Ori and the Blind Forest 2015

Is it still worth playing?

Moon Studios' 2015 2D Metroidvania platformer, for Windows and the Xbox One. You control Ori, a small white spirit, with Sein, the light and eyes of the forest's Spirit Tree, who shoots Spirit Flames. Ori's moves grow as you go: abilities such as a charge attack, wall jump, triple jump and air dash are learned in order from three ability trees. Even checkpoints are yours to place, since soul links create one wherever you choose, but they cost energy cells, so the supply is limited. On top of that, the Definitive Edition of 2016 adds easy and hard difficulty, a One Life mode, fast travel between spirit wells and full backtracking. Ori moves nimbly, and the story is told through play rather than long cutscenes, so it is still a pleasure to control today.