Paper Trail
- May 21, 2024
- Newfangled Games
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Paper Trail" is a top-down puzzle adventure game where you play as Paige, a student exploring a foldable, paper world. By folding and manipulating the environment, you'll solve puzzles, uncover secrets, and meet unique characters. The handcrafted, beautiful environments and engaging puzzles make for a captivating journey.
Reviews
- The game features a unique and creative paper-folding mechanic that keeps the puzzles fresh and engaging.
- The art style and music are beautifully crafted, creating a charming and immersive atmosphere.
- The story is heartfelt and adds emotional depth to the gameplay, making it a rewarding experience overall.
- Some puzzles can be overly challenging and may lead to frustration, especially for less experienced players.
- The story feels incomplete and some character arcs are underdeveloped, leaving players wanting more closure.
- The gameplay can become repetitive, as the core mechanics do not evolve significantly throughout the game.
- gameplay55 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Paper Trail" is centered around a unique and engaging paper-folding mechanic that offers a fresh take on puzzle-solving. Players appreciate the gradual introduction of new mechanics and the clever integration of these elements, which keeps the experience enjoyable and challenging without feeling overwhelming. However, some reviewers noted that the core mechanic can feel limited over time, suggesting that the game might benefit from additional complexity or shorter length to maintain interest.
“The core folding mechanic is very original, works flawlessly, and is thoroughly implemented.”
“The gameplay is fun and interesting with new mechanics introduced in each chapter to keep the experience fresh, and the art style is simple but wonderful!”
“The unique paper folding mechanic has a satisfying tactile quality.”
“Unfortunately for me, the core puzzle mechanic really felt limited; the puzzle/gameplay possibility space of a two-dimensional sheet that can't fold more than once got old fairly quickly, especially when combined with not being able to see the puzzle pieces you were working with clearly.”
“The gameplay isn't bad, but the story is boring, and the new mechanics don't bring enough to the table to keep things interesting.”
“The other thing is that they really could've stood to break up the gameplay some more.”
- music37 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and soothing qualities, enhancing the overall experience and complementing the charming art style. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as immersive and relaxing, contributing to a cozy atmosphere that makes the gameplay enjoyable. Overall, the combination of enchanting music and gorgeous visuals is seen as a standout feature, elevating the game's appeal despite some criticisms of the puzzle mechanics.
“The music and graphics are gorgeous and really make the experience special for such a little gem of a game.”
“Absolutely loved this game - beautiful music, gorgeous art, satisfying and challenging puzzles.”
“The soundtrack is soothing and relaxing, complementing the gameplay beautifully.”
“Your 'reward' for most puzzles is another puzzle, with no indication of progress, and your only accompaniment being the 'atmospheric' music.”
“The soundtrack is chilled and the art design simple but highly effective for the type of game.”
“Also, devs: OST available when?”
- story37 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as cute and heartfelt, with a charming narrative that complements its creative puzzle mechanics. While many players appreciate the aesthetic and emotional elements, some feel the story is incomplete or lacks depth, with flat characters and unresolved plot lines. Overall, it offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of picture books, though opinions vary on its memorability and execution.
“The story has good beats and feels like a proper red line.”
“The story is touching and the credits are well worth playing this incredible game.”
“I did think the overall story involving Paige was beautifully written, and a little heartbreaking.”
“I agree with others that the actual story could use some work.”
“Art and music were amazing, but the story was disappointing; it didn't finish off the plot lines and makes a lot of time skips that we can't even feel, and at the same time, they are completely unnecessary.”
“Finally, we arrive at the story, and while it had a subplot that had me really invested, it didn't go anywhere in the end.”
- graphics29 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful, charming, and vibrant art style, often described as hand-drawn or reminiscent of an illustrated book. Players appreciate the soothing soundtrack that complements the visuals, creating a cozy and relaxing atmosphere. Overall, the aesthetic elements significantly enhance the gaming experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
“The music and graphics are gorgeous and really make the experience special for such a little gem of a game.”
“The art style, reminiscent of an illustrated book, fits the theme perfectly and adds to the game’s charm.”
“Everything about this game is magical, from the hand-drawn artwork to the music; you can see how much love and devotion has been poured into it.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its deeply emotional narrative, particularly the touching story of the character Paige, which resonates with players and evokes heartfelt feelings. The art and attention to detail enhance the overall experience, making it a wholesome and rewarding journey that leaves a lasting impression.
“A marvelous game with a lot of passion, an emotional narrative, and beautifully drawn art.”
“The narrative, which follows Paige on her journey, is enough to resonate emotionally with players.”
“While the story is simple, it is heartfelt and touching.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its originality and engaging soundtrack, contributing to an immersive experience. However, some players feel that the lack of clear progress and reliance on atmospheric music can lead to frustration during puzzle-solving.
“Very good game, nice atmosphere, nice OST, very good gimmick, original, 100% would recommend.”
“Your 'reward' for most puzzles is another puzzle, with no indication of progress, and your only accompaniment being the atmospheric music.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game's dialogue is widely appreciated, adding a delightful element to the experience. Viewers of pre-launch streams found the developers' interactions particularly hilarious, contributing to a sense of freshness and surprise in gameplay.
“Additionally, the humor in the dialogue adds a delightful touch.”
“I watched plenty of Twitch streams in the lead-up to launch, plus the dev stream above (hilarious lol), and I was concerned I would remember most of the early level solutions… I didn’t remember one!!!”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the concept of grinding in the game but find its execution to be overly tedious, detracting from the overall experience.
“I really love the idea, but the execution was too tedious, to be honest.”
“The grinding feels endless and becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
“I appreciate the depth, but the repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay engaged.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users indicate that the game offers strong replayability, ensuring that players will find enjoyment in returning to it after their initial playthrough.
“And don’t worry, it’ll be replayable when you come back to it.”
