Disclaimer: I received a copy of Spirit City: Lofi Sessions from the developers. All opinions are my own.

Spirit City: Lofi Sessions is a “cozy productivity game,” but what does that really mean?

Think of it as a gamified productivity tool. There are aspects of Spirit City that feel like a video game, such as character customization, interior decorating, and earning XP. And there are also features for productivity – timers, a to do list, and habit tracker.

How you use it is up to you! Are you someone who likes Lofi music in the background while you work? Do you like unlocking cute outfits and magical creatures in games? Do you use pomodoro timers or need a to do list to help keep you accountable when getting work done?

These are all ways you can use Spirit City: Lofi Sessions to help you be more productive! Or, you can just enjoy it for the relaxing aesthetic background music. Let Spirit City’s soundtrack help you set the mood when you are reading, working, or enjoying other cozy hobbies.

This post shares my Spirit City: Lofi Sessions review to help you decide if this game is right for you!

Spirit City: Lofi Sessions Review

I’ve organized my Spirit City review into the following sections. Feel free to read through or jump ahead to the section that interests you! Make sure to scroll to the end for my productivity tips to help you get the most out of the game too.

What do you do in Spirit City: Lofi Sessions?

Spirit City: Lofi Sessions is not a typical video game where you actively complete quests or have objectives. Think of it as an interactive productivity tool. It’s like an app that includes timers and a to do list. But in addition to it’s productivity features, there is Lofi music and some video game components.

What sets Spirit City apart from other productivity tools, is those aspects of Spirit City: Lofi Sessions that are like a video game which motivate you to get work done. For example, you can customize your character and unlock spirits, the cute whimsical creatures the game is named after.

You also gain XP points the more you are active in the game – you can use these to unlock more outfits for you, more designs for your spirits, and decorations for your room in the game.

As you interact with different areas of the room, or change the weather or the sounds in game, you also unlock different spirit companions! I find this fun and motivating, because it encourages me to continue to use the game and get work done.

This is how I personally use Spirit City: Lofi Sessions, although of course, it’s not the only way:

When I play Spirit City, I have it up on one monitor while I have my work on a second monitor. Or I’ll have it open on my laptop while I’m writing in a notebook making a to do list or just doing a hobby. I’ll choose music from the game’s soundtrack and add any background sounds I feel like, such as the sound of a fireplace.

I pick one of the several locations around the virtual room for my character to sit based on my mood. This usually helps me get more in the mood to work. For example, if I’m working at my desk and I wish I was still in bed, I’ll have my avatar relax in bed. Or, if I am super unmotivated, I’ll have them sit at the desk to help me feel a little more structure. You can also choose an activity for your character to be doing, from reading to knitting to gaming to meditating!

Then, I use the timers to stay on track while I work. You may have heard of time management strategies like the Pomodoro® Technique. Personally, I set a timer based on how much I feel like working before I need a break – this can span from 15-45 minutes. I also might use the to do list in the game to help me keep track of tasks I’m working on.

Then…I work! Just leaving the game up to help me focus. Having ADHD, I find visual timers to be an extremely valuable productivity tool because I have a reference for how much longer I need to work. And a visual timer attached to a cozy game where I have a character snuggled up with a book next to a cute spirit companion? Even better!

Lofi Music & Game Soundtrack

You might already enjoy listening to lofi music when you work or study. You can read more about the benefits of lofi music to understand what value it might have. Personally I enjoy lofi music because having ADHD, it’s nice to have some background music that isn’t too distracting.

Spirit City: Lofi Sessions collaborated with Homework Radio in creating the lofi music soundtrack in the game. There are several different playlists, from uplifting lofi music to music for studying. They also allow you to use YouTube as a web music browser if you prefer to search for your own music!

I appreciate the variety of music in the game, but I also enjoy getting to choose additional sounds to help you focus or set the mood. Who doesn’t want cozy fireplace sounds in the background when it’s so cold outside?

Some of the sounds even change the environment, which I love! For example, turning on the fireplace sound causes the fireplace to turn on. The vinyl sound causes the record player to start spinning. And choosing sounds like rain or snowstorm change the weather you see outside the window.

The best part is that playing around with the different sound setting also helps you lure different spirits, which you will read about below!

Spirt City Spirits

The cutest aspect of Spirit City: Lofi Sessions (in my personal opinion) is the adorable spirit companions you find around your virtual room in the game. There are over 20 spirits in game, and you can customize their skins as part of character creation!

Meet Chapterpillar below, one of my favorites. Although, if I’m being honest, they are all my favorite! And I even like spiders when I play Spirit City because of how adorable the Arachknit is.

As you play and unlock more spirits, you’ll be able to check your Spiritdex for information about who you’ve unlocked, and see hints about spirits you might be able to find. Pro tip: play around with weather, sounds, and the time of day in the game to help you unlock more cozy spirits!

If you don’t want to wait to find spirits in the game naturally, you can check out this spoiler-friendly guide on Steam to unlocking the different spirit companions.

