This submission really captured me with its simple charm and strong sense of atmosphere. There is something very grounding about the monochrome palette with soft pink accents, and the visuals do a lovely job of drawing you into the grove without overcomplicating the screen. The UI is super clean and the resource tabs are quick to parse at a glance, which makes the loop feel immediate and satisfying. I also quite liked the dark forest framing for the action, it really highlights your role as the last line of defence. A few subtle visual bobs or animation flourishes would have gone a long way in adding texture to the moment to moment but as a jam piece this already feels thoughtful and complete.
The theme of Expansion fits perfectly here, both narratively and mechanically. Nurturing that lone tree and defending it as it grows is a neat metaphor in itself, and the upgrades feel like a natural progression of that. There is also something vaguely autumnal in the tone and colour choice, which leans into the quieter seasonal theme quite nicely. It shares a similar thread with my own jam project (utilising rhythm), but I promise that doesn’t make me biased!