Prune in IOS

Cultivate what matters

Walkthrough, Guilds, Tips on this special game

Our Site Score

94/100

Prune is more than just a game; it is a digital haiku. In an industry often defined by noise and clutter, Prune stands out by asking the player to do less, not more. The core mechanic involves swiping to prune back branches of a rapidly growing tree, guiding it away from the shadows and toward the life-giving sunlight. It sounds simple, but the execution is breathtaking. The minimalist art style, combined with a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, creates an atmosphere of profound serenity that is rarely achieved in mobile gaming.

As you progress through the five distinct acts, the environment becomes increasingly hostile—introducing red orbs of 'toxicity' and industrial obstacles that threaten your delicate sapling. The difficulty scaling is masterful; it never feels unfair, but it requires a deep, almost instinctual understanding of how the tree will react to each cut. There is a genuine sense of heartbreak when a tree fails to bloom, and a soul-stirring joy when it finally reaches the light and bursts into white flowers against the stark background. Prune is a mandatory experience for anyone who views games as a form of art.

Reviewed on: Fri Feb 27 2026
Dinsun Avatar

Dinsun Review

I usually have no patience for 'art games,' but Prune is different. It’s simple. You cut the branches to make the tree grow toward the light. It’s tactile and satisfying in a way that most screen-tapping games aren't. There are no scores, no leaderboards, and no flashing lights. It’s quiet. Sometimes, at 40, that's exactly what you need.

The difficulty curve is gentle, though some later levels can be frustrating when the wind mechanics don't seem to cooperate with your cuts. It’s more of an experience than a 'game' in the traditional sense. It’s short, and you won’t play it twice, but the visuals will stick with you. It’s an example of how to use a touchscreen for something other than shooting or swiping on a dating app.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

  • Stunning visual design
  • Meditative and relaxing
  • Unique touch controls
  • Very short playtime
  • Low replay value
  • Occasional difficulty spikes

Technical Report

Performance: Stable and smooth; minimalist design leads to great performance.

Accessibility:

    Audience Fit

    Buy if: You want a relaxing, artistic experience to decompress.

    Skip if: You want a competitive challenge or high-octane action.

    Similar Games:
    • Old Man's Journey
    • Monument Valley

    Reviewer Context

    • Reviewer: Dinsun
    • Hardware: iPhone 14
    • Playtime: 2 hours
    • Status: Finished all levels

    The Game

    Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

    Version 1.1.6Wed Feb 07 2024

    New levels! For the first time, there are 12 new, challenging levels to explore and perfect. You'll see them in the main chapter menu after you've completed the game.

    Thanks so much for playing Prune and let me know if you have any issues or feedback at support@prunegame.com.


    ~ Apple Game of the Year 2015 ~

    ~ TIME Magazine Game of the Year 2015 ~

    Prune is a love letter to trees. A game about the beauty and joy of cultivation.

    With a swipe of a finger, grow and shape your tree into the sunlight while avoiding the dangers of a hostile world. Bring life to a forgotten landscape and uncover a story hidden deep beneath the soil.

    • A unique digital plant for your pocket

    • Beautiful, minimalist art and a super clean interface—it's just you and the trees

    • Meditative music and sound design for you to zen out to

    • No IAP, no monetization strategy, no currencies

    • Share screenshots of your unique tree creations with friends

    • Synchronize progress across all your devices using iCloud

    ----- RECEPTION -----

    "Unlike anything I've played before... the kind of experience I want to pull out to show my friends." - The Verge

    "Wildly creative, totally addictive, and oddly soothing" - Entertainment Weekly

    "Prune is a gorgeous and unique experience." - 5/5 TouchArcade

    "Prune is an awe-inspiring work of digital poetry that transcends its initial subject material to explore a much larger, much more complex theme, in an articulate and powerfully moving manner" - 10/10 Pocket Gamer

    "A collaboration that feels more like a dance than puzzle-solving." - Kill Screen

    ----- AWARDS -----

    • Winner - Best Upcoming Game - 11th International Mobile Gaming Awards

    • Finalist - IndieCade Festival 2015

    • Official Selection - Brazil's FILE Festival

    • Runner-Up - IndiePlus "Make Something Great" Contest

    • Official Selection - Out of Index Experimental Games Festival


    Requires iOS 11.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

    It's Prune's 10 year anniversary!!! I'm still so proud of the game and hope you can find some beauty and serenity in playing it.

