The Roottrees Are Dead Reviews
A great detective game gets a lavish remake and an improved expansion in one essential package.
The Roottrees are Dead offers two intriguing mysteries for internet sleuths, but its late-game may frustrate players.
The best thing a puzzle game can do is make you feel smart; The Roottrees Are Dead made me feel like the second coming of Sherlock Holmes. Its exceptional mystery is bolstered by stimulating puzzle-solving, a satisfying ending, and a cozy nostalgia that makes it weirdly relaxing to mull over a cup of coffee. Don’t let this quirky search for answers pass you by.
The Roottrees Are Dead is a triumph of investigative fiction, offering a compelling yet grounded family mystery within countless articles, websites, and archives waiting for you to uncover. The game has been much improved over its original iteration on itch.io, and the extra content "Roottreemania" adds a cool follow-up mystery to the main one. Any fan of investigation games will have a great time with The Roottrees are Dead.
Never has putting a family tree together been so much fun. I couldn't put down The Roottrees are Dead once I started playing it, leaving me feeling like a true detective, searching web pages, library archives and more to piece together this intriguing family's history. This is a must-play for any puzzle fan.
The Roottrees are Dead is a great video game for any players who like experiences like Obra Din or the two Golden Idol titles. It feels good to investigate, starting with a list of names, and reveal the rich history of an entire family. The feeling that there’s something more to learn, to understand, is always present and the game has a decent hint system to help players who get stuck.
The Roottrees are Dead focuses on solving the family tree of the rich Roottree family in an interesting and addictive way. The detective-like concept challenges in many ways and rewards attentiveness, quick wits and good reasoning skills.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
The Roottrees are Dead is a powerhouse gaming entry to 2025! With a carefully crafted tale of intrigue and in-fighting, in-laws and interpersonal conflicts, Jeremy Johnston and Robin Ward’s detective puzzle game is one everyone should dive into. If you enjoy games that respect your intelligence, have thoughtful mechanics and you like to be occasionally nosey, then Roottrees needs to be your next purchase!
The Roottrees Are Dead was a uniquely fascinating and frustrating experience, and it's definitely something I recommend to fellow genealogy or research nerds. The story, too, was an interesting one and I, for one, wouldn't oppose to a sequel focusing on Elias's or Gwyneth's siblings' family trees.
The Roottrees are Dead is a great puzzle game and a great detective point-and-click game. There is a lot of reading to do, a lot of lore, and deductions to be made. The visuals and world-building are great. The soundtrack is excellent. The only thing left to say is that I hope there’s a sequel soon, or at the very least, another game from the developer in the same style. If you love detective games, you should definitely check out The Roottrees are Dead.