The player is a lumber worker harvesting Bloodbark trees' rare and valuable red wood. The job seems routine with a week to finish and leave.
Bloodbark is a 30-minute forest horror game based on Eduardo Valdés-Hevia's art. Your character is a lumberjack camping in a small cabin near a state park with a new tree species. The wood of these trees is bright red and expensive, despite their birch appearance. The lumberjack's job is simple: cut down the special trees on his employer's fenced-in property and bring the wood home.
As progress is made, trees show awareness. Sounds change, images distort, and unseen forces react. The player is watched and judged. Actions have narrative and mechanical consequences. Some events are triggered by player speed or hesitation. The game creates unease through subtle changes and small punishments for thoughtless behavior, not horror pacing. Each tree cut down increases tension through loss and provocation.
Bloodbark's two endings and accomplishments inspire thought. Many achievements require interaction, while others require environment exploration and visual cues. Secret layers and references to Eduardo Valdés-Hevia's work are revealed on a second playthrough. These enhancements enhance the experience without detracting from the goal. It's a short, focused game, but its subtle changes leave a lasting impression.
