Game: Pine: A Story of Loss
Genre: Adventure
System: Nintendo Switch (also on Steam (Windows) & iOS)
Developer|Publisher: Made Up Games | Fellow Traveller
Age Rating: EU 7+ | US Everyone
Price: US $9.99 | UK £8.50 | EU € 9,99
Release Date: December 13th, 2024
A review code was provided, thanks to Double Jump.
Pine: A Story That Hits Close to Home
At some point in our lives, we all come face to face with one of the mind’s toughest emotions: grief. This universal experience has found its way into video game storytelling, often marking the beginning of a hero’s journey with the loss of a loved one. But Pine: A Story of Loss takes a much rawer, more honest approach to this delicate subject. For many, it will resonate deeply, offering a poignant reflection of their own experiences.
Pine is a short, interactive narrative that takes less than two hours to complete. It isn’t challenging in a traditional sense; its difficulty is minimal, but it invites you to prepare for an emotional journey, beautifully told through evocative art and sound.
A Year with a Woodsman
The story follows a lone woodsman, and from the opening moments, it’s clear he’s mentally in a dark place. His days are spent in solitude, tending to his small garden, chopping wood, and repairing his thatched roof. Yet even in these mundane tasks, he’s haunted by memories of his partner, slipping into moments of bittersweet fantasy. For brief seconds, he imagines her by his side, reminding him of happier days until reality inevitably crashes back down.
The narrative spans a year, tracking the woodsman through four seasons as he confronts and begins to process his loss. The game gently unravels his emotional journey, exploring how grief seeps into every aspect of life.
While I won’t spoil the plot, I will say that it tugs on the heartstrings in unexpected ways. As someone who rarely cries during games, even the infamous moments in Final Fantasy VII didn’t move me to tears; Pine had me on the brink multiple times. The emotional impact isn’t always found in the flashbacks to happier times but often in subtler moments, like seeing the woodsman neglect himself. In one early scene, something in his home breaks. Rather than taking the time to fix it properly, he cobbles together a quick patch and moves on, his lack of care a quiet yet powerful reflection of his inner turmoil.
Gameplay Moments
Pine is a linear experience with simple controls. Most actions involve button presses or light use of the analogue stick to mimic in-game activities, such as chopping wood or carving. For those playing in handheld mode, touchscreen controls are also available, though I found them less responsive than traditional inputs.
Interactivity is minimal but purposeful. The most recurring activity is carving wooden models, which is surprisingly therapeutic. These models are tied to specific memories, adding an emotional layer to the gameplay. The overall difficulty is low, allowing players to focus on the story rather than challenges.
Presentation
The presentation in Pine is stunning. Its hand-drawn, animated art style vividly conveys the woodsman’s emotional state, from the vibrant, clean-shaven man he was in happier times to the tired, dishevelled figure he has become.
The world around him is equally captivating, bringing the outdoors to life across four beautifully rendered seasons. Each environment feels alive yet tinged with the story’s melancholy. Complementing this is a stirring musical score that perfectly underscores every emotional beat, enhancing the narrative’s highs and lows.
Minor Gripes
While Pine is a moving experience, it’s not without its flaws. At times, the game feels slightly padded, with repetitive tasks like gardening or eating breaking the emotional pacing. Given its short runtime, these moments stand out more than they should.
While the ending was overall satisfying, it also felt abrupt. A bit more depth in the final moments could have made the conclusion even more impactful. These criticisms, however, are minor in the grand scheme of the game’s accomplishments.
Conclusion: Emotional and Beautiful
The developers of Pine deserve immense credit for tackling such a challenging subject. Grief is not an easy topic to explore, but the game handles it with grace, showing both despair and fleeting beauty in equal measure. It also offers a rare and honest portrayal of male mental health, capturing the struggle in a way few games have dared to before.
Pine: A Story of Loss is not for everyone. It’s emotionally heavy, and some may find its rawness difficult to face. But for those willing to embrace its message, it offers a deeply moving experience and even a few quiet smiles along the way. If nothing else it reminded me of the importance of appreciating the ones you love in the moment as you just never know what life will throw at you.
Final Verdict: I Like It a Lot 
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