Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open

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Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Cellar Vault Games and was released on September 4, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Third Eye Open is a coming of age story about a young girl with the ability to see spirits. Will this burgeoning power be a blessing or a curse? Will you be able to save your family and unravel the mystery at the heart of the adventure? Her Power You are Ting, a young girl who is able to see the spirits around her. You form a remarkable friendship with a young ghost, Xiu, who is seeking peace. T…

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Single-Player

Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open screenshot

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 58 reviews

story29 positive mentions

atmosphere3 negative mentions

The game beautifully showcases Malaysian culture through its unique art style and storytelling, providing an authentic experience that resonates with local players.
The narrative is well-written, exploring deep themes such as family dynamics, childhood, and cultural beliefs, with unexpected twists that enhance emotional engagement.
Mini-games and interactive elements add variety to the gameplay, making it enjoyable and immersive while allowing players to experience everyday Malaysian life.

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 stealth sections and mini-games, can be frustrating due to awkward controls and unclear instructions.
The heavy reliance on cultural slang and broken English may create immersion issues for players unfamiliar with Malaysian dialects, potentially limiting the game's accessibility.

story
91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
65%
3%
The story of "Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open" is a well-crafted slice-of-life narrative centered around a Malaysian Chinese family, exploring themes of tiger parenting, childhood, and cultural superstitions, all infused with supernatural horror elements. Players appreciate the emotional depth and relatable cultural context, though some find the pacing slow and certain details overly intricate. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging storytelling, character development, and a bittersweet ending that resonates with many, making it a compelling experience for those interested in narrative-driven games.
- “The story is very well-written and discusses a lot of the Asian cultural beliefs.”
- “The story is wonderfully written, all characters feel believable and diverse!”
- “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!”
- “As far as the story goes, this game kinda feels more like a 'mini side-story' that could perfectly be enjoyed as an appetizer before or even a mid-break between the two games that I've played, which were: A Space of the Unbound and Until Then… Unlike those two games, I feel like Third Eye Open is a much 'smaller' and somewhat even more 'grounded' story; as in, there is no end of the world/out of this world/isekai plot shenanigans that form the basis of the story. The story is very much an actual slice-of-life that revolves around a typical Malaysian Chinese family, with themes of tiger parenting, early childhood, 'imaginary' friends, and very stereotypical, superstitious Chinese beliefs, along with some supernatural horror elements.”
- “I get that the game wanted to showcase Malaysian culture, which is great, but prioritizing that over the main story might lose some players who aren’t already interested in the culture.”
- “There are certain flaws like the slow story pacing and fixed camera angles on certain chapters, which I think the developers would work on in the future.”
graphics
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
48%
8%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their unique "paper theater" art style, which beautifully captures Malaysian and Singaporean culture through charming, detailed visuals. Reviewers highlight the aesthetic's ability to enhance the narrative experience, creating a captivating atmosphere that balances both cuteness and eeriness. Overall, the stunning visuals and cultural authenticity contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout in its genre.
- “I love how the game properly centers itself in an actual Malaysian setting, especially with its unique art style of using 'papers' or 'origamis' to depict typical Malaysian places like a pasar malam, a taman rumah, and kopitiams.”
- “The unique art style gives the game a charming yet spooky atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- “The immediate star of course is the art style - this whole papercut-cardboard aesthetic is done so well, so pretty.”
- “The art style isn't your typical one for horror games (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 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 on their art style.”
gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The gameplay is a mix of various elements, including stealth mechanics, mini-games, and exploration, but it often feels more like a collection of everyday tasks rather than a cohesive experience. While some players appreciate the variety and the inclusion of unique activities like cooking and budgeting, others find the lack of genuine threat and depth disappointing. Overall, the game offers a lighthearted approach to gameplay, blending visual novel elements with interactive segments, though it may not satisfy those seeking intense challenges.
- “The gameplay is varied, with mini-games, quick-time events, stealth, and exploration keeping things fresh.”
- “At first, I thought it would be strictly a visual novel type game with walking in 3D space, but even in my short time with it, I encountered sudden gameplay sections, such as cooking a BBQ (manually assembling ingredients on a skewer and then cooking it) or stealth sections where you need to avoid other characters seeing you sneak out - so I am confident the game will have many such gameplay inclusions to add variety.”
- “The remaining gameplay focuses on exploration and occasional mini-games that are tied to the storyline.”
- “Granted, for a person like me who is kind of used to extreme horrors lately, I was kind of disappointed that they didn’t really fill that niche for me aside from giving us just mere ominous places, some cheap jump scares here and there, and the core gameplay of avoiding getting spotted while sneaking around enemies that don't really feel like a threat, as even if you do get caught from sneaking, you can easily outrun them when they start chasing you anyways.”
- “Which is a shame, but I’m guessing that this isn't that kind of game. Other notable gameplay elements that I could remember off the top of my head include a ton of gamified everyday tasks like a bunch of discount Cooking Mama but with Malaysian cuisines, epic-fun-exciting gameplay of doing your finances through the use of an Excel budgeting table, exhilarating gameplay of putting groceries in the fridge, tons of miscellaneous fetch quests, playing with marbles akin to playing pool, and loads of quick time events.”
- “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.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
15%
21%
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience with a blend of modern sounds and nostalgic elements reminiscent of PS1-era compositions. However, some players noted that certain musical cues did not align well with specific emotional moments, slightly detracting from immersion. Overall, the soundtrack is considered excellent, with a bonus episode showcasing even better music production, contributing to a cozy and engaging gameplay atmosphere.
- “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
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its emotional depth, featuring a wholesome story with well-developed characters that evoke strong feelings. Players highlight its ability to tackle heavy themes of loss and acceptance while maintaining a light-hearted tone, with unexpected plot twists that enhance the emotional impact. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a touching narrative experience.
- “Very good character work and also very heart-touching and emotional in places.”
- “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!”
- “The game does such a good job of touching on emotional subjects and telling the story.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
45%
33%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its unique paper cutout-style sprites and charming yet spooky art, which together create an immersive experience reminiscent of a storybook. The audio design, despite the absence of voice acting, effectively enhances the atmosphere, evoking a familiar and culturally rich setting, particularly for players from Southeast Asia. Overall, while the game embraces its spooky elements, it balances them with a lighthearted approach that enriches the overall ambiance.
- “I love how it embraces its own identity with the paper cutout-style sprites—it really adds to the atmosphere.”
- “The unique art style gives the game a charming yet spooky atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- “If the game was more condensed, the overall atmosphere would have improved as well!”
- “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.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users indicate that there are no grinding achievements in the game, suggesting a lack of repetitive tasks or activities designed to extend gameplay through grinding.
- “Grinding achievements: no”
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding for resources, and it just wasn't rewarding.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers praise the game for its strong storytelling and effective character development, highlighting how well the characters are crafted and their growth throughout the narrative.
- “Great work on storytelling and character development.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open is a action adventure game.

Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox One, Steam Deck and others.

Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open was released on September 4, 2024.

Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open was developed by Cellar Vault Games.

Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open is a single player game.

Similar games include The Night is Grey, The Bridge Curse Road to Salvation, Children of Silentown, Tell Me Why, Murders on the Yangtze River and others.

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