With Thanksgiving and winter break coming up, there are a number of games to explore to help unwind and recharge. We are all deserving of a break and the games listed below will help turn off your brain without stressful objectives. These games are available on all platforms for easy access, to give everyone a chance to play.
Spiritfarer
Release Date: August 18, 2020
“Spiritfarer” was developed and published by Thunder Lotus Games, a Canadian studio. This adventure management game invites players to play a young woman named Stella. A ferrymaster tasked to guide deceased characters to the afterlife, hence the title of the game.
You start off on your boat. As you explore the different islands, you meet different soul characters and go on quests to help them pass on to the afterlife. As you meet and befriend the different souls, they board your ship and travel with you, setting up their rooms that match the environment of their spirit animal. Your boat is turned into a floating community filled with companionship and you get a glimpse into their joys, regrets and any unfinished business.
You are able to manage and upgrade your boat with upgrades such as a saw mill, wheat mill, garden, kitchen, an orchard and much more. These crafting rooms help you acquire material to gift the souls in order for them to improve their living space. You help them fulfill their final wishes by cooking their favorite meals and crafting items they request.
The basis of this game is that you nourish the relationships aboard your ship. Each soul encountered enlightens Stella about life and having memorable moments as you help them pass on, poetically teaching the player how to cope with saying goodbye to the deceased.
For gamers that love to experience all aspects of the game, you can easily spend 40 hours playing, but it can be completed in 25 hours. I always find myself going back to this game because of how enchanting the music is and semi-challenging the movement controls are. As you progress through the game you can unlock special moves that Stella can use, using Obols at shrines.
“Spiritfarer” is rich with stories about loss, love and acceptance with each soul having their own unique background and memories. The dialog is heartwarming and sometimes bittersweet, but as you help each spirit, you learn about their journeys and help them find peace.
Spiritfarer Trailer:
Unpacking
Release Date: November 2, 2021
If you’re looking for a game that makes moving less stressful, “Unpacking” is for you! This puzzle game puts the fun in finding just the right place for everything you own. Less chaotic than moving in real life, “Unpacking” is a satisfying and therapeutic puzzle game where you follow an unnamed character, during major life events.
Players unpack the boxes, arranging the character’s belongings into various rooms as they move throughout their life. With each move, new objects are added and old ones returned, and players begin to piece together the protagonist’s story. Gradually, you learn who the protagonist is, what she values, her hobbies and how her life changes from childhood to adulthood. All the items that follow her: her writing journals, her chipped mug, and her favorite stuffed animal act as milestones in her journey.
What makes “Unpacking” so satisfying is that there is no timer, no score and no enemies to defeat. It is just you, your boxes and organizing to your satisfaction. The lack of pressure allows the player to complete each level at their own pace. There is encouragement in creativity in how you arrange the items, whether it is perfectly aligning books or placing knick-knacks like you would arrange your own.
The pixel art and the gentle soundtrack curates a cozy environment where the player easily gets sucked into reorganizing their space according to their taste. Even if everything is in a spot, you can still rearrange to what pleases your aesthetic and create a space you will be proud of or what you believe is important to the protagonist.
Even with the player granted free range, there are some limitations in the game. Certain items are required to be placed in specific locations around the protagonist’s apartment or it will be highlighted in red. There is even a level where there are items already in the apartment. It is up to the player to reorganize in order for everything to fit. It is a gentle nudge, reminding players the realities of organizing and moving while still having enough freedom of making their space their own.
Unpacking Trailer:
A Little to the Left
Release Date: November 8, 2022
“A Little to the Left” is a puzzle game developed by Canadian Indie studio Max Inferno and published by Secret Mode. Annie Macmillan and Lukas Steinman are the creators of “A Little to the Left,” inspired by the cluttered mess of their own home and their cat.
In “A Little to the Left,” everyday household items are presented to you and you must tidy them according to subtle context clues. Should these tin cans be arranged from smallest to largest, or an aligned pattern on their label? No matter your choice, objects snap into place with a pleasing “click” sound.
“A Little to the Left” is intriguing because it makes simple tasks feel important. While other puzzle games have the goal to crack complicated codes, this game rewards you for organizing everyday household items in a fun order with a star popping up on your screen.
Yet, do not be fooled, this game is clever. What feels right is not always what the game is looking for and sometimes, there are two ways to solve the puzzle. The player is kept on their toes when you realize there is more than one “right” answer, and finding the other solution makes it even more satisfying. In a way, this game trains you to pay attention to the finer details, and soon, you are looking around your own space wondering if your belongings could be just a little neater.
As you work through the puzzles, you will encounter a cat. Just like real life, it has a goal of undoing all of your hard work and disorganizing your things. Make sure you solve the puzzle before its paw comes and scatters your objects.
The soundtrack creates an atmosphere that is easy for the player to lose themselves in. There is no timer nor penalty, which leaves room for the player to experiment without the fear of failing the level. Whether you are a perfectionist or enjoy the cozy game genre, this game is a must-try!
A Little to the Left Trailer:
As the hustle of the holiday season settles in, this short list should encourage you to make the best out of this Thanksgiving and winter break, even if you are not a gamer!
Whether you are looking for an emotional story as in “Spiritfarer,” organizing someone else’s life in “Unpacking,” or a satisfying mindful puzzle game found in “A Little to the Left,” these games offer a low-stress environment where you can relax and recharge.