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Applewood

Free to Play
Release Date:
Developer:
Garrett Thompson
Publisher:
Garrett Thompson
Platforms:
Windows
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About This Game



Applewood is a fruit-centric, nutrient-rich imp-ing game featuring Ringo the Imp! He's not very strong. He doesn't have magic powers or a sword that vanquishes darkness. He can fly! ... But only for a few seconds at a time. He's a pale and squishy little guy who isn't even that good at the one thing that makes him special. Yet, in spite of all of this, he's about to go on an incredible adventure, see and do some amazing things, and overcome his weaknesses through clever-thinking, compassion, and a stick-to-it attitude like no other!

  • Thoughtful, resource-management-based platforming
  • You can fly!
  • A totally-interconnected, hand-crafted 2D world
  • You CAN'T attack directly (that's rude)
  • Figure out clever ways to deal with conflict
  • Use items found in the environment to solve problems
  • A bundle of optional side-content!
  • You can ride an octopus
  • Hats! Steam users like hats, right?
  • There are other collectibles, too!

It was made basically entirely by one guy! Is that impressive? Maybe? I guess you'll just have to play the game to find out!

- How long is it?
It usually takes a person around 4-6 hours to complete their first run of the main story. 100% completion takes a bit longer than that, and currently seems to require around 9-10 hours.

- This looks cute, but I'm terrible at platformers...
Actually, I designed the game to be approachable by players of all skill levels! There are no instant deaths, most of the challenge comes from thinky puzzles instead of twitchy action, and you can correct any mistakes you make midair using Ringo's hover ability! It's super accommodating! Just like how I responded to this bullet point, even though it's not technically a question. See? Accommodating!

- Is this a Metroidvania?
Not really! There isn't much of a focus on backtracking, and Ringo doesn't acquire new abilities as you play. It's a story about inner growth! You gotta maximize your potential without relying on character upgrades.

- If Ringo doesn't get new abilities, how does the gameplay stay interesting for 6 hours?
Applewood's all about using items you find in the environment to your advantage! There are a ton of different item types, each with unique characteristics. Couple those with Ringo's surprisingly nuanced movement mechanics, and you've got yourself a game full of super-diverse gameplay! Plus, there's also the whole "story" aspect... Oh, look, a relevant question!

- Is there a story-focus?
Yes! And I cried while writing it. Many times...

Screenshots

User Reviews

Overwhelmingly Positive
10 user reviews
100%
Positive
1 hrs at review
Recommended

[h1]tl;dr / quick review Applewood is a well-written and tight 2D action-adventure-platformer that's fun to play and keep things funny and engaging from start to finish.[/h1] [h1]what's good?[/h1] + Well-written and amusing dialogue, character interactions, and story-telling + Varied, colourful, and thought-out level designs that always keep it fresh + Tight controls with mechanics that are fluid and feel good + At times, some really lovely pixel art levels and animations + Varied and fitting soundtrack with some really chill tracks + Full controller support + Suitable for most ages and skill-levels + It has a really chill vibe that appeals to me [h1]what's bad?[/h1] - I got stuck on a few puzzles - I experienced a bug with taking steam screenshots [h1]final verdict[/h1] I wasn't expecting much from this game when I picked it up and I am quite surprised by what I've found in Applewood. I suspect that this game will be a creeper-hit on Steam in the years to come. [i]At the time of...

34 helpful
64 hrs at review
Recommended

[b]Who knew a story about one of my favourite fruits could be so meaningful? *munches pink lady apple*[/b] I do not recall how I came across this but this is one of my best discoveries in 2019. This is a fantastic effort by one person. It’s a genuine shame that this has very little reviews and has not been played by more people. Playing as plucky imp Ringo, he is happily living his life in Applewood with his friends. One day he investigates a rumble. Ringo with the support of friends old and new starts his journey to Mt Durian to pursue the legend of the first apple… This pixel art game may not be the most aesthetically pleasing game but has dollops of uncomplicated charm and strong engagement. Take your time to enjoy the dialogue of the cute characters: they may give you wise words of wisdom, some light laughs, clues or just say sweet things. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1914549342 Game play consists of creative problem solving by placing items in th...

25 helpful
13 hrs at review
Recommended

The story is very well written, lovable characters, amazing music, and an overall cute game. The controls seem simple, but can take time to get used to. As someone that doesn't play too many platformers, the puzzles and battles can be challenging, but rewarding once you finally get it. I found myself emotionally invested in the story and characters. The world is full of exploration, yet also easy to get lost in. You can truly see how much time and love was put into this game; I would highly recommend it.

