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Paper Trail

Paper Trail is a fabulous puzzle game with a unique paper folding central mechanic, some seriously clever ideas and a wholesome story.
Paper Trail Game Cover
94%Game Brain Score
gameplay, music
grinding
96% User Score Based on 202 reviews
Critic Score 85%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

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Paper Trail Game Cover

About

Paper Trail is a single player puzzle game with fantasy and kids themes. It was developed by Newfangled Games and was released on March 31, 2023. It received positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Fold corners and edges of the screen to open new pathways and solve puzzles in the super charming Paper Trail, with a soundtrack that'll melt your heart.

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Paper Trail screenshot
Paper Trail screenshot
Paper Trail screenshot
Paper Trail screenshot
Paper Trail screenshot
Paper Trail screenshot
Paper Trail screenshot
Paper Trail screenshot
Paper Trail screenshot
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96%
Audience ScoreBased on 202 reviews
gameplay42 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • 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, enhancing the overall experience and creating a charming atmosphere.
  • The story is heartfelt and touching, following the journey of the protagonist, Paige, as she pursues her dreams.
  • Some puzzles can be overly challenging and may lead to frustration, especially for players who are not experienced with puzzle games.
  • The story feels incomplete and leaves some plot lines unresolved, which may disappoint players looking for a more cohesive narrative.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive, as the core mechanics do not evolve significantly throughout the game.
  • gameplay
    110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Paper Trail" is centered around a unique and engaging paper-folding mechanic that offers a fresh take on puzzle-solving, allowing players to reveal new pathways and secrets. While many reviewers praised the gradual introduction of new mechanics and the overall creativity of the puzzles, some felt that the core mechanic could become limited over time and suggested that the game might benefit from a more concise structure. Overall, the game is described as charming and visually captivating, with a satisfying blend of simplicity and complexity in its design.

    • “The core folding mechanic is very original, works flawlessly, and is thoroughly implemented.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and interesting with new mechanics each chapter to keep the gameplay fresh, and the art style is simple but wonderful!”
    • “The paper-folding style of gameplay is incredibly gratifying, and to my knowledge, unlike any other concept I've really ever seen in a puzzle game.”
    • “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.”
  • music
    74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 describe the soundtrack as relaxing and immersive, contributing to a cozy atmosphere that makes the gameplay enjoyable. Many highlight the combination of enchanting music and stunning visuals as a key factor in the game's appeal, despite some critiques regarding the puzzle mechanics.

    • “Absolutely loved this game - beautiful music, gorgeous art, satisfying and challenging puzzles.”
    • “The soundtrack is soothing and relaxing, complementing the gameplay beautifully.”
    • “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.”
    • “Your 'reward' for most puzzles is another puzzle, with no indication of progress, and your only accompaniment being the 'atmospheric' music.”
    • “Also, devs: OST available when?”
    • “It is worth noting there are many longer and more complex puzzle games for half this price, but I consider those underpriced, not that this game is overpriced, the art and music are worth it.”
  • story
    74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game is described as cute and heartfelt, featuring a charming narrative centered around a runaway girl named Paige. While the art and mechanics are praised for their creativity, many reviewers feel the story is somewhat incomplete, with flat characters and unresolved plot lines that detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the integration of storytelling with gameplay mechanics is noted as a unique and engaging aspect of the game.

    • “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.”
    • “A beautiful combination of complex puzzles and a nostalgic storyline, Paper Trail is a wonderful game.”
    • “I will say that the characters in the story are a bit flat (no pun intended), but that doesn't take away from the game's style and the puzzles.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics
    58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful, hand-drawn art style and vibrant colors, which enhance the overall experience and contribute to a cozy atmosphere. Many reviewers highlight the charming aesthetics and soothing soundtrack, noting that these elements significantly elevate the enjoyment of the gameplay. Overall, the visuals are described as captivating and integral to the game's appeal, despite some criticism regarding the puzzle mechanics.

    • “The music and graphics are gorgeous and really make the experience special for such a little gem of a game.”
    • “Paper Trail boasts a gorgeous and eye-catching art style.”
    • “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.”
  • emotional
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its emotional depth, featuring a touching narrative that resonates with players, particularly through the journey of the character Paige. Reviewers highlight the heartfelt storytelling and beautiful art, noting that the experience is both rewarding and uplifting, making it a memorable and soulful adventure. Overall, the emotional impact of the game is a significant draw, leaving players feeling connected and satisfied.

    • “A marvelous game with a lot of passion, an emotional narrative, and art that is very well drawn.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised, featuring a captivating original soundtrack that enhances the experience. However, some players feel that the lack of clear progress and reliance on atmospheric music can lead to a sense of monotony, as solving puzzles often leads to more puzzles without tangible rewards. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a strong point, contributing to the game's originality and appeal.

    • “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.”
  • humor
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is consistently praised, with many players finding the dialogue to be a delightful addition. Viewers of Twitch streams and developer showcases have noted the comedic elements as particularly entertaining, contributing to an engaging experience that keeps players surprised and amused.

    • “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!!!”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players appreciate the concept of grinding in the game, but many find its execution to be overly tedious and repetitive, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “Really love the idea, but the execution was too tedious, to be honest.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users indicate that the game offers strong replayability, ensuring that players will find enjoyment in returning to it multiple times.

    • “And don’t worry, it’ll be replayable when you come back to it.”
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85%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews
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2h Median play time
2h Average play time
2-2h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Paper Trail is a puzzle game with fantasy and kids themes.

Paper Trail is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, iPhone, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 2 hours playing Paper Trail.

Paper Trail was released on March 31, 2023.

Paper Trail was developed by Newfangled Games.

Paper Trail has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Paper Trail is a single player game.

Similar games include Is This Seat Taken?, The Pedestrian, Carto, The Last Campfire, The Room: Old Sins and others.