Spirit City: Lofi Sessions
- April 8, 2024
- Mooncube Games
- 13h median play time
"Spirit City: Lofi Sessions" is a gamified focus tool featuring a soothing lofi soundtrack and stress-relieving dynamic soundscapes. Customize your character and virtual space as you discover and collect spirits, while utilizing handy features to improve concentration and reduce stress. The game features stream-friendly music and various customization options for a personalized experience.
Reviews
- The game provides a cozy and relaxing atmosphere with customizable music and sound effects, making it ideal for studying or working.
- The character and room customization options are extensive, allowing players to create a unique experience that reflects their personal style.
- The spirit collection mechanic adds an engaging element to the game, rewarding players for completing tasks and encouraging productivity.
- The game lacks depth in its productivity features, with basic task management and habit tracking that may not satisfy users looking for more robust tools.
- Players can quickly unlock all available spirits and customization options, leading to a sense of limited content and replayability.
- The in-game music playlists can become repetitive over time, and the lack of integration with popular music services like Spotify may limit the listening experience.
- music2,544 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in "Spirit City: Lofi Sessions" is widely praised for its relaxing and soothing qualities, primarily featuring a selection of lofi tracks that enhance focus and productivity. Players appreciate the ability to customize their auditory experience by layering ambient sounds like rain and wind, as well as the option to stream their own music via an in-game YouTube browser. However, some users express a desire for more variety in the music playlists and integration with other music platforms like Spotify, as the current selection can become repetitive over time.
“Come for the great music and good vibes; stay for the tiny cute creatures like spiders made of yarn, or fiery hedgehogs that live in fireplaces.”
“I highly recommend this game to anyone that enjoys listening to chill lofi music while working on other projects or sleeping.”
“The music is soothing and helps me focus and I love the room aesthetic in the game.”
“My only criticism would be that we can't access our local music (on the computer) with the game, so I never use the music part of Spirit City.”
“This needs a Spotify integration ASAP, and until then it's the same lofi songs over and over again for me - which probably means this ends up in the not 'played' category pretty soon.”
“The music is limited to a few set playlists, so I wish there was the option to integrate Spotify.”
- graphics752 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Spirit City: Lofi Sessions" are widely praised for their charming and cute aesthetic, featuring a cozy art style that enhances the overall relaxing atmosphere of the game. Users appreciate the extensive customization options for characters and environments, although some express a desire for more diverse clothing choices. While the visuals are generally well-received, a few players note performance issues, such as slow loading times and resource demands on lower-end devices.
“The art style is wonderfully soothing, with its warm color palette and soft animations that transport you to a peaceful urban haven.”
“The graphics are so cute, the different styles are awesome, and I know the devs have talked about adding even more to the game.”
“The visuals are gorgeous, I hope we can get more interior design and character options in the future, but for now it is more than enough as it is.”
“Takes a good 10 minutes to actually load all the visuals and then it's a stuttering mess.”
“Another issue related to graphics is the performance: my laptop was overheating and working hard for such a simple game.”
“Graphics look like a mobile game from 2015.”
- atmosphere206 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Spirit City: Lofi Sessions" is widely praised for its cozy, customizable environment, enhanced by soothing lofi music and a variety of atmospheric soundscapes. Players appreciate the ability to tailor their surroundings, including time of day and weather effects, creating a tranquil space ideal for productivity, relaxation, or self-reflection. The charming visuals and engaging sound design contribute to a delightful experience that many find helpful for focusing on tasks or unwinding after a long day.
“With its chill, lofi soundtrack and calming visuals, this game creates an ideal atmosphere for reading, journaling, or simply unwinding after a long day.”
“The atmosphere of the game is super cozy and customizable!”
“As you step into your virtual bedroom sanctuary, you're greeted by a tranquil atmosphere and a captivating lofi soundtrack that sets the perfect mood for relaxation, studying, or self-reflection.”
“The atmosphere you can create in that room is really soothing.”
“There's a low-pressure environment that helps keep things less like a work-like taskmaster atmosphere and more of a personal goal-oriented drive to do what you want to do for your life; not in the name of productivity for productiveness sake, but in the name of self-driven action.”
