GameTimeline

Release & story order

Ori games in order

Use this page for ori games in order—Moon Studios’ two metroidvania epics from Ori and the Blind Forest (2015) through Ori and the Will of the Wisps (2020). Release lists US ship dates so you can buy and play the way theaters-of-Steam did. Story follows one continuous Nibel saga: Sein, the forest’s decay, and Ori’s next journey into Niwen. Essentials covers the full saga, a modern Wisps-first taste with Blind Forest optional afterward, or a completionist path that includes Definitive Edition extras. Metroidvania neighbors: Hollow Knight and Celeste.

Updated September 2026

Pick your path:

Full saga Modern start Completionist Full release list Story order

Where to start

Pick Full saga for Blind Forest then Will of the Wisps, Modern start if you want Wisps immediately with Blind Forest optional later, or Completionist when you want both campaigns plus Definitive Edition extras checked off as your Blind Forest edition. Essentials keeps the checklist to the path you chose.

  • First-timers who want the full tearjerker → full-saga in Release order
  • Platforming-first newcomers → modern-start on Wisps, then optional Blind Forest
  • Collectors → completionist with Definitive Edition as the Blind Forest buy
  • Short on time → Wisps alone is fine; just accept thinner Nibel context

Release order

When Moon Studios shipped each Ori chapter in the US—Ori and the Blind Forest (March 11, 2015) and Ori and the Will of the Wisps (March 11, 2020). Definitive Edition upgrades for Blind Forest (2016 onward) are FAQ guidance, not a separate Release row, because they refine the same campaign rather than add a new numbered sequel.

  • Full saga → Blind Forest (buy Definitive Edition), then Will of the Wisps
  • Modern start → Wisps first for newer movement; Blind Forest optional afterward
  • Sales often bundle both—check Game Pass / storefronts before buying twice
  • Skip cost → skipping Blind Forest softens Wisps’ emotional callbacks
Story order tips

One continuous Nibel saga: Blind Forest establishes Ori, Naru, and the forest’s collapse, then Will of the Wisps continues Ori’s journey into Niwen with new spirit abilities and a heavier emotional arc. Story order matches Release—there is no prequel shuffle. Play Blind Forest first for full character payoff; Wisps is still playable alone if you only want the sequel’s systems.

  • Canon path: Blind Forest → Will of the Wisps (same spirit’s journey)
  • Definitive Edition adds quality-of-life and extras inside Blind Forest—not a mid-saga chapter
  • Wisps raises combat and traversal demand—expect a sharper difficulty spike
  • On Story order, Wisps may be hidden—reveal when ready or use Show all spoilers

Timeline

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When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Ori and the Blind Forest

    Ori and the Blind Forest

    Xbox OnePCSwitchXbox Series X|SMetroidvaniaMainline

    Ori and the Blind Forest is Moon Studios’ luminous forest metroidvania—Ori races decay across Nibel with Sein’s light, hand-painted vistas, and a soundtrack that hits harder than most “cute” platformers. Buy the Definitive Edition today; it is the standard storefront package.

    Overview
    Bash, wall-jump, and ability-gated maps wrapped in cinematic storytelling that made indie metroidvanias feel premium on Xbox One. The emotional parent-child framing and watercolor art set Moon Studios’ identity before Wisps raised the combat bar.
    In-game setting
    Nibel forest campaign—Ori, Naru, and the Spirit Tree’s crisis. Continuity opens the saga that Will of the Wisps continues in Niwen. Definitive Edition extras live inside this campaign, not as a later numbered sequel.
    Should you play it?
    Required for the full Nibel tearjerker; optional only if you insist on Wisps-first systems. Prefer Definitive Edition for new saves. Neighboring exploration climbs: Hollow Knight and Celeste.
    Release date
    US March 11, 2015 on Xbox One and PC; Definitive Edition followed in 2016 with Switch and later Xbox Series support.
  2. Ori and the Will of the Wisps

    Ori and the Will of the Wisps

    Xbox OnePCSwitchXbox Series X|SMetroidvaniaMainlineSequel

    Ori and the Will of the Wisps continues Ori’s journey into Niwen with sharper combat, new spirit skills, and a broader map of marshes, caverns, and windswept ruins. It is the saga’s emotional climax and the better “modern feel” entry for 2026 hardware.

    Overview
    Sequel metroidvania that expands combat arenas, spirit weapons, and boss spectacle while keeping the painterly platforming identity. Niwen’s biomes and Kwolok-era set pieces show how far Moon Studios pushed the first game’s grammar.
    In-game setting
    Niwen sequel arc—same Ori, new land, heavier stakes. Play after Blind Forest for full character payoff; story callbacks assume you know Sein, Naru, and the forest’s wound. Not a soft reboot.
    Should you play it?
    Best 2026 “looks and feels current” Ori session. Play Blind Forest first when you can; Wisps-only is allowed if you accept thinner lore. Completes the Essentials full-saga path.
    Release date
    US March 11, 2020 on Xbox One and PC; Switch and later Xbox Series versions followed. Often on Game Pass rotations.

FAQ

Blind Forest before Wisps?, Definitive Edition, difficulty, platforms, and where Ori sits beside Hollow Knight or Celeste.

Play order

Recommended: Ori and the Blind Forest (Definitive Edition) → Ori and the Will of the Wisps.

Systems-first: start with Wisps, then optionally backfill Blind Forest.

Metroidvania neighbors: Hollow Knight and Celeste.

For story order, yes. Wisps continues Ori’s journey and spends emotional capital earned in Blind Forest. Mechanically Wisps stands alone, but character moments land softer without the first game. Prefer Blind Forest first unless you only care about newer combat and movement.

Story & Nibel

Editions & extras

Buy Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition—it is the current storefront standard with quality-of-life fixes, extra areas, and the package most guides assume. Original 2015 SKUs are legacy; new players should not hunt the pre-DE build.

Optional & related

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.