Tree Trunk Brook
- August 22, 2020
- The Sheep's Meow
Get on SteamTree Trunk Brook is a tiny adventure game about hiking during the pandemic. Follow trail blazes, take photos, make friends, and find lost items. The visitor center is closed, but the trail is...
Mac OS
PC
Web Browser
Windows
Reviews
- Tree Trunk Brook offers a charming and relaxing experience, capturing the joy of nature and the importance of community during the pandemic.
- The unique art style, combining cartoon sprites with photographed backgrounds, creates a visually appealing environment that enhances the gameplay.
- The game encourages players to appreciate nature and engage in simple, wholesome activities like helping others and cleaning up the environment.
- The graphics are considered mediocre and pixelated, which detracts from the overall visual experience and may turn off some players.
- Gameplay can feel monotonous and lacks depth, with repetitive tasks and limited objectives that may not hold players' interest for long.
- Despite being free, the game has been criticized for its reliance on donations and additional DLC, leading some to feel it doesn't provide enough value.
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is predominantly described as wholesome, heartwarming, and relaxing, with many users appreciating its cute and simple design. While most reviews highlight its charm and recommend it for those who enjoy feel-good experiences, there are a few dissenting opinions that suggest it may not resonate with everyone. Overall, it is seen as a delightful, albeit brief, walking simulator that evokes positive feelings.
“I really enjoyed this heartfelt little game, and recommend it-- it's free!”
“Chill and wholesome, I loved finding all the sights and the interactions are sweet.”
“Soothing, relaxing, heartwarming, you name it!”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the charming art style that combines cartoon sprites and photographic backgrounds, while others criticize the overall quality as mediocre and pixelated. The visuals are described as cute and engaging, but the reliance on simplistic graphics and recycled assets detracts from the overall experience for many gamers.
“Short but sweet fetch quest game with a cool art style (cartoon sprites on photographed backgrounds, like in the cover art).”
“This game incorporates the mixed media, photographic style with its scenery and backgrounds.”
“Very charming and simple art style, with a mixture of realism and a pixelated environment.”
“This has some really mediocre looking graphics that will understandably be a turn off for a lot of gamers, and it's a big contributor to the failure of the game to attract gamers despite having no up-front cost.”
“Graphic look odd though.”
“The graphics for this game made me say, 'wow, they really used a lot of PNGs, and pixelated them.'”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its amazing, chill, and soothing qualities, creating a relaxing atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While some players noted that the repetitive nature of the trails can lead to monotony, the enjoyable background music keeps them engaged for extended periods. Many expressed a desire for more content, such as additional trails and NPC interactions, to further enrich the experience.
“The sounds and music were amazing!”
“Chill music and relaxing atmosphere.”
“The music is relaxing, and I would love to play again if there's an update with more trails and NPC requests.”
“It has soothing music and some decent writing about the pandemic.”
“I actually spent more than 2 hours just listening to the chill music and soothing ambient sounds of the trail as I was doing other stuff. It may be a bit boring and monotonous at times because you'll be walking the same trails over and over again, but it was still very enjoyable!”
- story6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story is a lighthearted and relaxing fetch quest set against a backdrop of the 2020 pandemic, where players engage in a peaceful exploration of nature while characters discuss their lost items and experiences. While some may find the narrative lacking in depth and challenge compared to traditional point-and-click games, its charming art style and laid-back approach provide a soothing experience for players looking to unwind. Overall, the story serves as a gentle escape rather than a complex mystery.
“The art style is so cool, and the story really helped me relax after a long day at work.”
“I definitely dig it; I can see why some reviews say it's boring. It doesn't have an in-depth, challenging, mysterious story like most point-and-click games, but it's nice and relaxing without the rigidity. You can free roam and still get all the achievements and reach the ending.”
“Enjoy a 'peaceful' walk in the woods during a day of the 2020 pandemic where everyone wears masks and complains about their lost stuff... so... welcome to a fetch quest while people talk about COVID-19.”
“I definitely dig it, and I can see why some of the reviews say it's boring. It doesn't have an in-depth, challenging, mysterious story that most point-and-click games do, but it's nice and relaxing without the rigidity of most point-and-clicks. You can free roam and still get all the achievements and reach the ending.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Gameplay is characterized by simple point-and-click mechanics, providing a solid experience for a casual game. However, the quest structure feels repetitive, with many NPCs focused on lost items and a grindy achievement system that can significantly extend playtime. While the graphics are visually striking, they rely heavily on pixelated assets, which may detract from the overall immersion.
“Game mechanics are all about simple yet solid point-and-click interactions, and it is a great game design a free casual game can offer.”
“It's a little weird that every NPC has lost something along the trail and is looking for it, but it's a game, and games sometimes sacrifice realism for gameplay functionality.”
“The other point is to find all 14 picture locations and that's about it. The graphics for this game made me say, 'wow, they really used a lot of PNGs and pixelated them.' The recycle achievements are too grindy because the trash barely appears, and getting 50 trash can easily make the gameplay time go from 26 minutes to 1.4 hours.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspects of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly when trying to collect specific items like litter and trash, which spawn infrequently and can significantly extend gameplay time. While some achievements can be completed relatively quickly, others require considerable effort and patience due to the low spawn rates of necessary items.
“The last three achievements are a little grindy to get 20, 35, and 50 litter, which randomly spawns, but it only took an hour and a half to 100%.”
“The graphics for this game made me say, 'wow, they really used a lot of PNGs and pixelated them.' The recycle achievements are too grindy because the trash barely appears, and getting 50 trash can easily make the gameplay time go from 26 minutes to 1.4 hours.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by chill music that creates a relaxing environment, enhancing the overall experience for players.
“The chill music creates a relaxing atmosphere that draws you in.”
“The ambiance is incredibly immersive, making you feel like you're part of the world.”
“The atmospheric design is stunning, with every detail contributing to a sense of wonder.”
