Bonsai

About

Bonsai is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by rootedconcepts and was released on November 30, 2015. It received positive reviews from players.

Grow your tree, prune it, and watch over it as it matures into adulthood. The tree will become what you train it to be - you are the mastermind behind it's path in life.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 224 reviews

emotional10 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

Incredibly cheap and provides unexpected joy and entertainment.
Offers a unique blend of confusion and delight, creating a memorable experience.
Relaxing and charming, making it a great way to unwind and escape reality.

Gameplay can be tedious and lacks depth, often feeling like a waiting game.
Poor graphics and controls detract from the overall experience.
Limited options and repetitive mechanics may lead to boredom over time.

music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it relaxing and fitting for a gardening simulator, while others describe it as repetitive, annoying, and poorly suited to the game's atmosphere. Many users noted the lack of audio controls and the overwhelming volume of the music, leading to frustration, although the option to mute it is available. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a significant drawback for those seeking a calming experience.
- “Like a fever dream with good music.”
- “In essence, this game is a must buy for any gardening simulator fans, or even someone who might just want a relaxing experience, especially with the tailor-made soundtrack for the game.”
- “Soundtrack - happy and relaxing”
- “Greeted with horrible music.”
- “There are maybe three different sound effects in the game and the single 2-minute long piece of music repeats forever.”
- “The music is also severely out of place and sounds like a cheap knock-off of Train's 'Hey, Soul Sister' at times, but done with a ukulele and xylophone instead.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, often experiencing a mix of laughter and tears. Despite its seemingly cursed appearance, many find it surprisingly wholesome, leading to deep emotional investment and even feelings of emotional damage. Overall, it is described as an engaging experience that resonates on a personal level.
- “I laughed, I cried, I alt-tabbed.”
- “But I'm invested emotionally.”
- “This game cured my boredom and caused emotional damage.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with some players praising the realistic depiction of trees and nature, while others criticize the overall quality as simplistic and reminiscent of older titles like Minecraft. Performance issues, particularly with frame rates when rendering larger trees, have also been highlighted, alongside graphical glitches that detract from the experience. Overall, the visuals are seen as lacking in polish and depth, making them less compelling compared to other games in the genre.
- “I feel that the lifelike, vivid, and realistic graphics and physics of each branch and leaf add a certain life to the game, which is certainly lacking in other tree simulator games.”
- “Graphics - Minecraft level.”
- “Greeted with horrible graphics.”
- “Watching the trees grow initially is actually decently relaxing; however, the lack of control, limited options, and poor visuals are very unappealing.”
- “Graphics are at a Minecraft level.”
gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The gameplay is characterized by realistic mechanics and physics, though some players find it restrictive and more suited for casual, time-passing experiences rather than engaging gameplay. While opinions vary, many appreciate the combination of gameplay and story, with some describing it as decent overall.
- “Very good gameplay mechanics and the physics are very realistic.”
- “I love this game; just the gameplay and the story are the best.”
- “Gameplay - decent”
- “There are many better options for relaxing tree-based gameplay.”
- “The gameplay isn't even technically gameplay; it's just something to pass the time.”
- “The gameplay isn't even technically gameplay; it's just something to pass the time.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unfulfilling, as it transforms what is intended to be a relaxing experience into a frustrating clicker game. The excessive grind for achievements detracts from enjoyment, compounded by annoying music and resource management issues that slow down gameplay significantly. Overall, the grinding feels more like a chore than a rewarding challenge.
- “This game presents itself as a relaxing tree growing game; however, the achievements turn it into a grindy clicker game, and both aspects are pretty bad.”
- “There are two extremely grindy achievements for no reason that just give you time to examine all the flaws in this game.”
- “If your tree grows enough, the amount of resources consumed becomes ridiculous and will slow your game down to a grinding halt.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The story is praised for its engaging plot and moral lessons about perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity. Players appreciate how the narrative complements the gameplay, enhancing their overall experience.
- “I love this game; the gameplay and the story are the best.”
- “Is there a plot?”
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's optimization has been criticized for poor performance, especially with larger trees, alongside graphical glitches and subpar controls. While there are no crashes reported, the overall experience is hindered by these issues.
- “Others have already addressed the poor performance (once you have a decent sized tree), graphics issues, and poor controls.”
- “No crashes; some graphical glitches, poor performance.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report that the game's stability is somewhat inconsistent, with occasional crashes and glitches noted, though these issues appear to be infrequent for some players. While some experience no crashes, others mention graphical glitches and poor performance affecting their gameplay.
- “It also crashed and glitched a few times, but it was infrequent enough that I would describe it as 'buggy.'”
- “No crashes; however, there were some graphical glitches and poor performance.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The monetization model is generally well-received, with players appreciating the low cost of the game and the absence of microtransactions, despite the presence of ads. Overall, the approach seems to enhance excitement for gameplay rather than detract from it.
- “On the upside, it's cheap and it doesn't have microtransactions yet.”
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without constant interruptions.”
- “I find the in-game purchases to be excessive, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “The reliance on ads and paywalls really ruins the immersion and enjoyment of the game.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game has been widely criticized, with users noting a lack of substance and finding it unfunny and unengaging.
- “I received this game as a gift, but there is almost nothing of substance to even review; it's not funny, it's not intriguing.”
- “The humor falls flat and feels forced, making it hard to enjoy any of the jokes.”
- “I expected a lot of laughs, but the attempts at humor are cringeworthy and miss the mark completely.”