Kena: Bridge of Spirits

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,034 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Kena: Bridge of Spirits Game Cover
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a fantastic modern fairy-tale on the PS5 with next-gen aesthetics!
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"Kena: Bridge of Spirits" is an action-adventure game featuring a young spirit guide named Kena. She travels to an abandoned village in search of a sacred mountain shrine, using her staff to battle enemies and solve puzzles. Along the way, she gathers and commands a group of tiny spirits called the Rot to help her progress and battle bosses. The game boasts beautiful visuals, engaging combat mechanics, and a touching story of loss and redemption.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Epic Games
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,034 reviews
story1,269 positive mentions
optimization53 negative mentions
  • Stunning graphics and art style that resemble a Pixar movie.
  • Engaging combat and challenging boss fights that keep players on their toes.
  • Heartfelt story that explores themes of loss and redemption, making for an emotional experience.
  • Combat can feel unresponsive at times, with issues related to parrying and dodging.
  • Some puzzles lack clear guidance, leading to confusion and frustration.
  • The game is relatively short, leaving players wanting more content.
  • story2,486 mentions

    The story of "Kena: Bridge of Spirits" is widely praised for its emotional depth and engaging narrative, focusing on themes of loss, grief, and redemption as players guide Kena, a spirit guide, through a beautifully crafted world. While many players appreciate the heartfelt storytelling and character arcs, some critique the simplicity and predictability of the plot, noting that it could benefit from deeper character development and backstory. Overall, the game is celebrated for its stunning visuals and music, which enhance the storytelling experience, making it a compelling choice for those who enjoy narrative-driven adventures.

    • “Kena: Bridge of Spirits seamlessly weaves together exploration, a sense of wonder, engaging combat, and a compelling storyline.”
    • “The story of Kena: Bridge of Spirits should be commended as a touching and emotional example as it explores the themes of loss, grief, and letting go.”
    • “The story is touching and heartfelt; this alone makes the game worth playing.”
    • “There was a lot of talk about her dad, but after one short flashback, her personal story was cut off, never mentioned again.”
    • “The nail in the coffin is the story is depressing and bland.”
    • “The story is very simplistic.. but to me, personally: the art, the environment.. it is so good.”
  • graphics1,582 mentions

    The graphics of "Kena: Bridge of Spirits" are widely praised for their stunning, Pixar-like quality, with vibrant colors, detailed textures, and smooth animations that create an immersive experience reminiscent of animated films. Players appreciate the game's enchanting art style, which complements its emotional storytelling and engaging gameplay, making it visually captivating even on lower settings. Despite some minor performance issues, the overall aesthetic and visual design are considered a standout feature, elevating the game's appeal significantly.

    • “The graphics in this game are seriously amazing, like something straight out of a big animation studio like Disney or Pixar.”
    • “Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a beautiful soulslike game, crafted with love where the aesthetics are unique and the world looks like it belongs to a Disney movie.”
    • “The visuals are stunning, the story is moving, and the gameplay is fluid and fun.”
    • “The rendering completely falls apart no matter the graphics setting.”
    • “Despite the game's visuals seeming to be targeted towards a younger demographic, this is quite literally just a souls-game in sheep's clothing.”
    • “The visuals provide a strong aesthetic, but the bland gameplay and lukewarm story made me put this down after a couple of hours.”
  • gameplay1,212 mentions

    The gameplay of "Kena: Bridge of Spirits" is generally praised for its engaging mix of exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving, with many players appreciating the fluid mechanics and charming visuals. However, some reviewers noted issues with the clarity of certain mechanics, particularly the parry system, which can feel inconsistent and frustrating. Overall, while the game may not introduce groundbreaking gameplay innovations, it successfully combines familiar elements in a visually stunning package that offers a satisfying experience for players.

    • “The gameplay is a great mix of exploring, challenging combat that's a bit like those tough souls games, and solving puzzles.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, story is really good, combat is fairly hard even on hard mode; it's just a skill issue that I die a lot of times.”
    • “Entering the game with uncertain expectations, I was immediately captivated by the exceptional gameplay, enchanting world, and compelling narrative.”
    • “Some of the puzzle or fighting mechanics were not that well communicated to the player, and I found myself looking up how to deal with them online.”
    • “The gameplay mainly boils down to two categories that will most likely turn off a potential buyer: combat and puzzles.”
    • “The gameplay is rough around the edges, but it is a great foundation for a promising studio.”
  • music882 mentions

    The music in "Kena: Bridge of Spirits" has received widespread acclaim for its exceptional quality and emotional depth, often described as a standout feature of the game. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to enhance the gameplay experience, seamlessly fitting various scenes from exploration to intense boss battles, and incorporating traditional Balinese instruments that add cultural richness. Overall, the music is praised for its beauty, immersive qualities, and its role in creating a captivating atmosphere throughout the game.

