The Tree and the Grave Archives

The Birth of an Idea: The Drawing that Became The Tree and the Grave

Thea van Diepen

Yesterday, I was looking through the notebook where I recorded the dream that formed the basis for the story in The Tree and the Grave. You can see bits of what I wrote along the side of the image. The part that I think is the coolest is the drawing I did back then (I think I was fifteen?). That image stuck in my brain like you would not believe, because my memory of it when I was an ocean

Dreams DO Come True- The Tree and the Grave is Proof of That

Thea van Diepen

“Two years ago, you woke with an image in your mind so vivid you knew you’d seen it before. You grabbed a piece of paper to draw it before it faded: a tree with a figure inside the trunk, all encircled by a vine. The detail flowed without pause through your fingertips, in a style you’d never seen before, but which you knew was ancient. “Since you were a girl, you’ve been plagued by a dream nearly every night. While

Ready for Release Day? The Tree and the Grave Comes out Tomorrow!

Thea van Diepen

The Tree and the Grave comes out tomorrow. (Have you preordered it yet? It’s on itch.io and Gumroad.) In honour of that, here’s some trivia about the game: The Tree and the Grave is based off a dream I had as a teenager. It was one of those dreams where you wake up before it’s finished, and I made this game to find out how it ends. I originally wanted to have green in the logo (because trees), but couldn’t

Unlock the Secret of The Tree and the Grave

Thea van Diepen

A tree surrounded by old magic and even older secrets. A gravestone dedicated to someone long forgotten. What drew you here? And why? The Tree and the Grave, a game about magic, trees, and righting an ancient wrong, is now available for preorder. Play the demo now.

Today is a Good Day

Thea van Diepen

I finished the beta version of The Tree and the Grave (my Twine game which I’ve been tweeting about as I work on it) today and sent it to the proofers. 55h 53min of work, starting on April 26th and ending today. 146 save files. 11 graphics, including 3 wallpapers, a logo, an icon, and an illustration. An uncounted number of hairs pulled and scabs picked in frustration. An uncountable amount of love in my