Spirittea

A crea-tea-ve twist on life simulation with a fun management mechanic.

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"Spirittea is a single-player Mystery RPG with masterful graphics, music, and humor, but with plenty of grinding and bugs. As a player who can now see spirits, you'll solve their problems to help them regain their memories and become paying customers, while also befriending the townspeople and exploring the mountain. The townspeople have their own schedules and hobbies, providing various activities to engage in."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 711 reviews

story66 positive mentions

grinding51 negative mentions

Charming art style and relaxing atmosphere reminiscent of Studio Ghibli films.
Engaging gameplay loop centered around managing a bathhouse for spirits, with plenty of tasks and quests to keep players occupied.
Active developer support with regular updates and responsiveness to community feedback.

Numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including game-breaking issues.
Controls can be clunky and unintuitive, especially for keyboard and mouse users, making certain mini-games frustrating.
Lack of clear tutorials and guidance for mechanics, leading to confusion about gameplay elements.

story
199 mentions
33 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The story in Spirittea is generally praised for its charm and engaging characters, drawing inspiration from the aesthetic of "Spirited Away." However, many players express frustration with the quest system, citing issues such as bugs, lack of direction, and time-sensitive tasks that can lead to missed opportunities. While the narrative unfolds beautifully and offers a cozy experience, the execution of quests can detract from the overall enjoyment, leaving some players feeling lost or unmotivated.
- “Absolutely beautiful game, such a good story and a joy to play.”
- “The story is captivating and intriguing, with a hint of craziness that I didn't expect and am thrilled to see.”
- “This is a delightfully cozy game, with a really interesting story and interesting cast of characters.”
- “Other than that, the storyline is broken, with spirits disappearing, quests that can't be completed, and other nonsense.”
- “My biggest issues are the lack of direction (you really have to seek out the story at times) and the buggy spirit and neighbor interactions.”
- “There's not much story when it comes to character or spirit interaction; most is vague and leaves the game feeling kind of empty.”
gameplay
185 mentions
27 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this title features a charming bathhouse management system that many players find engaging and relaxing, complemented by a variety of minigames and interactions with quirky spirits. However, the experience is marred by numerous bugs, clunky mechanics, and a lack of clear tutorials, leading to frustration and repetitiveness in gameplay. While the core mechanics are enjoyable, there is a consensus that improvements are needed to enhance the overall experience and reduce grindiness.
- “The core gameplay loop of managing the bathhouse is nice, and there's a lot of different minigames and objects to play around and interact with.”
- “The gameplay loop of the bathhouse is very relaxing while still giving enough activity/thought ordering to be a distraction and entertaining.”
- “I love the gameplay loop of working in the bathhouse and a lot of the dialogue is hilarious.”
- “I have had endless bugs with this game and have only been able to get a few hours of true gameplay while the other hours were spent having to completely restart.”
- “The gameplay loop at the bathhouse is okay, although it can get pretty old and repetitive pretty fast.”
- “The way the game explains its mechanics, i.e., fishing, stamina, and overall tutorials is just not good enough.”
music
124 mentions
60 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its relaxing and charming qualities, enhancing the cozy atmosphere and overall experience. Players appreciate the variety in the soundtrack, including seasonal changes and ambient sounds, which contribute to the game's enchanting vibe reminiscent of Studio Ghibli. However, some users find certain mini-games, like karaoke, to be challenging and suggest improvements for better gameplay integration.
- “The music is absolutely gorgeous, the pixel art is adorable, the game has different mechanics that you need to use throughout your adventure, characters are endearing, just....”
- “The music is wonderful, the challenges are challenging without being so hard I get discouraged.”
- “Spirittea is a delightfully cozy life sim with stunning pixel art and a beautiful soundtrack that feels like stepping into a Ghibli movie.”
- “The mini games, especially the karaoke, are hard. Trying to manage hitting the keys at the right moment, plus multiple ones coming in at the same time on a keyboard, and the choices of songs is slim.”
- “The songs are way too long -- there's only a few of them so far and they're difficult, boring, and just far too long.”
- “Having to press the 'c' key in addition to WASD is too much considering the notes don't feel like they coincide with the music.”
graphics
98 mentions
35 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received a generally positive reception, with many players praising its charming pixel art style and calming aesthetic reminiscent of Studio Ghibli films. While some find the visuals a bit too pixelated or busy, the overall artwork and design contribute to a cozy and engaging gameplay experience. The combination of beautiful graphics and a pleasant soundtrack enhances the game's appeal, making it a delightful choice for fans of the genre.
- “The aesthetic is so calming and honestly, this game soothes my soul!”
- “The game itself is beautiful, the characters are very fun and the art/aesthetic of the game is lovely.”
- “I love the concept; I love the graphics; I love the storyline - it's all just a great time!!”
- “Graphics are okay for what they are; but it's a bit too pixelated for my liking and feels too harsh around the edges.”
- “It's very unclear from the visuals where the characters will get stuck when walking (tea plantation?), and where they would just walk all over (veggie fields?).”
- “Also, the graphics are really busy, which hurt my eyes a little, and the map has the buildings dancing to its music, which makes it quite hard to read.”
grinding
59 mentions
5 % positive mentions
8 % neutral mentions
