The game's iconic bears are constructed from many of Spry Fox's personalities

In the world of Cozy Grove, it won't be long before you have a favorite bear. Most of the non-starring characters in Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit, the sequel to Cozy Grove released to Netflix users on June 25, are bear-shaped ghosts who reckon with the life they lived, whether that reflection is tinged with pride, or fear or even unresolved arguments.

The bears need your help too – you'll spend the game running errands around the haunted island and helping the spirits process their deaths. Some want to teach you skills they mastered when they were alive, others want your advice on resolving conflicts, and others just need someone to listen to their story for the first time. Their melancholic stories are told through sassy dialogue that carried me through my playthrough of the first game, and their creation speaks to the care with which the developers at Spry Fox treat their characters.

Camp Spirit's notable bears include Kumari and Medvarius, former business partners with very different philosophies; Kylie, the streamer/influencer who can't stop thinking about her listenership; and Bunch, the chef illustrated as a box of crayons. Spry Fox presents these bears' tragic stories with levity that feels organic: Kumari takes potshots at Medvarius before telling him she feels betrayed by his greed. Kylie celebrates their confidence and fame until they have to admit that no one listens to their podcast. The interactions are realistic to how an acquaintance or neighbor can share vulnerable moments with someone they just met.