The Secret Lives of Games 147: Digging Deep with The Roottrees are Dead
Oct 10, 2025
Laura chats with Jeremy Johnston, an independent game developer known for his puzzle games, and Robin Ward, a software developer who co-created the Steam remake of The Roottrees are Dead. They discuss the evolution of their intriguing murder-mystery game from a Global Game Jam prototype to a full release. Highlights include creating a unique hint system, incorporating AI art ethics, and the challenges of expanding a free game. The duo also shares their inspirations from titles like The Return of the Obra Dinn, exploring the community's growing appetite for engaging puzzle games.
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Replace Jam AI Art For Release
- Replace AI jam assets when moving to commercial release to respect artists and platform policies.
- Hire an illustrator and rework art, UI, and UX during a remake.
Paid Remake Requires New Value
- Releasing a paid remake of a free prototype needs meaningful new content or people won't buy it.
- New puzzles, UI, and expanded evidence justified a Steam launch.
Design With A Cross‑Reference Sheet
- Map every character and evidence in a spreadsheet and cross‑reference how each clue leads to them.
- Fill missing links by embedding connections into existing evidence before creating new mechanics.