Spiritfarer is a unique game that blends the normally heavy and dark subject of death with a gentle and comfy aesthetic full of hugs, cooking, and fun activities. You take control of the titular Spiritfarer, a grim reaper of sorts, that’s charged with ferrying spirits to the afterlife with your cat companion.
Spiritfarer is a charming and serene game that manages to perfectly balance happy moments with the sad through its gorgeous and cozy art style, diverse and vibrant characters, numerous activities, and thought-provoking story.
It’s a game that you may end up overlooking because it’s not a big title from a big-name developer or because, at a glance, it might not look too serious. Though, that’s the furthest from the truth.
Spiritfarer definitely needs to be on your radar and here’s why.
There’s Plenty To Do
In addition to the main questlines you need to complete, there are also side quests known as “Shenanigans”, collectibles to find, several different and diverse locations to explore, cozy activities, buildings to create, and materials that need to be collected for upgrades.
To pass the time as your ship travels from A to B, you can fish, cook different combinations of food, garden, and make materials using the Sawmill, Smithy, Foundry, and Loom.
Some materials can only be collected during special events like Comet Rocks during a comet shower, bottled lightning during a thunderstorm, or Nebula Thread from a minigame with Nebula Pillbugs. You also have the option to mine certain materials off of specific ore dragons during platforming challenges.
You can easily spend several hours doing so many different activities before you even think about the main questlines.
It Has a Cozy Aesthetic and Art Style
One of the reasons Spiritfarer is so cozy and wholesome is due to its art style and aesthetic. All of the colors are so warm, inviting, and soothing.
The hand-drawn, detailed art style makes the entire game feel like a fuzzy, metaphorical blanket wrapping around your shoulders. The sunset bathes the entire world and your ship in a vibrant and bright mix of oranges, reds, and yellows.
The activities within the game as also just as comfy. With gorgeously designed water, backgrounds, and a glowing fishing rod, fishing truly feels like a peaceful and serene activity — especially beneath the night sky. Playing guitar is a simple and easy to learn activity that treats you to some of the gentlest music you’ll ever hear.
Every character’s design, animations, and mannerisms reflect parts of their personality too so Spiritfarer brings together so many little details to build a cozy world.
Its Colorful Characters are Beautifully Written
One of the best parts of Spiritfarer is its diverse and colorful characters. You’ll ferry and meet several different spirits around the world and each of them has their own personality, favorite food, likes, and dislikes.
Buck will rant on and on to you about his DnD campaign, Giovanni will compliment you at literally every chance he gets, Alice will bake you little pies and treats, Stanley will draw adorable pictures for you, and Summer will play music for plants that you’re growing.
While traveling with your companions, you’ll learn about the lives they’ve lived, their wisdom and knowledge, and the many things they experienced before they died. You’ll laugh with them, cry with them, and feel an ache in your chest when they inevitably need to leave you.
There’s also a shark NPC that tells you ridiculous little puns and laughs at his own jokes every time you talk to him. He easily puts a smile on your face whenever you visit him.
Its Story Is Emotional and Deep
Above all, Spiritfarer is a story about death. Thunder Lotus, its developers, describe it as “a cozy management game about dying” and that’s exactly what it is.
You’re essentially the wholesome version of the grim reaper so every companion you befriend and allow onto your ship won’t stay with you forever. You’re helping them fulfill some of their last requests and wishes before they deem themselves ready to move on.
Since each character is so unique, they’ve all lived so many different lives that shaped who they are. They’ve learned many lessons and, through their questlines, they show you what they’ve been through and what they were like when they were alive.
You’ll grow to love these characters, and, just like them, you’ll know when its time for them to pass on. You might not be ready to say goodbye, but that’s all part of the game’s charm.
I’m someone who generally doesn’t get bothered by sad moments in games but I teared up a few times and ultimately cried my eyes out at the end of Spiritfarer.
The story will touch your heart in some way or another. It’s a truly unique and gentle take on a dark theme that could easily overwhelm any other story.
Spiritfarer brings attention to the depth and complexity of death in a way that shows that the inevitability of death is not as terrible as it may seem.
You Can Hug People
Finally, Spiritfarer has the option to hug all of your spirit companions. If that isn’t game of the year material then I don’t know what is.
Each character responds to hugs in unique ways that fit their personalities but they all generally find hugs to be very pleasant. Hugs also help boost their moods so the action actually has a purpose other than just being wholesome.
Some characters look like they would give the absolute best hugs in real life too like Atul, a big frog man that engulfs you in the softest and warmest hug in existence.
You can also pet and hug your cat too so no one’s excluded from these comfy hugs.
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