29:
279:"uses a very simple, almost papercraft-inspired design for foliage and even pentagonal lens flares that give everything a very surreal aesthetic." The game was released in the English-language only, but a "fan translation system" was included, allowing players to work on additional translations. The game underwent the
177:
is a 2017 third-person exploration adventure game developed and published by David Wehle. The game follows a mother fox as she searches for her lost cubs, while the voices of a human couple are overlaid over the fox's journey. The game's visuals and story received both praise and criticism from video
462:
also panned the game, criticizing its "generic landscapes", the writing and characterization of its human characters, and the game's controls. Walker wrote that the game is "like an exercise in narcissism and emotional manipulation," and described it as "grimly dishonest in how it attempts to force
271:
A deeply personal game for Wehle, the death of his father inspired him to make the game, as did the birth of his own son. He also provided the voice for Joseph. A fox was chosen for the game "mostly the visual impact of a beautiful red-orange creature in front of a green forest," though Wehle also
451:
s Chloe
Spencer was heavily critical of the game. Spencer wrote that "what could be a powerful story-driven narrative is marred by unnecessarily complicated platforming, ill-fitting dialogue, and jarring pacing." Spencer also noticed the sad nature of both story lines in the game, adding that "the
424:
effortlessly intertwines fluid gameplay, silky visuals, and two heart-breaking stories." Stow noted the game's limited controls and gameplay, but added that "the beautiful graphics have a calming, profound style and this is the game's focus rather than action-packed gameplay." Reviewing a
Japanese
192:
s narrative is told "through voice overs and environmental storytelling." The game simultaneously tells two stories: it depicts a fox searching for her lost kits visually. Meanwhile, a conversation between the human couple Joseph and Rachel is overlaid. Joseph relays to Rachel his desire to have
472:
gave the game's iOS version a 4.5/5 star review. Dellosa praised the game's voice acting, soundtrack, and visual sense of wonder, writing that the game is "relaxing physically" and invites players to self-reflect personally. Dellosa did note the game is graphically "clunky" at times.
441:, I fell into a pensive trance. I think it made me feel sad, but it's hard to say. What I do know is that I felt a genuine longing for⦠something: for the quiet of those forests, for the clarity of mind that the narrator seemed to have."
437:, Heather Alexandra largely praised the game. They wrote that "the massive forest landscape is full of frosted peaks and reflected sunlight. The game also has a wonderful grasp of color." Alexandra added, "as I played
235:
in 2015, though it did not garner much attention or profit. However, it did result in Wehle being hired as a technical artist for the VR experience developer The VOID. In his spare time, he developed and marketed
414:
wrote that Wehle's voice acting has an "earnestness comes through in the gameplay," calling his voice "mellow and contemplative, conveying a sense of gravity and personal depth." Rebecca Stow of
395:
Reception on the game was mixed in regards to its story and visuals, though reviewers were generally critical of the game's controls which were noted to be "clunky" or "stiff".
452:
game turns into one brutal moment after another, conveying not that pain is a part of life, but that life sucks, everything is pointless, and then you die.
827:
1162:
1167:
219:" simulator, as players follow the fox as she gallops through a natural landscape. There are also some puzzle and platforming elements to the game.
763:
506:
482:
456:
lacks a balanced look at the realities of life, seeming to be more of a depressing, slow slog rather an in-depth look at loss." John Walker of
193:
connected with his father more meaningfully. Toward the end of the game, the perspective switches to Joseph's first-person point of view.
1001:
674:
1142:
294:
The game was released on
September 14, 2017, for Windows and Mac. On November 30, 2018, the game received a console release on
1172:
1152:
919:
1132:
605:
404:
s
Donnelly wrote that "Against the deluge of time-consuming, mentally-demanding games floating around at the moment,
272:
noted some personal connections to his wife's family name and fox-themed cake toppers she crafted for their wedding.
1157:
1147:
944:
537:
1137:
730:
970:
1122:
202:
178:
game reviewers, while its atmosphere and controls were generally considered calming and clunky, respectively.
1127:
1177:
701:
104:
892:
1102:
864:
242:
463:
pathos in the player as this moany man moans while showing you pictures of dead cute baby animals."
1107:
280:
1187:
570:
702:"Free Steam keys: We're giving away The First Tree so you can go on a poignant, foxy adventure!"
