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Spirittea is a classic farm/life sim that is packed full of lively characters and a wonderful town to explore. However, it feels pretty hectic and I struggled to keep on top of every task. Now, this may not annoy some people, but I play this genre for a chilled time. This is why I adore games like Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley. Though they offer plenty of depth, you are in charge of your destiny. Sadly, this wasn’t always the case here, and it was occasionally overwhelming.
This otherworldly sim experience was developed by Cheesemaster Games and No More Robots. Furthermore, it is a single-player game that has a lush pixelated aesthetic. The game plays out from a bird’s eye view and the relaxing music juxtaposes the never-ending hectic list of tasks. As such, it’s a little bizarre, but strangely addictive at the same time.
Spirittea tells a familiar tale.
In typical genre fashion, you are new to a village and the locals are excited to meet you. Moreover, they can’t do enough to help you settle in. Yet, there is always a hidden reason and things quickly unfold as favours are called in. Spirittea has no nasty secrets, but there is a brilliant ghostly edge that is pleasant to see. The hero moves into his new town. It is quaint and pretty, but also haunted. These pesky spirits want your help, and you are more than happy to give it to them.
As you relax in your new home, you make yourself a delicious cup of tea. The magical tea leaves help you to connect with the troublesome spirits. Wonyan a divisive cat spirit introduces you to the local bathhouse. This abandoned building needs to be restored so you can help every spirit relax and communicate.
Though the concept isn’t new, I liked the twist on old ideas. The bathhouse requires a lot of attention and this will consume your time. Accordingly, you must juggle your responsibilities and your friendships to make things work.
Time to make friends.
Ahhhh, the classic mechanic of friendship and love. Spirittea utilises this idea to build a sense of community and worth. Additionally, once you maximise your friendship meter, you can get them to help you during day-to-day tasks. This was a brilliant idea, but things felt a little skewed. Consequently, it wasn’t until the latter part of the game that things moved at a decent pace.
The NPC friendship is essential for your bathhouse to succeed. Each NPC helps to drive ghosts to your business and this builds a rounder picture of the surrounding world. This was phenomenal as each character and ghost has a wild personality that is fascinating to see. Moreover, the town and the residents feel alive and energetic. Subsequently, every ounce of exploration and every quest was a joy to experience.
Though I found much of the gameplay fun, the mini-games were repetitive. High energy tasks became tiresome and I would look for activities that consumed less of my time. This was a shame as there was a pleasant charm to everything on offer. Yet, when you’ve sung karaoke for the millionth time, it does get somewhat tedious.
Spirittea has a great dated feel.
Pixelated aesthetics have a wholesome nature that reminds me of growing up. As such, Spirittea filled me with a joyful nostalgia that was warm and enjoyable. Furthermore, each character has a unique look and the ghosts were as bizarre as you’d expect. Though the mini-games were basic by design, I liked the simplicity and how easy things were to work out.
The audio didn’t quite match the hectic workload. However, it was pleasant and nice to listen to. On top of this, the sound effects were suitable and made me smile more often than not. This doesn’t do anything unique, but I liked the pleasant soundscape and its relaxing ways.
Simple controls.
Running the bathhouse was time-consuming. Yet, I enjoyed the fun games and the excellent control layout. The tutorial was straightforward and understanding each goal was a cinch. The hardest part of this title was managing your time correctly and making every person happy.
There is plenty of replay value and longevity if you get on with your ghostly friends. Moreover, each NPC has a wonderful personality and getting to know them was great fun. As such, if this gets its claws into your skin, you won’t be able to put it down.
Spirittea was a familiar but nice indie title.
Though Spirittea doesn’t get its work-life balance right, I loved the story and the heartwarming personalities. Additionally, the mini-games were fun even though some were repetitive. Accordingly, if you love this genre, I recommend buying it here! Can you appease every spirit? Make some friends, run your business, and keep those ghosts happy.
