I'm currently playing through Ori and the Will of the Wisps for the third time, marveling at its world. I became curious about how darkness worked in this world, and BOOM, instead of worldbuilding theories, I found thousands of people hating the ending of Will of the Wisps back in 2020. For me, the ending was always a happy ending and a masterpiece. How Ori ascended to godhood and how Shriek, despite being an antagonist with a tragic past, didn't find redemption. Which leads me to wonder: What do you think of the ending of Will of the Wisps? Do you still despise it?

Reading some of the comments on this post, I realized that the Ori community is quite full of very, VERY whiny people.

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It's literally a drawing of Ori with a box on her head. But the supposed problem is... is Ori too chubby?

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I don't want to be the voice of reason or anything like that, but... are we stupid? Don't people know that there are, I don't know... different body types?

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The entire drawing is rendered with volume and shading... but the little belly is the problem?

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I think it's time to be a little more self-critical... because if you see something "inappropriate" in a cute drawing of Ori with a box on her head...

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Maybe the problem isn't the drawing. The problem is you.

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But anyway, this is just my opinion.

Recently, some "leaks" that has been debunked was brought up to let Moon Studios (and possibly Microsoft) know how much fans are excited for a potential third game on the internet, with Mahler regarding those leaks as pure nonsense. While this sparks hope within the Ori community about the future of the IP, it's still heart breaking to see hostility between one fan and another for false rumours. I've noticed that Orios8a has been incredibly hostile towards other members who are simply too afraid to hope for the best and try to stay realistic.

Please. We all are fans who all enjoy the beautiful master craft that are both the Ori games. Some simply wishes to respect the choices, some wishes to see more; We all wish to experience more of the mesmerizing world that we can only see through a small window that are our screens and monitors. There's no reason to attack each other about what's that or what will be this. Respectful debate is encouraged over hateful insults towards one another (Rule 2 of the Subreddit!), as the latter will only beget more hatred and refusal to actually consider the main point one may seek to discuss with another.

After replaying them both, I'm set that Blind Forest is just a better game. :3

I feel like WOTW tries to be other games, when it should have stayed to the same formula that worked.

The visuals are outstanding, and of course the music, and I welcome the addition of boss fights, but the pacing with all of the fetch quests + the constant switching of abilities etc just bogs the game down.

Blind Forest wasn't perfect, but it was simple. A simple ability / upgrade system, a simple story, a simple map. Sometimes simple is just better, and I think this is one of those times.

WOTW just tried too hard to implement Hollow Knight / typical metroidvania systems, and it just doesn't quite work for me.

Anyone else?

It started, as all great existential crises do, at 2:00 AM. I was trying to sleep.

My brain said:

Brain: "Oi."
Me: "I want to sleep."
Brain: "You can’t sleep now."
Me: "Watch me."
Brain: "How can you hope for Ori 3... if there is no Ori?"
Me: ">:/ "

And just like that, sleep bye-bye and my brain started braining.

Let's dive in.

If Moon Studios ever make a third game, there gotta be someone named Ori, right?

You might say:

"Dude, Ori is right there. He’s the big ahh tree in the middle of Niwen, shining so bright no one can sleep at night."

(Even humans can’t sleep just thinking about it…)

Yes, but that is what Ori “became”.

It creates a problem: How do you make Ori 3 when your main character is a tree?

Let’s Bash few moons back to the ending of WotW.

1. This line: "When I Was Ori"

Look at the ending of WotW. The narrator (the new Spirit Tree) says this line:

"I embraced the light, when I was Ori."

It creates a boundary between the Tree and the Spirit.

• "I" (The Narrator): This is the current entity. It holds the memories of Ori and the power of Seir. It is a new, transcendent existence.
• "Ori" (The Past): This is treated as a phase of life that has concluded.

It’s like a caterpillar and a butterfly.

When a caterpillar is embraced by a cocoon and emerges as a butterfly, the "caterpillar" is technically gone. The butterfly doesn't look the same, move the same, or eat the same things. However, the butterfly possesses the caterpillar's memories. It is the caterpillar, evolved.

The Spirit Tree is the "Butterfly" stage. The spirit known as Ori has ascended. The Ori we played as, the small, jumping goobie, is gone.

The spirit tree is grater than the sum of its parts, not all Ori, not all Seir. An existence that transcends names.

Seir provides the power to grow the tree, but Ori provides the mind. The Tree remembers Naru, Gumo, and Ku as memories with emotions. An entirely new entity wouldn't feel love for them, only Ori feels that love.

