This is the third in a new Learningworks for Kids series, Game Spotlight! In each video, we are highlighting some great games both old and new and defining the key executive functions that can be strengthened through play. This video will focus on the new Nintendo Switch release Spiritfarer. Click here to watch the video and learn more. The transcript is also provided below for your convenience. A special thanks to our videographer Alexa for her work on this awesome video!

Hey everyone, welcome to Learningworks for Kids Game Spotlights! This is a new series where we will be walking through some of your favorite games and talking about how playing them can help you get better at real-world skills! 

Today we are talking all about Spiritfarer! Spiritfarer is made by Thunder Lotus Games and is described as “a cozy management game about dying.” In the game, you play as Stella, a young girl who, with her cat Daffodil, has been tasked with becoming the new Spiritfarer and taking the souls of the dead to the underworld. 

Sound scary? The game is actually quite peaceful and sweet. Each spirit comes to live on the boat with Stella and your job is to keep them happy and let them talk through their memories of when they were alive. Just like in real life, you must use Self-Awareness skills to have Stella check in on each spirit to see what they need. Sometimes they want food, sometimes they want a new home with better furniture. And sometimes they just want a hug. 

To keep the spirits on your boat happy, you need to construct various buildings on your boat. This means traveling to islands to gather items and then keeping them organized in your inventory so you know what is left to collect before you can complete each task. A limited number of buildings will fit on your boat so occasionally you need to use organization to move buildings around or upgrade the boat to allow for more building space. 

That’s all the time we have for today but be sure to join us for the next Game Spotlight at learningworksforkids.com!