Even avid indie game fans that are no strangers to meaningful and evocative gaming experiences seem to continue harping on and on about Spiritfarer long after they completed their first run of the title. Spiritfarer is one of those games that stick with players. Indies With Great Accessibility Features.It is a must-play for fans of the genre and those who aren’t. Combine that with a jaw-dropping art style, touching gameplay mechanics and heartwarming story, and Thunder Lotus Games have created one of the most relaxing and best indie titles of the year. It abandons the stress and anxiety that usually accompanies the genre and swaps it out for a comforting and relaxing journey.

Spiritfarer is a game that will change the management sim genre from here on out. You can also add decorations to a spirit’s bedroom, personalising it for them, just before you fare them into the afterlife.Įvery aspect of the crafting and boat building aspect of Spiritfarer is delightful and it is a great game to hop into and slowly progress your way through, without feeling the need to constantly return. On top of that, they contribute to building new rooms on your boat and improving them with features like the ability to cook multiple items together. Once you have collected those materials from the environment or from vendors you can combine them together to create new meals or materials. Spiritfarer is gorgeous and no moment emphasises that more than when you use your tools to collect materials. It might even be the prettiest game I have played this year. Spiritfarer is a truly gorgeous game and this is where it shows. These land sections are where the game’s gorgeous art style and animations really shine, with you and your companion summoning a shiny gold saw to cut down a tree or a giant pickaxe to break some rock and collect the ore. Some are filled with resources to collect and others feature vendors and towns of spirits you can talk to and get to know. When you step off the boat, the game offers small islands to explore. Alongside mini-games, you can find upgrades throughout the world which grant you improved movement among other abilities. On top of that, fabric and wooden planks can be crafted by spinning it or moving a saw along a track.Īll of these small mini-games can be played whilst on your boat and travelling from one island to another, which gives the game a great sense of efficiency and the feeling that you are always getting something done, rather than barely checking something off a long list of tasks to complete. For example, if you pass through a lightning storm you are able to collect that lightning by standing in the spots where it is going to strike and storing it, using it later for crafting or to sell. On top of that, trips on you boat happen in realtime and you will see yourself move across the ocean on the game’s map, meaning that you can complete tasks whilst on your journey, such as fishing or cooking meals to feed your spirits and keep them happy.Īdditionally, there are a number of mini-games in Spiritfarer. The boat and everyone on it is manageable and not too overwhelming, allowing you to keep track of everything you need to do and not feel swamped in tasks, which is often the case in traditional games of this genre.

This gameplay flow is great and feels far more structured than something you would find in a traditional management game. Building up your boat and taking it across the ocean is a satisfying way to show progression but not make that progression too overwhelming. The general flow of Spiritfarer has you travelling from island to island on your boat, collecting resources to cook or craft items and move on to the next day repeating the same thing as you slowly build your boat up from a small bland pile of wood to a hulking great ship with more rooms and houses than you ever thought could fit on a boat.īetween building up your boat you will complete missions for the various spirits you house on your boat, ensuring everything is to their satisfaction and that they are happy in the days before they are ready to pass over to the afterlife.

Spiritfarer switch review