Spiritfarer

 PlayStation 4
Spiritfarer Image
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 56 Ratings

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  • Summary: A cozy management game about dying.
    What will you leave behind?
    Play as 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. A unique, endlessly varied adventure!    A cozy management game about dying.
    What will you leave behind?
    Play as 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.
    A unique, endlessly varied adventure!
    Farm, mine, fish, harvest, cook, and craft your way across mystical seas. Unwind for hours into cozy and relaxing gameplay. Join the adventure as Daffodil the cat, in two-player cooperative play.

    Learn how to say goodbye.
    Experience moving, emotional stories filled with unforgettable moments. 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?    … Expand

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Spiritfarer Reveal Trailer | Microsoft Press Conference E3 2019

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. GameSpew
    Aug 3, 2021
    90
    Gorgeous, emotional and heartwarming from start to finish, playing Spiritfarer is like sinking into a nice, cosy duvet. It envelops you, and you won’t want to leave. Its slow and steady pace won’t be for everyone, but for those who want a beautiful game to unwind with, it doesn’t get much better than this.
  2. Twinfinite
    Aug 31, 2020
    90
    Spiritfarer is one of a kind, and well worth anyone’s time. Its energetic art style, moving score and uplifting stories about acceptance and loss all meld with the gameplay for an experience players won’t soon forget, even as they move onto their next adventures.
  3. The Digital Fix
    Sep 14, 2020
    90
    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.
  4. Push Square
    Aug 23, 2020
    80
    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.
  5. Pure Playstation
    Aug 4, 2021
    80
    Spiritfarer offers calm and serene gameplay while dealing with some heavy subject matter that will surely poke at your emotions. The mini-games are a fun distraction and being able to dish out hugs whenever you feel they are needed helps make this journey a very personal one. Don’t forget your tissues…
  6. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Sep 18, 2020
    80
    With a focus on care and comfort, this is textbook cosy gaming. Its world of spirits is one you’ll want to get lost in and there’s unlikely to be a single guest you won’t be endeared to by journey’s end. Set sail under a snuggly blanket as the nights begin to pick up a chill, and let your heart be warmed. [Issue#180, p.74]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. New Game Network
    Aug 26, 2020
    65
    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.

See all 8 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 23
  3. Negative: 3 out of 23
  1. draco199
    Oct 25, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game really is a heartbreaking platformer, teaching you how to let go of your loved ones and move on. The artworks is amazing, and so are the animations. I've only encountered visual glitches for the cat where it just kinda slides around. I think the one that was the most sad was Stanley's story line. Now, every spirit tells you about their backround, Stanley's is that he's a kid, supposedly 8 according the the wiki, and he's trying his hardest to be happy. He tells you that he doesn't like messing up, and you can even tell that he already has low self esteem. I think the part that got me the most was at the end, where the spirit, being Stanley. will ask you to take them to the everdoor, a place where they can fully pass on. On the boat ride, they elaborate on their backstory, and his was the the saddest by far that i've seen. Great game, play it.… Expand
  2. Arocko
    Jan 2, 2021
    10
    Brilliant. Enthralling. Heartwarming.

    (Plus I love my boat!) The customizable options of the boat in Spiritfarer - which you build by    Brilliant. Enthralling. Heartwarming.

    (Plus I love my boat!)

    The customizable options of the boat in Spiritfarer - which you build by collecting resources from islands - makes this a unique management game. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed tricking my boat out and managing it. It’s the best of farming sim and Iron Age management games - with a hint of fantasy. Additionally, you fall in love with the characters! As you escort them to the afterlife, your adventures with them warm and ache your heart. The storyline of each spirit is moving and entirely original. Lastly, I fell in love with Spiritfarer because it reminds me of Hayao Miyazaki‘s work (and Studio Ghibli), which I adore.

    It’s a beautiful, must-play for folks who want a calm, touching, truly original game.    … Expand
  4. ghettie
    Sep 2, 2020
    10
    This is one of the best games of this generation. Brilliant storytelling, deep characters, fun and intuitive gnuameplay and charming graphicsThis is one of the best games of this generation. Brilliant storytelling, deep characters, fun and intuitive gnuameplay and charming graphics . There is no violence or battle system but the game keeps you engaged at all times.… Expand
  5. jorr1313
    Sep 5, 2020
    9
    Great blend of Animal Crossing style gameplay and narrative story. Lovable characters and excellent pacing. Also, a lengthy game worth the $30 price.
  6. SplitMind
    Jan 16, 2022
    8
    Spiritfarer isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea but is still a game I recommend despite its flaws.

    The graphics of Spiritfarer are done    Spiritfarer isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea but is still a game I recommend despite its flaws.

    The graphics of Spiritfarer are done very well, a cartoon style that captures your attention and is able to capture every theme or mood that it aims for. It does come across as fairly indie but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The graphics serve to emphasise the atmosphere and the Everdoor in particular always is a sight to behold.

    The gameplay of Spiritfarer capitalises on well established mechanics from games like FarmVille, Stardew Valley and The Sims. A lot of these mechanics such as growing food and dealing with the needs of characters are usually mechanics that make me groan due to their prevalence for over a decade, but Spiritfarer manages to employ each of these mechanics to create a holistic package that is still enjoyable.

    What stands out about the game is the boat being your base and how you essentially build a village on it with regular upgrades. This is actually quite genius and innovative as it eliminates a middle man in the usual RPG routine of travelling on foot - you can undertake tasks whilst the boat is en-route.

    The downside of all of this is that repetition creeps in the longer the game lasts, and unfortunately I found Spiritfarer to be a bit too long and some of the resource gathering to be a bit of a chore. I soon learned that the best way when I needed something was to look online for the fastest route to acquisition. It gets quite irksome for me when characters are getting overly choosy about what they eat when few of them provide any service of their own to benefit me.

    Spiritfarer's forte by far is the story. You are essentially escorting souls into the afterlife, learning about them, getting to know them and how they are connected to your past. This is Spiritfrarer's strongest suit because as you escort each character you do find that you cared for them and miss them once they're gone, even if they were a bit of a pain on your boat. The same downside from before weighs the story down too - I found it too long. This could be a person preference but there's a certain 'cycle' of events involved in escorting a character through the Everdoor and it gets repetitive to the point that I was skipping dialogue towards the end, losing out on the emotional aspect of the story.

    Overall, Spiritfarer is a game I can easily recommend. It uses familiar mechanics to tell a more meaningful story, a story which has definitely carried more meaning for me than most games in recent years. It does outstay its welcome a bit, but still clocks in at under 30 hours if you know what you're doing.    … Expand
  7. GamesWhisperer
    Nov 6, 2020
    8
    Spiritfarer was a delightful surprise, full of charm and personality despite the sombre nature of the game’s story. The resource managementSpiritfarer was a delightful surprise, full of charm and personality despite the sombre nature of the game’s story. The resource management and crafting are both enjoyable and satisfying, but do tend to drag on in the second half of the game.

    Most character’s storylines will tug at the heartstrings, but I do wish they were more fleshed out, which would have made a more emotional impact. Sending off each character to the afterlife were moments that will stay with me for a while, and everyone even just a little bit interested in playing Spiritfarer, really needs to so they can experience these great moments.

    See my full review here: http://gameswhisperer.home.blog/2020/11/07/spiritfarer-review/    … Expand
  8. ramob
    Jan 24, 2021
    0
    This game is made for soy boy critics. I gave up when I had to cut off a tree and I spent more than ten minutes in that task. Crap.

See all 23 User Reviews

Trailers

Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Best PS4 Game of 2020
94
#94 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2020

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