The First Tree similar games & best alternatives
The First Tree
2017
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Quick resume
A beautiful, 3rd-person exploration game centered around two parallel stories: a fox trying to find her missing family, and a son reconnecting with his estranged father in Alaska. Uncover artifacts from the son's life as he becomes intertwined in the fox’s journey towards The First Tree.
Global score
75/100
Genres
Adventure, Indie, Simulator, Platform
Pros
- Touching and emotional story
- Beautiful art style and visuals
- Amazing and fitting soundtrack
- Relaxing and contemplative atmosphere
- Unique narrative structure and player message feature
Cons
- Simple and clunky gameplay mechanics
- Some tedious and repetitive exploration
- Short playtime
- Lack of save points and chapter select
- Minor bugs and graphical pop-in issues
Motivations
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Autonomy3
"Players control the fox freely exploring large semi-open levels with some light platforming and item collection, allowing personal pacing and decision on exploration."
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Competence-2
"Gameplay is simple and straightforward with minimal challenge; controls and jumping mechanics are basic and sometimes clunky, requiring little skill."
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Competition-5
"No competitive elements or comparison to others; focus is on personal experience and narrative."
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Continuation1
"Short playtime and some tedious sections may limit long sessions, but emotional impact and atmosphere encourage replay for story and achievements."
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Cooperation-5
"Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."
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Creativity4
"Unique narrative structure combining two parallel stories and player-created messages; artistic visual style and atmospheric design."
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Domination-5
"No elements of dominance or superiority; interactions are solitary and respectful."
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Escapism5
"Strongly designed to provide emotional escape and reflection, helping players cope with real-life issues and stress."
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Expectation-4
"Players engage voluntarily for intrinsic interest in story and atmosphere, not out of obligation."
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Experimenting1
"Some exploration and discovery of hidden items and story elements, but gameplay mechanics are simple and repetitive."
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Exploration4
"Encourages discovering new areas, secrets, and collectibles across varied biomes and dreamlike landscapes."
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Expression3
"Players can compose a personal message at the end, which is shared with others, allowing self-expression within the narrative."
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Fantasy3
"The game blends realistic emotional themes with a dreamlike, surreal narrative featuring a fox and symbolic storytelling."
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Fellowship-5
"No social or community features; experience is solitary and introspective."
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Growth2
"Players gain insight into the story and characters, with some personal reflection and emotional growth encouraged."
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Health-5
"Sedentary gameplay without physical activity or health-related mechanics."
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Idle-3
"Requires focused attention to explore and follow story; some players find pacing slow but not background or casual play."
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Intimacy4
"Emotional narrative and voice acting foster close connection to characters and themes of family and loss."
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Leadership-5
"No leadership or group management elements; purely single-player experience."
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Progression1
"Progression through story and collectibles, but no complex item upgrades or power accumulation."
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Relaxation4
"Calm, soothing atmosphere with gentle music and slow pacing promotes relaxation and emotional flow."
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Sensation3
"Visually pleasing art style and evocative soundtrack provide sensory enjoyment and emotional stimulation."
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Status-5
"No social recognition or status systems; focus is on personal experience."
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Story5
"Central to the game; deeply emotional, well-narrated story with strong narrative immersion."
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Strategy-4
"Minimal strategic or problem-solving elements; gameplay is straightforward and linear."
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Thrill-4
"Low risk and suspense; experience is controlled and contemplative rather than thrilling."
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Value2
"Generally considered good value for a short, emotional experience, especially on sale; some feel full price is high for length."
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Violence-5
"No violent or destructive gameplay; focus on exploration and narrative."
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Survival-5
"No survival or threat mechanics; stable and safe environment."
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Last update: 06/03/2026