Spiritfarer

What to Know

Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 49

Play It

Spiritfarer is a phenomenal 2D-platformer and management game about helping spirits move on. It is best enjoyed in small bites, but those who will patiently put in the time building their ferries will be rewarded.

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 49

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 49

Where to Play

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Awards & Recognition

Critic Reviews for Spiritfarer

Reviews

High Score - 100/100

Low Score - 65/100

Gold TIER

42% of scored reviews fell within the range of 86 to 92 / 100

Rachel Watts (PC Gamer)

85/100

“A thought-provoking and bittersweet adventure that understands that death is part of living.”

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Tom Marks (IGN)

9/10

“Spiritfarer’s gorgeous mix of an exciting action-platformer and a touching town manager is a journey worth savoring.”

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Joe Juba (Game Informer)

8/10

“Spiritfarer taps into the fun of farming/lifestyle simulations, but adds a unique story layer that sets it apart.”

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Read the Reviews (49 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
3DNews	Александр Бабулин	8.5 / 10	09-12-2020	Spiritfarer tries to become a bittersweet balm for loss wounds, but slightly misses the status of a masterpiece without collecting a handful of mini-catharses into one big one at the end.	Read review
Attack of the Fanboy	Brandon Adams	4.5 / 5 stars	08-18-2020	Spiritfarer is an excellent game in its own right, yet its candid handling of death truly sets it apart from its peers. It’s addicting gameplay loop is well complimented by its thoughtful story	Read review
Bazimag	Mahdi Eftekhari	9 / 10	08-26-2020	Spiritfarer is a beautiful and heart-warming 2D-platforming management game that will give you a different perspective on death. On top of that, it will deliver one of the best experiences of your life.	Read review
But Why Tho?	Derrick Pittman	9 / 10	08-28-2020	Spiritfarer is an amazing management indie game to relax to, all while helping players deal, cope, and reflect on death. The game’s colors are awe-inspiring and the soundtrack immediately puts you at ease. Despite the game’s heavy theme of dealing with death, Spiritfarer is a wonderful game.	Read review
Chalgyr’s Game Room	Susan N.	9 / 10	10-07-2020	Spiritfarer is a fantastic game that deals with the topic of death but it’s much more than that. It is an unforgettable experience. Players connect with the characters before taking them to the Everdoor, or their final resting place. Thunder Lotus treats the subject with care and Spiritfarer serves as a special tribute to the developers’ friends and family who have already passed. Overall, I found myself enjoying my 40-hour playthrough of this somber and amazing game. Thus, I give it a 9 out of 10 so don’t miss the boat on this title!	Read review
Checkpoint Gaming	Alexia Weiss	9 / 10	08-29-2020	The fact Spiritfarer made me think about the meaning of life and death, had me cry in mixed sadness and joy at remembering people I’ve lost, and, more importantly, the memories I’ll always keep of them, is probably the best recommendation I can imagine giving any piece of media.	Read review
Chicas Gamers	Alba Nausicáa	Recommended	08-24-2020	Spiritfarer is a unique title within its style, if we could include it in a category that is not simply “indie”, since it covers so many fields, it should own its unique section. With a 30 to 40 hours long duration, it’s a game you will really love as it’s mechanics are far from being repetitive.	Read review
Cubed3	Michael McCann	7 / 10	11-10-2020	Whether it’s down to the sharp, intelligent writing, or fantastic hand-drawn style and animation, Spiritfarer has a charm that could be described as almost Disney-eque… well, maybe that would be true if the first passenger Stella encounters wasn’t a chain smoking deer. That charm is without a doubt i]Spiritfareri/]s best asset, and something that many will latch on to consciously or subconsciously when coming to their own judgement on its quality. Yes, it can be slow and repetitive, but that is also part of the point. The 2D take on a life-sim is a path less travelled for the genre, and unique in this instance. It creates an appealing world wherein the developer has gone to great efforts to flesh it out, and make it feel lived in. It all hangs together very nicely, indeed.	Read review
