The Tree by Father Thyme

A huge crater in the desert on a distant planet. In the centre a gigantic tree that stretches out to the rim. I lived beneath that tree. This is my story.

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Comment Joachim Parrow

03 Sep 2025

Never mind i figured it out! Nice one!

Comment Joachim Parrow

03 Sep 2025

Trying to get into the ship I cannot get the password right. Following the hints I have tried names in the game but either I missed some or I am on the wrong track.

Comment Father Thyme

20 Jul 2025

Gorgona . Perhaps both of you should sit down on a handy chair.

Comment gorgona

20 Jul 2025

excellent game! almost played it all through, just got stuck in the real ship. did everything what was possible: ate, showered, used the bathroom, woke the dog. what's next? please help!

Comment colorains

12 Mar 2024

Stuck in the crater?

Push. or. roll. the. crok.

good luck!

Comment Father Thyme

18 Aug 2020

This game is now updated to correct faults caused by quest update on wearables.
Hopefully it should work now.

Comment colorains

14 Aug 2020

stuck with the headphones. it says "i can wear them if you want," but if you type "wear headphones" it says you can't wear them. Same for "use headphones." There seems to be a glitch.

Comment colorains

13 Aug 2020

You have to use some commands that aren't specified in the help section: look, up, down, roll [object], shoot [object]. When something changes, but you don't know what, use "look" to see what it new. You can also look at objects that are not in bold, but just said to be part of the scenery.

Review Natloud

27 Apr 2018

Really enjoyed this game. Very unique setting and story line. I agree with all that sarah4 has said in her review. Puzzles were well thought out - had to take a break a couple of times to think them through but could eventually figure them out. Great game!

Review wolver

10 Mar 2017

Another great game from Father, really liked the switch in the story and the ending. I totally agree with the other reviews already written. So I just refer to there nicely written reviews.

Comment Father Thyme

09 Mar 2017

Use spike with hole?

Comment wolver

09 Mar 2017

sorry stuck again :D i have the spike and the robe and gun, but can only think of putting it in the hole but nothing happens. it just says done.
Probably missing something simple again, but a hint would be nice.

Comment Father Thyme

19 Nov 2016

Floranovae Mebbe You ask Dolly. She mebbe give you clue.

Comment Floranovae

19 Nov 2016

having some trouble finding this spike... I have a lovely robe though!

Review DavyB

01 Aug 2016

Sarah4 has already provided a good review of this game, and I agree with all the points she made. For me, it felt like reading an engaging story, slowing up from time to time to think through the next puzzle, but keeping up a good pace. The story and puzzles worked very well together, providing an overall excellent experience. Well done! ...and great to see there are seven more games to try!!

Comment DavyB

01 Aug 2016

Thank you Father Thyme! I'd tried that already but instead of "use x with y" I entered "put x in y" and had it accepted, with"Done!" as the response. Alas, nothing happened.

Once past that point, I was then able to finish the adventure in one sitting. Excellent! I'll leave a review.

Comment Father Thyme

30 Jul 2016

Perhaps you need a handy place to use it with?

Comment DavyB

28 Jul 2016

Hi Father, I'm enjoying the adventure but now stuck. I found the spike pretty quickly but haven't worked out where and how to use it. I did put it into an available hole but nothing seemed to happen?

Comment Father Thyme

19 Jul 2016

Not a big update . Just ironed out a few anomalies.

Comment Father Thyme

08 Jun 2016

A clue to the spike question is already in the comments.

Comment JKGAMER16543289

08 Jun 2016

Where do you get the metal spike?

Comment Father Thyme

28 Jan 2016

That's fine by me burksj86

Comment burksj86

28 Jan 2016

figured it out and beat the game finally haha had a blast playing the whole concept of the world under the tree and then leaving it was great and i loved the refresher and the branch im a aspiring writer and would love to use some of these ideas but would not do so with out your okay

Review burksj86

28 Jan 2016

one of the best games i have played on a long time and i dont mean just on this site but all around great story that has u invested in the character and what is going to happen next unique and original story that was refreshing great puzzles that were challenging and made you think with out making you want to give up by the end of this was wishing there was a sequel maybe return to the tree lol great game

Comment burksj86

28 Jan 2016

ow lol i guess i dont then back to the drawing board thanks again thought it was what was on the tag plus a l at the beginning but guess not

Comment Father Thyme

27 Jan 2016

If you have the correct password just entering it is all that is needed. You don't need , say , speak or anything else.

Comment burksj86

27 Jan 2016

made it a lot further but stuck again this time i think i just need the right phrasing trying to say the password and tried all different way i can think of pretty sure the password i have is right but the right way to say it

Comment burksj86

27 Jan 2016

haha thats pretty slick i tried everything i could think of on that place and didnt think of it thanks for the help will give a review when ive finished

Comment Father Thyme

26 Jan 2016

Ask Dolly in the morgue about earring. You need two words from her answer , in the wrong order, in another location.

