Paper Beast

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 433 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Paper Beast Game Cover
Forget lockdown and hoarding, you'll have all the freedom and paper you need in this utterly entrancing world. PlayStation VR has another killer app
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"Paper Beast" is a virtual reality game that takes players to a surrealistic desert world made entirely of paper. In this game, you interact with unique creatures, called Paper Beasts, and help them survive and evolve in their fragile ecosystem. Through solving puzzles and manipulating the environment, players will uncover the mysteries of this origami-inspired land.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Virtual Reality
  • Windows
  • Oculus Quest
  • Oculus Rift
  • Play​Station
  • Play​Station VR
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 433 reviews
story15 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • Visually stunning and immersive experience that feels like stepping into a dream.
  • Unique gameplay that combines environmental puzzles with a captivating narrative, allowing players to interact with a surreal ecosystem.
  • The creatures are beautifully designed and exhibit lifelike behaviors, creating a strong emotional connection.
  • The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 3-4 hours, which may leave some players wanting more.
  • Some puzzles can be unintuitive or frustrating, leading to moments of confusion and potential disengagement.
  • The lack of clear instructions or guidance can make it difficult for players to understand objectives, especially for those new to VR.
  • story87 mentions

    The story in "Paper Beast" is described as abstract and often confusing, relying heavily on environmental storytelling rather than traditional narrative techniques. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and unique aesthetic, many find the plot unclear and the gameplay linear, with a short main story mode of about 2-4 hours. Despite its shortcomings, the game offers a captivating experience that encourages exploration and replayability through its sandbox mode, leaving players with a sense of attachment to the creatures and environments they encounter.

    • “The story is so well designed that I started developing an attachment to the 'animals'.”
    • “I really enjoyed this game and I wish other VR games shared such an interesting and astonishingly beautiful setting, not to mention the superb approach to storytelling without voice or text.”
    • “The story gives you just enough to grasp onto, but if you like things a little surreal, it's absorbing.”
    • “While it has a story, the message isn't entirely clear.”
    • “It looks like it's building up to some plot at the beginning but then never mentions it again.”
    • “My impression was that the developer started with an interesting, weird idea, didn't know how the 'story' would develop, thought they would figure it out on the way, but never did.”
  • graphics54 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning and unique art style, which combines beautifully with immersive audio to create a captivating experience. While some reviews note a deliberate simplicity in the graphics to support gameplay mechanics, many players find the visuals to be breathtaking, especially when settings are maximized. Overall, the game's aesthetic and environmental storytelling are highlighted as standout features, making it a visually artistic experience in VR.

    • “Visually it is stunning (don't forget to ramp the graphics up to ultra - although it still looks amazing on low) and combined with the amazing audio, it is an outstanding experience.”
    • “The visuals and sound make this a piece of art!”
    • “There were so many instances at which I found myself stunned by the beauty of the game; both the visuals and sound design go hand in hand really well.”
    • “For a game that seems to me mostly about the unique graphic style and experience, it didn't strike me as all that impressive, visually.”
    • “It also won't allow you to increase the resolution or anything; if you try, the graphics will look messed up.”
    • “You do immediately notice a graphical scrubbiness to the environments, but this is soon forgiven as you realize that each puzzle zone involves some form of environmental manipulation.”
  • gameplay47 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized as a unique blend of puzzle-solving and environmental interaction, particularly enhanced by its VR implementation. While the mechanics are engaging and visually stunning, some players noted a lack of depth in the main story mode, which lasts around 2-4 hours, and occasional jankiness in physics. Overall, it offers a relaxing and creative experience, making it a good introduction to VR for newcomers, though it may not sustain excitement for all players throughout its duration.

    • “It is the unique gameplay that comes with it, especially in VR.”
    • “Every puzzle has its own unique mechanic, so you always need to find a new way to move through the chapters.”
    • “While other 'artsy' games may fail to offer an entertaining or unique gameplay experience, this balances its artistic vision and presentation with very engaging design.”
    • “Is it worth 20 bucks for 3.5 hours of gameplay?”
    • “Overall, I found it to be quite enjoyable, but slightly janky physics and object manipulation can sometimes make you question whether you're fundamentally chasing the wrong approach, or simply losing an uphill battle against unpolished game mechanics.”
    • “This game starts super strong, but slows down into tedium when the player really needs a push of new exciting visuals and mechanics to want to push forward.”
  • music23 mentions

    The music and sound design in the game are widely praised for their immersive and emotional qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a beautiful soundtrack that complements the visuals. While some players found the choice of Japanese music unusual, it contributed to a unique atmosphere that many described as awe-inspiring and emotionally resonant. However, a few users expressed frustration with the game's loading process, which involved a separate music game, detracting from their enjoyment.