642:
1182:
798:
1117:
1112:
46:
36:
8:
1057:
56:
420:
gave the game's PS4 version an 8/10 rating, praising its voice acting and writing that "
1062:
764:"Embracing Limitations: How David Wehle Realised His Dreams by Compromising His Vision"
458:
66:
893:"The First Tree, a poignant game about a fox, breaks the top 100 on Steam Greenlight"
869:
735:
410:
1029:
260:
149:
295:
89:
154:
74:
799:"Put down that shooter: 'The First Tree' aims to teach gamers to respect life"
1096:
828:"A pretty game about a fox will explore how we cope with death in the family"
511:
431:
gave the game an 8.4/10, complimenting its atmosphere and music. Writing for
299:
164:
94:
675:"The First Tree is a heartbreaking adventure told through the eyes of a fox"
1006:
468:
382:
28:
1034:
832:
768:
542:
416:
948:
923:
332:
231:-based developer David Wehle. Wehle previously developed and released
507:"Feature: Barking Up The First Tree With Indie Developer David Wehle"
254:
248:
897:
706:
679:
303:
211:
99:
865:"The Creator of This Gorgeous Game Doesn't Even Know How to Code"
216:
79:
1087:
614:
575:
433:
1002:"The First Tree review - "Death is not the opposite of life""
538:"The First Tree looks foxy (and tragic) in its first trailer"
268:. He intended for players to complete the game in 1β2 hours.
84:
306:. The game was also released onto iOS on November 18, 2020.
264:. Wehle had no coding knowledge entering the development of
920:"The First Tree: Console Edition for PlayStation 4 Reviews"
228:
286:
The first trailer for the game was released in July 2016.
647:
427:
360:
109:
945:"The First Tree: Console Edition for Xbox One Reviews"
610:
Offers A Beautiful, Pensive Break From
Everyday Life"
209:
has players taking control of a fox. Joe
Donnelly of
731:"A month on the road: My indie developer road trip"
1094:
483:Foxes in popular culture, films and literature
890:
599:
597:
595:
593:
408:is a nice change of pace." Corey Plante of
1163:Video games developed in the United States
995:
993:
991:
884:
668:
666:
425:translation of the game, Yoshiki Chiba of
27:
1168:Video games featuring female protagonists
891:Scott-Jones, Richard (October 28, 2016).
858:
856:
854:
852:
850:
821:
819:
792:
790:
788:
786:
603:
564:
562:
560:
531:
529:
500:
498:
215:referred to the game as a "walking" and "
1000:Dellosa, Catherine (November 25, 2020).
968:
757:
755:
753:
672:
590:
275:In regards to the game's visual design,
999:
988:
694:
663:
636:
634:
632:
604:Alexandra, Heather (December 7, 2018).
568:
535:
504:
1095:
1055:
1049:
862:
847:
825:
816:
796:
783:
761:
728:
722:
557:
526:
495:
937:
912:
750:
640:
569:Spencer, Chloe (September 18, 2017).
1027:
1021:
969:Polhemus, Scott (December 6, 2018).
762:Skotte, Ketil (September 27, 2020).
673:Donnelly, Joe (September 22, 2017).
629:
729:Hester, Blake (December 18, 2017).
641:Chiba, Yoshiki (January 14, 2018).
313:
13:
1028:Stow, Rebecca (December 8, 2018).
863:Plante, Corey (October 20, 2017).
14:
1199:
1081:
1056:Walker, John (January 15, 2019).
571:"A Melodramatic Game About Foxes"
227:The game was largely produced by
971:"The First Tree (Switch) Review"
536:Chilton, Maddi (July 18, 2016).
962:
826:Hester, Blake (April 7, 2016).
1143:Third-person narrative fiction
505:Cousins, Jon (April 6, 2018).
222:
1:
1058:"Wot I Think: The First Tree"
1030:"The First Tree Review (PS4)"
797:Gerwin, Gabe (July 5, 2016).
