


So even though it's sad to say goodbye to each spirit in Spiritfarer, the game does at least make it clear that players always get to say goodbye, at least. Stella and her cat Daffodil then say goodbye to the spirits when they reach the Everdoor, giving them a final hug to say farewell. As they make their way to the Everdoor, each spirit talks about their lives - both as a human and as a spirit aboard Stella's ship. Spiritfarer establishes a formula of players completing tasks for each spirit on their boat, dealing with each spirit's emotional issues, and then ferrying them to the Everdoor when they're ready to pass on to the next life. THIS ARTICLE WILL HAVE SPOILERS FOR SPIRITFARER Atul This is a fascinating twist on typical video game conventions, with the passing of one spirit in particular being the best representation of how Spiritfarer tackles the topic of death in a masterful way that is really only possible in video games. But death in Spiritfarer is the exact opposite spirits pass on in the game when players are succeeding and making progress. RELATED: The 10 Most Beautiful Games of 2020ĭeath in most video games is presented as something to avoid at all costs. There's a reason why Spiritfarer is considered one of the best indie games of 2020, and the clever way it showcases death is a big part of that. It's some of the most emotionally impactful experiences one can find in gaming, and it's really remarkable how the game deals with death. This means that Spiritfarer players periodically have to say goodbye to their friends, and each time is as heartbreaking as the last. The goal of Spiritfarer is to take care of the spirits on Stella's ship and help them pass on to the afterlife. However, the twist is that, unlike Animal Crossing, the "villagers" in Spiritfarer are not around forever. Spiritfarer is a life simulation game that can somewhat be described as Animal Crossing on a boat, where players have to interact with anthropomorphic animals while completing tasks for them and completing various other chores. Thunder Lotus Games is primarily known for developing action-adventure games, but it decided to go in a different direction with 2020's Spiritfarer.
