This is why games exist.
I've been playing computer games since the mid 1970's -- Star Trek on a PDP-10 was my first.
I have never cried playing a game. Until now.
We play games to feel something: excitement, amazement, power, joy, silliness, amusement. We laugh. We duck. We shout at the screen. We sigh as we die for the umpteenth time to a stupid cheating boss.
But we don't feel awe. Or experience regret. Or feel a sense of loss. Or remember how much we miss our parents and children. Or key in on memories the better part of a century past, even when you're as old as I am.
The First Tree is deep: emotionally, profoundly deep. It is tragic and peaceful and awe inspiring. It is painful to play if you've ever had children, if you've ever lost someone special. But there is beauty in that pain, and truth if you'll trust you can bare it and not turn away with a hollow cringe.
It is short but intense. Simple exploration of a marvelous world, filled with simple, elegant exploration puzzles: not puzzles, really, more like joyful jumping. Nothing is hidden and nothing is required. You could play this all the way through without ever "solving" a single one. Think exploration puzzles in GW2. But in the end it's worth it to try. Why wouldn't you?
This is a wonderful game. The First Tree has done something I never thought possible in a game: it engages us like movies do while leaving us in the driver's seat. It is to computer games what Sleep No More is to theatre. I honestly can't recommend it highly enough.
And the denouement is wonderful!
Buy this game. Better yet, buy this game for yourself and your children, then hug them close forever.