488:
309:
7:
476:
196:
10:
1204:
1173:Video games set in forests
1153:Video games about families
289:
1133:Single-player video games
353:
350:
326:
323:
240:. Wehle, was inspired by
160:
148:
118:
65:
55:
45:
35:
26:
21:
1158:Video games about foxes
1148:Video games about death
643:"The First Tree - γ¬γγ₯γΌ"
258:, as well as the novel
233:Home is Where One Stars
181:
1138:Steam Greenlight games
1123:Nintendo Switch games
975:Nintendo World Report
466:Catherine Dellosa of
372:Nintendo World Report
135:Switch, PS4, Xbox One
710:. September 27, 2017
205:"exploration" game,
1128:PlayStation 4 games
347:
320:
1178:Walking simulators
1063:Rock Paper Shotgun
459:Rock Paper Shotgun
345:
318:
126:September 14, 2017
392:
391:
343:
342:
170:
169:
144:November 18, 2020
138:November 30, 2018
1195:
1103:2017 video games
1088:Official website
1075:
1074:
1072:
1070:
1053:
1047:
1046:
1044:
1042:
1025:
1019:
1018:
1016:
1014:
997:
986:
985:
983:
981:
966:
960:
959:
957:
955:
941:
935:
934:
932:
930:
916:
910:
909:
907:
905:
888:
882:
881:
879:
877:
860:
845:
844:
842:
840:
823:
814:
813:
811:
809:
794:
781:
780:
778:
776:
759:
748:
747:
745:
743:
726:
720:
719:
717:
715:
698:
692:
691:
689:
687:
670:
661:
660:
658:
656:
638:
627:
626:
624:
622:
601:
588:
587:
585:
583:
566:
555:
554:
552:
550:
533:
524:
523:
521:
519:
502:
450:
403:
348:
344:
321:
317:
281:Steam Greenlight
191:
132:October 16, 2017
31:
19:
18:
1203:
1202:
1198:
1197:
1196:
1194:
1193:
1192:
1108:Adventure games
1093:
1092:
1084:
1079:
1078:
1068:
1066:
1054:
1050:
1040:
1038:
1026:
1022:
1012:
1010:
998:
989:
979:
977:
967:
963:
953:
951:
943:
942:
938:
928:
926:
918:
917:
913:
903:
901:
889:
885:
875:
873:
861:
848:
838:
836:
824:
817:
807:
805:
795:
784:
774:
772:
760:
751:
741:
739:
727:
723:
713:
711:
700:
699:
695:
685:
683:
671:
664:
654:
652:
639:
630:
620:
618:
602:
591:
581:
579:
567:
558:
548:
546:
534:
527:
517:
515:
503:
496:
491:
479:
448:
401:
393:
338:
319:Aggregate score
316:
312:
296:Nintendo Switch
292:
225:
199:
189:
184:
143:
139:
137:
133:
131:
127:
125:
114:
90:Nintendo Switch
17:
16:2017 video game
12:
11:
5:
1201:
1191:
1190:
1188:Xbox One games
1185:
1180:
1175:
1170:
1165:
1160:
1155:
1150:
1145:
1140:
1135:
1130:
1125:
1120:
1115:
1110:
1105:
1091:
1090:
1083:
1082:External links
1080:
1077:
1076:
1048:
1020:
987:
961:
936:
911:
883:
846:
815:
803:Digital Trends
782:
749:
721:
693:
662:
628:
608:The First Tree
589:
556:
525:
493:
492:
490:
487:
486:
485:
478:
475:
454:The First Tree
439:The First Tree
422:The First Tree
406:The First Tree
390:
389:
386:
378:
377:
374:
368:
367:
364:
356:
355:
352:
341:
340:
335:
329:
328:
325:
314:
311:
308:
291:
288:
277:The First Tree
266:The First Tree
238:The First Tree
224:
221:
207:The First Tree
198:
195:
187:The First Tree
183:
180:
174:The First Tree
168:
167:
162:
158:
157:
152:
146:
145:
120:
116:
115:
113:
112:
107:
102:
97:
92:
87:
82:
77:
71:
69:
63:
62:
59:
53:
52:
49:
43:
42:
39:
33:
32:
24:
23:
22:The First Tree
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1200:
1189:
1186:
1184:
1183:Windows games
1181:
1179:
1176:
1174:
1171:
1169:
1166:
1164:
1161:
1159:
1156:
1154:
1151:
1149:
1146:
1144:
1141:
1139:
1136:
1134:
1131:
1129:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1119:
1116:
1114:
1111:
1109:
1106:
1104:
1101:
1100:
1098:
1089:
1086:
1085:
1065:
1064:
1059:
1052:
1037:
1036:
1031:
1024:
1009:
1008:
1003:
996:
994:
992:
976:
972:
965:
950:
946:
940:
925:
921:
915:
900:
899:
894:
887:
872:
871:
866:
859:
857:
855:
853:
851:
835:
