The year is 1998. A private jet belonging to the Roottree Corporation has crashed. On it were The Roottree Sisters and their parents. Combined, they were worth over a billion dollars.

Now, due to the eccentricities of their great, great grandfather, Elias their money must be redistributed to the rest of the family. But who's actually a BLOOD RELATIVE? That's where you come in.

Armed only with the power of your mighty dial-up modem, you'll scour for photos, books, articles, and other evidence. Then, you'll make connections and deductions based on the family relationships you uncover. With every spot on the tree you fill in correctly the names and photos left in your possession will have fewer and fewer places to go, but the evidence will also be harder and more obscure to find.

Can you find the final pieces of the puzzle?

This is the original version of The Roottrees are Dead, initially conceived for the Global Game Jam 2023. It was released for free on itch.io due to its reliance on AI art. The remake on Steam includes illustrations and voice acting, improved puzzles, an expanded story with dozens more characters, important bug fixes, as well as countless interface and quality of life improvements.

While we intend to preserve the itch.io release forever, I highly recommend you play the superior version here:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2754380/The_Roottrees_are_Dead/

StatusIn development
PlatformsHTML5
Rating
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
(579 total ratings)
Authorjjohnstongames
GenrePuzzle
Tags1998, Family Friendly, ggj2023, obra-dinn, Point & Click, research, Singleplayer

Development log

Comments

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Viewing most recent comments 1 to 40 of 245 · Next page · Last page
(+2)

i typed rootree and got so much sass thrown at me 😭

(+1)

Woww! This was such a fun and creative game. I absolutely love the portrait styles, even moreso than the Steam version. I solved most of it myself but was grateful for the walkthroughs online that hinted where to search next. The conspiracy theory bit was my favorite part to uncover and read lol.

(+3)

Pleaseeeee recommend some other games like this , i love it so much

(+2)

Wow! What an incredible game! I've definitely buying the Steam version once I have the chance! I do have to mention--that dial-up noise every time you boot up the computer? Classic. Now everyone born after the 90s will understand! XD


Definitely played this through practically nonstop and finished it up once I found out I was allowed to.  I haven't had a good brain-tickle like this for a while. Thanks so much for the engagement and keeping me invested! I can't wait to play the Steam version (and that pseudo-sequel!!) 

How can I get a local version of this game? I can't seem to find a way to download it in Discord... When I play this game online, every time I choose to save and quit, my save file will be lost.

(1 edit) (+1)

I apologize, but the only versions of Roottrees still supported is the steam version. The itchio version will remain in the browser inefinitely as it was when I released it but the  itchio version is no longer hosted anywhere externally, nor will it receive any more updates.

(+1)

congrats on the steam release very glad this game wasnt left with the ai generated images very fun the first and second time around 

(+2)

I'm so amazed by this game, I just bought it on steam and made this account just to tell you. I'm at 18/50  in the itch.io version, should I just restart in the steam version or is it worth finishing this before? Is there maybe a way to export the save?

(+1)

The itchio version and steam version have no code in common (I did not work on the steam version, it is just based on the story from the game I made, with my blessing) so there is no way to take progress from one into the other. 

Plus you have to play the first mystery before unlocking the second one so you will need to start over in the steam version anyways to get all of the content.

(+2)

omg, im so invested! gonna get the steam remake for my bday (hopefully)<3

(+1)(-3)

Rhose just doesn't show up on the name list, can't even get past the first puzzle...

(+1)

search up ROOT fashion

No, like her name literally does not show up on the long list of people for me. Guessing it's a bug of some sort? https://imgur.com/a/rV3I2Fp

(+2)

It's not a bug, her name does not appear for anyone.

Gotcha, I was watching gameplay, but I'm guessing it was a version before this one or something because it had the name on the list. Appreciate it.

(+1)

if you searched up ROOT fashion then you would see her birth name

(+1)

Love it.

(+2)

Just finished the first part of the full version on Steam. Thank you for making this, it's truly something special!

(+1)

I loved this game and I want to recommend it to everyone, I'm really sorry I can't buy it here because I can't buy it so I only want the full version on Steam

(+1)

Please, take a look at the full version! It's way, way better! Plus it has a whole new second mystery included, which is kind of like a pseudo-sequel!

(+2)

I listened to on a podcast and I know that the second version is bigger and better but in Brazil the price is too much for me!!

(1 edit)

Incredible game! It's so complex and thorough, and it kept me invested the entire time. The only gripe I had was with the photos, just because sometimes matching them with the person is dependent on appearances and the AI art makes it more difficult, so very happy to see that this was changed for the steam version!

(slight spoiler warning)



I love how the final pieces of the puzzle are hidden in plain sight--it just makes completing the game that much more rewarding. Like the photo thing? So cool!

(+1)

is there any way i can re play the game and re set progress?

