Pine: A Story of Loss

Pine, then, is part of the video game world, but it’s far from 'just a game'. With appealing visuals and a haunting atmosphere, it demands patience and introspection. For those eager to explore its ideas of loss and moving on, it’s worth a look; for others, it might feel like the world’s saddest gardening simulator.

If you want a simple game that’ll allow you to feel, Pine: A Story of Loss does that at the barest of minimums, so I can’t fully recommend it for $10. You’re better off with a game like Florence which does the same thing with much more variety and likely more enjoyment.

Profound or perplexing? Pine: A Story of Loss has an angle on grief which will either resonate, or feel like two hours of dreary padding.

While undoubtedly featuring a story that packs an emotional punch, the gameplay elements are sporadic and poor at best

Pine is a simple product derived from affection and [a] deeply personal [project], recreating powerful feelings from an artist who has faced pain looking for a new reason to live.

In summary, Pine presents itself as a game that talks about grief but is not intended to be used as therapy or aid. Its existence seems more like an exercise of empathy to the player, putting us in the place of this tragic character and, regardless of our individual decisions, making us absorb his process, which may or may not be replicated, but does not have that goal (of being replicated) in mind. Just go through this short and beautiful experience and enjoy it; hopefully we'll feel enough appreciation to miss it when we hit the credits.

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.