9 helpful
23 hrs at review
Recommended

Applewood is a truly charming puzzle-platformer that pulls you in with its cute characters, clever dialogue, and fun gameplay, and then really grabs hold with some good old-fashioned emotional content. The controls are easy enough to pick up, though it took me most of the game to get the hang of throwing items quickly and accurately. The puzzles are satisfying to solve, especially some of the optional ones. Exploration is almost always rewarded with a collectible of some kind, which instantly makes this a great game for me. Those who don't play many platformers (like me) should be aware that the endgame might seem overwhelmingly tough at first. Don't panic, keep on trying, and the game will forgive your mistakes with generous checkpoints. Whenever I died - which I did, a lot - I never felt like I had to redo too much. And it's not hard to want to keep trying, because the story and characters are so compelling! It's 100% worth the effort. Finally, regarding my play time: 1) It's rea...

5 helpful
1 hrs at review
Recommended

Great indie game. Not entirely sure how much of it I have left, but right now it definitely feels like I've got plenty. The controls feel good, the dialogue is well-written, and the story is the right amount of engaging. There haven't been any unfair stretches nor any super easy and boring stretches. No matter how you slice it, it's just plain old fun in the end. If you're looking for a fun and thought-out platformer, then you'll have no regrets picking this one up.

4 helpful
32 min at review
Recommended

Super cute, fun controls. I love platformers like this. I thought the throwing mechanic would be annoying, but it controls nicely and seeing where stuff will land eliminates all the expected frustration (though it's not always accurate, it's close enough). Looking forward to spending more time in it.

3 helpful
7 hrs at review
Recommended

A super fun platformer with a very honest learning curve. From the get go it intuitively shows you (subsequently allowing you to teach yourself) a myriad of different ways to traverse the obstacles of the game. You're not thrust into puzzles and predicaments you can't handle early on but the difficulty progression feels steady and keeps the player on their toes with diverse platform puzzles and encounters. The characters are well written and the story is engaging. This title is absolutely worth your time, twisting and turning to make sure you aren't quite ready for whats coming both from a narrative perspective and with its gameplay.

1 helpful
9 hrs at review
Recommended

[Summary] This game is like Undertale but more wholesome, and with better comical timing. [Review] Applewood is a game with lovable characters, fun mechanics, and a catchy soundtrack. It isn't insanely hard (except for a certain optional dungeon) and provides a decent challenge for any level gamer. Now while all of that is awesome, there is much more to this game than meets the eye... ...This game has emotion... It's not all about scaling the mountain and saving the day. It's heart-wretching. It's heart-warming. And it's an incredible story. I'm not saying the game will make you cry (this isn't the Hallmark Channel), but it will get you invested. It deals with heavy themes and makes you care about the characters. The beginning of the game is humble. Yet, it is the ending which sets it apart. It is reminiscent of Undertale, but has a better story. You can see similarities in the intro story, as well as in the ending. I sincerely hope this game gets the popularity it deserves so...

1 helpful
30 min at review
Recommended

A charming, short and sweet 2D Platformer with compelling characters and surprisingly deep worldbuilding given the length. Ringo's not a swimmer and barely a floater but he tries his best and that's what truly matters. Also, he's got an attitude. Fun characters and chill gameplay. A good number of collectibles, and a few secrets to find. If you go for everything, on first playthrough, it'll last you perhaps up to twelve hours. I think it could also be interesting to speedrun. In that setting (Any%) it'll be closer to like 1.5 hours if I had to guess. Either way, it's quality time!

System Requirements

Minimum

Minimum:
  • OS *: Windows 7
  • Processor: 2.2 GHz
  • Memory: 2 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 (the lowest-end I've tested on thus far)
  • DirectX: Version 9.0
  • Storage: 155 MB available space
  • Additional Notes: If you can get it running with less, let me know (It ought to work on any reasonably modern PC).

FAQ

How much does Applewood cost?

Applewood is completely FREE to play. You can download and play it without any purchase.

What are the system requirements for Applewood?

Minimum: Minimum: OS *: Windows 7 Processor: 2.2 GHz Memory: 2 GB RAM Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 (the lowest-end I've tested on thus far) DirectX: Version 9.0 Storage: 155 MB available space Additional Notes: If you can get it running with less, let me know (It ought to work on any reasonably modern PC).

What platforms is Applewood available on?

Applewood is available on Windows PC.

Is Applewood worth buying?

Applewood has 100% positive reviews from 10 players.

When was Applewood released?

Applewood was released on Sep 23, 2019.

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