    • “The highlight of the game is honestly the soundtrack.”
    • “In every scene, it plays a fantastic soundtrack that fits perfectly, whether you're chilling in the forest, solving puzzles, watching an emotional cutscene, or getting into an epic boss fight.”
    • “The music is emotionally charged and riveting.”
    • “Game with potential but made without passion, poor mechanics, a really really lame soundtrack, I wish it was better than this.”
    • “The combat and story and cutscenes and progression make for not the best platformer and the music isn't the best; however, it is relaxing.”
    • “There are not many negative things to say - the music can be a bit annoying due to its repetitiveness, and the final boss fight has so many stages that it became a bit annoying.”
  • emotional276 mentions

    "Kena: Bridge of Spirits" is widely praised for its emotional storytelling, exploring themes of loss, grief, and redemption through a heartfelt narrative that resonates deeply with players. The game's stunning visuals and exceptional soundtrack enhance the emotional experience, often leading to moments of genuine connection and tears. Overall, it is regarded as a beautifully crafted journey that combines engaging gameplay with a touching story, making it a must-play for fans of emotionally rich gaming experiences.

    • “The themes of loss, grief, and family were beautifully woven into the story, and it was impossible not to feel emotionally invested in Kena's journey.”
    • “The story is touching and heartfelt, this alone makes the game worth playing.”
    • “Kena: Bridge of Spirits is a visual and emotional feast packed full of heart.”
    • “The story lacks depth, making it hard to connect emotionally with the characters.”
    • “I found the characters to be forgettable, which diminished any emotional impact the game could have had.”
    • “The narrative felt flat and uninspired, leaving me emotionally disengaged throughout the experience.”
  • optimization174 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing inconsistent performance, including stuttering and frame drops, particularly in open-world areas and during specific boss fights. While some users report smooth gameplay on high-end systems, others struggle with significant performance issues even on lower settings. Overall, while the game is visually impressive, it appears to require further optimization to ensure a consistently smooth experience across various hardware configurations.

    • “All of this coupled with very good optimization gives the luxury of fully immersing the player in the world of Kena: Bridge of Spirits.”
    • “The game is polished and well-optimized, with smooth performance and minimal technical issues.”
    • “The game is well-optimized, ensuring a smooth experience even on lower-end systems.”
    • “However, the game lacks optimization, especially when exploring the map, as it feels laggy.”
    • “The performance is very inconsistent; the framerate cap is a must, even then some areas have really huge performance drops, fortunately only in the open world.”
    • “It's a really fun game with good mechanics, that is unfortunately overshadowed by glaring performance issues.”
  • atmosphere146 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Kena: Bridge of Spirits" is widely praised for its stunning visuals, enchanting soundtrack, and immersive storytelling, creating a magical and emotionally resonant experience. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to blend a Pixar-like aesthetic with engaging gameplay mechanics, resulting in a vibrant world that evokes feelings of wonder and nostalgia. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as beautiful, captivating, and a standout feature that enhances the overall gameplay experience.

    • “Kena is a pretty game, with an excellent soundtrack, and a generally chill atmosphere.”
    • “With music that perfectly complements the atmosphere, 'Kena' creates a unique sense of adventure and grandeur.”
    • “The atmosphere is absolutely beautiful and the characters are very cute.”
    • “Beware though, that the relaxed atmosphere comes at the cost of complexity - the game features multiple different ideas that don't really develop much.”
    • “Lowly graphics and atmosphere.”
    • “Don't be fooled by the charming design and atmosphere, the combats are quite demanding.”
  • grinding64 mentions

    The reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a mixed experience, with many players finding it tedious, especially during combat and boss fights, which often feel prolonged and repetitive. While some appreciate the need for grinding to level up and collect items, others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading to frustration and monotony. Overall, the game offers beautiful visuals and engaging mechanics, but the grinding aspect may require patience and can become a chore for some players.

    • “This is nice because you can focus on the storyline without facing repercussions of not grinding enemies along the way.”
    • “Although it's open world, it keeps things straight to the point, making exploration interesting and not tedious with backtracking totally optional.”
    • “This game is short, not grindy.”
    • “Enemies turned into sponges, taking forever to defeat, which became a bit tedious and less fun.”
    • “While it's stunning, charming, and surprisingly enjoyable to play, I found the final stretch of the game so focused on tedious combats that I didn't want to keep playing.”
    • “The combat is tedious and somewhat monotonous; you'll be fighting wooden creatures over and over with repeating models and a never-ending strategy of just dropping small hordes of random minions at you rather than employing interesting mechanics.”
  • character development49 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and emotional resonance, particularly in the portrayal of the spirits players interact with, which adds layers to the narrative. The character designs are often described as stunning and reminiscent of Pixar animations, contributing to the overall charm and engagement of the game. However, some players feel that while the visuals and character designs are exceptional, the actual character development could be more substantial, with a few noting a lack of complexity in the story arcs.

