147: Digging Deep with The Roottrees are Dead

147: Digging Deep with The Roottrees are Dead

Author: The Secret Lives of Games October 10, 2025 Duration: 1:18:10

Laura chats with Jeremy Johnston and Robin Ward about The Roottrees are Dead, their genealogy, murder-mystery, "static deduction" game. We discuss the development process of taking a jam prototype to full release, developing hints and systems that lead players to satisfying discoveries, and the taxonomy of games like The Roottrees are Dead and The Return of the Obra Dinn.

Spoilers abound, so consider playing the game first before tuning in.


Audio edited by Dylan Shumway

 

Discussed in this episode:

The Roottrees are Dead (Steam) https://store.steampowered.com/app/2754380/The_Roottrees_are_Dead/  

The Roottrees are Dead (itch.io – Global Game Jam entry) https://jjohnstongames.itch.io/the-roottrees-are-dead 

Return of the Obra Dinn https://store.steampowered.com/app/653530/Return_of_the_Obra_Dinn/ 

Outer Wilds https://store.steampowered.com/app/753640/Outer_Wilds/ 

Her Story https://store.steampowered.com/app/368370/Her_Story/ 

Family https://owlskip-games.itch.io/family 

Type Help https://william-rous.itch.io/type-help 

The Rise of the Golden Idol https://store.steampowered.com/app/2716400/The_Rise_of_the_Golden_Idol/ 

Blue Prince https://store.steampowered.com/app/1569580/Blue_Prince/ 

Severance https://tv.apple.com/us/show/severance/umc.cmc.1srk2goyh2q2zdxcx605w8vtx 

White Lotus https://www.max.com/shows/white-lotus/14f9834d-bc23-41a8-ab61-5c8abdbea505

Righteous Gemstones https://www.max.com/shows/righteous-gemstones/c3bd0a34-c4ce-4ca5-bd6c-820df7340671 

Announcement: Eggplant Plays De Mol (2025 Season) https://eggplant.show/announcing-eggplant-plays-de-mol-2025-season 

The Genius (Korean Game Show) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Genius_(TV_series) 

Robin Ward's blog (links to socials included) https://eviltrout.com/ 

The Roottrees are Dead Discord server https://discord.com/invite/Z6Y5sE9Dgt 


https://eggplant.show/
https://discord.gg/eggplant
https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow


Ever wonder what really happens between the initial spark of an idea and the final product you play? The Secret Lives of Games pulls back the curtain, offering a rare, unvarnished look at the creative journey. Each episode is built around a candid conversation with a game creator, moving far beyond simple promotion to explore the messy, beautiful, and often surprising realities of their work. You’ll hear about the late-night breakthroughs, the frustrating dead ends, and the personal philosophies that shape the games we love. This podcast is less about reviews or news and more about understanding the human effort behind the pixels and code. It’s for anyone who’s curious about the art and craft of game development, whether you’re a seasoned player, an aspiring designer, or simply fascinated by creative processes. Listen in for genuine stories about problem-solving, narrative design, artistic choices, and the intricate process of building interactive worlds. These are the detailed, behind-the-scenes discussions that reveal how games truly come to life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Secret Lives of Games
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