The First Tree: A Learning Story
📊 Summary with Numbers
- Developer: David Wehle (Solo Dev)
- Game: The First Tree (Steam link)
- Experience: Former video editor and animator. Made a previous game called Home is Where One Starts… in 2015.
- Engine: Unity
- Development Time: 18 months (~1,000 hours)
- Release Year: 2017
- Copies Sold: 200,000+
- Costs: $10,250
- Revenue: ~$150,000 (1st year)
- Steam Wishlists at Launch: 12,000
🛠️ A Solo Developer’s Journey
David Wehle wasn’t a seasoned game studio executive or part of a large team. He was a solo developer with a background in video editing and animation. The First Tree was his second game, and he developed it on his own using Unity, while balancing a full-time job and family life. The game took around 18 months to complete. He used purchased assets, which helped him finish the game. He also collaborated with an audio engineer for the music.
🦊 A Game About Life, Death, and Connection
The First Tree is a third-person exploration game centered on two parallel stories: a fox searching for her lost cubs and a son reconnecting with his estranged father in Alaska. With no combat and minimal puzzles, the game focuses on atmosphere, narrative, and emotional impact.
“This game made me cry. A beautiful and touching experience.” A Steam review
📣 Strategic Marketing and Community Building
This is where David attributes much of his success. He leveraged platforms like Reddit and X to share his development process, struggles, and victories. His transparent and humble approach helped build a supportive community and generated early interest.
For example, his launch post on Reddit made it to the front page, bringing over 200,000 views to his Steam page.
He also gave talks and interviews with detailed postmortems, offering insight into his design choices, marketing strategies, and revenue.
🌟 Commercial and Critical Reception
Despite its minimalist gameplay, The First Tree sold over 200,000 copies across PC and consoles. It was praised for its art direction, musical score, and emotional storytelling. The game found its audience through word-of-mouth, heartfelt reviews, and YouTubers/streamers who appreciated its sincerity.
📘 Legacy and Influence
David Wehle’s success with The First Tree is a testament to the power of personal storytelling and perseverance. As developers began seeking his advice, David created a course to help other indie developers and continued sharing his knowledge with the community.
His journey shows that even with limited resources, it’s possible to create something meaningful that touches lives around the world.
🎮 Final Thoughts
I love how open David is about his journey. He’s generous with his knowledge and, in turn, received so much support from the community.
One of the most powerful moments in his presentation in GDC for me was when he said:
“I’m begging you guys to finish your game because other people need your game just like other people needed First Tree.”
It truly resonates with what I believe about game development. We all have something unique to offer, and making games can be a powerful way to impact other people’s lives.
Curious why I’m writing these stories? You can find out on my article: Why I’m Writing the Learning Stories Series
Sources:
- “No Time, No Budget, No Problem: Finishing The First Tree” GDC Talk — YouTube
- Reddit AMA — Reddit
- “How This Game Dev Sold 200,000 Copies of His Game” — Interview with Thomas Brush YouTube
- David on X — @davidwehle