id: "roottrees-beginner-guide" slug: "roottrees-beginner-guide" order: 24 title: "The Roottrees Are Dead Beginner Guide — How to Play After Galley House" description: "Beginner guide for The Roottrees Are Dead if you want to play it after The Incident at Galley House. Mechanics, tips, and what to expect." keywords: ["Roottrees beginner guide, how to play Roottrees, after Galley House, Roottrees tips"] category: "roottrees-are-dead" date: "2026-07-15" lastModified: "2026-07-16" image: "/images/video-dH6pXB9myZM.webp" video: "dH6pXB9myZM"
The Roottrees Are Dead Beginner Guide — How to Play After Galley House
If you enjoyed The Incident at Galley House and want to experience more from the same developer, The Roottrees Are Dead by Evil Trout Inc. is the natural next game to play. While both games share the same DNA — deduction puzzles, progressive hints, and investigation-driven gameplay — the mechanics and experience are different enough that transitioning from Galley House to Roottrees requires some adjustment. This beginner guide explains what to expect, how the mechanics differ, and strategies for getting started efficiently.
What Is The Roottrees Are Dead?
The Roottrees Are Dead is a genealogical deduction puzzle game. You play as an investigator researching the Roottree family after a tragic event. Instead of entering codes into a memory machine, you conduct internet research within a simulated browser environment, searching for photographs, news articles, and documents to identify family members and place them correctly on a family tree.
The game was originally released on itch.io in 2023 and received a Steam release in 2024 with improved production values. It was created by William Rous and Evil Trout Inc. — the same team behind The Incident at Galley House. The core design philosophy is the same: investigation as narrative, deduction as gameplay, and progressive hints that ensure every player can reach the end.
Key Differences From Galley House
Before diving into Roottrees, understand these fundamental differences from The Incident at Galley House:
Research vs Code Input
The most significant difference is the core mechanic. Galley House uses a structured code-input system (Timestamp-Location-Characters) where you guess specific codes to unlock scenes. Roottrees uses an open-ended internet research system where you search for information using keywords, names, and dates. This research approach is less structured but more immersive — it simulates real-world investigation.
| Aspect | The Incident at Galley House | The Roottrees Are Dead |
|---|---|---|
| Core mechanic | Code input (XX-YY-Z-N) | Internet research |
| Discovery method | Try specific codes | Search and cross-reference |
| Feedback | Immediate (scene plays or not) | Gradual (information accumulates) |
| Structure | Timestamp-ordered scenes | Family tree branches |
| Primary identification | Voice recognition | Photo and document matching |
Single vs Dual Timeline
Galley House features two interconnected timelines (1936 and present day). Roottrees operates on a single timeline — the investigation of the Roottree family history. There is no meta-plot connecting past and present in the same way, which makes the narrative structure simpler but also more focused.
Visual Style
Galley House features painted semi-realistic artwork with full voice acting. Roottrees uses realistic photographs and documents — the visual design is more documentary than artistic. If you enjoyed Galley House's atmospheric visuals, the transition to Roottrees' grounded, realistic aesthetic may feel stark at first.
Hint System
Both games feature progressive hint systems, but the implementations differ slightly:
- Galley House: 3-4 graduated hints per deduction, with no penalty for using them
- Roottrees: Incremental hints that reveal increasingly specific information, also with no penalty
The Roottrees hint system is generally considered less refined than Galley House's, but the underlying philosophy is the same — hints are there to help, not to shame.
Getting Started in The Roottrees Are Dead
The Research Interface
When you first start Roottrees, you will encounter a simulated web browser. This is your primary research tool. You can type search queries, click on search results, and browse web pages just like a real browser. The key difference is that the "internet" is curated — only specific pages and sources exist, and finding the right information requires creative searching.
The Family Tree Interface
The family tree is where you record your deductions. As you identify family members, you place them on the tree with their correct relationships. The game validates your tree when you submit it, telling you which entries are correct and which need work.
Starting Your Research
Begin by searching for the family name "Roottree" and related terms. The initial search results will provide basic information about the family, news articles about the tragedy, and photographs of family members. From these starting points, you can branch out into more specific searches based on names, dates, and locations you discover.
