In the new hit indie game Spiritfarer, players assume the role of Stella, a character who is tasked with helping various spirits make their way to the afterlife, starting with the first spirit encountered — Gwen. This overview will go detail Gwen's personality and background, and what is needed to eventually send her off to the next stage in her journey.
Gwen is a tall maroon-colored deer spirit and dear friend to Stella in life. She is constantly smoking out of a long cigarette holder in elegant fashion, like a nicer Cruella De Vil. After encountering Charon and taking over his duties as Spiritfarer, Stella and her cat Daffodil find Gwen at the island they start on, Alt Harbor. Like all spirits, Gwen is first seen as a hooded shadow with glowing eyes. Once a spirit follows Stella onto her boat, they unveil the animal form representative of them in the spirit world. Gwen initially serves as a personified tutorial, as completing her tasks quickly allows Stella to meet Albert, the shark who runs the Shipyard, and progress in the game. Gwen helps Stella upgrade her initial blueprints through Albert and shows how to salvage the junk on the ship to make room for more creations, like a Guest House.
Before death, Gwen was like an older sister to Stella, as their families were close. Gwen grew up in a dysfunctional yet aristocratic household, having a strained relationship with her father. She can come off as sarcastic and apathetic, likely an armor she wore since a young age. Though emitting a dark humor, Gwen often makes it known how much she appreciates kindhearted Stella.
Spiritfarer: Gwen Must Face Her Dark Past Before Going To The Everdoor
Gwen teaches Stella how to acquire bright jelly (via dark areas with a glowing center on the map) to build a kitchen, and reveals her favorite food is black coffee. Like Stardew Valley or Harvest Moon, players must learn each spirit's likes and dislikes, and gift accordingly. Gwen also has an affinity for comfort food and fine dining, and hates anything with shellfish or fruit. As with all spirits, players can keep her content by feeding her desired food and giving hugs at appropriate times.
When in a good mood, Gwen will harvest threads and fibers for Stella. Gwen leads Stella to Mosstein Cove where trees can be cut down to build a Field on the ship. Afterwards, Gwen and Stella can go to Hummingberg to purchase seeds from Theodore the raccoon. Recalling Animal Crossing's Tom Nook, Theordore's rates are outrageous but Gwen is able to talk him down. She directs Stella to Barkensheim Creek, where Stella encounters another spirit she was close to in life, Atul. The Obols obtained from Gwen and Atul can be redeemed at the Hummingberg shrine to learn the double jump ability. Stella can then build Gwen's Lodge, then a Loom, which Gwen demonstrates how to work.
Gwen will eventually want to visit her childhood home — Villa Maggoire, that is somehow present in the spirit world. Once there, Stella can find Gwen's old music box and gift it to her. This is painful for Gwen, forcing her to remember her adolescent struggles. After fully upgrading the Loom and Gwen's Lodge, she'll want some time alone to think. The party soon realizes Gwen is no longer on the boat, and can find her back at Villa Maggoire. It's there that Gwen hints at her struggles with suicide, and after asking for a hug, is finally ready to face her fate and move on to the afterlife.
Gwen leaves Stella her white lighter, prior to Stella taking her to the Everdoor for a bittersweet goodbye. They hug it out one last time, and Gwen is reincarnated into a deer constellation as Stella reflects on their friendship in life. Afterwards, Stella can find Gwen's Spirit Flower growing in the vegetation that takes over her lodge bed. Coping with death is the main theme of Spiritfarer, as players will experience when they must finally let the spirits they've cared for — like Gwen — go on to whatever comes next.