Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open

About

"Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open" is a narrative-driven game where you play as Ting, a young girl with the ability to see spirits. Over five years, you'll navigate Ting's journey through challenging conversations, puzzles, and stealth sequences, forming a bond with a ghost named Xiu and helping lost souls while dealing with the impact of her power. The game explores themes of morality, identity, and the consequences of one's actions.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open screenshot

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 89 reviews

story47 positive mentions

atmosphere3 negative mentions

The game features a beautifully crafted art style that combines 2D and 3D elements, creating a unique and immersive visual experience.
The narrative is emotionally engaging, exploring themes of growing up, cultural identity, and the supernatural, which resonates well with players, especially those familiar with Malaysian culture.
Gameplay includes a mix of exploration, mini-games, and interactive storytelling, keeping the experience fresh and engaging throughout its duration.

The pacing can be slow, particularly in the early chapters, which may deter players looking for a more action-oriented experience.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as mini-games and quick-time events, can be unclear or frustrating, leading to potential confusion during critical moments.
The absence of voice acting and reliance on text-heavy dialogue may not appeal to all players, especially those who prefer more dynamic storytelling.

story
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
62%
2%
The story of "Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open" is praised for its emotional depth, unexpected twists, and cultural relevance, particularly resonating with Southeast Asian players. While some found the pacing slow and certain segments unnecessary, the overall narrative is described as gripping and well-written, with relatable characters and a unique blend of horror and childhood experiences. The game effectively combines storytelling with gameplay elements, making it a compelling experience for those who appreciate narrative-driven games.
- “This was one of the very few games I could not put down because the story was absolutely gripping.”
- “The story is wonderfully written, all characters feel believable and diverse!”
- “The game does such a good job of touching on emotional subjects and telling the story.”
- “The pace of the story starts off slow but it does ramp up at the end.”
- “There are certain flaws like the slow story pacing, and fixed camera angle on certain chapters, which I think the developers would work on in the future.”
- “Like, I got about 45-60 minutes in and it's just the utterly generic story of a 6-year-old Malaysian girl's first day at school.”
graphics
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
50%
5%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their unique and stunning art style, characterized by a charming paper cut-out aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers appreciate the detailed visuals and the cultural representation of Malaysian and Singaporean elements, which contribute to a captivating atmosphere. Overall, the game's visuals are described as beautiful, engaging, and integral to the narrative, making it a standout feature.
- “The graphics are stunning.”
- “The unique art style is what first drew me to this game and it is just beautiful to look at and see in motion.”
- “The unique art style gives the game a charming yet spooky atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- “The art style isn't your typical horror game aesthetic (as far as the ones I've seen).”
- “Graphics have a charming appeal of a comic book style with cut-out characters and reminded me of playing Paper Mario, which I also enjoyed.”
- “As a Malaysian, broken English is a must tick for me (optional if you guys don't care). This game, to be honest, is a prequel to their previous game 7PM (recommend trying it out), way longer in story structure, as well as improved art style.”
gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
77%
10%
The gameplay is a mix of walking simulator elements and interactive mechanics, including visual novel-style conversations, exploration, mini-games, and quick-time events. Players can expect varied experiences such as cooking, stealth sections, and chases, which add depth and keep the gameplay engaging. While some aspects may feel simplistic, the inclusion of diverse gameplay elements contributes to a fresh and dynamic experience.
- “The gameplay is varied, with mini-games, quick-time events, stealth, and exploration keeping things fresh.”
- “The gameplay with visual novel style conversations alternates with walking around 3D locations.”
- “Now to start, the gameplay isn't going to be significantly more than a walking simulator and some pointing or clicking with some minor mix-ups to the formula that I won't mention for spoilers.”
- “Most of them are for doing chases without getting caught, or in one go, because most of the time I needed some time to figure out the mechanic, or was surprised by a prompt to evade something.”
- “The remaining gameplay focuses on exploration and occasional mini-games that are tied to the storyline.”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
25%
11%
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, drawing inspiration from PS1-era compositions while incorporating modern sounds and eerie tones typical of eastern horror. However, some players noted that certain tracks did not align well with specific emotional moments, slightly disrupting immersion. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, with a bonus episode featuring improved music production that further delights players.
- “The music is great, reminiscent of a lot of the writing of PS1 era greats with modern sounds, with a lot more of the eerie droning tones that eastern horror often uses.”
- “The stunning paper-like art that blends 2D and 3D and the fitting music enrich Third Eye Open's overall vibe and experience, and the game surprised me.”
- “And together with great ambient music and sound design, it just feels so comfy and pleasant to play.”
- “However, some parts of the music didn’t match the situation well, like during sad or surprising moments, which slightly broke the immersion.”
- “Sound and music are limited but do the job.”
- “The background music and sound effects further immerse you in the papercraft world, showing a level of care and attention to detail that I find many will appreciate.”
emotional
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its emotional depth, balancing light-heartedness with heavy themes of loss and acceptance. Players find the story engaging and impactful, often struggling to hold back tears due to its heartfelt narrative and unexpected plot twists. Overall, it effectively explores emotional subjects, making it a recommended experience for those seeking a touching story.
- “It's an emotional story; I'm a tough nut to crack, but man was it difficult to hold it together whilst reading out the lines!”
- “I didn’t expect the plot twist at the end—it was unexpected but really tied the story together emotionally.”
- “The game does such a good job of touching on emotional subjects and telling the story.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
68%
19%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a unique art style that blends charm with spookiness, enhanced by effective audio design despite the absence of voice acting. Players appreciate the familiar cultural elements, particularly those resonating with Southeast Asian themes, which contribute to an immersive, storybook-like experience. However, some feel that a more condensed format could further enhance the overall atmosphere.
- “The unique art style gives the game a charming yet spooky atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- “BGM music was atmospheric and immersive.”
- “Despite all the ghosts and spooky atmosphere, this game isn't concerned with trying to scare you at every opportunity it can.”
- “Although there’s no voice acting, the audio design still manages to create a spooky atmosphere.”
- “It does help invoke the atmosphere of a storybook.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that there are no grinding achievements in the game, indicating that players do not need to engage in repetitive tasks to unlock rewards. This suggests a more streamlined experience focused on progression without the typical grind associated with many games.

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