A Gamer Dad’s Review: Tree

A quiet moment of stillness, touch, and growth—where no one wins, but something meaningful still happens.

Jun 21, 2025

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Hey there! I’m ROP—and this is a softer entry in my Gamer Dad Review Series. After puzzling through The Tiny Bang Story, rolling through Ballance, and managing the chaos of Train Valley, we wrapped things up with something completely different: Tree!

Tree is a tiny indie gem that became one of my favorite father-son single session experiences. It’s short, simple, and surprisingly deep—perfect for a busy dad looking to sneak in some meaningful screen time with the kids.

Where Wonder Takes Root

You play as a caretaker, nurturing a tree through the seasons—spring, summer, fall, winter—as it slowly grows from a fragile sapling into a wise old giant. No scores, no timers, no dialogue. Just hand-drawn art, gentle music, and a quiet rhythm. Junior (age 5 at that time) was hooked the second he saw the first bud appear. “Can we make it big, Dad?” he asked. And off we went.

It all begins with a little care and a lot of wonder.

The whole experience unfolds like a storybook—with each season changing the tree, each moment giving space to wonder. Flowers bloom in spring. Leaves drift in autumn. Snow settles in silence. The game doesn’t just show change—it invites you to feel it through the tree’s perspective.

Big Ideas, Small Game

Here’s the sneaky part: Tree is quietly educational.

🌿 Nature 101: Junior noticed how the tree changed across seasons—buds in spring, full leaves in summer, falling ones in fall. We ended up talking about how trees (and people) adapt to the world around them.

From watering roots to passing on joy—this scene said more than words ever could.

🌱 Life Cycles: The tree is planted by a child, who grows older, and by the end… well, Junior looked at me, wide-eyed, and asked, “Did he go to sleep?” It was a tender moment that opened the door to talk about growing up and passing things on.

It’s not preachy. It’s not even trying to teach. It just does, and that’s my favorite kind of learning.

What made it special for us:

A rare invitation to slow down and just watch something grow
Opened the door to meaningful conversations about seasons, life cycles, and growing up
Artful without being flashy—perfect for little hands and big hearts
No rules to memorize, no rush to finish—just a shared rhythm
A gentle emotional arc that stuck with us long after the screen dimmed

Father Thought

The real magic of Tree is in the space it creates. A space to be still. To wonder. To sit beside your kid and not fill the silence—but share it.

As a dad, I often default to “fun” or being “productive,” but Tree reminded me that sometimes, the most meaningful moments come when we stop chasing outcomes—and just grow together.

If you’re a gamer parent looking for a short, thoughtful game that connects more than it challenges, Tree is a gem. It’s free on Steam. It’s finished in 30 minutes. And it leaves something behind.

Not a high score. Not a victory screen. Just something small, rooted, and quietly unforgettable.

If you enjoyed this, you might like the full 3-part Gamer Dad Review Series—where I reflect on the first games I played with my son:

1️⃣ The Tiny Bang Story → 1st Part
2️⃣ Ballance (2004) → 2nd Part
3️⃣ Train Valley → 3rd Part

Want to share your own gaming memories? Or maybe a quiet moment that caught you by surprise? I’d love to hear about it. 👇 Let’s talk… trees, parenting, or any gaming experiences and lessons.