Trees Hate You character creation changes everything

The Trees Hate You character system is the new character creation choice added in the February 22, 2026 demo update. If you were tired of always playing the same guy, you can now pick the default glasses man or design your own look before the first tree sends you flying. That matters because the same update added checkpoints, a second level, and new tree models that change how you read traps.

What changed in the February 2026 demo update

Developer tykenn posted the update on Itch on February 22, 2026, and the changes touch four areas: restarts, demo length, tree variety, and player appearance. A quick look at the table below shows what each one means for a run. The full announcement is on the official demo update on itch.io.

The character addition is the most immediate one because you see it before you even start a run. It does not change the traps or the trail, but it gives you a little ownership over who gets bullied by the trees. That is exactly what the developer wanted, as the update said it makes the tree bullying feel more personal.

Why character creation got added

The update presented character creation as a quality-of-life option. Instead of forcing every player through the same look, you now get a choice at the new game screen. The developer mentioned hairstyles, outfits, and colors as examples of what you can change, and they said they will probably keep adding more options. If you have a specific style in mind, the post points you to Itch comments or the Discord server to share feedback.

The Trees Hate You character options are the visible part of the update, but they sit alongside a few other major changes. You still have to deal with the same mean trees, but at least you can decide who is doing the suffering.

Checkpoints, the second level, and how restarts changed

The rage game loop used to be brutal. Before the update, getting whacked by a tree meant starting all over from the beginning. The developer wrote that while the game is a rage game, the goal is to be more mean and funny than tedious. That is why each scene now has a few checkpoints spaced along the trail. You respawn at the last checkpoint you touch, which means you no longer need to rerun the entire stage after every mistake.

You still have to reach and touch a checkpoint for it to count, so early deaths still sting. But the new spacing means you can learn a section without being sent back to the title. The second level also changes the demo flow. When you finish the first level, you go to another level, and the developer said this effectively doubles the size of the demo.

Because checkpoints save time, the developer was not sure if the new level would actually take any more time to get through. The benefit is that you spend more time seeing new things instead of repeating the same sections. A longer demo that respects your time is a fair trade-off for a game built on sudden tree attacks.

More tree types and trap readability

Originally, all of the traps were set by the same pine tree model. The update added more visual variety, which means the tree you see can hint at what trap is coming. The developer said that as you progress, you can start to get more familiar with which trap each kind of tree uses.

Before this change, you could not really learn from the tree itself because every tree looked the same. Now the game rewards you for paying attention. The update also mentions wanting a new surprise around every corner, so the variety is not just cosmetic. It is tied to how traps are presented.

The update does not provide a full list of which tree species maps to which trap, so you will have to learn the patterns by playing. That is part of the fun now: when you see a new tree shape, you know there is probably a different punishment hiding behind it.

Demo status and Steam plans

The main goal of the February 22, 2026 update was to get the demo ready for Steam. The developer still wanted to add a few things and polish the UI before calling it ready. They also said the update fixes some issues with the earlier version and shows enough of the plan to gather feedback.

This is pre-release demo information as of the update date. No full-game release date or price appears in the announcement. The developer thanked everyone who tried the demo, shared it, or wishlisted it after the trailer and Steam announcement went well.

The official notes are available on the itch.io devlog for the demo update. If you want to help shape the full game, the developer asked players to share what hairstyles, outfits, and colors they want to see added.

FAQ

Does the Trees Hate You character creator affect gameplay?

Based on the February 22, 2026 demo update, the character creator is about appearance. The developer mentioned hairstyles, outfits, and colors, and did not mention any mechanical effect on traps, checkpoints, or speed. It exists to make the tree bullying feel more personal.

What happens if a tree kills me in the demo?

You respawn at the last checkpoint you touched. Before the update, a tree hit meant starting all over from the beginning. Now each scene has a few checkpoints spaced along the trail.

How much larger is the demo after the second level was added?

The developer said completing the first level now takes you to another level, effectively doubling the size of the demo. Because checkpoints save time, the total playtime may not double, but you see more new content.

Is the Steam demo available now?

Not according to the February 22, 2026 update. The developer said the main goal was to get the demo ready for Steam, but there was still a little more to add or polish, such as the UI. No full-game release date was given.