Paper Perjury

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 51 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Paper Perjury Game Cover
Starting at $19.99Buy now
Get on Steam

In "Paper Perjury," become Justina Smith, a police clerk who uncovers a web of crimes at the Azure City Police Department. Investigate five interconnected cases, from wealthy manors to parking garages, to expose a large mystery. Question suspects, analyze their statements, and reveal the truth in this intriguing narrative-driven adventure game.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 51 reviews
story14 positive mentions
character development3 negative mentions
  • Paper Perjury offers a charming and engaging story with well-developed characters, making it a delightful experience for fans of the genre.
  • The game features a unique approach to gameplay, combining investigation and interrogation mechanics that allow for a more organic flow of the narrative.
  • The art style and soundtrack are both praised for their quality, enhancing the overall atmosphere and enjoyment of the game.
  • The game suffers from some mechanical issues, particularly with controller support and UI navigation, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • Many players found the plot and character motivations to be predictable or lacking depth, with some cases feeling too short or interconnected in a way that diminishes their individuality.
  • There are instances of illogical puzzle design and contrived scenarios that detract from the immersion and challenge of the game.
  • story46 mentions

    The story is characterized by a continuous narrative that connects various cases, which some players find refreshing, while others feel it lacks the depth and stakes of more traditional mystery games. The characters are well-developed and relatable, contributing to an engaging experience, though some critiques mention that the plot can feel predictable and low-stakes at times. Overall, the game offers a solid, enjoyable story with memorable characters, despite not reaching the complexity of its genre counterparts.

    • “The story is surprising me so far, opting to go for a pretty much continuous story, instead of each case having its own storyline separated from others.”
    • “The story, while not particularly groundbreaking, unfolds organically and doesn't need any big twists or crazy stuff to stay interesting.”
    • “This game is a treasure trove filled with unforgettable characters in a memorable story.”
    • “The game makes sure to state there are no evil people, and while it's an admirable thing to go for, it works as a story element only if it's challenged.”
    • “The plot felt low stakes; I never felt shocked or deeply invested in the mysteries themselves. I was never worried that a character I truly cared about would be charged.”
    • “I was never on the edge of my seat, and plot beats felt pretty predictable throughout.”
  • gameplay25 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by its blend of investigation and interrogation mechanics, offering a fresh take on the genre while maintaining simplicity that enhances immersion in the story. Players appreciate the organized case files and quality-of-life features, though some find the mechanics lack depth and guidance at times. Overall, while it draws inspiration from titles like Ace Attorney, it introduces unique elements that make the experience enjoyable, despite some minor frustrations with evidence gathering and character interactions.

    • “Despite not taking place in a courtroom, the game organically adapts the two main mechanics (investigation and interrogation) from a detective's point of view, following the journey of rookie police clerk Justina Smith as she becomes embroiled in a five-episode drama that lasts around 8 to 10 hours.”
    • “The gameplay is much better than Ace Attorney in my opinion; there is no point-and-click to find evidence, you are guaranteed to find all evidence if you investigate everything, you won't proceed without making progress (by finding all the evidence or poking a hole in a statement), you can easily move back and forth through dialogue, if you make a mistake in interrogation you can try again quickly and easily, and all information on the case you have collected is organized well in your case file so you can refer back to it.”
    • “The gameplay is also supported by a solid suite of quality-of-life features; functions for skipping and reviewing dialogue, nice accessibility settings, and extensive menus for organizing and reviewing information.”
    • “There have been a couple of times that I've been stuck trying to find the right evidence that contradicted a statement at the right sentence -- although the gameplay is such that you could brute force it, it's time-consuming and not as fun.”
    • “Depth of gameplay and plot is severely lacking in comparison to the originals.”
    • “Pp leans more toward being a visual novel with adventure game elements rather than being a blend of the two, with the main mechanical challenge being the navigation of dialogue trees.”
  • music24 mentions

    The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many praising the soundtrack as catchy, beautiful, and well-suited to the game's tone, particularly during key moments like interrogations. While some reviewers noted that certain tracks felt a bit loud or not memorable enough for repeated listening, the overall consensus is that the music enhances the storytelling and character experience. Additionally, the diversity in musical styles, including jazz and waltz influences, adds to the game's charm and engagement.