834:
829:
822:
820:
804:
800:
793:
791:
789:
787:
771:
770:
765:
758:
756:
754:
738:
737:
732:
725:
709:
708:
703:
697:
682:
681:
676:
669:
667:
651:(in Japanese)
650:
649:
644:
637:
635:
633:
617:
616:
611:
609:
600:
598:
596:
594:
578:
577:
572:
565:
563:
561:
545:
544:
539:
532:
530:
514:
513:
512:Nintendo Life
508:
501:
499:
494:
484:
481:
480:
474:
471:
470:
464:
461:
460:
455:
447:
442:
440:
436:
435:
430:
429:
423:
419:
418:
413:
412:
407:
400:
396:
387:
385:
384:
380:
379:
375:
373:
370:
369:
365:
363:
362:
358:
357:
349:
346:Review scores
336:
334:
331:
330:
322:
307:
305:
301:
300:PlayStation 4
297:
287:
284:
282:
278:
273:
269:
267:
263:
262:
257:
256:
251:
250:
245:
244:
239:
234:
230:
220:
218:
214:
213:
208:
204:
194:
188:
179:
176:
175:
166:
165:Single-player
163:
159:
156:
153:
151:
147:
142:
136:
130:
124:
121:
117:
111:
108:
106:
103:
101:
98:
96:
95:PlayStation 4
93:
91:
88:
86:
83:
81:
78:
76:
73:
72:
70:
68:
64:
60:
58:
54:
50:
48:
44:
40:
38:
34:
30:
25:
20:
1067:. Retrieved
1061:
1051:
1039:. Retrieved
1033:
1023:
1011:. Retrieved
1007:Pocket Gamer
1005:
980:September 6,
978:. Retrieved
974:
964:
952:. Retrieved
939:
927:. Retrieved
914:
902:. Retrieved
896:
886:
874:. Retrieved
868:
837:. Retrieved
831:
806:. Retrieved
802:
773:. Retrieved
767:
740:. Retrieved
734:
724:
712:. Retrieved
705:
696:
684:. Retrieved
678:
653:. Retrieved
646:
619:. Retrieved
613:
607:
580:. Retrieved
574:
547:. Retrieved
541:
516:. Retrieved
510:
469:Pocket Gamer
467:
465:
457:
453:
445:
444:Conversely,
443:
438:
432:
426:
421:
415:
409:
405:
398:
397:
394:
383:Pocket Gamer
381:
371:
359:
339:67/100 (XBO)
337:81/100 (PS4)
293:
285:
276:
274:
270:
265:
259:
253:
247:
241:
237:
232:
226:
210:
206:
203:third-person
200:
186:
185:
173:
172:
171:
141:Android, iOS
140:
134:
128:
123:Mac, Windows
122:
47:Publisher(s)
37:Developer(s)
1118:MacOS games
1113:Indie games
1035:Push Square
833:Kill Screen
769:Gamereactor
543:Kill Screen
417:Push Square
351:Publication
223:Development
67:Platform(s)
61:David Wehle
57:Designer(s)
51:David Wehle
41:David Wehle
1097:Categories
949:Metacritic
924:Metacritic
489:References
333:Metacritic
324:Aggregator
1069:April 20,
1041:April 20,
1013:April 20,
954:April 20,
929:April 20,
904:April 20,
876:April 20,
839:April 20,
808:April 20,
775:April 20,
742:April 28,
714:April 20,
686:April 20,
655:April 20,
648:IGN Japan
621:April 20,
582:April 20,
549:April 20,
518:April 20,
315:Reception
310:Reception
283:process.
255:Firewatch
249:Gone Home
155:Adventure
898:PCGamesN
707:PCGamesN
680:PC Gamer
477:See also
399:PC Gamer
304:Xbox One
261:The Road
217:bounding
212:PC Gamer
197:Gameplay
150:Genre(s)
100:Xbox One
870:Inverse
736:Polygon
411:Inverse
290:Release
243:Journey
161:Mode(s)
119:Release
105:Android
80:Windows
615:Kotaku
576:Kotaku
446:Kotaku
434:Kotaku
376:6.5/10
366:8.4/10
252:, and
449:'
402:'
388:4.5/5
354:Score
327:Score
190:'
129:Linux
85:Linux
1071:2023
1043:2023
1015:2023
982:2024
956:2023
931:2023
906:2023
878:2023
841:2023
810:2023
777:2023
744:2023
716:2023
688:2023
657:2023
623:2023
584:2023
551:2023
520:2023
302:and
229:Utah
182:Plot
428:IGN
361:IGN
110:iOS
75:Mac
1099::
1060:.
1032:.
1004:.
990:^
973:.
947:.
922:.
895:.
867:.
849:^
830:.
818:^
801:.
785:^
766:.
752:^
733:.
704:.
677:.
665:^
645:.
631:^
612:.
592:^
573:.
559:^
540:.
528:^
509:.
497:^
298:,
246:,
201:A
1073:.
1045:.
1017:.
984:.
958:.
933:.
908:.
880:.
843:.
812:.
779:.
746:.
718:.
690:.
659:.
625:.
606:"
586:.
553:.
522:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