“I'm just saying it would be nice to have something to do in game when you wanna give your brain a little break, but don't want to leave the atmosphere you've created.”
- gameplay110 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Spirit City" is characterized by its slow-paced, relaxing mechanics that blend spirit collection with customization and productivity tools, making it suitable for casual play and focus enhancement. While some players appreciate the soothing atmosphere and light engagement, others note that the gameplay is quite limited, often feeling more like a toolset than a traditional game, with minimal complexity and a lack of depth in mechanics. Overall, it appeals to those seeking a cozy, aesthetic experience rather than a robust gaming challenge.
“The slow-paced waiting for spirits to appear and the anticipation of new decorations for your cozy little abode make for a perfect blend of relaxing gameplay and a sense of accomplishment.”
“I’ve already logged almost 13 hours of gameplay, and every session feels like a soothing retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life.”
“The combination of thoughtful mechanics and soothing music is simply delightful.”
“As far as the actual game goes, there is very limited actual gameplay, but that's the point.”
“It's a great vibe and concept, but after just 2 days of gameplay, I have unlocked every spirit and all I have left is a slow grind of earning credits so I can get new clothes and color variants until I run out of those too.”
“I was able to collect all of the creatures in about 4 hours of actual dedicated spirit gathering, and then the 'gameplay' of this just kinda... ends.”
- monetization70 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 63 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is generally well-received, with no in-app purchases or microtransactions, allowing players to earn in-game currency through gameplay. However, while players appreciate the option to listen to YouTube music, they express frustration over the presence of ads from YouTube, particularly for those without a premium subscription. Overall, the initial purchase price is considered reasonable, but the reliance on YouTube for music can detract from the experience due to disruptive advertisements.
“The spirits are adorable, there aren't any weird microtransactions like a lot of games similar to this have had in the past. The price is extremely reasonable given how in-depth the customization is for your character, the room, etc. It seems very well planned and thought out, and I can't wait to see future updates where they hopefully add more things/adjust things based on community feedback.”
“I love the customizing features in the character, room, and creatures, the ambient sound options, the chill creature capture, and the tickets being earned through actions/activities completed instead of microtransactions.”
“There's no microtransactions; you earn the in-game currency just by playing the game and completing tasks.”
“I still would like to not hear any advertisements, since I can't use adblock on this app.”
“So you've now got access to loads of lofi beats to relax/study to, but you're gonna get hit with disrupting ads.”
“It feels like a cash grab.”
- optimization60 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some users experiencing significant performance issues, particularly on non-gaming systems, leading to stuttering and overheating. However, others report smooth performance, especially when running in the background, and appreciate the developers' ongoing improvements. Recommendations for better performance include adjusting settings like framerate and enabling v-sync, indicating that while there are optimization challenges, there is potential for enhancement in future updates.
“The animations are smooth and it's so much more optimized since it came out; I can download and even play other games while I have this on in the background.”
“I've run this next to most of my bigger games and it has next to no impact on PC performance, which is pretty awesome.”
“The devs optimized it very well to run in the background.”
“I can't recommend it for one reason: performance.”
“Takes a good 10 minutes to actually load all the visuals and then it's a stuttering mess.”
“Another issue related to graphics is the performance: my laptop was overheating and working hard for such a simple game.”
- emotional56 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its emotional impact, described as cute, relaxing, and wholesome, creating a comforting atmosphere that helps players manage anxiety and enhance focus. Users appreciate the beautiful execution of its concepts, including the spiritography and curated music playlists, which contribute to a sense of inclusivity and emotional relief. Many have found it to be a heartfelt and motivating experience, even leading to moments of tears due to its warmth and supportiveness.
“This game made me feel instantly chill and comforted.”
“Not only is it extremely useful in helping me get things done without fear of punishment, it made me cry more than once due to how inclusive it is.”
“I am nearly 40 years old and this cozy game made me emotional.”
