Paper Sorcerer

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"Paper Sorcerer" is a turn-based RPG focused on strategy, party-building, and environmental puzzles. Escape from a magical tome prison as a powerful sorcerer, regaining your magical powers and battling enemies with strategic skills and spells. A party of monsters and dark creatures can fight alongside you as you explore and solve puzzles. The initial release is for PC, with Mac and Linux versions in the works. Save files from the demo transfer to the full version.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 506 reviews

graphics89 positive mentions

stability49 negative mentions

Unique and stylish art design that enhances the game's atmosphere.
Fun and rewarding turn-based combat with a variety of playable characters and strategies.
Engaging gameplay with secrets to discover and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic dungeon crawlers.

Numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with achievements and inventory management.
Repetitive combat and environments that can lead to a lack of engagement over time.
Clunky user interface that makes navigation and menu management cumbersome.

graphics
207 mentions
43 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Paper Sorcerer" are characterized by a unique monochromatic art style that blends retro and modern aesthetics, evoking a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic RPGs. While many players appreciate the striking simplicity and hand-drawn quality of the visuals, some find the lack of variety and occasional graphical glitches detract from the overall experience. Overall, the art style is a significant draw for the game, enhancing its thematic elements, though opinions vary on its long-term appeal.
- “The graphics are striking and actually quite beautiful in their simplicity (I really like the shadow effects and the feeling of looking down over the edge into the blackness with just a few lines of white going down is amazing).”
- “The art style is fantastic and really helps set the game apart from the mountains of voxel games flooding Steam currently.”
- “The graphics stand together with the plot and the feel of the game.”
- “Very clunky/awkward take on an already old school/outdated genre... it feels like it could have come out on Atari back in the 80s, if it was not for the FPS feel and the graphics (which, sadly, looked better in picture than in actual game...).”
- “The graphics are passable, I suppose, if black and white 2D is your thing.”
- “This game graphically would be at home on the Nintendo DS... if that tells you anything.”
music
175 mentions
37 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its catchy and unique style that enhances the overall experience, while others criticize it for being repetitive and out of place, particularly in combat scenarios. Many players express a desire for more variety and the ability to adjust or mute the music, as it can become overwhelming over time. Overall, while the soundtrack has its fans, it also has significant detractors who find it detracts from immersion.
- “The music is amazing!!!!”
- “Overall, this is a fun RPG with some interesting mechanics, great style, and enjoyable music.”
- “The music is fantastic.”
- “The music is worse than my fart.”
- “The downsides were the combat, which felt really weird (semi-random turn-based encounters in a first person perspective game?) and the music, which felt really off and killed the immersion.”
- “Unfortunately the horrible music/sfx combined with the inability to turn them off and the repetitiveness of combats made me abandon ship.”
story
130 mentions
42 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its unique premise of playing as an imprisoned sorcerer seeking escape, while others find it underdeveloped and forgettable. Many reviews highlight the well-written dialogue and character design, but criticize the minimal storytelling and repetitive level design. Overall, while the narrative has intriguing elements and humor, it often feels overshadowed by gameplay issues and bugs.
- “The story is also enjoyable, with a variety of information on exactly what happened before you were imprisoned to discover.”
- “The story is cleverly told with some elements of humor that are both witty and well placed.”
- “As a plus, the story is a refreshing break from the traditional 'heroes saving the world' cliché, and instead puts you in the role of an evil sorcerer trying to escape his enchanted prison.”
- “The story is wholly not interesting.”
- “It's one of those games where I barely paid any attention to the story beyond the beginning and ending; the gameplay is the only thing that will make an attempt to keep your attention until the end.”
- “The story seems rather boring and underdeveloped.”
gameplay
99 mentions
37 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its engaging mechanics and nostalgic dungeon-crawling elements, while others criticize it for being slow, repetitive, and lacking depth. The turn-based combat and exploration are generally well-received, offering a solid RPG experience, but some users find the interface cumbersome and the mechanics underwhelming. Overall, it presents a fun, albeit flawed, experience that may appeal to fans of classic RPGs, especially at its low price point.
- “Overall, this is a fun RPG with some interesting mechanics, great style, and enjoyable music.”
- “The gameplay is solid, with a combination of party choice, attack and strategy choice, and equipment management.”
- “The gameplay is very fun and addictive.”
- “The gameplay is boring and repetitive (something I don't normally have a problem with in classic RPGs like Final Fantasy).”
- “Ridiculously stylish, but completely unfulfilling, with tiny levels and monotonous gameplay; the author's idea of 'environmental puzzles' is pushing a hidden switch on the wall to reveal a secret passage 3 steps away (and the game tells you where the switch is anyway, just in case).”
- “The trailer, screenshots, and overall aesthetic are impressive to be sure, but they belie a cumbersome user interface (for a genre that is 90% menus, why are the menus so annoying to use?), a sluggish battle system, and overall very dull mechanics that offer little in the way of exciting character molding or customization.”
stability
50 mentions
2 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous players reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and crashes that can disrupt gameplay and even corrupt save files. Many reviews suggest that the game feels unfinished and abandoned, with little to no support from the developers to address these issues. While some players still find enjoyment in the game, the overwhelming consensus is that its stability problems make it difficult to recommend, especially for those sensitive to technical frustrations.
