Since its inception, Xbox Game Pass has changed the way game companies approach monthly subscription services, and has provided fans with a vast library of games to access on both Microsoft’s home consoles and PC. Some are high-budget experiences from first party developers, and others are smaller titles from the indie scene that find audiences because of the cost-effective nature of the platform.Spiritfareris one such game, and as itdeparts Xbox Game Pass at the end of August, players have limited time to experience its charming story, pretty visuals and satisfying progression loop.
Developed by Thunder Lotus Games and announced in Summer 2019 at the Xbox E3 conference,Spiritfareris a pleasant change of pace for the games industry. Its story is a delight, wielding moments of genuine joy and whimsical heartbreak. It arrived on Game Pass a year after its announcement at launch in August 2020, and while it remains available on other systems, Xbox' subscription service undoubtedly helped it along the way. Now that it’s leaving, players should give it the attention it deserves.
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Spiritfarer’s Charm is Inescapable
Focusing onStella, one of the best video game protagonists of 2020,Spiritfarergives players the task of assisting spirits into the afterlife. Stella is a novice ferry master who takes over from Charon in the game’s opening stages. Sailing the sea in a boat that can be upgraded to help make the residents comfortable is what makes up much of the gameplay, adding accommodations and facilities to make each side character’s time on the vessel as pleasant as possible. It bears similarities to games likeStardew ValleyandNight in the Woods, as it perfectly blends a heartwarming and emotionally-charged story with gameplay that makes each in-game day feel truly productive.
Spiritfarermay be leaving Game Pass at the end of August, but it’s available on so many other platforms that it’s easy to continue the story past August 31. As well as an iOS and Android release scheduled for 2022,Spiritfareris even available on Stadia, so gamers of all persuasions can experience Stella’s story. That tale is littered with heartfelt moments and wonderful character development, with 2D hand-drawn visuals and delightful pastel colors accentuating the atmosphere beautifully.Spiritfareris as pleasant to watch as it is to play.
Spiritfarer Utilizes Game Pass' Benefits
LikeHades, which is also leaving Game Pass,Spiritfarer’s charm can be felt from the opening few scenes. It’s not a game that requires dozens of hours to get to the good stuff, and just an hour or two will be a sufficient amount of time to understand its core mechanics and make friends with its plentiful characters. It perfectly shows the benefits of Xbox Game Pass, introducing players to smaller titles that otherwise would have struggled to gain an audience.
Spiritfarer’s quality and almost universal critical acclaim would surely have been enough to garner the interest of some, and its game design lends itself perfectly to the portability of the Nintendo Switch. However,Xbox Game Pass' cost effectivenessmeans that players are more likely to give titles likeSpiritfarera shot. While a few days surely isn’t enough time to enjoy everything that Thunder Lotus Games' latest project has to offer, it is enough to experience its charm and gauge if it’s worthy of players' time.Spiritfareris measured by in-game days likeStardew Valley, and it will only take a couple of them to see whySpiritfareris not just worth playing before it leaves Game Pass, but is worth a full price purchase.
Spiritfareris available for PC, PS4, Stadia, Switch, and Xbox One.
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