Sapling

About

A narrative walking simulator that packs an emotional punch. As the world's first spoken-word video game, it may speak truth into the bittersweet moments of your life.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

69%

Audience ScoreBased on 13 reviews

story4 positive mentions

gameplay2 negative mentions

Cute and sweet story that is calm and relaxing.
Nice art style and relaxing music that enhances the experience.
Free-to-play, making it accessible for anyone looking for a short experience.

Extremely short gameplay, taking only about 4-5 minutes to complete.
Limited interactivity and almost nothing to do or see in the environment.
High mouse sensitivity and lack of keybind options can make controls awkward.

story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
53%
20%
The story is a brief and sweet narrative centered around an oak sapling and a flower, exploring themes of growth and amicable separation. While it offers a charming message suitable for children, many reviewers feel it lacks depth and could benefit from a longer format. Overall, it appeals to those who appreciate whimsical tales, though its simplicity may not resonate with everyone.
- “It's a very sweet story.”
- “The narrator tells the simple story of an oak sapling and a flower sharing the same living space for a while before mutually agreeing to go their separate ways as a larger living space becomes imperative.”
- “I could see this being a nice short story for kids to teach them that endings, while sad sometimes, shouldn't be seen as bad.”
- “It's an extremely short story about some plants, with like two animations to watch.”
- “I mean it was alright I guess, but the whole story I managed to speedrun in about 180 seconds.”
- “You have a small environment to walk around in while listening to the story; when one part is done, you just walk over to the next glowing thing to continue.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The graphics of the game are praised for their appealing art style and impressive water effects, which contribute to an immersive visual experience. However, some users noted a lack of variety in environmental elements, with repetitive assets detracting from the overall impact. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, warranting longer gameplay to fully appreciate their quality.
- “The art style is really nice.”
- “I was amazed at what I saw when I first loaded into the game; the graphics are impressive.”
- “The water graphics are particularly stunning.”
- “I believe the water graphics are also a culprit in this.”
- “Graphics - I was amazed at what I saw when I first loaded into the game; the same 'sapling' over and over, a pond with a duck in it, a little grass dirt house hut, and a gate that had a few trees behind it.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is minimalistic, primarily consisting of walking around with very limited interaction, as players noted the lack of engaging mechanics and a non-functional help feature. Overall, the experience is described as lacking depth, with only four minutes of content to explore.
- “A narrative walking simulator with 4 minutes of gameplay.”
- “Gameplay - well, there just isn't much to say here; you literally walk around and that's it. There's a 'H' help button and it's useless. Also, you can't swim with the duck -10 points.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game is characterized as relaxing and chill, featuring a short and repetitive set of chords that contribute to a soothing atmosphere. Overall, it is visually appealing and enhances the gaming experience.
- “The music is relaxing and sets a calming atmosphere.”
- “The visuals look good, and the music is incredibly chill.”
- “The music is a short and repetitive set of chords.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is criticized for its lack of replayability, being described as extremely short and offering no incentive for players to revisit it after completion. Despite this, some users found the experience enjoyable, albeit brief.
- “All in all, while it really has no replay value and is excruciatingly short, it was not a bad experience.”
- “It really takes only a couple of minutes to complete and it offers no replay value, unfortunately.”