Tree Simulator 2020 is a paid simulator where you play as a tree—an unassuming, ordinary, foliage-growing tree. This casual game from Revmatek is a part of a cult franchise that has rapidly developed a following among niche gaming circles. There’s not much to do in this game but to watch your character — a tree — as the days and seasons pass by. 

With Tree Simulator 2020, enjoy the idyllic scenery and try to spot changes occurring on your new virtual avatar, if any. Check out its distant sequel, Tree Simulator 2023. For a worthy competitor, check out Rock Simulator.

The least interactive sim

Basically, Tree Simulator 2020 is the virtual equivalent of owning a pet rock. There’s essentially nothing to do but watch the tree in the face of shifting day and night, as well as the seasons. You can’t move and there’s no movement available. In fact, the only control available in this game is the Escape button, if you wish to “stop being a tree.”

However, it’s not entirely static—aside from your tree of course. It features a very photorealistic rendering of a tree, with smooth animation showing how you interact with the wind, the sun, and the rain. It also probably helps to know that you’re not alone. The tree in this game is surrounded by countless blades of grass, with a couple of flowers swaying along with you.

To be fair, it doesn’t cost much for a joke game. Its value comes from the relaxing feel it provides. The serene view paired with an equally relaxing soundtrack makes it a full-screen, high-definition screensaver. You can run it for hours and leave it as is, adding a unique vibe as you do away-from-keyboard (AFK) tasks or work on a separate display device.

Surprisingly worth your money

At its price, Tree Simulator 2020 is already a steal. It doesn’t amount to anything as a video game, aside from the novelty of owning this modern cult title and the extremely relaxing feel it creates. There are no characters, no quests, no movement options, and only a single button if you wish to quit the game—an idea that won’t cross your mind until hours later.