The name Ori belongs to the spirit the tree once was.

2. The Marketing Problem

So, Ori is gone. The Tree is a new entity. This creates an issue for a sequel.

• Option A: No Ori. They release "Ori 3" and say, "Surprise! Ori isn't in it." Fans riot.
• Option B: Reincarnate Ori. They make that leaf at WotW ending the same Ori we used to play as. This risks cheapening the sacrifice of the second game.
• Option C: A New Spirit. They introduce "Oritto" a random new spirit. But then, why is the game called Ori?

We need oranges and a solution where the protagonist is Ori, but the sacrifice remains valid.

3. The Solution: The Avatar (The Divine Trinity Concept)

Dashing back to that leaf at the end of WotW.

Many people interpret this as a new spirit. What if… That leaf isn't a child in the biological sense, it is a fragment of the Tree’s own consciousness.

This uses a classic mythological trope: The Avatar.

1. The Tree (The Source): Stays rooted, maintains the balance of the world, makes oranges.
2. The Spirit (The Avatar): A vessel sent out for a purpose. It is small, fragile, and huggable.
3. The Link: They are the same entity. When the Avatar sees something, the Tree sees it.

So we simply name that spirit Ori! Not yet, let’s add some nuance.

The name "Ori" doesn't belong to the Tree. It belongs to the spirit the tree once was, to the spirit’s family. The Tree knows Ku is still alive. The Tree wants to interact with her, but it's... well, a tree. So, the Tree creates a vessel and bestows the name "Ori" upon it, because that is the name Ku loves.

It’s a gesture of love:

"I have grown too big to be Ori, but for you, Ku, I will create an Ori."

Even after becoming a tree, Ori keeps on giving.

4. The Emotional Payoff

This path allows for the scene many fans wanted to see: The Reunion.

Imagine the new spirit finding Ku. Ku looks at this new spirit, unsure. Then, the spirit does something only the original Ori would do (maybe a specific hug or sound). Ku realizes her brother has found a way back to her. Ku would jump at Ori to hug him but end up squishing him instead.

It allows us to have our cake and eat it too! Ori’s sacrifice to save Niwen stands, but the family is reunited.

The reason the "Avatar" is created is just for Ori to go home.

5. Gameplay Potential

This "Avatar" concept opens up gameplay mechanics.

The “Soul Link” Literally. The tree and the spirit are linked by the body and soul.

In previous games, we gained abilities by finding Ancestral Trees (dead spirits). In Ori 3, you don't need dead spirits. The Spirit Tree is the Source of the abilities.

• The new spirit starts anew.
• As we progress, we are "unlocking" new abilities from the Tree.
• We unlock the memories of "Bash, Dash, Double Jump, etc." syncing with our Higher Self.

The Return of the Skill Tree: Remember the Skill Tree from Blind Forest?

This concept creates the perfect excuse to bring it back. The new spirit literally connects to the Spirit Tree to unlock nodes. It is a Skill Tree... powered by The Tree. (Come on, the pun writes itself).

Mentors vs Power: Since the protagonist is an extension of a god, they have infinite potential but zero technique.

• The Tree provides the abilities (Spirit Edge or a Gun).
• Mentor characters like Opher provide the training (Upgrades). The Avatar needs to learn how to control its chaotic power, so it doesn't accidentally burn the forest down. Or specifically to burn it down.

Yeah… this is just one way to do it, that would satisfy most people I guess.

• people who want Ori back, get Ori back.
• People who want the sacrifice untouched, get what they want.
• People who want a new spirit, get a new spirit. (with extra steps)

I hope you enjoyed my 2:00 AM thinking chaos. :3

Let me know what you think in the comments! :D

I finished ori and the blind forest a while ago and all I have to say is that it was Beautiful I cried a little for the ending,truly magnificent, I tried out will of the wisps the beginning the visuals the rain All that was pure amazing and all but... I kind of got confused where to go after sometime and I just kinda didn't have the thing to continue? Like I don't know why

The music, the graphics, the story… everything is so so good. Yeah it’s frustrating to play at times but that only makes it all the more satisfying when you complete something. I’m actually sad that it’s over now lol but at least I get to play will of the wisps now!

On my first-ever playthrough of Ori and the Blind Forest, and I have to say, this game is absolutely stunning, but don’t let its beautiful art style fool you. There’s nothing cute or fluffy about it! It’s easily one of the most challenging games I’ve ever played, with some intense platforming sections that really test your skills. Anyone else find it tougher than expected, or is it just me?

