The Dead Tree of Ranchiuna

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In The Dead Tree of Ranchiuna, a man returns to his village and experiences visions of a past tragedy. This atmospheric "walking simulator" features a huge map, full voice acting, and a compelling soundtrack. Players will uncover the mystery through the game's storyline, revealed through in-game characters and the player character's narration.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

61%

Audience ScoreBased on 44 reviews

story12 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Beautiful graphics and atmospheric landscapes that enhance the immersive experience.
Engaging soundtrack that complements the game's mood and setting.
Thought-provoking story that explores themes of jealousy, betrayal, and societal dynamics.

Voice acting is inconsistent, with some performances lacking emotional depth and coherence.
Gameplay is overly simplistic, with minimal interaction and tedious walking segments.
The story can feel disjointed and lacks clarity, making it difficult for players to connect with the characters and their motivations.

story
48 mentions
25 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The story in "The Dead Tree of Ranchiuna" is a central element, characterized by a mix of introspective themes and a non-linear narrative that unfolds through walking and exploration. While some players found the writing and atmosphere engaging, others criticized the plot for being confusing, poorly executed, or lacking depth, with mixed feelings about the voice acting. Overall, the game offers a contemplative experience, but opinions on the story's quality and coherence vary significantly among players.
- “This is, as is the case with his other games, very story-centric, set alongside the backdrop of a lush outdoors and mountain setting.”
- “The story was impactful enough, especially experiencing it in 2020 as an American (though obviously it's a story all can understand/relate to).”
- “The beautiful set pieces and music immerse you in the story.”
- “The story is very, very stupid, though, and probably one of the worst I have ever seen in games.”
- “I sort of understand the story, but I just don't feel like the motives for the characters add up; I just don't buy it.”
- “The voice acting is some of the worst I've heard, the world is unbelievably linear this time instead of open, and the story (in my opinion) doesn't really make sense.”
music
34 mentions
59 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience with its emotional depth and appropriate thematic elements. However, many reviewers noted that the soundtrack is sparse, with long stretches of silence that detract from the immersion. Overall, while the existing music is considered a standout feature, players expressed a desire for more frequent musical accompaniment to complement the visuals and narrative.
- “The soundtrack was all excellent, and it's always impressive how the songs are appropriate to the circumstances you hear them in.”
- “The beautiful set pieces and music immerse you in the story.”
- “This is a visually fantastic game, packaged with an excellent, atmospheric soundtrack.”
- “It could do with more music and/or more ambient sound, like a breeze or wind in the trees; as it is, a lot of it is really too silent.”
- “Also, certain parts of the soundtrack were decent, though the game was mostly void of music or any other interesting sounds.”
- “Okay narration with some music chucked in there in a way that felt obligatory.”
graphics
16 mentions
63 % positive mentions
19 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their quality, with many reviewers noting their gritty realism and beautiful scenery, often described as almost photo-realistic. While the visuals and atmosphere are highlighted as standout features, some critiques mention that the overall aesthetic can feel dreary or underutilized in certain contexts. Overall, the combination of impressive graphics and music enhances the immersive experience of the game.
- “The graphics are excellent (unreal engine).”
- “This isn't a criticism--the graphics & assets are very nice--almost photo-realistic in places.”
- “It is a mysterious, sombre but adventurous collection that really pulls you into the atmosphere along with the visuals.”
- “The graphics in Ranchtuna are generally better than other contemporary TB games, but that doesn't fix these issues.”
- “Graphics and scenery were dreary, rocky, damp terrain.”
- “The graphics lean towards the grittier side of natural surroundings.”
atmosphere
8 mentions
63 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning graphics and excellent soundtrack, creating a moody and immersive experience that enhances the storytelling. However, some players feel that certain elements, such as the story and dialogue, detract from the overall atmosphere. Overall, the combination of atmospheric landscapes and evocative music effectively draws players into the game's world.
- “This is a visually fantastic game, packaged with an excellent, atmospheric soundtrack.”
- “The environment of the game maintains a moody, nostalgic atmosphere and the beautiful music complements this extremely well.”
- “Really just ruined the atmosphere for me.”
- “The focus is on the atmosphere and the story.”
- “It is a mysterious, somber but adventurous collection that really pulls you into the atmosphere along with the visuals.”
gameplay
6 mentions
17 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a classic walking simulator with minimal interactive elements, such as lever puzzles and object collection, which some players find lacking. The lock picking mechanic, relying solely on mouse movements, is criticized for being awkward and illogical. Overall, players experience more of a narrative-driven exploration in a dark-themed environment rather than engaging gameplay.
- “It isn't all nice and colorful like most; this one takes a bit of a dark turn in gameplay.”
- “Gameplay-wise, this is a classic walking simulator with a couple of lever puzzles and a few objects that need to be found.”
- “You won't get a lot of actual 'gameplay', but rather you'll see yourself walking in a nice landscape while a story is being told.”
- “What makes things worse are the 'gameplay' elements.”
grinding
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with long walks and simple puzzles contributing to a sense of monotony. However, the visual and musical elements help maintain interest despite these drawbacks.
- “The voice acting and character dialogue is pretty weak, and the long walk is a bit dull and tedious.”
- “The game felt absolutely tedious at times, but there was enough visual and musical beauty to completely hold my interest.”
- “Puzzles are no-brainers, but walking on narrow planks becomes tedious.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as unintentional, with a hilariously poor ending and mediocre voice acting that often turns serious moments, like a scene involving a dog, into comedic experiences.
- “The ending is hilariously bad.”
- “The voice acting of other characters is mediocre at best; at one point, a scene with a dog, which I assume was meant to be serious, made me laugh instead due to the presentation of the lines.”
optimization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is noted for being the most optimized title from Tonguc, though the voiceover performance, particularly the narrator, could benefit from more nuance, potentially due to script limitations.
- “Well, it's easily the most optimized game Tonguc has made.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game provides a relaxed and casual emotional experience, ideal for a rainy day, with a unique impact that may resonate more deeply with Romanian players. However, its emotional depth remains strong and accessible for all players, regardless of their background.
- “They maintain a relaxed, casual pace overall and offer an emotional experience that fits perfectly with a rainy Saturday mood.”
- “All of these combine to deliver a unique experience that might be more impactful for me as a Romanian native, rather than for you as a foreigner, but the emotional facet is still pretty strong either way.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been criticized due to occasional glitches that cause players to get stuck on objects, necessitating a restart from the last checkpoint, which can be frustrating, especially if players are close to progressing further in the level.
- “I did enjoy this game for the most part; however, I experienced a couple of glitches where I got stuck on objects such as rocks and trees. I had to exit to the main menu and restart at the last checkpoint. On one occasion, I found out I was just a few steps away from the next checkpoint but had to start from the beginning of that level.”
- “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing significant progress.”
- “I encountered numerous stability issues, including random freezes and lag spikes that disrupted my gameplay experience.”