Game Over: Spiritfarer

So, very recently, I played through Spiritfarer. Now, I played it so recently that I was lucky to play it before it was taken off PlayStation Plus. Though, as a warning, I have to say this article will contain major spoilers and discussions of death.

Now, I’m a sucker for mythology and even more of a sucker for anything to do with depression. However, I’d put off playing this wholesome game for a while, mostly because my friend kept talking about it, and it took her playing it on a call for me to actually sit down and give it a go.

I’ll admit, it was a bit of a topical time for me to start playing it, because mid-way through, I was grieving for one of my pets. So, was this a bad time to play it? Probably. Did it help me get through the process a little bit? Maybe? So, let’s talk about it.

When I first started it, I knew that there would be amusing dialogue intermingled with helping others pass onto the afterlife. But, I wasn’t expecting there to be a cat, whom I could pet as many times as I wanted. Let me tell you, I would die for Daffodil. If anything happened to that fluff ball, there would be war. But the most I knew of all, was that there would be a boat, and I would gather spirits to take them to the Everdoor.

Okay, I didn’t know about the Everdoor, but it’s the first thing I learned about, regardless. So, in Spiritfarer, you take on the role of Stella, who was a palliative care nurse, and the new Spiritfarer, taking over the role now that Charon, whom fans of Greek mythology will recognise as being the ferryman to the Underworld, has retired and moved through the Everdoor. Stella takes on her childhood form and all the friends and family she meets take on the form of different animals. The first of whom you’ll meet is Gwen, a deer who was also Stella’s childhood friend.

Gwen will help you get to grips with your role as the Spiritfarer, and she’s one of the chillest people to come onto my boat. Unfortunately, she’ll also be the first of many you’ll help to pass on. What’s difficult about Spiritfarer is that you get attached to all the different characters. Whether it’s Gwen’s issues with her father, Summer’s battle with the dragon, or Giovanni’s philandering ways. Everyone has their own distinct issue, and they all have their own personality and themes. The fact that you get to build each character a house and improve it, making them dishes, and going on quests for them, makes it hard to let go.

With each member of the cast, the closer we learn as to how Stella came to the Everdoor, and it’s a difficult one. In spite of the fun mini-games and the platforming, there’s the fear that time is running out for Stella. After all, this is essentially purgatory, and Stella and Daffodil may be there to help others pass on, but it will all culminate in Stella's own journey of accepting her fate.

Some stories hit me harder than others. I was hit surprisingly hard by Giovanni, a lion who served as a surrogate grandfather, who chose to move on. I say chose to, because everyone gives Stella the chance to say no. I never did though, because that would be cruel. Giovanni recounted his stories, and he made sure to tell Stella how proud of her he was. Considering both of my grandfathers have passed; I was unable to say goodbye for different reasons.

Outside of these depressing moments though, were some insane hijinks that showed that there is more to life than death. After all, there was the illegal lemon smuggling ring that refocused their efforts on tomatoes, which led to the bust of a tomato juice stand. There was even Susan, the walrus who hates Stella and everyone else with a passion, and Buck. Oh, Buck.

Buck is the only party member who can’t pass on, and it threw me through a loop. Instead, he’s there to keep you company until you’re ready to pass on, yourself. He’ll supply you with little errands, and he also gave me my own D&D-inspired side quest, and for that, I will always be grateful.

So, would I play Spiritfarer again? Absolutely. Not anytime soon, however, as I said, I timed it well enough to play through it all before PlayStation Plus removed it from the catalogue. However, I definitely want to play it again, if not to just go full completionist on it.