A genealogical mystery straight out of 1998. Scour the early Internet for clues, uncover hidden connections, and piece together the family tree behind the secretive Roottree Corporation.
128 Players in Game
1 116 All-Time Peak
93,01 Rating
Steam Charts
128 Players in Game
1 116 All-Time Peak
93,01 Rating
At the moment, The Roottrees are Dead has 128 players actively in-game. This is 70.18% lower than its all-time peak of 560.
The Roottrees are Dead Player Count
The Roottrees are Dead monthly active players. This table represents the average number of players engaging with the game each month, providing insights into its ongoing popularity and player activity trends.
Month |
Average Players |
Change |
2025-06 |
159 |
+36.86% |
2025-05 |
116 |
-23.35% |
2025-04 |
152 |
+25.78% |
2025-03 |
121 |
0% |
2 522 Total Reviews
2 459 Positive Reviews
63 Negative Reviews
Very Positive Score
The Roottrees are Dead has garnered a total of 2 522 reviews, with 2 459 positive reviews and 63 negative reviews, resulting in a ‘Very Positive’ overall score.
Reviews Chart
Chart above illustrates the trend of feedback for The Roottrees are Dead over time, showcasing the dynamic changes in player opinions as new updates and features have been introduced. This visual representation helps to understand the game's reception and how it has evolved.
Recent Steam Reviews
This section displays the 10 most recent Steam reviews for the game, showcasing a mix of player experiences and sentiments. Each review summary includes the total playtime along with the number of thumbs-up and thumbs-down reactions, clearly indicating the community's feedback
Playtime:
1146 minutes
Great deductive puzzle game in the style of [i]Return of the Obra Dinn[/i]...
...but much harder.
If you loved one, you'll love the other.
👍 : 1 |
😃 : 0
Positive
Playtime:
1267 minutes
This was a very fun game. I had just finished Her Story and was looking for something similar and this did not disappoint.
👍 : 2 |
😃 : 0
Positive
Playtime:
272 minutes
For a game where half of it is "search the internet", all the searches are not well-implemented. Multiple times I've search for an obvious clue, didn't find anything, and then an hour later find exactly what I was expecting through less relevant search. You also need to have words in correct order, always.
Importantly, I only found the game interesting for the first hour, later on it becomes very dull.
👍 : 3 |
😃 : 0
Negative
Playtime:
844 minutes
A great detective game - if you liked Return of the Obra Dinn, Her Story or Curse of the Golden Idol, you'll love this. Also, a fantastic ending!
👍 : 2 |
😃 : 0
Positive
Playtime:
529 minutes
Absolutely loved this game.
Played it through over two nights. Loved that it wasn't easy but perhaps wish it had taken longer
👍 : 3 |
😃 : 0
Positive
Playtime:
965 minutes
I was in ninth grade when this story takes place, so it really took me back to my early internet experience. Is this game mostly a test of reading comprehension and recollection? Yep. Did I love every second of it? Absolutely.
👍 : 4 |
😃 : 0
Positive
Playtime:
331 minutes
It's an entertaining and engaging genealogy mystery game about family secrets. The user interface is straightforward to use, the in-game note-taking is top-notch, and being able to highlight sections of text to add to the notes or search engines makes the research easier. This way you don't have to jot down real notes.
👍 : 3 |
😃 : 0
Positive
Playtime:
916 minutes
[i]The Roottrees are Dead[/i] is a solid detective puzzle game, with a few standout features, and a few flaws. You're essentially solving a massive family tree to help determine who gets a piece of generational wealth from the Roottree family, who are candy industry billionaires. The main thing I didn't like was how specific you need to be when searching in-game to get information. It messes with your brain a bit because you're used to being able to Google search something knowing about 70%-90% of what you're looking for, and Google coming through with the result you wanted. Here you need the exact term, no typos, no different wording, shorthand, etc. it adds some challenge, but is also frustrating because you'll be certain of what you're looking for, yet are unable to find it. This also makes it feel like there is only one hole you can dive down to find the solution. As a counterpoint, if you use the in-game notebook well, it won't take too long to find that hole.
One feature that impressed me was the in-game notebook; this is the least I've had to use physical notes in one of these games because the in-game notebook is fantastic. You're able to create different pages, name them, write notes, and highlight sections of evidence you find automatically pasting them in your notebook AND giving you a link to where you originally found it. You're also able to highlight topics that arise and instantly search for them in the in-game search engine or data bases without any typing. Truly an amazing feature for the genre - I wish it didn't take up as much of the screen though. Overall, solid game, I recommend.
