If you miss the early days of the internet—when web pages loaded slowly, search felt like detective work, and every clue was hidden behind clunky links and grainy images—The Roottrees are Dead is built to hit that exact nostalgia while delivering a genuinely smart mystery-puzzle experience.
Created and published by Jeremy Johnston, the game first appeared during Global Game Jam 2023 as a free browser release. It was built in Unity, and later received a full remaster in 2025 that refreshed the overall presentation with updated designs and improved visual assets. One of the biggest upgrades comes from its artwork, featuring hand-drawn illustrations by acclaimed board game artist Henning Ludvigsen, which helps the game lean even harder into its moody, retro mystery vibe.
At its core, The Roottrees are Dead is a puzzle-driven investigation game set in 1998, when the internet was still young and information wasn’t neatly organized. You play as a private investigator hired by a shadowy woman to uncover the truth about the Roottree family—specifically, the identities and connections of missing family members. Instead of following markers or quest arrows, you do what investigators in this world actually do: sit at a computer, open a web browser, and dig through the early web using the limited details you’re given.
As you search, you uncover old articles, news fragments, and images, then piece together who’s who inside the Roottree family tree. The central tragedy is that the Roottrees—three sisters and their parents—were on one of the family’s planes when it crashed. Everyone assumes they died, and now a fortune worth more than $1 billion needs to be distributed to surviving relatives. The problem is obvious: when that much money is on the line, people appear who may not be who they claim to be, while legitimate relatives might not even realize they’re connected.
The gameplay challenge revolves around matching correct names to photos and building out the family’s true story using evidence you’ve uncovered online. And as the investigation continues, the game warns that finding proof becomes increasingly difficult, with clues growing more obscure and tougher to track down—making the deeper stages of the puzzle especially satisfying for players who love meticulous, details-first mysteries.
The 2025 remaster doesn’t just polish the visuals—it also adds an extra case, expanding the narrative and giving returning players more to unravel beyond the original release.
Reception has been notably strong. The Roottrees are Dead has earned an Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam with thousands of positive reviews, with players frequently highlighting its addictive investigation loop, layered puzzle design, and the way its story unfolds through careful discovery. It has also been available at a launch discount, priced at $15.99 with 20% off through January 5.
For anyone searching for a 90s-inspired mystery game, a detective puzzle game with internet sleuthing, or simply a story-rich investigation that rewards patience and sharp observation, The Roottrees are Dead stands out as a clever, modern puzzle mystery wrapped in the eerie charm of the early web.
