Ferrying spirits across mystical seas
You play Stella, the ferrymaster to the deceased, a Spiritfarer. Your job is to build a boat, sail it across mystical seas, and look after the spirits on board before finally releasing them into the afterlife. The days are spent farming, mining, fishing, harvesting, cooking, weaving and crafting, then using what you gather to upgrade the ship and make gifts for your passengers. On top of that you run, jump and glide through platforming levels while exploring the world. The game takes about 30 hours to finish and over 50 hours to see everything.
Playing together with a friend
The second player joins as Daffodil the cat in optional local co-op, so one of you steers Stella's story while the other helps with the day-to-day work on the boat. Between you there is plenty to keep busy: tending the farm, working the mines, fishing, cooking, crafting and hauling resources back to the ship for upgrades. The Lily Update brought improvements to local co-op play. Remote Play Together is supported as well, which lets a friend join over the internet as if they were sitting beside you.
What to know before you set sail
The Farewell Edition bundles the base game with three major content updates. The Jackie & Daria Update sends Stella to a new island with a dilapidated hospital, two new spirits in Jackie and Daria, a new platforming event and new ferry upgrades. The Beverly Update adds the tiny owl spirit Beverly with her own storyline, new boat buildings, new collectibles and a range of quality-of-life improvements. The Lily Update introduces Lily the Butterfly Spirit, who guides you through scenes that add depth to Stella's own story. Together that is an expanded world and four new spirit friends. The tone is cozy and hand-drawn, but the subject matter is death and saying goodbye to friends you have grown close to, so expect an emotional ride alongside the relaxing management loop.