- “Only real negative is that the game is rather buggy and given that it's been about a decade since the game dropped and Ultra Runway has gone dark, it's fairly safe to say it's abandoned.”
- “While I've only experienced a small occurrence of this, it's a representation of a bigger problem - I've had Paper Sorcerer in my wishlist for years and when I finally bought it, I learned too late that the game is riddled with bugs and glitches that have gone unaddressed by the developer, which has also in that time frame, developed and sold another game despite opening a thread in the Steam forum to address the bugs.”
- “The game freezes and I've had to replay levels due to the game locking - this is the primary reason I can't recommend it.”
grinding
41 mentions
7 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
90 % negative mentions
Overall, reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a mixed experience. Many players find the combat repetitive and tedious, especially on higher difficulties, with some noting that grinding becomes a necessity for progression. However, others appreciate that the game allows for strategic play without excessive grinding, and some even find the balance of challenge and story engaging, making the grind feel less burdensome.
- “It's not very grindy; I had to grind a bit on hard mode.”
- “Not too grindy, and you get enough 'summons' (party members) to vary your party and keep the game fresh.”
- “Only struggled on the first block boss due to the lack of a grinding area, but a good choice of thralls would really help.”
- “Boring and repetitive level design, with grindy combat encounters combined with a forgettable story and rounded off with plenty of bugs and broken achievements.”
- “It just gets really grindy and tedious the closer you get to the end, not to mention all the numerous bugs that the developer hasn't fixed in over 5 years.”
- “The battle system is quickly understood, and whatever quirkiness and customization the party-summon mechanic brings is quickly locked away behind a gruesome wall of grinding.”
replayability
22 mentions
36 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers a solid level of replayability, primarily through diverse character options, party configurations, and varying difficulty levels. While some players note limitations due to a lack of procedural generation and randomization, many appreciate the strategic depth and customization available, making it enjoyable to revisit. The combination of engaging combat and a nostalgic turn-based system contributes to its replay value, especially considering its affordable price.
- “Even with the unfinished achievements, it's a great experience and has lots of replayability.”
- “The different synergies of characters allows for a ton of replayability.”
- “Overall a really fun game, about 20 hours worth with a modest amount of replayability from trying the other party members you didn't play with or playing on a higher difficulty.”
- “Unfortunately, there is no procedural generation of levels, and very limited randomization of enemies, so replayability suffers.”
- “Overall, a really fun game, about 20 hours worth with a modest amount of replayability from trying the other party members you didn't play with or playing on a higher difficulty.”
- “This gives limited replay value, but still for $5 it was worth every penny.”
atmosphere
17 mentions
41 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a unique black-and-white art style that evokes a stark, melancholic feel, enhancing the overall experience. Users appreciate the combination of simple graphics, effective music, and old-school dungeon-crawl mechanics, which together create a compelling and immersive environment. While some feel the music could be darker to match the atmosphere, the overall consensus is that the game's aesthetic and atmosphere are its standout features, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of atmospheric RPGs.
- “Terrific dungeon crawler, very old-school (even when it comes to difficulty, if you want) with great atmosphere and music.”
- “Soaked with atmosphere, a modern melancholic black-and-white trip with old-school dungeon-crawl mechanics.”
- “Everything about this game works toward a grim fantasy atmosphere that exudes character.”
- “I wasn't sure I'd get along well with Paper Sorcerer's mostly black and white atmosphere.”
humor
16 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is generally well-received, featuring a mix of funny dialogue, amusing item descriptions, and clever writing that enhances the overall experience without overshadowing the gameplay. While some players appreciate the lighthearted moments and comedic elements, others note a lack of memorable characters and a fluctuating tone between seriousness and humor. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the dungeon-crawling adventure, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- “It was a real dungeon crawler with just enough story and humor added in.”
- “Considering the issues the game has and the developer running away from the issues, I thought when it said 'presented by ultra runaway games' was pretty hilarious.”
- “You'll find nice tidbits of humor laced throughout the game as well.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
"Paper Sorcerer" is praised for its unique blend of moods that create an emotionally resonant experience, featuring a challenging gameplay that complements a touching narrative revealed throughout the game.
- “Paper Sorcerer creates a very peculiar blend of moods that results in an emotionally believable experience.”
- “It challenges you at every turn and has a touching story woven into its middle and end.”
optimization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, players express a desire for improved optimization in the game, indicating that performance issues detract from the overall experience.
- “I wish the game was better optimized.”
character development
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The character development in *Paper Sorcerer* is praised for its solid design and engaging dialogue, complemented by a unique story and rich lore. The game features a roleplaying system that emphasizes meaningful progression without the grind, enhancing the overall immersive experience.
- “The character design and dialogue in [i]Paper Sorcerer[/i] are exceptional, creating a unique story filled with intriguing lore.”
- “The roleplaying game leveling system is well-crafted, avoiding grind and allowing players to focus on the core experience.”
- “The graphical quality is both modest and immersive, enhancing the overall character development experience.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of depth in the character arcs; they felt one-dimensional and predictable.”
- “While the game has a unique story, the characters themselves don't evolve in a way that feels rewarding or engaging.”