The acclaimed "armchair detective" puzzle game has been reimagined with a new look, extended story and refined gameplay.
TORONTO, ON, Jan. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Indie gamers, genealogy enthusiasts and amateur sleuths, take note: The Roottrees Are Dead, now remastered and expanded, launches January 15 on Steam, delivering a fresh take on one of the most captivating and creative puzzle games in years.
Originally developed by Jeremy Johnston at the 2023 Global Game Jam, Roottrees gained critical acclaim for its innovative mechanics and retro internet aesthetic. The game, which appeals to fans of deduction-based games like The Case of the Golden Idol and Return of the Obra Dinn, was named one of AV Club's top 5 of the year. Now, the remastered edition makes the game more accessible to newcomers while rewarding longtime fans with richer gameplay and an expanded story. Players step into the role of an internet detective, using authentic-feeling '90s web tools to trace digital breadcrumbs, unravel family mysteries and uncover long-buried secrets.
To bring the remake to life, Johnston teamed up with Toronto-based developer Robin "Evil Trout" Ward (Discourse, Forumwarz) to transform the cult classic into a premium experience. With a host of enhancements and a new expansion ("Roottreemania"), its playtime has doubled to about 20 hours of intricate puzzles and gripping mystery.
The prototype's AI-generated art has been replaced with hand-drawn illustrations by board-game artist Henning Ludvigsen, known for his work on Star Wars and Clue. Players can expect an immersive user interface, intelligent hint system, fully voiced cinematics, rebalanced puzzles and original jazz-noir soundtrack, plus Easter eggs capturing the nostalgic charm of late '90s internet culture. Developed with the open-source Godot engine, the game is fully playable on PC, Mac and Linux and features several accessibility and quality-of-life updates.
Robin Ward said: "Our focus was to refine the experience without losing what made the original so special. The new hint system and UI improvements make it more approachable, while keeping those deeply satisfying logic puzzles fans loved."
Jeremy Johnston said: "What started as a small side project has resonated in ways I never expected. Seeing Robin expand and improve the game has been amazing, and revisiting the story to create new puzzles was a rewarding and incredibly fun design challenge. I cannot wait for players to experience it."
The game can be wishlisted on Steam now. It will be priced at $19.99 USD, and early adopters will get a 10% launch discount during the first week. While the remastered version offers an enhanced experience, the original prototype will remain available for free on Itch.io for those curious about where it all began.
Links and contact info:
- To get The Roottrees Are Dead on Steam:
- For more information about The Roottrees Are Dead, including our press kit:
- For review keys, media inquiries or more information, please contact: [email protected]
Media Contact
Mike Drach, Evil Trout, 1 416-278-3390, [email protected],
SOURCE Evil Trout
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