Paperbark
- December 12, 2018
- Paper House
- 2h median play time
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Get on itch.io Store"Paperbark is a single-player, kid-friendly simulation game with an interesting plot, amazing graphics, and beautiful music. As a sleepy wombat looking for a new home after a bushfire, you'll explore a vibrant, emotionally engaging Australian landscape with watercolor visuals and an original soundtrack." This game has been recognized with awards such as the 'First Mention Winner' in BolognaRagazzi Cross Media Award, 2020, and the 'Grand Prize' in Digital Ehon Award.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Windows
Mobile Platform
Reviews
- Beautiful watercolor art style and soothing soundtrack create a relaxing atmosphere.
- Charming story about a wombat that is both educational and heartwarming, making it suitable for children.
- Easy to complete with collectibles that encourage replayability, providing a delightful experience.
- Extremely short gameplay, taking only about 30 minutes to 2 hours to complete, which may not justify the price.
- Controls can be clunky and frustrating, with issues like the wombat getting stuck or moving in unintended directions.
- Limited interactivity and linear gameplay can make the experience feel more like a visual storybook than a traditional game.
- story101 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of *Paperbark* is a charming and heartwarming tale centered around a wombat's journey through the Australian bush, presented in a visually stunning watercolor style. While the narrative is simple and brief—typically completed in 20-40 minutes—it effectively conveys themes of nature and survival, making it feel akin to an interactive storybook rather than a traditional game. Players appreciate the cute and educational elements, though some note that the gameplay is minimal and may not appeal to those seeking a more complex gaming experience.
“Paperbark is a perfect narration and setting of a short and cute storytelling of a day in the life of a wombat in the outback of Australia with a very beautiful watercolor painted world.”
“The story is heartwarming and it is such a beautiful, short story to watch.”
“Gorgeous artwork and a moving, heartwarming story.”
“The story only consists of 2 sentences for every chapter; the voice is soporific, and I'm sorry to say that, but the voice is so flat that you just bless the option to cut it.”
“It's cute, it's peaceful, but it is not a game, not even an interactive story.”
“I had played tons of walking simulators and cheap flash and mobile games about animals with more gameplay and story depth than this so-called 'video game'.”
- graphics70 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful watercolor art style, which effectively captures the charm of Australian wildlife and creates a serene atmosphere. Many players appreciate the unique interactive storybook aesthetic, although some experienced performance issues and graphical glitches. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's heartwarming experience.
“Paperbark is such a great little game with a simply gorgeous and soft art style.”
“Probably the standout feature here is the watercolor art style, which is genuinely beautiful and effectively showcases some of the diversity of Australian wildlife; the developer's passion for this natural world is clear to see.”
“The artwork is beautiful, the music and sounds are relaxing, the wombat's very cute, and the narration is great.”
“It tries to charm you with art style and visuals, but sadly the entire substance, form, and gameplay of this 40-minute long 'game' is as dry and dull as wombat lifestyle.”
“I had some issues with the framerate, but this was solved by setting the graphics quality to 'low' (otherwise I did not notice any differences).”
“- In chapter 1, there were some graphical glitches.”
- gameplay40 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as minimal and linear, primarily functioning as a walking simulator with simple mechanics focused on exploration and collection. While the charming visuals and storytelling are praised, many reviewers note that the gameplay lacks depth and challenge, often feeling more like a visual novel than a traditional game. Overall, it offers a relaxing experience but may not satisfy those seeking substantial gameplay.
“Highly recommend picking up the game for its intuitive gameplay and marvelous storytelling.”
“The cute art style and paint mechanic make for a charming game, and the sounds of the Australian bush are really well done.”
“The mechanics are so simple that it does not require much thinking, so it is really nice to play to relax and unwind.”
“Gameplay is slow-paced and very linear.”
“Unfortunately, the gameplay is clumsy.”
“It's basically a wombat walking simulator, but the simple mechanics and lack of quests mean that you can really just appreciate what's around you without worrying about gameplay.”
