10 Most Stylish Video Games Of The Last 10 Years
9. Ori and the Blind Forest
Metroidvania games come and go like buses. Some hit the mark, others are just shallow knockoffs of the games the portmanteau derives from.
And then there's Ori and the Blind Forest.
No single game is perfect, but Ori isn't far off with its captivating aesthetic. It doesn't take any massive risks, ticking off all of the cutesy platformer tropes to maximum effect.
Yet, that's not a bad thing. It's a stunning looking game that reminds us why we like Metroidvanias in the first place. The game knows we're going to backtrack across its world, so it makes it the most enjoyable part of it.
You may be playing in 2D, but the world around you feels just as integral as the paths you take. Seamlessly transitioning from lush, green areas to darker, thornier routes is a joy, even if the game will test you at times.
Guiding Ori is also as slick as the world they inhabit, with some of the best platforming and mild puzzle solving in recent years. It can get frustrating at times, but when it looks this good, it's allowed to test us.