(+1)

On the main menu with the newspaper if you open the settings it will show you a reset button. There's also a Steam remake coming out in a five days with a lot of improvements and a new mystery. 

(+1)

I for the LIFE of me can't figure out how to get the Kellog pictures. Ik there's probably a family picture with the kids and Bonnie but whatever I've looked up so far hasn't shown any results. Imma try again later lol, it's an amazing game!

I won't give you a hint, but if you need one there's a discord link in the game and people there are pretty good about not spoiling things.

I will say that as a general rule (because sometimes people forget that they exist) don't forget about the intuition numbers in the evidence.

(+1)

Nah that's alright, I solved the rest of the game today lol, just needed a fresh mind. This is really good btw, kudos

Thanks! If you'd like to play more, the steam version comes out in 10 days and has a whole lot of new content (though to get to it you have to fill out the main tree again, which should be pretty easy now that you know how to find everything)

(+2)

AS SOON AS I GOT THREE CORRECT I IMEDIANTLY RECOGNISED IT AS THE OBRA DIN

(+1)

also found the obra dinn reference 🥰

Hi, with the game coming to Steam in a couple of weeks, will you be having review keys made available?

Hey there. We do have a few reviewers on our radar and were planning on sending out keys at some point.  Are you a game reviewer? If so, would you like to reach out to myself or eviltrout (the other developer) on our discord?

(1 edit)

I'm with Bloody Disgusting, and we do have a reviewer who's keen to check out the game. I'll hit you guys up on Discord. Thank you!

(+1)

I'm so excited for the remake it's already on my wishlist

Thanks, glad to hear it!

(+1)

omg just finished it, SOOO good. i love a good lengthy family lore with an actual gameplay

Gonna crash out why did I trust the Save and Exit button 

(+1)

If you'd like to begin again without that risk and have a windows computer, come to the discord via the link on the main menu/in the settings, and someone can get you a downloadable version of the game that will save locally. (The web version saves into your browser cookies, so some ad-blockers/extensions/browsers have issues saving)

(+3)

while this game does use AI for its images many comments say, I understand the fact the developer might have reasons to use AI. The developer is not selling the game for a price and they're using non-AI in their newer game. Nevertheless, this game is a unique and fun take on the puzzle genre, continue making amazing games jjohnstongames

(+3)

I don't know where can i get the picture of Bethany Kellogg

I have no idea where is Chris Rafferty

I can't tell Ronald from Robert

I didn't really find out the Wilsons, I just check the names i haven't placed and found there are 4 wilsons that match the 3+1 empty, is this the right way to play?

It is really easy to miss some of the clues, which make the game exhausting

but it is still a great game, I enjoy it!

(1 edit) (+2)

i beat it up.

well, the final trial is …… too simple,  the connections are even kind of uncorrelated

maybe we could color some key word with red to induce players to search

I missed "roottree curse" "silverscreen"(stupid space), and by now i still don't know 2 wives of the next generation

(1 edit) (+4)

This is the first puzzle game in a while that I have finished without ever looking up a walkthrough. It's challenging at times, but the pieces are all there. I implore anyone not only to play this game, but to do so with only your own insight (and the game's hints).

HOLY SHJT BEEF BABY

(+2)

For whatever reason, Rhose wasn't showing up in the list of names in the first puzzle

(+3)

This is not a bug. If you search for her name on the computer you may receive more info about why someone wouldn't be in your list of names.

(+1)

As someone who enjoyed both Obra Dinn and Her Story, and is a big fan of mystery/deduction games in general, I loved, loved, loved this! Easily the most polished game I've ever played off of itch.io, without exaggeration. I'll be purchasing the Steam version on day 1!

Incidentally, I LOL'ed in real life when the little in-joke about a certain vintage dress clicked. 🤣

(+5)

Thanks for the kind words! The Steam version has an entire new set of content, so it won't just be the same game again.

(1 edit) (+1)

I can't get past the tutorial. 

I have Rhayna, married to TMS, And the girl in the middle of the "Got milk" photo

Carly, The girl on the right with her hair on half her head.

Rhiley, the girl on the left with soft features.

They're all models.

I've swapped the pictures around in every way I can, and I can't figure it out!

(+1)

There's a small chance your antivirus/browser is preventing the game from moving forward. The hints you are looking for involve things on the page about the Roottree Sisters. One hint involves jewelry the other a shirt.

If you have definitely have them in the right spot, then try simply refreshing the browser tab. If you can't skip the opening newscasting scene, then your browser isn't allowing the game to save. If you do have a skip button now, it may autocomplete when you enter the game?

If you're still having trouble please come to the discord using the link in-game. Someone can get you a downloadable version of the game that doesn't require browsers to behave.

