Kena: Bridge of Spirits First Impressions – A Gorgeous Adventure with Zelda and Ghibli Feels for the Nintendo Switch 2

Developed by Ember Lab, Kena: Bridge of Spirits was first released on PlayStation platforms in 2021, and it won several awards, including two awards at The Game Awards: Best Independent Game and Best Debut Indie Game. It is currently available on Steam, the Epic Game Store, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 and 5. The new Nintendo Switch 2 release also includes the previously released Anniversary DLC, which added features such as New Game Plus, Charmstones, Spirit Guide Trials, and new outfits for Kena.

You are Kena, a Spirit Guide who helps deceased souls to find peace after death. She journeys to an abandoned village, finding trapped spirits who are consumed by their anger and fear. Of course, you must discover the village’s secrets and try to free the spirits. As soon as I booted up the game, I was sent into a beautiful dark forest where tiny blue lights glowed, and I was instantly hooked.

The graphics and music are gorgeous, evoking a similar atmosphere to games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, where you’re sent off to explore a magical land on your own. There are shrines and spirit children that evoke Studio Ghibli movies such as “Spirited Away” and add to the game’s charm. In addition, the Rot further capture the Ghibli feel. With their appearance and mannerisms, the Rot resemble many of the creature characters in Ghibli films. 

Wait, What Are the Rot?

The Rot are little spirits who maintain the balance of nature by helping things decompose. With a name such as “the Rot,” you might expect these creatures to be gross and scary – but nope, they are adorable, with sweet little smiles. The first time they wandered into a cutscene, I wanted to hug them. As you meet more Rot, they will join you in your adventure, and as you level up, they will learn skills to assist you. For example, they can move heavy objects that might be blocking your way.

The Rot can also assist you in combat. The hack-and-slash combat is fast and adrenaline-pumping, and using the Rot to help you adds a level of strategy. Battles initially frighten the Rot, but as you fight, you collect Courage points. When the Courage meter is full, the Rot will overcome their fears and help you by binding enemies’ weak points. This means that you have to keep an eye on that Courage meter while trying to take out enemies and bosses. You might also want to cheer those cute little Rot on when they find their courage.

So Far, I Love Kena: Bridge of Spirits

Judging by what I’ve played so far, Kena: Bridge of Spirits looks like a rich, charming adventure game. I will definitely keep playing, and I look forward to discovering what else this world has to offer – along with what other antics the Rot can get up to. If you enjoy The Legend of Zelda or Studio Ghibli movies, you’ll likely feel right at home with this game, and I highly recommend it to any fans of the adventure genre. Kena: Bridge of Spirits can be digitally purchased for the Nintendo Switch 2 for $39.99.