Ori and the Will of the Wisps reinforces that theme of a wider, living world with a menagerie of creatures to fight, big and small: dive-bombing mosquitos, slugs that spit caustic goo, dangling spiders, piranhas, spiky slimes, leaping elemental mantis-things, and hulking decay-touched bruisers with massive clubs kept me on my toes in every new place I visited. There’s a healthy bestiary to test your mettle.

But alongside these many enemies, friendly woodland critters and massive animal guardians hide and thrive in each area, ready to make your acquaintance. These non-player characters pop up frequently, telling you about their home lives, their current predicaments, the changes happening to the world at large, and tidbits of information concerning Ori’s grand adventure. Often, these short conversations come with requests which serve as simple side quests to keep you invested in the here and now. You might be asked to find a lost acorn in a cave, or check on some family members in a faraway region, or hear a useful rumor about a shrine that’s then marked on your map to investigate later.