“Welcome to the big show.”
These were the first words I heard when I walked into rehearsals. We were about to announce our studio’s third game, Spiritfarer, on the biggest stage in the world: E3.
My name is Will Dubé, and I’m the founder of Thunder Lotus Games. Five years ago, I quit my job to put an indie game on Kickstarter. Today, I’m writing to you from beautiful Los Angeles as we introduce our new game, Spiritfarer, to the world on the biggest stage in gaming.
Spiritfarer is a cozy management game about dying. It’s a game about heritage and what you leave behind. It’s about relationships you create and care for, and the bitter-sweetness of saying goodbye. We’ve all grieved the passing of a loved one. We know that with time, the sadness will pass, and the good times remembered. A laugh, a smile, a thought. This is what the game strives for and why we think it needs to exist. These universal experiences tie us together and make us fundamentally human. They are important emotions that are often held back, or pushed aside in this crazy world we live in.
Spiritfarer holds a special place in my heart. It’s the polar opposite of our previous game, Sundered, and a huge creative risk for our studio. There is no violence in the game, no fail states. You can progress faster or more slowly. I like to joke that the game is rated C for cozy. Its focus is on the Spirits and your relationship to them. What are their final requests? How can you accomplish them? What does it mean to you? To them? How to you choose to build your boat and embark on this adventure? What will you leave behind?
We hope that you’re as excited as we are to bring Spiritfarer into the world. If you’d like to find out more about the game, please visit our website: thunderlotusgames.com.
I wish you all the best and look forward to seeing you in person at conventions and shows around the world.