9 Hardcore games like Ori and the Blind Forest that you should try

If Ori and the Blind Forest worked for you because of punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus, the same is here. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is setting and progression: a sci-fi setting.

It comes from the same genre as Ori and the Blind Forest and shares dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. They part company on setting and visuals: this one brings horror setting and pixel art.

What brings it close to Ori and the Blind Forest is strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. The common ground extends to 2D presentation and fantasy world. Where the two diverge is progression and visuals: pixel art.

It shares the essentials of what Ori and the Blind Forest does: punishing difficulty, open world exploration and melee combat. Both also lean on fantasy world and single-player focus. The distance is in visuals and setting — its own ground is a sci-fi setting and a third-person camera.

What brings it close to Ori and the Blind Forest is cozy, relaxing feel, melee combat and fantasy world, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. The common ground extends to 2D presentation and single-player focus. Where they diverge is progression and tone.

On paper it is what Ori and the Blind Forest is — cozy, relaxing feel, melee combat and single-player focus — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is setting and progression: a sci-fi setting and pixel art.

The genre is the same as Ori and the Blind Forest’s, and with it exploration and discovery, punishing difficulty, and single-player focus. Both also lean on 2D presentation. The distance is in setting and progression — its own ground is a sci-fi setting.

What brings it close to Ori and the Blind Forest is punishing difficulty, open world exploration and melee combat, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. Where the two diverge is tone and progression: pixel art.

Genre puts it alongside Ori and the Blind Forest, and so does punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and 2D presentation. The distance is in tone and visuals — its own ground is pixel art.