Comment burksj86

26 Jan 2016

having fun but cant find spike either think i know what i need to do with it but have tried everything i can think of no ones commented on here in a while but if anyone can tell me where it is i would be grateful really want to finish this game

Comment Mirabear

20 May 2015

what an interesting game! as Marzipan said, it's really enjoyable to walk around learning about this new setting and the main character's life. haven't gotten too far story-wise (i've been to the ship and that's it, have no idea where that metal spike is), but so far, i love it!

Comment Marzipan

18 May 2015

Okay, sorry, I just realized it's not the theme you need to mess with...that's what I get for trying to give advice from memory! Checked my game's settings just now and what you can do is go to the 'interface' tab and simply uncheck, 'Show panes'. (the first option)

BTW if you ever feel like making an account on the forum it's a great place to hang out and get feedback or advice on anything you're working on, and we could always use more people there.

Comment Father Thyme

18 May 2015

Thanks Marzipan, I reduced font to 15. If I alter theme from default what is best to alter to. I thought they were just different fonts. Thanks for your help. Much appreciated.

Comment Marzipan

18 May 2015

I'll definitely be having a look at your other games, but I'd really like to beat this one first. The letters being cut off are a distraction but it's still playable. I think the issue is that you use such a large font.

Though just fyi, when editing a work you can go to 'game', then 'theme' under the Display tab...the default theme sticks a big panel on the right side of the screen with room and inventory objects and a compass rose. It's meant as a crutch for those who don't like typing but personally I've always hated it.

Anyhow, I've progressed a bit further (been in the ship and got the items there) but now just having trouble figuring out what to do next...

Comment Father Thyme

18 May 2015

Hi Marzipan. I write on an iPad and I don't even see the stuff on the right that blocks the script. I know so little about the tech that I don't know how to get rid of it. I learned text adventure writing on a Sinclair spectrum 48k. That makes me very old. Try playing Marooned , it needs a review.

Comment XanMag

17 May 2015

I will need to try this when I am straight drunk. I cannot bring myself to read this much 'Mickey O'Neil' language. I realize the intent of writing in such a way, but again, my brain is far too phonetic to play this without spazzing out. I've played other of 'Father's' games and have enjoyed them so I am sure that this one will follow suite, but for now... I will go watch Snatch, drink me a few ales, and return to play the game another day!

But... for all of those out there who's brains can function at this level, knock yourself out. I'm sure it is a quality game as are the others from this author. It is immersive and seems large, but my commentary review can only go as far as my Broca's/Wernicke's area can process! Once I get a formal play through I will try to give it a proper and official review!

Happy gaming!

Comment Marzipan

17 May 2015

Just took a glance at this out of curiosity and I have to say the author really knows how to build a unique world. I've been enjoying just walking around and looking at things to take in how this odd and kind of disturbing society works. So far I haven't made much game progress...I have a metal spike and I think I need to find a beetle? But I'll give it another go from a proper computer when I get home tonight.

The only thing I'm really disliking about it at the moment is an issue with the way the game displays. The last couple letters of every line is getting cut off by the inventory frame to the right. I wish there was a version of this in the clean 'retro' style without all that clutter.

Review sarah4

22 Oct 2014

This was a meticulously planned and constructed game with a compelling storyline and an intriguing mystery at its core. An impressive amount of world-building has clearly gone into developping the back story of the main character and the world in which they exist and the ways in which this world is gradually revealed to you over the course of the game is very effective. The writing was of a high standard, with locations, objects and landscapes all perfectly described. Also, the language shift after the game's pivotal moment is well conceived and executed. There were many unexpected twists and turns in the unfolding plot, when I began playing the game I could never have predicted its denouement! The puzzles were not extremely difficult, but all were well imagined and implemented and felt organic to the game while offering the player just enough of a challenge to stop you in your tracks while solving it! Congratulations again Father on another excellent game and I look forward to your future masterpieces!

Comment sarah4

01 Oct 2014

I have only just started playing this game, but I just wanted to add a comment to Father's own remarks about the placing of this game in the Sandpit category. I think this placement must have been a mistake as all of the room and object descriptions are extensive and the game appears to be fully functional and of a high quality. I know a lot of games are submitted to this site, appreciate the tremendous amount of work that must go into maintaining and updating this excellent resource and realise that mistakes like this are bound to occur, but I hope one of the mods sees this comment and moves this game to a more appropriate category so that more visitors to the site will have the opportunity to play it.

Comment Father Thyme

29 Sep 2014

I hate to comment on my own game but please have a go at it . It was sent to the sandpit for having no descriptions. You will find that it has. I am baffled.