(+1)

Thank you so much! That hint really helped :D

(+1)

i clicked 'save and quit' in the settings icon, and got the message 'it's now safe to turn off the rooftrees are dead', but coming back to it im forced to restart the game. am i missing a resume button somewhere or have i just lost hours of work on this game? :(((

You likely lost work, usually when this happens its related to a cookies issue caused by the browser or software preventing cookies. The only thing I recommend would be to switch browsers if you can, but the safest option is to use the link for discord in the game and ask for the downloadable version. That one will save locally instead of in your temporary internet files

(+1)

Absolute blast but i got stuck alot. I do not understand how the intuitive points work and only made me more confused 🥲

but it was still fun!

The intuition tells you when there's still more relevant information or evidence connected to something. It usually only changes when you find evidence or when someone is locked in as being correct. 

how would i replay this?

From the main menu (on the newspaper) open the settings button. In the upper right should be a reset progress option. When clicking, you need to hover over it a few seconds because I didn't want people to accidentally delete their progress.

thank youuuuuuu

i go to find rhose but nothing comes up is this a bug? i even looked at a walkthrough and they didn't have to search anything up to unlock it

This is not a bug. The walkthrough you are watching was likely from an early build of the game. When you search for Rhose, it should give you a hint as to do a bit more necessary research before you can place her on the family tree.

Okay thanks

I'm almost certain I got it right, but Zacariah Morden is not validating for me.

I don't really have any way to verify if it's a bug here. Part of the game is revisiting the information you have and being absolutely sure about everything. For example, you might have all of his information right but not have him in the correct spot on the tree. Sometimes people have similar names, etc.

If you'd like a hint for as to why it is incorrect, we can help in the discord without spoiling anything. There's a link on the settings menu,

I am quite sure it was a bug, since when I reset my save and restarted I was able to validate him.
No big deal tbh, and probably hard to reproduce

(1 edit) (+1)

I don't fully understand when exactly you become sure if you got the information correct or not? Because I filled out 8 people (other than the first 4) and I have no idea if it's correct or not

There must be something incorrect on some of them. It automatically progresses when you have three right. There is a tiny chance (I'd say about 0.01%, it's seriously very rare) that the game is bugged and not progressing due to some combination of cookies or adblocker, but in most cases it's because there's a mistake in some of the people you've filled in. If you're certain things are correct, I'd recommend coming to the discord and people can manually double check,

Thanks, I'll double check if I got something wrong which is very likely

(+1)

Ah nevermind, the problem was that I found all non-blood related relatives and only 2 blood related

(+1)

What an absolutely amazing game! Took me almost 5hrs to complete (incl. the optionals), but I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. And I FOUND THE THING! :).

(+1)

This is brilliant! This game's difficulty is just perfect: it's not too easy to be unrewarding and boring, and it also not too difficult to make you lose interest. 
I`m so happy i got the right answer at the end that i dont even feel sad that this game is over now, even though Roottrees are like family to me now. 
Thank you so much for this game! 

You're very welcome!

(+1)

I really like this game, but I keep losing my progress after about 11 relative

(+1)

But, from what I have played, I love the game. I spend so much time, and it's been really interesting.

If you go to the game's discord (from the link in the game) we can get you a downloadable version of the game that will not have this problem since it saves locally instead of to your browser's cookies.

(+3)

thank you! I do really enjoy this game and what I have played so far, I’ve gotten really invested and I love the mechanics.

(1 edit) (+2)

bro you can't just hit me with the no-mention studio right after the page for the musical, it's too meta i love this  😭😭

(+1)

GODDAMNIT I REALISED THE NAME OF NOVEMBER'S MOTHER RIGHT AFTER I FINISHED THE GAME AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH

I had to guess on Nov's mom. How did you figure it out?

Their names share a connection.

(+1)

Hey there, I'd appreciate it if you do your best to hide the searchable name in this post.  If you could edit it to say "the musical" that would be great. Thanks for playing!

(+1)

I wish I could have turned the music completely off at some point, instead of just not hearing it; it's still switching tracks, meaning it's eating whatever is required to keep the music going. It's not a bad selection, but at some point I want to hear my own thinking music.

(+2)

Thank you so much for this amazing game !! I was looking for games similar to The return of the obra dinn and your game perfectly scratched the itch ! It's fun, challenging but not too hard, the mechanics of three different ways to search and spiderweb-like reasoning was so exciting ! Also quite long and complete for a free game. I'm looking forward to the remake!!

I cant tell if this is laggy or if its the actual game

Is it just me or is there no Rhose Roottree anymore in the list? When i play im stuck at the beginning because her name isint there.

It's not just you...  If you search for her on the internet you should be able to find more info about why her name isn't in the list.

I figured it out :) i was watching a earlier beta walkthrough and this must have been added afterwards. ty, loving the game so far

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