DualShockers	Cameron Hawkins	9.5 / 10	08-18-2020	Spiritfarer is a beautifully crafted, memorable experience that focuses on the dead trying to find peace upon heading into the afterlife.	Read review
Eurogamer	Malindy Hetfeld	Recommended	08-18-2020	By marrying metroidvania, management sim and a good dose of kindness, Spiritfarer manages to feel simultaneously familiar and refreshing.	Read review
Everyeye.it	Daniele D’Orefice	8 / 10	08-18-2020	In key moments, however, Spiritfarer always manages to take back the reins with grace, to enhance its themes and its message. And this is certainly a great merit.	Read review
Forbes	Liz Lanier	9 / 10	08-18-2020	Those who will patiently (and happily) put in the time to building their ferries and cooking for their spirit friends will be rewarded with snippets of story that might stay with them longer than they expect.	Read review
Game Informer	Joe Juba	8 / 10	08-18-2020	Spiritfarer taps into the fun of farming/lifestyle simulations, but adds a unique story layer that sets it apart	Read review
GameCrate	Kevin McClusky	9 / 10	08-20-2020	Spiritfarer is worth playing for the visuals alone, but the mature storytelling and fascinating look at a concept we don’t see explored very often make it well worth checking out. Expect to put at least 35 hours in if you want to see the whole story, more if you’re a completionist.	Read review
GameSkinny	Joshua Broadwell	10 / 10	08-21-2020	Spiritfarer is a finely crafted piece of artistic commentary on what it means to let go, and it’s far and away one of the best games to come out of 2020.	Read review
GameSpot	Hope Corrigan	9 / 10	08-18-2020	Spirifarer is an excellent 2D-platformer and management game, but moreover it’s a beautiful and joyous journey about caring for others and coming to terms with death and saying goodbye.	Read review
GameXplain	Unknown	Recommended	08-18-2020	Video Review	Read review
GamingTrend	David Flynn	100 / 100	08-18-2020	Spiritfarer excels in every genre it dips its toes in.	Read review
Generación Xbox	Juan Lorente	8.2 / 10	09-16-2020	Spiritfarer is a management title where its key pieces are narrative and artistic section. A highly recommended adventure that will take you a while to forget.	Read review
God is a Geek	Nicola Ardron	9.5 / 10	08-28-2020	Spiritfarer is a unique and special game. A management sim that manages to blend its various systems with a poignant and bittersweet look at life and death.	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Kyle LeClair	4.5 / 5 stars	08-18-2020	Spiritfarer is an absolute triumph and easily goes down as the best game that Thunder Lotus has created.	Read review
Hey Poor Player	Heather Johnson	4 / 5 stars	09-01-2020	Spiritfarer has the body of a seafaring exploration game, the mind of a management sim, and the soul of an emotional journey depicting love, loss, and grief. With gorgeous visuals and a soundtrack to match, Spiritfarer is pleasing to the senses while providing a core loop that’s easy to get lost in.	Read review
IGN	Tom Marks	9 / 10	08-18-2020	Spiritfarer’s gorgeous mix of an exciting action-platformer and a touching town manager is a journey worth savoring.	Read review
IGN Italy	Damaso Scibetta	9 / 10	08-18-2020	Spiritfarer is a game about saying “goodbye” to our friends. Its management mechanics are only a shield, behind which Stella, a ferrymaster, tries to help souls living a serene departure. But their journey is also Stella’s journey, full of surprises, emotion and laughs and Spiritfarer is able to turn a death trip in a boat full of life, sounds and people. What is the afterlife? How we are reaching it? Spiritfarer answers with elegance and smartness. A precious gem.	Read review
LevelUp	Víctor Rosas	9 / 10	09-27-2020	Spiritfarer’s journey fulfills from start to finish. No matter how sad its premise is, it is something you must experience, especially for its premise that recognizes that there is a beginning and an end, but what matters is what happens along the way.	Read review
Luis Alamilla	Luis Alamilla	9 / 10	08-21-2020	Traditionally, video games have always had it easy on tackling the topic of death. Playing a shooter, you die and you respawn. Maybe fall off a stage and you come back. What Spiritfarer does differently is revolve around the topic of death but in a wholesome and somber way. It’s quite literally a management simulator all-around finding peace before going to the afterlife and it’s my latest favorite indie game.	Read review
