For being a relatively short video game, Spiritfarer is full of fun references that could be easily missed in the process of guiding spirits to the Everdoor. From Twin Peaks to Dungeons and Dragons, here’s a look at some of the discovered easter eggs so far.
The newest Thunder Lotus game is heavy in dialogue, and some players may find themselves rushing through the literature to get the action. This should be done at the player’s own risk, as they could easily overlook key points of Spiritfarer’s story in addition to some pop culture references that enhance the cleverness of the game.
One easter egg in Spiritfarer that’s already made headlines is the reference to Animal Crossing‘s Tom Nook, a raccoon/Tanooki villager often criticized for his Capitalistic tendencies. Spiritfarer features its own greedy “trash panda,” Theodore, who initially sells seeds for outrages prices for Raccoon Inc. Additionally, there are many blunt statements about Dungeons and Dragons, and more subtle references to movies like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.
Spiritfarer’s D&D And Magic: the Gathering References
One of the spirits Stella encounters is the basilisk, Buck — an avid RPG table-top gamer who’s chock-full of Spiritfarer easter eggs. Buck’s Lair of Wonders includes pop culture references such as a Dungeon Master screen and figurines of Guts, Griffith, and Casca from the manga Berserk, as well as two little hobbits from The Lord of The Rings trilogy. Buck consistently makes Dungeons and Dragons references, and one of his quests heavily revolves around the fantasy-inspired game.
He compares D&D (W&W) to Magic: the Gathering (Sorcery: the Reunion) and a majority of his dialogue stems from tabletop gaming. Being the lovable nerd he is, one of Buck’s lines state, “Its perfume possess the distinct aromas of lilac and elderberries,” which is a subtle nod to Yenefer’s trademark scent of lilac and gooseberries in The Witcher series. Additionally, one of the tchotchkes that can be sold is the Mint Collectible Card with the description, “Sorcery: the Reunion, 1st edition. Let’s hope it’s a Black Thunder Lotus,” where Thunder Lotus Games tie in their own fun twist to one of Magic: The Gathering’s most powerful cards.
Spiritfarer’s Star Wars & Other Movie References
One funny reference in Spiritfarer mocks an often criticized Star Wars Episode II quote about Anakin’s disdain for sand. The Sawdust description in Spiritfarer states, “It’s coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere.” Other items in the inventory make similar allusions. After using oil and fish to make Fish Sticks in the kitchen, its description reads, “Simple and delicious. Wednesday is fish sticks,” — a quote between Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise in the Oscar-winning movie, Rain Man.
The Clam Chowder description mentions that “It can be used as a password, too,” which is what Jim Carrey must say in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective to advance with his case (just remember: New England clam chowder is the white, not the red). Finally, the Black Coffee description reads, “Black as midnight on a moonless night,” which is exactly how FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper prefers it in the mystery drama television series, Twin Peaks. Upon giving said coffee to Gwen in Spiritfarer, she will also say, “Now this is one damn fine cup of coffee.“
These are just a few recognized easter eggs within this novel indie title. There are likely many more that have so far gone unnoticed in Spiritfarer. Players can enjoy this self-proclaimed cozy death management game on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia, Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS to see what other references are waiting to be discovered.
