Of course, the game doesn’t make exploring that easy. It’s nothing extraordinarily detailed, but it all goes towards creating colorful and enjoyable worlds, ones that you’ll want to explore as much of as possible, putting 2D platforming skills to good use along the way. The game starts out with quaint port towns, but then quickly sees you traveling to areas inspired by Japanese countrysides, industrial docks, modern urban cities, one entire area made entirely of billboards, campsites in woodlands and so much more. While the hooded beings, mystical creatures and supernatural elements may seem standard to some, the locales head into rather interesting territories. The fantasy world of Spiritfarer that all of these characters inhabit is a unique one as well, to say the least. It can be rather gripping stuff, so kudos to the writers here. Without spoiling anything, there are certain reveals and certain events each character has gone through that easily make you want to know more about them, getting attached to everyone along the way. It helps that the game plays it more subtle and vague when it comes to each character’s background, which means that certain details hit like a ton of bricks when delivered through more relatively casual dialogue. Some characters need to try and confront their past, some are ready to move on at a moment’s notice and aren’t afraid, some put up a brave front but are really afraid, some are still clinging to what they no longer have…it can get devastating at times.

This shouldn’t exactly be surprising for a game about helping spirits of the deceased move on to what could be a mysterious new plane of existence, but Spiritfarer uses its characters to explore all of the different ways people deal with death and does a good job at it. There’s a lot of nicely humorous, cute and heart-warming dialogue in Spiritfarer, which sets the tone nicely…and makes the more emotional moments hit like a ton of bricks. And that’s just including those on your ship. Yes, not only do they become more colorful in a literal sense, but they also show off more of their individual traits, mannerisms and oddities, with a cast including overly dramatic romantics, enthusiastic artists, jovial gourmets, strict teachers and more. Beautifully-animated ones at that with lovable, creative designs and stellar animation that showcases a ton of personality. Whenever these particular spirits board your ship, they transform from their initial form of somewhat cylindrical hooded figures into vibrant animals, such as deer, toads and birds. Although at certain points, it’s suggested that Stella needs help of their own… Armed with the Everlight, a glowing orb that powers their ship and can transform into different tools (as well as their cat Daffodil, who can be controlled by a second player), Stella will convince certain spirits to join them on their journey, where they’ll have to decide exactly when they’re ready to go, with Stella helping them every step of the way. Commanding their own ship now, Stella needs to sail around and check out various lands for spirits that inhabit them, looking for those ready to board Stella’s ship and eventually be ferried to the Everdoor once they’re ready to move on, where they’ll advance to…well, who knows what lies beyond. Spiritfarer sees you stepping into the role of Stella, tasked by Charon to become the new Spiritfarer. But can Spiritfarer deliver a similar level of addictive imagination, being fun while exploring themes of life, loss and letting go? I got hooked on it for at least ten straight hours at one point, so I’m gonna say “Yes.” And be it an all-time classic like Grim Fandango or even something extremely recent like Necrobarista, there have been a few video games that have used unique visions of the afterlife to tell imaginative stories that have kept me and several others hooked for hours. Sadly, I can’t say what that moment is without spoiling a hefty chunk of The Good Place, but it did eventually get me to thinking about various depictions of the afterlife or journeys towards it. There’s one key recurring moment in Spiritfarer, the new adventure game from developers Thunder Lotus, that kept reminding me of the finale to The Good Place.

Spiritfarer bounce