86 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it offers a cozy, routine-driven experience reminiscent of farming sims, it can become excessively repetitive and tedious, particularly in tasks like washing towels and managing the bathhouse. Some players appreciate the focus on relationships and quests over traditional farming mechanics, but others find the gameplay monotonous and lacking in engaging content outside of the main activities. Overall, while the game has a satisfying progression loop, it may require a significant time investment to enjoy fully.
- “It's not too grindy, but not too easy either.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A lot like Stardew Valley but no farming involved so far.”
- “The premise is great, but actual gameplay is so grindy.”
- “However, the game at this moment is extremely, painfully grindy.”
- “There is so little 'farming' as to not even be worth mentioning, the fishing is nowhere near as fun as some other games in the genre... there's just nothing to do or to occupy your time outside of the (again, very repetitive) bathhouse, day after day after day.”
humor
26 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and cleverness, featuring hilarious dialogue from NPCs and a comical cat companion that adds to the lighthearted atmosphere. Players appreciate the balance of humor with gameplay mechanics, noting that the writing is funny without being over-the-top, contributing to an enjoyable and calming experience. Overall, the game successfully evokes laughter while maintaining a cozy and engaging environment.
- “Also, your cat companion is absolutely hilarious and likes to hit other spirits with its glowing coin!”
- “I love the gameplay loop of working in the bathhouse and a lot of the dialogue is hilarious.”
- “The writing is great, funny in a way that isn’t over the top or trying too hard, and playing just feels fun.”
stability
24 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game is currently experiencing significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches that can lead to game-breaking scenarios, requiring players to restart from previous save points. While players appreciate the game's charm and are hopeful for future updates to address these problems, many feel that more testing should have been conducted prior to release. Overall, the stability is described as rough, but the developers appear to be actively working on fixes.
- “It's very buggy, often in a game-breaking way.”
- “There are bugs and glitches that require you to exit the game and restart from your last sleep-to-save point.”
- “However, as of now the game is very buggy.”
atmosphere
22 mentions
73 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charm and relaxation, featuring meticulous design, compelling character sprites, and a blend of cozy and spooky elements. The sound design, including delightful music and nature noises, enhances the immersive experience, making the environment inviting and engaging despite some gameplay limitations. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout aspect that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
- “This cozy game has a wonderfully atmospheric world full of lost spirits that you have to assist in helping remember who they are.”
- “While it's small and some things are a bit limited, this game has a really charming atmosphere, tight art direction, and a cast of characters who are strangely compelling given their limited dialogue and lack of events.”
- “The developers nailed the atmosphere and environment design.”
- “The game's meticulous design, from lively character sprites to seamless audio, creates an irresistible atmosphere.”
emotional
12 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting its wholesome and cute atmosphere that evokes feelings of joy and nostalgia, similar to titles like Stardew Valley. Many reviewers mention being moved to tears by the end, indicating a deep investment in the characters and story, while also expressing hope for future features like NPC romance to enhance their emotional experience further. Overall, the game is praised for its charming vibes and engaging spirit designs, despite some initial bugs.
- “I cried at the end!!!”
- “I am emotionally attached, I'm really hoping romancing NPCs comes in the future!”
- “People have been comparing it to Stardew, which I have 500+ hours on, and I can understand why they would say it, but I find it to be very different, but equally as wholesome and cute as Stardew.”
replayability
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The game offers a solid foundation for replayability, particularly appealing to completionists with its numerous side quests and potential for future content updates. While it currently feels somewhat limited in replay value, players express hope for ongoing developer support to enhance gameplay opportunities and expand the game's world.
- “I really hope that this game's developers follow a similar path as ConcernedApe with new release content fairly regularly: as it is now the game doesn't feel empty but does feel like it has limited replayability and has so much potential for new gameplay opportunities (more lore, romance options, designing the bathhouse and your own house's aesthetics, neighboring towns/play areas, pets?!).”
- “I do think it can be replayable.”
- “Provides replayability and is a haven for completionists with a plethora of side quests and more to come.”
character development
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is minimal, with characters primarily serving functional roles to assist in managing the bathhouse rather than undergoing significant growth or complexity. While the spirits and townsfolk feature beautiful designs and animations, their simplicity limits deeper narrative engagement.
- “There's lots to do between managing and upgrading the old bathhouse to service all kinds of different spirits, each with gorgeous character designs and beautifully animated pixel art and hanging out with more than a dozen of the townsfolk.”
- “The characters are rather simple; do not expect much character development at this point. They are merely a means to an end to help you at the bathhouse, and that's it.”
- “The character development is lacking, making the characters feel one-dimensional and unengaging.”
- “There is minimal character growth throughout the game, leaving the characters feeling static and uninspired.”
optimization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The optimization of mini-games, particularly the fishing mini-game, has received criticism for being heavily geared towards controller use, leading to frustration for players using mouse and keyboard. Many users express a desire for better support and balance for keyboard controls in these mini-games.
- “I find the fishing mini-game to be incredibly frustrating on mouse and keyboard. It is recommended to play on controller, but I still wish a lot of the mini-games weren't so focused on being controller optimized.”