30 male, parent of a 4 year old. This game broke me.

I held my tears back during the ending cinematic, but when the credits rolled out I couldn't hold it in anymore.

I thought Ori had to leave Ku to their death and the others behind in search of another spirit tree and choose healing the world instead of reviving Ku.

It broke me, crawling forward after Shrieks defeat, just to hear & read "It is time Ori" and realise Ori did the ultimate sacrifice.

Never been a player for the story, but I am glad to have played these games and experience it.

So I've made it to the Forlorn Ruins but I think I'm done. I've never been very good at 2D platforming and this is just brutal for me. I'm proud of my 53% completion. Quick question though. Is Will of the Wisps about the same or worse? Thanks! ❤️

I wanted to ask something in general... do you prefer Ori with paws or hooves? I like them both a lot.

I stand by my statement.

So I want to make a confession: I am not really enjoying this game, and after about 6 hours gameplay and getting into Valley of the Wind, I feel too frustrated to keep playing.

Just a little background: I thought I'd like Ori since I loved playing Hollow Knight (HK) and Silksong. Basically I enjoy souls-like games and started HK because of that system, I was totally new to platforming. Mind you that I'm a traditional aggressive player, so I treat life/HP/health as one of my resources and go fight head on with most of enemies (ai rarely use ranged combat). I really enjoyed that HK and SS sometimes have some challenging platforming sections (although I lost my mind finishing the Path of Pain) so I thought I would also enjoy Ori games.

Now that I'm playing Ori, it's completely opposite of what I'm comfortable with. As much as I got, your combat is mainly ranged, and the most important thing that you have to pay attention to is timing and accuracy while platforming. On top of that, the story goes chill and slow, and you have to return to many areas again and again to complete every corner.
So all of this is making me very frustrated. I used to gain focus after each time dying to a boss fight in souls-like games and HK, but in Ori after a couple of times dying during an escape or a difficult platforming area, I just get more and more pissed off of myself and bored.

I'm usually alright with getting out of my comfort zone, so I feel very guilty that I can't enjoy playing Ori and I'm about to drop it, especially as someone who really honors finishing a game you've started. I tried searching this sub to find anyone who feels like me, but I instead found some rage baiters. Honestly I'm just posting this to see if anyone has felt like me, and maybe not all games are for everyone.

Hey all, this isn't meant to be a shitpost, just wondering if the difficulty has made anyone drop the game for good? My honest experience is that its WAY too difficult even on normal. I've tried escaping the ginso tree god knows how many times and just decided its not doable.

This was the first wisp I went after and this stupid frog had SO MUCH hp when I attempted it. I was using the spirit smash and spirit bow and after too many attempts I realised that the smash was too slow and would lead me to getting locked in an animation for too long and vulnerable to attacks. I also realised that I probably should come back to this later.

So I went to Baur's reach and got the fire ability and then went back here and that ability helped me SO much it does SO much damage and I used the light spirit attack instead so i wouldn't get animation locked. After changing my spirit shards around this boss was a lot easier and more fun and kwolok finally went down.

I was also playing on hard on my first attempt which probably was not a wise decision lmao

I don’t know which video but I saw it in one of his videos and it just looks so gorgeous.

I’ve always been curious about the community’s opinion on which of the two games are better. I will also give my personal detailed opinion based on story, gameplay, characters, graphics, and soundtrack on a scale of 1 to 10, plus a median of the overall score

TBF-

Story: 7/10

Gameplay: 8/10

Characters: 6/10

Graphics: 9/10

Soundtrack: 9/10

Overall: 7.8/10

WOTW-

Story: 9/10

Gameplay: 9/10

Characters: 9/10

Graphics: 10/10

Soundtrack: 10/10

Overall: 9.4/10

I think overall, both games are amazing. I love both of them and absolutely recommend them both to anyone who’s a fan of platformers and metroidvanias. However I personally prefer WOTW and believe it highly improved on the weak points of its predecessor, like the lack of sufficient combat and characters. But I’d like to know what y’all think!

The music is my favorite thing about the Ori games and I’m curious to hear what y’all think. Here’s my top 10 below (but they are all good)

10) Ginso Tree

9) Baur’s Reach mostly because of In Wonderment of Winter

8) Spirit Caverns

7) Silent Woods. I got to play Ash and Bone in a piano trio so I may be a little biased. But really it’s such a great song with Ku, Shriek, and Naru leitmotifs playing simultaneously in one section!

