Game: Spirit of the North 2
Genre: Adventure, Puzzle
System: Steam (Windows) (also on Xbox and PS5)
Developer | Publisher: Infuse Studio | Silver Lining Interactive
Controller Support: Yes
Steam Deck: Unplayable
Price: US $ 29.99 | UK £ 24.99 | EU € 29,99
Release Date: May 8th, 2025
A review code was provided, and many thanks to Press Engine.
Spirit of the North 2: A Gentle, Fox-Led Puzzle Adventure
Spirit of the North 2 is a calm, heartfelt journey that casts you as a mystical fox in a quest to restore peace to a world left in ruin. Even if you didn’t play the original game, you can jump into this sequel with ease. There’s no dense lore or prerequisite knowledge needed, just you, a beautiful world, and a sense of wonder.
Though it suffers from minor technical hiccups, this is a thoughtful and surprisingly expansive adventure that focuses on exploration, puzzle-solving, and emotional atmosphere rather than combat or high-octane action.
A World in Ruin, a Fox with Purpose
You begin Spirit of the North 2 as a spirit fox, awakening in a land overrun by decay and corrupted magic. The once-flourishing world is now silent, populated only by the remnants of ancient civilisations and wildlife. With your wise raven companion by your side, your mission is to find and cleanse the corrupted guardians that once protected this world.
Scattered throughout the ruins are scrolls that provide insight into the game’s lore, though you can comfortably ignore them and craft your own interpretation of the story, a design choice that lets the atmosphere take centre stage. The real joy lies in the discovery and the quiet emotional beats along the way.
Solving Puzzles Over Swinging Swords
Spirit of the North 2 stands apart by entirely skipping combat in favour of puzzles and exploration. You won’t be fighting enemies, but instead engaging with the world by solving environmental challenges. These range from placing objects correctly to manipulating ancient structures to unlock new paths.
Even the game’s boss battles are designed as puzzle encounters, requiring clever use of your surroundings and abilities rather than brute force. It’s a refreshing change of pace, and though puzzles are generally intuitive, you may occasionally miss a switch or overlook a clue, especially in the sprawling open-world areas.
Your raven companion and a faint red mist often provide gentle guidance, helping steer you in the right direction without breaking the game’s serene flow.
Foxy Movement and New Abilities
Platforming is another key component of gameplay. You start with simple moves like jumping, crouching, and sprinting, but as the game progresses, you unlock new abilities by collecting runes. The game also features the opportunity to upgrade some abilities via a skill tree. While this progression adds variety, it sometimes feels a bit too deep for a game that thrives on simplicity.
Platforming is generally smooth, but one sore point is the fall damage; it feels overly punishing early on, especially when paired with sparse checkpoints. Mistimed jumps can lead to frustrating replays of long sections, slightly souring the otherwise relaxed experience.
Still, there’s satisfaction in gradually mastering your fox’s moves and applying your skills to reach hidden secrets and new regions.
A Touch of Nature’s Beauty
Visually, Spirit of the North 2 is charming. The world feels alive with lush forests and cold ruins. Seeing other foxes roam the land creates touching moments of connection. You can even customize your fox’s appearance, right down to the nose and tail type, a sweet touch for players who love personal expression.
Unfortunately, the game isn’t without technical flaws. Performance can dip at times, with graphical glitches and object pop-in occasionally marring the experience. Running it on low settings smoothed things out somewhat, but it still doesn’t feel fully optimised. Steam Deck players may encounter more difficulty. I was personally unable to get past the title screen, but players with more technical know-how may fare better.
However, the music is a highlight. Peaceful, ambient tracks underscore your journey, while more tense, atmospheric pieces accompany dungeon segments. It all fits beautifully, enhancing the meditative tone of your adventure.
Conclusion: A Cozy Quest with Some Rough Edges
Spirit of the North 2 is a warm, peaceful game ideal for those who want to explore, solve puzzles, and soak in beautiful visuals, all without a single sword swing. It’s not flawless: bugs, optimisation issues, and an occasionally frustrating platforming system hold it back from greatness.
But if you love animals, especially foxes, and enjoy games that value tranquillity over tension, this is a lovely journey well worth your time. The moments where you’re dashing across an open field with your raven friend under a golden sky are nothing short of magical.
Final Verdict: I Like it 
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