    -Joel

    ~ Apple Game of the Year 2015 ~

    ~ TIME Magazine Game of the Year 2015 ~

    Prune is a love letter to trees. A game about the beauty and joy of cultivation.

    With a swipe of a finger, grow and shape your tree into the sunlight while avoiding the dangers of a hostile world. Bring life to a forgotten landscape and uncover a story hidden deep beneath the soil.

    • A unique digital plant for your pocket

    • Beautiful, minimalist art and a super clean interface—it's just you and the trees

    • Meditative music and sound design for you to zen out to

    • No IAP, no monetization strategy, no currencies

    • Share screenshots of your unique tree creations with friends

    • Synchronize progress across all your devices using iCloud

    ----- RECEPTION -----

    "Unlike anything I've played before... the kind of experience I want to pull out to show my friends." - The Verge

    "Wildly creative, totally addictive, and oddly soothing" - Entertainment Weekly

    "Prune is a gorgeous and unique experience." - 5/5 TouchArcade

    "Prune is an awe-inspiring work of digital poetry that transcends its initial subject material to explore a much larger, much more complex theme, in an articulate and powerfully moving manner" - 10/10 Pocket Gamer

    "A collaboration that feels more like a dance than puzzle-solving." - Kill Screen

    ----- AWARDS -----

    • Winner - Best Upcoming Game - 11th International Mobile Gaming Awards

    • Finalist - IndieCade Festival 2015

    • Official Selection - Brazil's FILE Festival

    • Runner-Up - IndiePlus "Make Something Great" Contest

    • Official Selection - Out of Index Experimental Games Festival


    Featured In

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    Ratings & Reviews

    4.3 out of 5 with 560 Counts
    Age Rating 4+

    Screenshots

    Prune screenshot 1Prune screenshot 2Prune screenshot 3Prune screenshot 4Prune screenshot 5Prune screenshot 6Prune screenshot 7Prune screenshot 8Prune screenshot 9Prune screenshot 10

    Prune is an award-winning digital poem where you grow and shape a tree into the light while avoiding the dangers of a hostile world. With a swipe of a finger, cultivate your tree into a work of art as you uncover a story hidden beneath the soil. The game features a minimalist interface and a meditative soundscape, designed to provide a relaxing yet intellectually stimulating experience. Explore five unique chapters, master the art of the cut, and share your unique tree creations with friends.

    Features

    1

    Unique digital plant in your pocket

    2

    Beautiful, minimalist art style

    3

    Meditative music and sound design

    4

    No in-app purchases or timers

    5

    Photo mode to share your tree art

    Tips

    Promotion Videos

    Prune Trailer

    Related Videos

    News on this game

    The best new iOS game is about growing trees

    Prune is a bonsai tree in your pocket.

    The Verge - Wed Nov 02 2016

    Game of the Year - The best iPhone and iPad games of 2015

    More than 100000 games were released on the App Store in 2015. That's quite a lot. Even if you stripped away all the junk - the clones,...

    Pocket Gamer - Sun Apr 02 2017

    10 Best Puzzle Games for iOS

    I'll be honest — I'm only recently getting into the genre of puzzle games. Although I've always enjoyed the environmental puzzles in my...

    www.highgroundgaming.com - Thu Sep 02 2021

    Gameplays

    Q&A

    Yes, if your tree hits a red 'toxic' orb or fails to produce enough flowers before its growth cycle ends, you must replant and try a different pruning strategy.

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