- music38 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a beautiful soundtrack that complements the stunning visuals. Many reviewers highlight the serene sound design, which includes soft vocals and subtle changes that evoke a range of emotions throughout gameplay. Overall, the combination of lovely art and soothing music creates a delightful and immersive environment, making it a standout feature of the game.
“The soundtrack is subtle and contains some humming in a soft, bright feminine voice, which I am a sucker for, so I might be a bit biased there, but I think it's great.”
“The music fits each environment, and when the game nears its climax, you absolutely feel as if there is a sense of urgency required.”
“The music and sound effects are really relaxing and fit every different scenario.”
“The music's okay, if nothing memorable, but only the main path is permanently visible, so if you want to look around and see what hides behind all the whiteness, you'll have to 'paint' areas with the mouse, only for them to turn back to white almost immediately.”
“Well this is just plain enjoyable; a little walking simulator crossed with a hidden object game (look for all the hidden animals) with decent music, passable narration, and a pertinent (well, sort of) story-line.”
“-music- it doesn't wear out its welcome (although that could be due to the brevity of the game :) )”
- emotional16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming and wholesome storytelling, which resonates deeply with players. Many reviewers appreciate the beautiful art style and calming atmosphere, describing the experience as akin to an interactive storybook that evokes genuine feelings and emotional upliftment. While the gameplay is simple and short, the touching narrative and charming visuals create a memorable and moving experience for those who enjoy relaxing, nature-themed games.
“Seriously, enjoy the calm storytelling, the realistic and heartwarming story of this adorable wombat just vibing through the bush and dealing with what life throws at them and you won't regret however much you paid for the game.”
“This story is quite short, yet during more than just one moment I ended up getting emotional and hoping that everything I did would make things okay for the little marsupial.”
“Gorgeous artwork and a moving, heartwarming story.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful watercolor graphics, calming sound effects, and charming design, creating a serene and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the game's artistic style and soothing ambiance, making it a delightful choice for casual play, particularly before bedtime. However, some mention that collectibles can detract from the overall atmosphere.
“It’s beautiful to look at and made with atmosphere, charm, and love.”
“The watercolor graphics style looks beautiful, and the minimalistic sound effects and music create a very calming atmosphere.”
“I recommend [i][b]paperbark[/b][/i] for its beauty and particular atmosphere, as well as the well-being it can provide, perfect before bedtime.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly when attempting to achieve 100% completion due to non-obvious obstacles and collectibles. The fog effect around the character adds to the frustration, leading some to suggest that fully exploring the levels may not be worth the effort. Additionally, a second life is recommended for effective grinding.
“I wanted to 100% it, and it's kind of tedious. The fog and whiteout around your character is really annoying.”
“There are some achievements for collectibles, but there are also a bunch of non-obvious one-way gates that make fully exploring the levels tedious, so I'd advise not to bother with them at all.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, while the game offers a lovely experience, users have reported occasional glitches and bugs that can be frustrating, particularly in the early chapters. Some players have managed to avoid these issues, but the presence of stability concerns is noted by several reviewers.
“In chapter 1, there were some graphical glitches.”
“It does have a few glitches that can be frustrating, but overall it is a lovely experience.”
“Other reviews mention that it can be a bit buggy, which luckily I managed to avoid.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability through its engaging story, beautiful artwork, and the opportunity to collect various animals and stickers, as well as explore different endings. Active development and a good cause further enhance the incentive to revisit the game.
“Plus, there's replayability to collect all the animals and 'stickers' as well as the different endings.”
“Replayable, beautiful artwork, nice story, active developers, good cause!”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
“The limited variety in gameplay mechanics really diminishes the replay value.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game particularly enjoyable, noting that many of the achievements are cleverly funny and add a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.
“Many of the achievements are funny.”
“The dialogue is filled with clever puns and witty one-liners that keep you laughing.”
“The absurd situations the characters find themselves in are hilariously entertaining.”
