I didn’t expect Spiritfarer to emotionally ambush me, but here we are

So I booted up Spiritfarer thinking it was going to be some chill, artsy little indie game where I float around in a boat and hug cartoon animals.

What I got was a beautifully disguised existential crisis in cozy pajamas.

Let’s talk about it.



🚢 The premise:
You’re Stella, a ferry master for the dead. Basically, you inherit Charon’s job, but make it soft, warm, and full of soup. You sail the seas, help spirits deal with their unfinished business, and when they’re ready, you guide them into the afterlife.
It sounds cute. It is cute. But also… devastating.

This game doesn’t slap you with sadness. It whispers it in your ear while playing a gentle ukulele in the background.

😢 The characters:
Every spirit you help is basically a full-blown metaphor for death, grief, or letting go. And no, it’s not subtle — but somehow it works.
There’s a hedgehog grandma who bakes pies and forgets who you are.
There’s a snake who was once your spiritual mentor.
There’s a freaking lion who’s basically your ex and emotionally wrecks you with three lines of dialogue.

I didn’t expect to cry.
I cried.

🌱 The gameplay:
It’s half platformer, half resource-management sim, all cozy. You build cabins, cook meals, grow crops, hug ghosts. On paper — simple. In practice? Addictive. There’s a rhythm to it.
But let me be honest: inventory management is a nightmare. You will curse the name of whoever thought “let’s give them 74 types of fabric and one chest.”

Also, the minigames? Charming, but after 20+ hours, I didn’t want to chase comets or catch lightning anymore. I wanted to process my feelings.

🎨 The art & sound:
Gorgeous hand-drawn visuals. Smooth animations. And the music?
The music will end you. Soft piano themes that sneak up on you while you’re waving goodbye to a spirit friend. I got misty-eyed over a boat. A. Boat.

Final thoughts:
Spiritfarer is a hug disguised as a goodbye. It doesn’t try to be edgy or clever. It just asks you to slow down, be present, and accept that everything — even good things — must end.

I went in for the cozy vibes. I left emotionally gutted, holding a virtual daffodil, whispering, “I wasn’t ready to say goodbye.”

If you’re grieving anything — a person, a pet, a past version of yourself — this game will reach in, find that soft spot, and hold it gently until you’re ready to let go.

10/10 would cry again.

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