The Great Tree

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The Spirit Tree is the central life force of the forest of Nibel. Its voice narrates the prologue and epilogue of Ori's story. The Tree released a flash of light to look for Ori, which accidentally burned and killed all of Kuro's recently hatched offspring. In retaliation, Kuro took away the core on top of the Spirit Tree, which is Sein. The theft of Sein directly caused the three elements supporting Nibel's balance—Waters, Winds, and Warmth—to fail, and the forest began to wither. The loss of Sein worsened the decline, leading to the death of Naru, the creature who adopted Ori. At the end of the game, Kuro, driven by grief and instinct, carries Sein back to the Spirit Tree; she is unintentionally killed by the resulting flash of light, which restores the forest's life.

In Their Own Story

The Spirit Tree's voice tells of how Ori fell from it during a storm and was adopted by Naru. A cataclysmic event made the forest wither, and Naru died of starvation. Ori later collapsed near the Spirit Tree and was revived by it. Ori then met Sein, a small orb who guided Ori on a journey to restore the forest by recovering the light of the three main elements. The story reveals that Kuro's wrath stemmed from the Spirit Tree's flash of light, which killed her hatchlings. To protect her unborn child, Kuro stole Sein, the Tree's core. After the final element was restored, Kuro attacked Ori and Sein. Naru arrived to protect Ori, and Kuro, remembering her own pain, took Sein back to the Spirit Tree. The Tree emitted a flash of bright light that restored the forest, but Kuro was destroyed. The forest flourished, and new spirits were born at the foot of the Spirit Tree.

Reader's Guide

The Spirit Tree is not a playable character but the central narrative and environmental anchor of the game. Its health is directly tied to the state of Nibel. When Kuro steals Sein (the Tree's core), the forest withers, and the player's goal becomes restoring the three elements to revive it. The Tree's flash of light is a key plot point, causing Kuro's initial tragedy and ultimately saving the forest at the cost of Kuro's life. The Tree's voice provides the game's narration. The final scene shows new spirits being born at the foot of the Spirit Tree, indicating its restored role as the source of life in Nibel.

Did You Know?

• The Spirit Tree's flash of light to find Ori accidentally killed all of Kuro's recently hatched offspring.
• Kuro stole Sein, the 'light and eyes' of the Spirit Tree, and the theft directly caused the three elements of Waters, Winds, and Warmth to fail.
• The Spirit Tree's voice narrates only the prologue and epilogue of Ori and the Blind Forest, not the entire story.
• At the end of the game, Kuro, driven by grief and instinct, carries Sein back to the Spirit Tree and is unintentionally killed by the flash of light, which restores the forest's life.
• New spirits are seen being born at the foot of the Spirit Tree after the forest is restored.

Gameplay Mechanics and Progression

As a quintessential Metroidvania, this title emphasizes exploration, backtracking, and the gradual acquisition of abilities to unlock previously inaccessible regions. Players guide Ori, a white guardian spirit, alongside Sein, an orb representing the Spirit Tree's light and eyes. Navigation involves precise jumping, climbing, and puzzle-solving within a 2D environment filled with hostile creatures. Combat relies on Sein's ability to shoot Spirit Flames, which can also shatter obstacles. The game features a unique resource management system through 'Soul Links,' allowing players to create manual save checkpoints using scarce energy cells rather than relying solely on fixed locations. Progression is driven by collecting health and spirit light containers, which grant experience points. These points enable players to purchase upgrades from three sequential ability trees at any Soul Link, enhancing stats like damage output or unlocking new movement skills such as wall jumping and double jumping.

Narrative Arc and Emotional Themes

The story begins with Ori falling from the Spirit Tree during a storm and being raised by Naru until a cataclysmic event causes the forest to wither. After Naru perishes, an orphaned Ori is revived by the tree and meets Sein, who guides them to restore balance by recovering the light of Waters, Winds, and Warmth. Along this journey, they encounter Gumo, the last of his spider clan, and Kuro, a hostile shadow owl. The plot reveals that Kuro's aggression stems from tragedy: the Spirit Tree's search for Ori accidentally burned her hatchlings years prior. In retaliation, she stole Sein to protect her remaining egg. Ultimately, Naru is revived by Gumo using stored light, and she sacrifices herself to shield Ori from Kuro. Moved by this act of love, Kuro returns Sein to the tree, extinguishing the fire that threatens her own child but destroying herself in the process, allowing the forest to flourish anew.

Development History and Studio Structure

Created by Moon Studios, a unique collective organization without a single physical headquarters, the game represents a global collaboration of designers and programmers. Development spanned four years before its initial release, with Microsoft acquiring distribution rights roughly one year after production began. The team includes notable figures like Thomas Mahler, an artist formerly associated with Blizzard Entertainment. This distributed working model allowed talent from various locations, including Austria, to contribute seamlessly. The project's narrative drew inspiration from films such as The Lion King and The Iron Giant, while gameplay mechanics were influenced by franchises like Rayman and Metroid. Despite the complex logistics of a location-less studio, the team successfully delivered a polished experience that resonated with critics and players alike upon its launch on Windows and Xbox One.

Critical Reception and Franchise Legacy

Upon release in March 2015, the game garnered widespread critical acclaim for its art direction, musical score, environmental design, and engaging action sequences. It was notably recognized as a title that exemplifies video games as an art form. Financially, co-founder Gennadiy Korol confirmed the project became profitable within weeks of launch. The positive reception led to the release of a Definitive Edition expansion in March 2016, which added new content and improvements. This success paved the way for a direct sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, announced at E3 2017 and released in March 2020. The franchise's enduring popularity was further solidified by its port to the Nintendo Switch in September 2019, ensuring its accessibility across multiple platforms and cementing its status as a modern classic in the platform-adventure genre.