About The First Tree
The First Tree is a third-person exploration game created by independent developer David Wehle and released in 2017. It tells two parallel stories at once. In one, you play as a fox searching for her missing cubs across a vast, dreamlike wilderness. In the other, you listen to Joseph, a young man who travels to Alaska with his wife Rose to reconnect with his estranged father. As the fox moves forward, artefacts from Joseph’s life appear in the landscape, slowly tying the two journeys together on the way to the mysterious First Tree.
The gameplay is simple and relaxed, so the focus stays on atmosphere and story. You run, jump and climb across meadows, forests, mountain slopes and frozen lakes, following the trail of your family. Glowing lights scattered around each area mark the path and reward curious players who explore off the main route. Along the way you dig up objects connected to Joseph’s memories, each one triggering a short piece of narration. There are no enemies to fight and no complex puzzles, making the game accessible to anyone who enjoys calm, reflective experiences.
Visually, The First Tree uses a soft, colourful low-poly style inspired by the landscapes of Alaska. Every chapter has its own palette, from green spring valleys and golden autumn grass to snowy plains lit by the northern sky. Herds of deer, flocks of birds and other wildlife bring the world to life, and changes of season mirror the emotional arc of the story. The original soundtrack, built around gentle piano and ambient tones, blends with the narration and the sound of the wind to create a quiet, contemplative mood.
At its heart, the game is about families, grief and the meaning we find in what remains. It explores difficult feelings with sincerity, using the bond between parent and child as a thread through both stories. A full playthrough takes around two hours, which makes it ideal for a single evening, and an optional developer commentary offers extra insight into how it was made. For fans of narrative adventures and beautiful nature settings, it is a short but memorable journey that stays with you after the credits roll.
Key Features
- Two stories – A fox and a family.
- Calm exploration – Run, jump and climb.
- Alaskan nature – Forests, meadows and ice.
- Hidden artefacts – Uncover Joseph’s memories.
- No combat – Relaxed and accessible.
- Low-poly style – Soft and colourful visuals.
- Original music – Gentle piano soundtrack.
- Commentary – Optional developer notes.
PC Version and Compatibility
The game runs on Windows, macOS and Linux and supports controllers. The minimum Windows setup is Windows XP SP2 or newer, a 2.4 GHz dual-core processor, 8 GB of RAM, a GeForce GTX 750 or Radeon R7 260X with 1 GB of memory and 4 GB of storage. Languages: English (full audio); interface and subtitles in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Chinese and Brazilian Portuguese.
Global Activation & What You Receive
This GOG key unlocks the full game The First Tree. It is a Global key that can be activated worldwide. Sign in to your GOG account, open gog.com/redeem, enter the code and the game is added to your library, where you can download it directly or through GOG Galaxy.
Why Buy This Game?
Why buy it? It is a short, beautiful and heartfelt adventure that turns a walk through the wilderness into a story about family.
Related Games
Telling a personal story through a walk in the wilderness, Firewatch GOG.COM Key Global offers the same quiet emotional depth. Following a fox mother protecting her cubs, Endling: Extinction is Forever shares a very similar theme. Exploring a serene world without combat, ABZU delivers the same calm and beautiful atmosphere. Turning grief into a gentle visual journey, GRIS touches on the same feelings.