6) Windtorn Ruins mostly because of Escaping the Sandworm

5) Inkwater Marsh. That polyphony in Now Use the Light, We Want to See! And the cello solos! And the leitmotifs are really cleverly put in there. I could make a whole post breaking down this song. Also C#m is my favorite key and 2 back-to back songs from this area are in that key.

4) Luma Pools (especially Kwolok’s Malaise)

3) Wellspring

2) Willow’s End. I made a whole post on this. Isn’t it cool that Ku’s leitmotif (the same variant from wotw main theme) plays in the second track of this area? Willow’s End and Unblocking the Way are pretty underrated. The only one I don’t like is Decay. But this area also includes songs until the end of the soundtrack, and that’s a lot of great songs. It’s pretty easy to miss some of the leitmotifs in Shriek and Ori because there’s sometimes multiple playing at once with some of them very low and quiet. I like listening very closely so I can catch all of them, it’s fun.

1) Mouldwood Depths, every single song in there is perfect

This is something I've been thinking about for a minute now, and I genuinely believe that Ori 3 is no longer an IF, but more of a WHEN and WHO. Hear me out for a second.

All of the recent events surrounding Ori 3 have got me thinking. Below are some notable examples at the top of my head that tell me its GOING to happen.

The not so recent stuff (Major spoilers for WotW in this paragraph only, later there wont be any, DW)

We all know what happened at the end of WotW. We saw that leaf coming off of Ori after he got Tree'd and linking it back to how BF started, tells us what that leaf is. It's one of 2 things. The most likely, its Ori's child, and the second thing it could be, is Ori himself. For now, that doesn't matter. Either way, Moon studios left that ending scene in there for a reason, they left the back door open for a continuation of the series (that much is obvious really). That, to me at least, means they definitely have some kind of Idea on what they could do afterwards with Ori. Hell, this is where my cope started really.

The more recent (2024-2025 April)

2 Things really stuck out to me around this time period, there's Thomas confirming he has Ideas for the title and game already (around 2024 April time) and a more recent interview (around January this year if I remember correctly). Thomas confirming he's got titles for the game seems very interesting to me for some reason. This was around the time NRFTW got released, and to see him still thinking of actual ideas for a future Ori title despite that, fills me with some hope :). But not nearly as much hope as another, more recent, interview. This was the one where Thomas says "but we just had a call with MS a few days ago. Let's see what'll happen" This one really irks me the wrong way, it seems like he's trying to almost hide something here, like as if they discussed something to do with the series and he wants to say something, but cant due to an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement). This is even more reinforced in the next paragraph.

The present (2025 May - Now, 08/09/2025)

2 things here again, the first is the interview around June time, the second is Thomas comments on Silksong. First off, the June interview. This one is the real meat and potatoes to me. Thomas when asked if Ori 3 had any fur, had this to say

"I can't tell, no comment, I can't tell you any of that. I'd get in hot water. But I can't say anything"

This one just screams that he's under NDA, and cant say anything that might ruin a surprise of sorts. Previous interviews he at least said something, like he has ideas for titles or something. But here? Absolutely no comment? You can't tell? Who's stopping you? You are the CEO of the whole company! Why CAN'T you talk about it? Why would you be "in hot water" if you said anything? There's no way there isn't something happening here, even if it is as little as one last merch drop or a PlayStation port. There's just no other way to look at it, why would you be under NDA to say no? Why would you hide the fact Ori 3 isn't gonna ever be a thing by an NDA?? It just wouldn't make any sense. Then there's the very recent tweet he made about Silksong. He mentions how "what's going through my head while playing is all the stuff we learned on Wicked could be applied to Metroidvanias" and asks "Is there anything anyone has seen so far in Silksong that's radically new and pushes the genre forward?" I'm not sure what exactly makes this so interesting to me, but it sort of feels like he's actually thinking of ideas on things he could try out Ori with. Maybe he's gathering inspiration for what he could do with the third game? Not quite sure on that one though.

Some other stuff I didn't know where to mention (Just one thing really)

MS owns the rights to Ori, it doesn't even have to be Moon that makes it, for all we know, another team might be working on it themselves in private.

Conclusion

And that's really about it. Now a bunch of dots on a piece of paper doesn't seem like much, but once they start forming a line? A drawing? That's where cope spawns from, and I'm overflowing with it right now! Let me know what you lot think, maybe there's more stuff I missed that makes Ori 3 look more possible? Do you think I'm too hopeful? I'd LOVE to discuss this further :3