    • “This detail in graphics extends to character design - while the game has very few characters by modern standards, those characters that do exist in the game are each detailed to perfection and intriguing, with each having their own motivations and fears.”
    • “The character development of the spirits you save is very well done.”
    • “Character designs are remarkably captivating, charming, and super-expressive, with each model looking unique, and all are incredibly memorable.”
    • “But... there are a few things that I hate, nothing game-breaking just stuff that physically pains me. One being the two little spirit kids... yeah, I hate them with all my heart. Their character design pisses me off and the voice acting is ear-bludgeoning and makes me want to punch my computer. The second thing I hate are the rots; not their uses and abilities, those are cool and unique and I love them a lot. The thing I hate are their stupid-looking faces and sounds.”
    • “The story is very simple, but fine - you'll not be playing the game for that. There's no major twists nor character development to be found, but it takes you through the spectacle well enough.”
    • “---{ overall }--- I give 8/10 because the ending is not hitting too hard and character development is meh, but the gameplay and graphics are superb amazing, to be honest.”
  • stability42 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally well-received, with many players reporting minimal bugs and glitches that do not significantly detract from the experience. While some users encountered occasional issues, such as camera control bugs and minor environmental glitches, these were often described as infrequent and manageable. The game runs smoothly on various hardware, including the Steam Deck, and is praised for its polished performance compared to other recent titles.

    • “Fun game that runs great on deck.”
    • “Game runs great and looks amazing on PC.”
    • “Runs great on Linux, and better than expected on the deck.”
    • “The game is occasionally buggy (usually related to interface or movement) and seems to lack QA polish, but the odd hiccup never took away from my enjoyment.”
    • “On top of that, while the entire game ran in the 120-140 fps range for me even in heaviest combat, the final fight brings it down to 1-2 fps (not a typo, it actually freezes up for ~0.7s) during two specific attacks, meaning dodging these becomes entirely impossible.”
    • “I get insane stuttering at times, with everything on ultra. When moving normally I have a stable 60 fps, but when moving to the next area or simply turning too fast, my screen just freezes for a while (like half a second).”
  • replayability32 mentions

    The game's replayability is generally viewed as moderate to high, with features like new game plus, various difficulty levels, and a wealth of collectibles and side quests enhancing the experience for completionists and challenge seekers. However, some players feel that once the main story and secrets are fully explored, the incentive to replay diminishes. Overall, while it offers enjoyable mechanics and visuals, the replay value may vary depending on individual preferences for exploration and achievement hunting.

    • “It also allows you to restart the game at any difficulty with all your abilities unlocked, so going back to achievement hunt, find those challenge chests, and puzzles you may have missed the first playthrough can add replay value to the game.”
    • “The game also features a variety of side quests and collectibles that add depth and replay value to the overall experience.”
    • “The addition of challenging trials, a multitude of difficulty levels, and new game plus give it replay value and a higher skill cap.”
    • “Its replayability may be next to nil, but the journey was one I won't soon forget.”
    • “Overall, it offers solid gameplay along with incredible visuals, its original price of 40€ might be a little too much for the 10ish hours you'll get out of it since it has little replayability (has a new game + mode) but grabbing it on sale is definitely worth it.”
    • “And the fact is, there isn't much replayability in Kena once you have seen the whole of the story.”
  • humor28 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its charming and endearing elements, particularly through the lovable rot companions who provide both comic relief and assistance in gameplay. While some players noted a lack of genuinely captivating humor, many found the interactions and visual gags, such as funny hats and quirky character sounds, to be delightful and amusing. Overall, the game balances humor with its challenging gameplay, creating a lighthearted atmosphere that resonates with players.

    • “The rot are lovable, funny, and cute little things following you around.”
    • “I was laughing so hard when I got my ass handed to me.”
    • “You can buy hats for the rots; most of them are just cute or funny, but you can find a frog that I thought would be super cute, but at least in my game, it was so terrifying.”
  • monetization8 mentions

    The monetization strategy in this game includes the use of ads during boss fights, which serve to enhance gameplay by building a courage meter for powerful attacks. While some players appreciate the integration of ads for added tension, others feel that the reliance on spawning additional ads detracts from the game's mechanics. Overall, the game is praised for its quality despite the presence of microtransactions, making it a standout in a market often filled with unfinished titles.

    • “I saw no advertising for this game, but it is stellar and I have only just started.”
    • “Microtransactions - in-game purchases.”
    • “There are a lot of boss fights that have ads running around the arenas to act as fodder to build the courage meter to allow you to perform power attacks to deal big damage.”
    • “In a sea of half-hearted, unfinished games stuffed with microtransactions, a game like this is really rare.”
    • “Some bosses seem to rely on spawning additional ads to make it harder instead of making the mechanics more interesting.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

83% average critic score

Buy Kena: Bridge of Spirits

Play time

13hMedian play time
16hAverage play time
10hMain story
20hCompletionist
5-24hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 32 analyzed playthroughs

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