The First Tree is one of those games that surprises precisely because it doesn't try to impress through scale or complexity, but rather through the way it builds a very direct emotional connection with the player. In a medium where it's easy to associate "impact" with elaborate systems or massive production, this kind of project is a reminder that a simple idea, well directed, can have a much longer-lasting effect.
The game's structure is deliberately minimalist. There are no enemies and no traditional failure systems, and that completely changes the way you move through the world. Instead of pressure or constant challenge, there's a feeling of contemplation and discovery — almost as if each setting existed only to be absorbed at the pace of whoever is exploring it. That design choice may not please everyone, especially those looking for more demanding interaction, but here it clearly serves the narrative purpose.
The gameplay, while functional, is perhaps the most uneven point of the experience. Controlling the fox can feel somewhat imprecise at times, and there's an occasional lack of responsiveness that slightly breaks the fluidity of exploration. Still, it's hard to see that as an isolated flaw, because the game never tries to sell the idea of technical precision as a priority. Everything is subordinated to atmosphere and narrative, even if that implies a certain roughness in the interaction.
It's in the story that The First Tree truly stands out. The way the fox's journey intersects with the author's personal narrative creates a simple but effective parallelism between nature, memory, and loss. There's no great need for explanations or complex twists, because the impact comes more from the way the themes are suggested than from any direct exposition. The writing maintains an accessible, almost intimate tone, which reinforces that feeling of something personal and genuine.
The visuals and the soundtrack complement this approach well. They're not exuberant in the technical sense, but they carry a serenity that fits the game's rhythm perfectly. There are moments when the landscape itself seems to function as an extension of the narrative's emotional state, which contributes greatly to the immersion.
In the end, The First Tree is not an experience about challenge or mechanical innovation, but about tone and intention. It's a game that bets everything on the emotional connection it manages to establish and — despite its technical limitations — leaves a mark precisely by not trying to be more than what it is.
out of 10
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Game The First Tree Released 2017 Available on PC · macOS · PlayStation 4 · Xbox One · Nintendo Switch Reviewed on Nintendo Switch |  Cover: IGDB |
| PL | Pedro Lopes Writer · Portugal |
A games writer from Portugal running on a highly irresponsible amount of coffee — his blood type is officially "espresso". He has been a content creator at Lisbon Games Week, a jury member at Over & Out ’25 and an attendee of DevGAMM Lisbon 2025 (mostly for the free coffee). He has a Pac-Man tattoo on his finger, which contractually obliges him to chase ghosts forever.