    • “The sound design and music are great as you'd expect.”
    • “It really takes you on an emotional roller coaster with some really nice immersive environments, great sound effects & amazing musical soundtrack.”
    • “Absolutely incredible interaction with the game world, with a fantastic music score and visuals to match.”
    • “The Japanese music was an odd choice for the game, but it was cool.”
    • “I was initially excited to play Paper Beasts, but after sitting in the loading screen with the 'swirlybeats music' popup for 45 minutes, only to find out that the game will not load unless you play that stupid swirlybeats game, I have decided to refund this game.”
    • “More of a 4-hour art musical... something.”
  • atmosphere22 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, enhanced by beautiful visuals and evocative music. Players appreciate the unique aesthetic and emotional depth, often feeling a connection to the creatures within the world. While some find the gameplay somewhat simplistic, the overall experience is recommended for those seeking a captivating atmospheric journey, particularly in VR.

    • “It oozes atmosphere and the paper animals make the world feel alive. The puzzles are creative, and when you don't get them, you just play around for a while, and usually somewhere it works.”
    • “The atmosphere and the satisfying world shaping reminded me somewhat of an old Ubisoft game 'From Dust', although the mechanics are different. You actually play in first person, which, in my opinion, makes you more immersed in the environment and feel less like a god.”
    • “It's a quirky, slow-paced puzzle game with fantastic atmosphere and somehow evokes genuine feelings for the creatures in the game.”
    • “The atmosphere and passive story this game provides truly drives with intrigue.”
    • “The game does do a very good job at getting you to care for some of the creatures and there were a few points that were briefly upsetting, which says a lot about the atmosphere that this game has.”
    • “Recommended, if you have a VR headset handy and are the kind of person to take in the atmosphere of a virtual world.”
  • emotional16 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its ability to evoke a range of feelings, from joy to heartbreak, often leaving players in tears. Many reviewers highlight the immersive environments, poignant soundtracks, and unique character interactions that create deep emotional connections, making the experience both touching and unforgettable. Overall, the game is noted for its surprising emotional depth, even without a traditional narrative structure.

    • “My god, now this, this made me cry.”
    • “It really takes you on an emotional roller coaster with some really nice immersive environments, great sound effects & amazing musical soundtrack.”
    • “I developed emotional connections with each and every paper beast, every one unique in its own way.”
  • optimization7 mentions

    The game is highly optimized, delivering smooth performance across platforms, including Linux, and providing an engaging experience with impressive graphics and art design. Users report flawless performance, even on high-end systems, and commend the seamless integration of gameplay, visuals, and narrative. Overall, the optimization contributes significantly to the game's enjoyable journey.

    • “It's a fun and easy puzzle game with great graphics, high performance, and an interesting art design.”
    • “World is quite small but it's very well optimized and allows smooth scaling from human to mountain size perspective.”
    • “In short, performance, visuals, and story content are amazing.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it limited due to its short length and predictable puzzles, others appreciate the presence of collectibles, unlockables, and additional modes like god mode that enhance the experience. Despite the varying opinions, many agree that there are enjoyable elements that encourage multiple playthroughs.

    • “The god mode is also quite fun to mess around in, and with unlockables from the main story for the god mode, it gives replay value to an already fun campaign.”
    • “Replayability is also present as there are collectibles hidden throughout the various stages of the game.”
    • “Only downside is that it's only about 3 hours long and not very replayable, as most puzzle games are when you already know the solutions.”
    • “I can't see much replay value, but there are definitely some wow moments!”
    • “The story seemed short, but the replayability lasts, and I would definitely buy this game.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Reviews on grinding highlight a divide in player experience: while some find the process slow and tedious, particularly in puzzle implementation, others appreciate the challenge and view it as a test of patience rather than a chore. Overall, the perception of grinding varies significantly among players, with a notable portion expressing frustration.

    • “Everything is slow and tedious.”
    • “Puzzles are pretty good, although there were times I knew what the solution was and it was tedious to implement.”
    • “The most common negative reviews seem to be from people who do find it tedious.”
  • humor3 mentions

    Players find the humor in the game to be delightful, often highlighting the unique personalities of the creatures and the comedic value of unexpected bugs, such as rag-doll physics. Many report that these quirks enhance the overall experience, making for memorable and laugh-inducing moments.

    • “Played this while on shrooms, spent 40 minutes laughing at a bug.”
    • “Each creature in the game has its own personality and sense of humor.”
    • “Occasional bugs in the AI where they ragdoll (though this is expected and a bit hilarious, to be perfectly honest).”
  • stability2 mentions

    Users praise the game's stability, highlighting its impressive water physics that contribute to a visually stunning experience. The game runs smoothly without significant issues, enhancing overall gameplay.

    • “It's beautiful and runs great.”
    • “The game maintains a smooth performance without any crashes.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is, even during intense moments.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviewers express frustration with the monetization approach in the game, particularly criticizing misleading pop-ups that resemble advertisements but are intended as game introductions. This confusion detracts from the overall experience and clarity of the game's monetization strategy.

    • “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without constantly being bombarded by prompts to spend money.”
    • “I find it frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, forcing players to either grind endlessly or fork out cash.”
    • “The in-game purchases are poorly balanced, creating a pay-to-win environment that detracts from the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

80% average critic score

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Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
4-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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