In other words, Will of the Wisps is not just a game you look at.
It is a game you explore, control, and gradually learn to navigate.
The GPA audience scores also reflect its broad appeal: 55 for beginners, 72 for intermediate players, and 60 for advanced players. It has enough mechanical depth to challenge experienced players while remaining approachable for newcomers to the genre.
Author's Thoughts
What makes Ori and the Will of the Wisps work so well is how naturally its different elements feed into one another.
A new ability opens up the map. Exploring that new area leads to new characters, story moments, and challenges. Those experiences then give you more reasons to keep exploring.
The visual presentation and music strengthen that loop even further.
There are certainly moments that demand precision, and some sections can take repeated attempts. But overcoming those sections gives the player a genuine sense of progress because the improvement comes from both Ori's abilities and the player's own growing familiarity with the controls.
For fans of Metroidvanias, the game offers a satisfying exploration loop. For players who simply want to experience a beautiful game world with an emotional story, it has plenty to offer as well.
Conclusion
Ori and the Will of the Wisps combines Metroidvania exploration, precise 2D action, environmental puzzles, and an emotional story into a cohesive adventure.
Its GPA profile tells the story clearly: 90% Graphics, 82% Emotional Story, and 75% Action.
The game's biggest strength is not any single mechanic. It is the way exploration, progression, combat, and storytelling continuously push the player forward.
You see a place you cannot reach.
You gain a new ability.
You return.
And suddenly, the world has become a little larger.
That simple feeling of discovery is at the heart of Ori and the Will of the Wisps.