Beginner search strategy:
- Search for "Roottree" to get an overview of the family
- Search for the names you discover in initial results
- Search for locations mentioned in articles and documents
- Cross-reference information across multiple sources to confirm facts
- Use dates and events to narrow your searches
Building a Research Workflow
Efficient investigation in Roottrees follows a systematic workflow:
- Search broadly — Start with general terms to get an overview
- Identify names and dates — Extract specific names and dates from initial results
- Search specifically — Use the names and dates you found to search for more targeted information
- Cross-reference — Compare information from multiple sources to confirm or reject hypotheses
- Update the family tree — Place confirmed family members on the tree
- Use hints when stuck — Request hints for branches you cannot resolve through research alone
Tips for Players Coming From Galley House
Adjust Your Expectations About Pacing
Galley House's code-input system provides immediate feedback — you enter a code and either get a scene or you do not. Roottrees' research system is more gradual — information accumulates slowly, and breakthroughs come from connecting multiple sources rather than guessing a single correct code. If you found Galley House's instant feedback satisfying, Roottrees' slower pace may require patience.
Use Your Deduction Skills
The deductive reasoning skills you developed in Galley House transfer directly to Roottrees. You are still identifying people, determining relationships, and solving a mystery — the mechanics are different, but the thought process is the same. Use the same systematic approach: gather information, form hypotheses, test them, and revise based on new evidence.
Do Not Neglect the Hint System
If you relied on Galley House's progressive hints, you will find Roottrees' hint system equally valuable. Do not hesitate to use hints when you are stuck — there is no penalty, and the game is designed to be completed, not to frustrate you into quitting. The satisfaction comes from the overall investigation, not from solving every puzzle without assistance.
Take Notes
Galley House's scene codes and keyword search tool make it relatively easy to track what you have discovered. Roottrees' research approach produces more scattered information, making note-taking more important. Keep a document where you record family names, relationships, dates, and sources. This organization dramatically speeds up your investigation.
What You Will Appreciate About Roottrees
After playing Galley House, you may find several aspects of Roottrees particularly appealing:
- The research simulation feels more like real investigative work than the code-input abstraction
- The genealogical puzzle provides a different type of deduction challenge — identifying family relationships rather than individual identities
- The compact scope means you can complete the investigation in 6-10 hours, compared to Galley House's 8-15
- The price — at $14.99, Roottrees is more affordable than Galley House ($17.99) or Obra Dinn ($29.99)
What Might Frustrate You
Be prepared for these potential frustrations when transitioning from Galley House:
- No voice acting — Character identification relies on visual matching rather than auditory cues
- Less atmospheric — The documentary style lacks the gothic atmosphere that makes Galley House so immersive
- More open-ended — Without the structured code format, you may feel lost about what to search for next
- No dual timeline — The single-timeline structure is simpler and less narratively rich
Despite these frustrations, many players who push through the initial adjustment period find that Roottrees grows on them. The research mechanic, while less structured than code input, provides a uniquely satisfying feeling of genuine investigation. When you finally connect two seemingly unrelated search results and crack open a new branch of the family tree, the payoff rivals the best moments in Galley House. The research mechanic also means that Roottrees feels less game-like and more like actual detective work — you are genuinely investigating a family, not playing through a game designer's puzzles. This authenticity appeals to players who found Galley House's code-input system too artificial or abstract.
FAQ
Do I need to play Roottrees before Galley House?
No. The games are independent stories with no shared characters or plot. You can play them in any order without missing anything.
Is Roottrees easier or harder than Galley House?
Most players find Roottrees slightly harder because the research system is less structured than the code-input system. However, the progressive hint system means you can always get help when stuck.
How long does Roottrees take to complete?
Most players complete the main investigation in 6-10 hours. Achievement completionists may spend 10-15 hours finding all hidden content.
Can I play Roottrees on the same day as finishing Galley House?
Yes, but consider taking a short break between the two games. The similar genre means you may experience puzzle fatigue if you play them back-to-back. A day or two between games helps maintain your enthusiasm for deduction puzzles.
For more about how the two games compare, see the Roottrees Are Dead comparison page and the gameplay comparison guide. For the official game page, visit the Steam store for Roottrees.