My favorite part about the spirits in Spirit City: Lofi Sessions is that they accompany you around your virtual room! It’s like having a little pet. You choose the spirit you want with you in character customization, which I talk about below.

Character Customization & Decoration

Remember how I mentioned you earn XP (or experience points) while interacting with the game? This is important because Spirit City: Lofi Sessions isn’t like a lofi video you put on with a static background you can’t change. Everything is customizable, from your wardrobe to the decorations around the room!

You can use XP you earn while interacting with the game to unlock more decor options, clothing choices, and skins for your spirits. I love the inclusive choices, such a wheelchairs instead of a chair for sitting at your desk and some LGBT pride items available in game.

I also appreciate that none of the clothing choices are gender locked. You can have a beard, for example, regardless of your gender. In fact, the game is very inclusive in that it doesn’t require you to choose a gender at all!

There is also some body size inclusivity, however I would love to see more improvement in being able to create a more realistic plus size character.

Decorating your room is so much fun and detail oriented, even allowing you to choose a snack or coffee at your desk.

The character customization and decorating options in Spirit City: Lofi Sessions are one of the big reasons this game is super motivating to me! Instead of popping on a lofi video from YouTube with a random character or setting, I get to fully decorate my room and choose a character that feels good to me.

Spirit City Lofi Sessions FAQ

Here are some questions you might want to know about Spirit City: Lofi Sessions. If you tap on any question, you can expand it to read the answer.

What platforms is Spirit City: Lofi Sessions available on?

What platforms is Spirit City: Lofi Sessions available on?

Currently, Spirit City: Lofi Sessions is on available on devices with a Windows operating system. Unfortunately, the game is not currently available on Mac, Switch, or other platforms. As for whether this is planned in the future, this is what the developers have said in an FAQ on Steam.

At the time of writing this post, the FAQ was last updated on November 20, 2024 so it is possible they are planning for a Mac and/or Switch release of the game in the near future.

Keep an eye out for updates from the developer on Steam and social media for the latest information on updates to platforms!

How many spirits are in Spirit City: Lofi Sessions?

How many spirits are in the Spirit City: Lofi Sessions?

You can keep track of spirits in your Spiritdex in the Spirit City game! As of now, my Spiritdex shows slots for 22 spirits. This includes a spirit that was newly released as part of the Winter Wonderland update! I hope this means we will continue to see more new spirits in the future.

You can find hints (with spoilers) for unlocking each of the Spirit City spirits with this guide on Steam.

Productivity Tips for Spirit City

If you choose to join the Spirit City community & start enjoying this cozy productivity game, here some tips! These are my best productivity tips for making the most out of your time in game.

1. Use the in game to do list to keep track of tasks.

If you’re anything like me, you have to do lists in 3 different places! Something that helps me when using Spirit City: Lofi Sessions is taking time right away to write a to do list. This helps me keep track of my tasks without needing to waste brain power trying to remember what I need to get done.

You can also have multiple to do lists in game! If you have multiple projects to keep track of, or want to organize your tasks, this is a great way to do it. Plus, your to do lists stay in the game. So even when you close the game, you don’t have to worry about losing track.

2. Set timers to help you stay focused.

One of the best features of Spirit City: Lofi Sessions is the ability to set timers. You can edit how long you want your timer and change the duration of breaks.

You can even set your timer to repeat, allowing you to work without interruptions for several hours. The timer will automatically switch between work and break periods. Use the plus and minus buttons to adjust the number of sessions the timer will repeat.

3. Take breaks – your brain deservers rest!

I have ADHD so I can tend to hyperfocus. While this makes it hard to get started, once I am focused I struggle to stop. However, if I don’t take my breaks it’s easy to get burnt out.

Try to actually take a break if you are using the timers to keep track of breaks. Don’t just keep working. This will help you stay productive in the long term.

4. Turn the UI interface off for better focus.

A cluttered screen makes a cluttered mind. When there are buttons to click and distractions all over the screen, it makes it harder to focus.

There is a button at the top right of Spirit City: Lofi Sessions that allows you to toggle UI visibility. UI is everything you see on the screen, like the buttons to change the weather or unlock spirits. Turning everything off will provide less distractions, making it easier to focus! And it’s easy to turn back on with the same button when you are ready.

5. Find coworking streams using the Spirit City category on Twitch.

Spirit City: Lofi Sessions has become a popular category to stream on Twitch. There are often Twitch streamers running coworking streams using this cozy productivity game. If you want a place with some accountability where others are also working or getting things done, you can visit the Spirit City Twitch category!

Look around and see if any of the coworking livestreams seem like a cozy or fun place to get work done.

I hope this Spirit City: Lofi Sessions review & productivity tips is helpful! Using Spirit City is one of my favorite ways to focus and get work done in a way that is still cozy and relaxing. Keep an eye on updates from the developers as they continue to update the game as well!

This post shared my Spirit City: Lofi Sessions review and favorite aspects of this cozy productivity game.

The post Spirit City: Lofi Sessions Review – A Cozy Productivity Game appeared first on The Honey Side.