New Game Network	Alex Varankou	65 / 100	08-25-2020	Spiritfarer is a nice looking, but mostly dull, resource management game that tries to integrate a unique setting with base-building mechanics. Its characters don’t get enough development time for you to care for them, while they demand material comforts. The glacial pacing and repetitive gameplay make this an experience that only a select few will enjoy.	Read review
Nintendo Enthusiast	Arthur Damian	8.5 / 10	09-11-2020	Regardless of these minor quibbles, Spiritfarer is a journey I wholeheartedly recommend taking, even if management sims are not your thing. The main lessons of accepting loss and the importance of leaving something behind are important to learn. The heavy topics your colleagues discuss with you are also necessary to navigate and leave a lasting gut punch. The title is also wonderfully animated and the music is superb, with its main theme receiving a number of variations throughout the experience that well up deep feelings inside of you. Give it a go if you are ready to ugly cry and smile at the same time!	Read review
Nintendo Life	Stuart Gipp	8 / 10	08-27-2020	A truly pleasant game, Spiritfarer balances undemanding platforming, gentle exploration and forgiving resource management with a beautifully-realised world with a cast full of charming, likeable, memorable characters.	Read review
NintendoWorldReport	Anna Saurman Brown	9.5 / 10	09-17-2020	Overall, I really enjoyed this game and all the time I spent devouring it. I came into Spiritfarer very excited, and it did not disappoint. It even surprised me with how much I loved it. Spiritfarer has everything relevant to my interests: the afterlife, crafting, crystals, making friends, getting up in other people’s business, fixing (?) problems, and a cat best friend. If you are looking for a beautiful game with some more serious, and sometimes mystical, subject matter, I highly suggest giving Spiritfarer a try.	Read review
PC Gamer	Rachel Watts	85 / 100	08-18-2020	A thought-provoking and bittersweet adventure that understands that death is part of living.	Read review
PlayStation Universe	Joe Apsey	9 / 10	08-24-2020	Spiritfarer is a truly gorgeous game in every aspect. A stunning art style, gorgeously melodic music, and a lighter and less punishing take on the management sim genre make it one of the best indie games of the year and a title that will be remembered for years to come.	Read review
Polygon	Nicole Carpenter	Recommended	08-18-2020	Spiritfarer works because the entire game is built around creating these connections to the characters, all of which are complex people with tangled stories. And none of the spirits are purely good or bad; some are people leaving a mess behind for others to grapple with.	Read review
PSX Brasil	Leonardo Cidreira	95 / 100	09-05-2020	Some games amuse you, others thrill you and a few deliver key messages that you will carry throughout your life. Spiritfarer manages to do these three things so easily that at the end of his journey it will be impossible not to repeat the journey. The title manages to create a perfect harmony between gameplay and history that will surely please fans of Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley. Spiritfarer is, without a doubt, one of the best independent titles of the last decade and the Magnum Opus from Thunder Lotus Games.	Read review
Push Square	Stephen Tailby	8 / 10	08-23-2020	Spiritfarer is a game with a lot of moving parts, but most of its elements are well handled. Progression comes at a good pace as you upgrade Stella’s ship, her abilities, and build relationships with a colourful crew. The crafting minigames are a weak spot, and the writing doesn’t always land, but there’s a lot to like about this maritime management title.	Read review
Rock, Paper, Shotgun	Alice Bell	Recommended	08-18-2020	Ultimately, everything in Spiritfarer is like that. Measured, thought out, detailed, kind.	Read review
SpazioGames	Francesco Corica	8.8 / 10	09-04-2020	If you want a unique videogame experience and aren’t afraid of showing your emotions, Spiritfarer is a title that you should try at least once in your lifetime.	Read review
TechRaptor	Cody Peterson	9.5 / 10	08-28-2020	Spiritfarer is a deeply personal management game that forces players to care about their passengers and come to terms with the fact that everyone dies.	Read review