    • “The game's art style does a more than competent job of characterizing the cast, complemented by a beautiful OST that fits the tone of the game perfectly.”
    • “The characters are charming, the music is catchy and classy, and that satisfying feeling of picking at little inconsistencies to reveal larger secrets is there.”
    • “On top of all of this, the game's soundtrack is absolutely wonderful; every track hits the right mood without being overwhelming or distracting.”
    • “The soundtrack is alright; I can't say it's a soundtrack that I ever want to listen to again, but it did its job, especially the interrogation tracks were pretty good.”
    • “I don't want to call it serviceable, because it's lovingly made, but I wish for once someone would dare to properly step out of the massive shadow of Ace Attorney – the typical musical cues and everything, come on, it's been nearly twenty years since the first DS port dropped, there's gotta be more ways to do this?”
    • “The music is also peak!”
  • graphics9 mentions

    The game features a pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for classic adventure games, though some reviewers note it has inferior graphics compared to those titles. However, the art effectively characterizes the cast and is complemented by a fitting soundtrack, with many praising the visuals, animations, and overall aesthetic as both charming and recognizable. Overall, while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they are well-executed and enhance the game's narrative and gameplay experience.

    • “The game's art style does a more than competent job of characterizing the cast, complemented by a beautiful OST that fits the tone of the game perfectly.”
    • “The visuals and the sprites are neat; every character is very recognizable, and it's pretty to look at.”
    • “The art style is amazing as well, and the writing is fantastic!”
    • “The graphics in this game use a pixel art style that is reminiscent of old adventure games.”
    • “Compared to other games, it has worse graphics but honestly better writing.”
    • “I had this game on my wishlist after seeing the artwork on the pixel art subreddit while it was in development.”
  • humor7 mentions

    The game's humor is well-received, striking a balance between charm and groundedness, with clever puns and unexpected quips that enhance the experience. While some players wish for a lighter tone, many appreciate the humor's subtlety, likening it to a more subdued version of Ace Attorney. Overall, the comedic elements are effective and contribute positively to the game's narrative.

    • “The game strikes a good balance between humor and groundedness.”
    • “The humor is very charming and a bit like a more subdued version of Ace Attorney.”
    • “The dialogue has hilarious quips that I love because it catches me off guard.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted to have some flaws, with certain arcs feeling underdeveloped despite strong conclusions, as seen with the character Swift. However, the character designs are praised for their variety and eccentricity, effectively conveying a wide range of emotions through animations and poses.

    • “Character designs are varied and eccentric without going too over the top, with just enough animations and poses to express a broad range of emotions.”
    • “Certain character development feels flawed; for example, Swift has a great ending character arc, but how she gets there is underdeveloped.”
    • “Character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression throughout the game.”
    • “The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evolve, making it hard to connect with them.”
    • “There are missed opportunities for deeper backstories and character arcs that could have enhanced the overall experience.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The game effectively balances humor and emotion, delivering impactful moments without feeling forced or awkward. While some players felt a lack of emotional peaks, the unexpected development of a rival character as an emotionally stable parent added depth to the narrative. Overall, it successfully evokes genuine feelings when necessary.

    • “All throughout the third case, I was thinking, 'But surely they wouldn't make an emotionally stable parent the rival character,' and then they did, and it was great.”
    • “The game is funny when it wants to be without being obnoxious and emotional when it needs to be without being awkward.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game offers an enjoyable experience; however, its replayability is notably low, suggesting limited incentive for players to revisit it after completing it.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Paper Perjury

Videos

Similar Games

Game News