Bloodbark

In Bloodbark, you take the role of a hired lumberjack sent to harvest the rare red wood of the Bloodbark trees. The job appears simple: one week of cutting, and then you’re free to leave. But from the moment you arrive, something feels wrong. The forest is silent, the trees seem to bleed, and each step through the mist-covered woods grows heavier. With an axe in hand and quotas to meet, you push deeper into a forest that feels less like a workplace and more like a living thing watching your every move.

Unease Through Environment and Progression

The gameplay focuses on subtle tension rather than direct confrontation. Your tasks—exploration, cutting trees, navigating strange terrain—are interrupted by strange visions, shifting environments, and increasingly disturbing signs of sentience within the forest. Dialogue is minimal but pointed, revealing just enough to suggest that the trees are aware and capable of defending themselves. You’ll find notes, encounter odd behavior in nature, and face changes in the world as you progress. There are two endings depending on your actions, and multiple achievements tied to hidden details throughout the game.

Visual Style and Narrative Influence

Inspired by the artwork of Eduardo Valdés-Hevia, the game’s aesthetic leans into low-resolution visuals and heavy atmosphere. It creates a world that feels empty and vast, yet constantly oppressive. Bloodbark doesn’t rely on jumpscares or fast pacing—instead, it builds tension slowly, using design, sound, and implication. The trees are not simply background—they are characters, and each cut made into their bark feels like a decision with weight. With its short length, secret content, and eerie visual language, Bloodbark offers an unsettling experience where the forest never forgets your presence.