The Digital Fix	Abbi Ruggles	9 / 10	09-14-2020	Spiritfarer is a beautiful game in terms of graphics and story, with plenty of tasks to keep you busy from collecting resources, fishing, and building. It’s a relaxing experience, and one many people will find comfort in.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Miguel Moran	8 / 10	08-18-2020	Spiritfarer has a soft, caring, bittersweet tone that I’ve rarely encountered in video games. For a game all about death and dying, I only ever felt calm and relaxed when playing it. The management gameplay is varied and engaging, and even though the scope if it leads to the game getting a bit too long in the tooth, it helps connect the incredibly emotional story beats together so well. Mix that up with its beautiful art style and enchanting music, and you’ve got one of the most emotional management games I’ve ever played.	Read review
TrueGaming	Khaled Al-Issa	8.5 / 10	08-19-2020	Spiritfarer combines the fun of managing your own ship and tending to its passengers with a touching narrative about accepting death and saying farewell to your loved ones.	Read review
Twinfinite	Keenan McCall	4.5 / 5 stars	08-31-2020	Spiritfarer is one of a kind, and well worth anyone’s time.	Read review
Use a Potion	Sam	9.5 / 10	09-23-2020	Spiritfarer offers a memorable emotionally-driven journey that’s complimented by some brilliantly varied gameplay mechanics and a stunning world to explore. It really is a fascinating title that’ll keep players completely hooked in throughout thanks to its engaging gameplay mechanics, whilst helping folk in need reach the end of their mortality was as bittersweet as it was beautiful.	Read review
USgamer	Eric Van Allen	4 / 5 stars	08-18-2020	Spiritfarer is a cozy game about helping spirits move on. Its wide scope of systems and resources can sometimes get in its own way, but when working in harmony it unveils a touching narrative, all the while adorned by gorgeous art. Best enjoyed in small pieces, Spiritfarer is a warm and inviting world to get lost in, with the occasional emotional gut punch for good measure.	Read review
VGChartz	Evan Norris	8 / 10	09-14-2020	A beautiful experience, filled with varied and engaging content, wrapped in gorgeous art and music, and populated with memorable characters and moments that will stay with you for a lifetime.	Read review
VideoGamer	Imogen Donovan	8 / 10	08-24-2020	Blending both adventure and management sim, the player cares for these characters and wanders into the wonder of this world, which lights up with each new island discovered. It explores the role of both parties in death; is it the responsibility of the spirit or the Spiritfarer to sew together the uncomfortable threads of loss?	Read review
WayTooManyGames	Heidi Hawes	8.5 / 10	12-28-2020	For the most part, Spiritfarer is a charming and upbeat game, but it covers the themes of death and loss with seriousness and respect. I was genuinely shocked by just how much I came to care about the spirits in my care. Learning about them and helping them move on gave the management sim side of the game have a lot more meaning.	Read review
Worth Playing	Andreas Salmen	9 / 10	09-10-2020	After everything I’ve mentioned so far, it’s not a surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed Spiritfarer. What initially looked like an eerie combination revealed itself to be a thoughtful, relaxing, and enjoyable journey that deals with loss and caring in heartwarming ways. It’s not a flawless masterpiece or a crowd-pleaser, but it knows what it’s good at and executes it to an incredibly satisfying degree. If you vaguely enjoy titles like Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon or Stardew Valley, be sure to pick up Spiritfarer.	Read review
Zoomg	Mohammad Hossein Jafari	8 / 10	09-19-2020	Do not rush Spiritfarer in any way. Just embrace it. Look at it as an experience that you can enjoy deeply for some weeks. An Indie Video Game that is certainly not for everyone. But If you can accept some down moments, the sadness, the happiness, and weirdness of it, You are going to get 30 hours of meaningful entertainment that is worth your money.	Read review

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Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

Spiritfarer is a cozy management game about dying. You play Stella, ferrymaster to the deceased, a Spiritfarer. Build a boat to explore the world, then befriend and care for spirits before finally releasing them into the afterlife. Farm, mine, fish, harvest, cook, and craft your way across mystical seas. Join the adventure as Daffodil the cat, in two-player cooperative play. Spend relaxing quality time with your spirit passengers, create lasting memories, and, ultimately, learn how to say goodbye to your cherished friends. What will you leave behind?

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