Ori boss shares "one of the crazier ideas" for a possible third game that would flip the Metroidvania on its head: "Think Katamari, but with a Ghibli-twist"

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"I always loved the idea that we'd get to play a Spirit Tree"

(Image credit: Moon Studios)

Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps are already full of unique, really exciting twists on the Metroidvania formula, but developer Moon Studios' CEO Thomas Mahler has now shared a possibly "crazier idea" for a potential third game in the brilliant series.

"One of the crazier ideas I had for a potential Ori continuation at some point was inspired by this here," Mahler writes on social media alongside a link to Rebirth, a GameCube FMV tech demo following some sort of woodland creature as it wanders around the forest, before it eventually cocoons itself and grows into a giant tree.

"I always loved the idea that we'd get to play a Spirit Tree where the whole game revolves around maneuvering as a little tree within a desolate environment that you bring to life again, bit by bit," he continues. "Think Katamari, but with a Ghibli-twist. I think there's something deeply satisfying in allowing players to change the environment they're in and to basically flip the Metroidvania design on its head a bit: Instead of just giving the player more power, it's often even more satisfying if you empower the environment itself."

Mahler gives an example that the map might start out as a desolate forest. In most Metroidvanias, you'd need to unlock a double jump or a dash to cross large gaps, but in this theoretical Ori threequel, you'd do so by restoring the forest. Perhaps you can repair the water flow to cross ravines or encourage tree growth to use as bridges, rather than empowering yourself via power ups.

"A lot of the videogames that have become wildly successful are about core human instincts," Mahler adds. "Hunting and Gathering, Farming, Collecting, etc. I think the farming and gardening concept hasn't really been fully explored yet and could potentially lead to a whole new genre that could take off exactly because it's so core to the human experience."

Ori and the Blind Forest has sold around 10 million copies which "probably makes it the most successful Metroidvania ever made," but its dev could've gone bankrupt

Kaan Serin
Freelance contributor

Kaan freelances for various websites including Rock Paper Shotgun, Eurogamer, and this one, Gamesradar. He particularly enjoys writing about spooky indies, throwback RPGs, and anything that's vaguely silly. Also has an English Literature and Film Studies degree that he'll soon forget.

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