- story30 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 87 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is minimal, focusing more on cozy gameplay and productivity rather than a traditional narrative. Players express a desire for more structured storytelling elements, such as character development and long-term goals, while enjoying the relaxing environment and side quests that enhance their experience. Overall, it serves as a backdrop for personal tasks rather than a central narrative-driven game.
“Edit: nearly everything I asked for was added in this update and more! I genuinely love this program and decorating my avatar to look like my characters while I write out a story.”
“Narrative: there isn’t much narrative here, it's kind of like 'you need a budget' having a story when that’s clearly not the intended purpose.”
“But I'd also like longer-term things to work for: more decor/clothing/spirits, maybe level up to unlock new rooms or room features, a storyline to work through, etc.”
“I'd love to have elements of the game that let me build a story for them.”
- humor20 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it clever and well-executed, often highlighting amusing moments like unexpected character customizations. The game serves as a lighthearted companion for daily tasks, featuring creative and funny spirits that enhance the experience. Overall, the humor adds a charming layer to gameplay, making it enjoyable for those seeking a fun and engaging way to manage their time.
“The post that introduced me featured a player who had left the game running in the background, only to find her husband had given her character a beard — a cute and hilarious moment that caught my attention.”
“Really funny, clever, and well-executed overall.”
“And about those spirits - they're creative and hilarious.”
- character development20 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its cute and inclusive designs, offering a variety of customization options for both characters and environments. While many players appreciate the aesthetic appeal and accessibility, there are calls for more diverse masculine options and additional features to enhance character uniqueness. Overall, the character design is seen as a strong point, contributing to the game's charm and engagement.
“The character design is accessible, aesthetically pleasing, and varied. The activities and soundscapes really help me lock in, and because I'm streaming it, a bunch of my friends have realized how great this game is and are probably using it as we speak.”
“There are some great character designs, and I love the ability to customize your character and your room.”
“The music and sounds are lovely, the character designs and environment are adorable, and I love the customization options.”
“Character creation: male character design could be improved. I kind of wish that there were more eyes and hair designs for the boys.”
“I only wish there were more masculine options in room decoration and character design. I understand I might not be the target audience, but it would be nice to have some more hardcore and darker themes for it.”
“Not so much a game as it is a custom environmental and music mixer with some cute add-ins for character design and customization.”
- stability14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 57 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability with no significant crashes or graphical glitches reported, indicating robust performance. However, some users have experienced minor interactivity issues with UI buttons and freezing when using the recommended DX12 fix. Additionally, the requirement to join a Discord server for troubleshooting has been noted as an inconvenience.
“It looks and runs great; you can stream it without worrying about music being silenced or any copyright issues (last I checked), and the pets and customization options are genuinely very cute.”
“At the base level, it runs great.”
“Runs great minimized and in the background if you need to do something else and just want to listen to the music.”
“The only downside is an apparent requirement to join a Discord server for troubleshooting, a modern-day indie dev trend that I really would prefer fall out of fashion.”
“I play on Steam Deck, and my only issues so far have been trying to type out my to-dos and some interactivity glitches with UI buttons.”
“Even using the DX12 fix recommended by the devs, it freezes everything up including the mouse, so you can't actually do the work you put the productivity manager on to do.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some appreciate the ability to multitask and use the game as a fun distraction from monotonous tasks, others feel that certain grinding elements can be tedious. There is a desire for more grindable content, as some players reach a point where they have completed most objectives and seek additional challenges. Overall, the game serves as a useful tool for balancing gaming with productivity.
“I struggle to stay focused on monotonous tasks like listening to dry online lectures or reading tedious weather charts.”
“Spirits are nice, kind of tedious to have to do certain things to obtain them in my opinion, but a cool small feature nonetheless.”
“I do sort of wish it was slightly more grindy because I'm towards the end of the spirit list, have all the decor I want, and the outfit I want, and I'll probably still keep using it as a to-do list but I'm not sure.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game has limited replay value, but many players appreciate its calming presence, making it suitable for background play to help ease stress.
“May not have a lot of replay value, but having it in the background just to ease my nerves is everything!”