[b]Recommended[/b]
[i]If you found my review helpful, please consider following my [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44234346/]Steam Curator page[/url], where you can see more thoughts and recommendations[/i]
👍 : 12 |
😃 : 0
Positive
Playtime:
1351 minutes
Yes. Phenomenal. Give me 20 of this game's mechanics, remixing setting and maybe goal. Give me one about conspiracy theories, or any subject where you connect things like the Always Sunny meme. This is a fantastic chill puzzle game, and i love how every aspect of it is implemented.
👍 : 14 |
😃 : 1
Positive
Playtime:
842 minutes
1 June 2025: Initial Review
[h1]Early Review[/h1]
[i](sorta)[/i]
I'm 10 hours in and I can say I'm not even close to figuring this mystery out. As soon as I figure one thing out, I take note and learn something else. It's very well created. The only thing I would have done differently is to add the ability to add notes to the family tree board for our guesses (possibles).
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3490510040
The story is interesting, and I'm a tough one to win over with stories. You're going to need to be able to figure out lineage, dates, orders, alternate names, etc. You're going to need to do some deep thinking, which is why I added the tag "difficult".
It really is rather difficult, but in a good way. This game makes you earn your victory.
I even found a secret on my own. Pretty neat. This is a place where curiosity is a must! Strongly recommended. lol
I like the ability to use shortcuts. Control+Z = undo, SHIFT+ENTER = Next Line, etc. You can change the order of your notes. So glad for that! There is a WEALTH of information. I'm talking many layers.
It's as satisfying as reading a good book, for me. It *may* be possible to combine the in-game notes with Steam's Notes ability? Depends on how much you like to take notes?
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3490693746
I do recommend this game, and my rating would probably be around 8/10 at this point. I am enjoying it! I feel connected to it. I got this on sale, but I'd think it's worth it's full price. ♥
#Difficult #SinglePlayer #Puzzle #Mystery #Detective #Story Rich #Interactive Fiction #Immersive
👍 : 14 |
😃 : 0
Positive
The Roottrees are Dead Steam Achievements
The Roottrees are Dead offers players a rich tapestry of challenges, with a total of 22 achievements to unlock. These achievements span a variety of in-game activities, encouraging exploration, skill development, and strategic mastery. Unlocking these achievements provides not only a rewarding experience but also a deeper engagement with the game's content.
Genealogy Genie
Filled in the entire family tree correctly
Voracious Reader
Discovered every Periodical
You Deserve a Gold Star
Locked in everyone on the Notable Roottrees list
Establishing Roots
Locked in the 5Pieces
Audiophile
Listened to all musical evidence
Take My Hand Beneath the Tree
Locked in everyone in the Free Spirits photograph
Branching Out
Locked in everyone in the Next Generation photograph
Family Secrets
Finished The Roottrees are Dead
The Big Reveal
Finished Roottreemania
Old Flings
Locked in Possible Infidelity 1
Extracurricular Activities
Locked in Possible Infidelity 2
Roottree Company Affairs
Locked in Possible Infidelity 3
What's the Deal With All These Roottrees?
Loose Ends: Part One
Found all evidence in The Roottrees are Dead
Loose Ends: Part Two
Found all evidence in Roottreemania
FamilyDoku!
Completed every FamilyDoku! puzzle
Where There's Smoke...
Found all the smoking guns
The Roottrees are Dead Minimum PC System Requirements
Minimum:- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10 64-Bit
- Processor: 2.0Ghz Dual Core
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 510
The Roottrees are Dead Recommended PC System Requirements
Recommended:- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
The Roottrees are Dead Minimum MAC System Requirements
Minimum:- OS: macOS High Sierra
- Processor: Apple M1
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
The Roottrees are Dead has specific system requirements to ensure smooth gameplay. The minimum settings provide basic performance, while the recommended settings are designed to deliver the best gaming experience. Check the detailed requirements to ensure your system is compatible before making a purchase.
The Roottrees are Dead Latest News & Patches
This game has received a total of 24 updates to date, ensuring continuous improvements and added features to enhance player experience. These updates address a range of issues from bug fixes and gameplay enhancements to new content additions, demonstrating the developer's commitment to the game's longevity and player satisfaction.
Fix for missing hints
Date: 2025-01-16 03:26:24
👍 : 20 |
👎 : 0
Update Notes for January 16, 2025
Date: 2025-01-16 17:52:40
👍 : 20 |
👎 : 0
Update for January 17, 2025
Date: 2025-01-17 18:02:01
👍 : 21 |
👎 : 0
Update Notes for January 18, 2025
Date: 2025-01-18 20:06:33
👍 : 38 |
👎 : 0
Update Notes for January 19, 2025
Date: 2025-01-19 22:02:42
👍 : 32 |
👎 : 1