If I could only play 1 game this holiday season, it would be this gem

With the holidays on the horizon and game releases slowing down, it's time to catch up. There's something special about clearing out your backlog of the titles you missed earlier in the year, especially those you got at a good discount. There are many different games that I would recommend playing during the holiday season, from the GOTY nominees Clair Obscur to the endlessly addictive Ball x Pitbut if I only had time to play one game this holiday season, this would be it The root trees are dead.

I imagine many of you are wondering what exactly The root trees are dead is. If you know the game, please help me spread the word about this gem of a game. For those who have played Root treeI've included some additional recommendations at the bottom of the post. These are games that I became obsessed with at various times throughout the year that aren't the obvious choices, like Hollow Knight or ARC Raiders.

What is The Roottrees are Dead?

The root trees are dead is a mystery, puzzle-solving game where you piece together a family tree. After the death of the last remaining members of the Roottree family, your goal is to use various media to find out who is who within the immediate and extended family. At first it just seems like you're just trying to put names to faces, but eventually bigger mysteries start to emerge. As the game progresses, you learn that the Roottree family's empire is on shaky ground.

The Roottrees are Dead steam trailer screenshot magazine

The game requires a lot of thought, but the game is good at providing useful clues along the way. There's even a hint system that will first nudge you in the direction of a clue, before spelling it out for you.

Why The Roottrees are Dead is a great holiday catch-up game

I should clarify that The root trees are dead is a perfect holiday game, not because it's the best game I played in 2025, but because it has a little bit of everything. It offers a great shared experience if you have family visiting during the holidays or if your resident family members happen to be nearby while you play. It's a great game that you can jump into for just a few minutes, make progress, and then go back to a family activity or preparing a nice meal. And finally, The root trees are dead is meaty enough that it will keep you busy for quite some time, especially if you want to complete the “full story.”

I loved to play The root trees are dead with my wife because it offered us an opportunity to unwind at the end of the day with a game that wasn't mechanically demanding. She could read the different clues and make suggestions, and I could do all the menu navigation. You rarely get the opportunity to play a game together when your partner is not interested in games, but The root trees are dead fits the bill perfectly.

I could see too The root trees are dead is a great game to play with a group. The more people who put their heads together to solve the mystery, the better I think. I wouldn't say the game is hard, but sometimes the clues don't present themselves as clues at first. You need someone else with a different perspective to say, “Hey, I think there's something.”

I can't say enough good things about The root trees are deadboth because it was a nice experience all the way through that I got to experience with my partner, and because it's a unique game that does things a little differently than many titles out there. If you are looking for something to sink your teeth into this holiday, I highly recommend The root trees are dead.

Other gaming recommendations for the holiday season

For those who already know how well The root trees are dead is, or maybe even if the game wasn't with you, there are some other titles that I think are special and would be great to jump into this holiday.

Absolutely: There have been a lot of great roguelites this year, and Absolum puts a really fun beat-em-up twist on the subgenre.
Gigasword: A metroidvania throwback to retro gaming that plays with the idea of carrying around a large sword that's too heavy to maneuver easily.
Time flies: How many tasks can you accomplish in the incredibly short lifespan of an ordinary fly.
Shotgun Cop Man: Such a fun platformer that is fast paced and uses weapon momentum to get through the levels and eliminate baddies.
Wanderstop: A meditation on one's place in the world that also makes you make tea for strangers.

Boro and Alta sit next to each other in Wanderstop

I had a great time with many of the big triple-A releases of 2025, and many of them will make my top 10 list for the year, but I always love to look for a game that does something a little different. Games can explore so many topics through a variety of lenses, and the experiences can be familiar or completely new. The root trees are dead has a lot in common with puzzle/mystery games that have come before it, but it packages those ideas in a new way. I hope you give it a try this holiday season and if you like it, pass it on to the next person.