The Ember Lab developed and publishedKena: Bridge of Spiritsis a highly anticipated game told from the perspective of Kena, a young spirit guide. Players embark on a journey to help her aid lost souls and those in need, and along the way, Kena will learn things about herself as well. The Tribeca Games Festival offered Game Rant a hands-on preview ofKena: Bridge of Spiritsand it did not disappoint.
Visually,Kena: Bridge of Spiritsis stunning. The world players get to explore is lush and vibrant, and even the “corrupted” parts are beautiful in their own way. The animation is very Pixar, which adds to the charm and appeal of the game. Perhaps the most adorable part ofKena: Bridge of Spiritscomes in the form of tiny black, fuzzy spirits called Rot. Not only are the Rot cute, collectible tagalong spirits that can wear a different array of hats, but they’re incredibly useful in battle. They alsohelp Kena complete different tasks, like restoring shrines that have been knocked over.
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The soundtrack and music ofKena: Bridge of Spiritsis also something to behold. It builds up the atmosphere and really immerses players in the forest and village that they’ll explore throughout the game. The digital deluxe version ofKena: Bridge of Spiritseven comes with a copy of the soundtrack, which is something gamers could definitely listen to in their free time while trying to relax.
The preview we played skipped themajority of the exposition ofKena: Bridge of Spiritsto preserve the mystery that surrounds the narrative. But even based on what was on display, keeping players hooked will not be an issue forKena: Bridge of Spiritsthanks to its gorgeous world, great combat system, and interesting plot.
Combat is a mix of Kena’s physical strength and spirit guide powers. Kena’s staff is powerful,helping her hone her powersas well as whacking enemies when they get too close. The Rot will help in combat, but not without a bit of motivation first. Kena has to build up “courage” before the Rot are brave enough to help her attack. They also get rid of certain “corruptions” by swarming the bloom and allowing Kena to “Pulse” her power and destroy it.
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The “corruption” looks like red blooms and spawns the enemies that Kena must defeat. There’s a definite scale of difficulty to the enemies, as some are small while others have items like a spear or shield.Kena can destroy shields with heavy attacksand then quickly take out the enemy with a few light attacks. She can also create a shield for herself using her powers, though players can’t rely on it heavily, as her power will drain and need to recharge. Kena’s staff is important to her, as she has a familial connection to it as well as her powers, and she even learns to use it as a bow and arrow in addition to being a staff.
Even though Game Rant only saw a preview, it was enough to suggest thatthe final world ofKena: Bridge of Spiritswill be large. There are “fast travel” stations that will help players get to and from different areas easier, as well as different collectibles and challenges to complete along the way. It doesn’t, however, seemingly feel as daunting as other open-world or pseudo-open-world games, and genuinely looks like an intriguing environment to explore, especially as Kena sets out to restore the village.
Kena must set out to find wandering spirits trapped in the forest, as well as discover the source of the strange curse put on the village. Players discover everythingpretty much at the same time as Kena, which makes for a fun experience of real-time discovery alongside the protagonist. While this was only a preview, it seems thatKena: Bridge of Spiritshas set high expectations for players and is fully intent on fulfilling them.
Kena: Bridge of Spiritsreleases Jul 10, 2025 for PC, PS4, and PS5.
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