The 10 Best Xbox Game Pass games you're probably not playing

#7 Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition

Ori and the Blind Forest

Have you ever seen a Don Bluth movie? Movies like The Secret of N.I.M.H., or An American Tail, or even Titan A.E? Those movies. They're animated "kids" movies, but they also have a bit of a dark edge to them - especially at the time they were originally released. Ori and the Blind Forest isn't based on any of those movies, but it certainly has the spirit of them.

When it comes to gameplay, at it's core, Ori is a Metroidvania game through-and-through. It's a 2D platformer - one of those stunningly beautiful ones that this genre tends to generate. The lighting effects, the overall design of the world and its characters - everything is just a joy to look at.

Ori, the cute little squirrel/bunny thing you play as, is adorable, and easy to control, as well. As a Metroidvania style game (that's fun to type and I'll never get tired of it), there's not a lot of new stuff here, but that's not the point. It's a familiar style of gameplay that you use to interact with this beautiful, charming, and often very dark world.

The game's sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, is scheduled to release as an Xbox One exclusive... some day, I guess. I highly recommend playing this gem before then.