Spiritfarer is an indie management sim and sandbox action game developed and published by Canadian studio Thunder Lotus Games. It was released on 18th August 2020 and sold over a million copies by December 2021. It received so many positive reviews.

The orchestral music score and detailed animation are exciting topics for discussion. In my opinion, the characters were well picked, and each spirit revealed something about the animal. The slow-paced gameplay may not be appealing to all; still, it sure is a selling point for this game. Spiritfarer is available on different platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, PS 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Stadia.

What Prompted the Storyline? 

I found out that the game’s stories are based on its creators’ own experiences of loss. They wanted to create a game that had an intimate and personal touch on how death is handled. The game is described as a construct of Stella’s mind and how her views and understanding of death grow.

First Impression of the Game

When I first heard of the death theme of Spiritfarer, featuring Stella, who transports souls to the afterlife, and Hades, I didn’t know what to feel. But then, I figured that death features in almost every video game; you’re either killing your enemies, or they are defeating you, and you die in the game. However, this game shows death differently and causes one to ponder life and the things that make living worth it. The death and lost souls theme may seem spooky, but it is not. 

Spiritfarer is adventurous and interesting once you get to understand the game. Spiritfarer focuses on the thrill of improving your life and the lives around you. It also has a mysterious tone, and I initially had mixed feelings about it. I wondered if I would find it interesting. Fortunately, I wasn’t let down when I eventually played the game.

Spiritfarer: A Game of Balance and Mystery 

Spiritfarer is a game that deals with balance and mysterious endeavors at their deepest levels. The story follows the protagonist Stella, who takes over the duties of Charon, a figure from Greek mythology. Her primary duty is to find lost souls and transport them to the afterlife. She gets a boat at the beginning of the game, which she can build upon and upgrade.

The game’s management aspect involves Stella cooking, feeding the lost spirits, and ensuring they are happy. She must also build unique and separate rooms for the spirits on her boat. Stella is not sailing the ocean alone. Aside from the spirits, her cute pet cat, Daffodil, accompanies her on her trips.

Connect With All Kinds of Spirits

Stella sails across the seas to find lost spirits and grant their last wishes. She carries out different tasks or visits other islands, whatever their wish may be. When she is done fulfilling the spirits’ wishes, she takes them to the Everdoor, the gateway to the afterlife. Stella received the Magical Everlight from Charon to assist her in her journey.

She begins her journey on her boat, picking up spirits, granting them their last wishes, and befriending them. The game makes you connect with the spirits as a player; you get to connect with each spirit’s unique story and may even find yourself getting attached to them. As Stella helps spirits reach the Everdoor and transition to the afterlife, they gift her a spirit flower that she can use. As Stella picks up more spirits and resources, she expands her ship.

The Great Hades: The Ultimate Accuser

One of my greatest experiences in Spiritfarer was encountering The Great Hades, an annoying and overbearing spirit who tried to undermine Stella’s authority and query her intentions. Hades appears in the form of a giant owl and tries to slow Stella down in her journey. He questions her on her true motives for being a Spiritfarer and accuses her of trying to fulfill her selfish desires. He further says being a Spiritfarer is just a means to hide her insecurities.

The game ends when Stella sends the last spirit to the afterlife and has a final faceoff with Hades. She then sails to the Everdoor with her pet cat, Daffodil, and passes through the Everdoor. Together with Daffodil, she enters the afterlife, and they both become a constellation in the sky. It’s a deeply peaceful and beautiful ending.

Simple Gameplay for a Simple Game

The gameplay is quite simple, so it doesn’t take long to get the hang of it. Spiritfarer is a good game that gets great over time. It requires you, playing as Stella, to find lost souls in different places and help them transition successfully to the afterlife. You are also expected to upgrade your ship to accommodate different spirits’ needs and desires, including feeding them.

You can collect different materials while on your journey. These materials will help you build kitchens, cook meals, build gardens, grow crops, and get other home amenities and resources to help the spirits. You also get to discover each spirit’s story as you sail with them and befriend them.

Mini-Games to Keep You Entertained

Stella gets mini-games from the spirits she meets, which add to the game’s adventurous storyline. Playing these mini-games can win materials and in-game currencies relevant to the spirit’s character. Vendors in the game sell items such as seeds to grow in the garden and furniture to decorate the ship.

Conclusion

In Conclusion, I had mixed feelings when I first heard of Spiritfarer, as I didn’t know what to think about traveling with spirits. But after I played it and learned the story behind the game’s creation, I was wowed. I realized that Spiritfarer is far from being a depressing game. It is uplifting, interesting, adventurous, and completely worth your time.

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