PAPERHEAD EP.0

About

PAPERHEAD EP.0 is a single player shooter game with a horror theme. It was developed by Paperhead te4m and was released on November 14, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

PAPERHEAD EP.0 blends fast-paced boomer shooter action with adventure horror in a dark, runic prison world. Armed with a shotgun and a magical pencil, you fight grotesque enemies using swift combat and creative drawing abilities to alter your environment. Dive into a deceptively cute cardboard universe filled with intense, brutal encounters and eerie mystery.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 808 reviews

gameplay51 positive mentions

optimization6 negative mentions

Fast-paced gameplay with smooth movement mechanics that feel satisfying and fun.
Unique art style and atmosphere that combines horror elements with a playful cardboard aesthetic.
Engaging combat with a variety of weapons and creative mechanics, such as using a pencil to interact with the environment.

Movement can feel overly slippery and floaty, making precise platforming difficult.
Some levels lack clear direction, leading to confusion about where to go next.
Performance issues and bugs, including soft-locks and inconsistent frame rates, detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
101 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
47%
3%
The gameplay is characterized by fast-paced, fluid mechanics that blend shooting and exploration, offering a satisfying experience despite some criticisms of floaty movement and occasional clunkiness. Players appreciate the unique art style and creative weapon mechanics, though some find the lack of clear direction and depth in gameplay systems a drawback. Overall, the game is engaging and fun, with potential for improvement as it develops further.
- “Gameplay is fast, fluid, and fun!”
- “The different weapons are fun, the ability to add your own images for vandalism is a really nice touch, the tone and atmosphere are gruesome and dark, juxtaposed with high energy, high speed fun gameplay that's also not too challenging.”
- “This game has a unique handcrafted art style with character designs that remind me of Binding of Isaac, with gameplay that is satisfying to play, featuring fast and floaty, yet responsive movement.”
- “Visually interesting, but gameplay is incredibly clunky.”
- “The maps are bland and sometimes frustrating; they don't utilize the movement mechanics the controls provide to their fullest and sometimes straight up hinder you from going too fast, or stop you from going fast like in extra dark areas.”
- “Good concept lore-wise, but the dev is an asshole for implementing purposely broken gameplay like uncontrollable floaty jumping and impossible achievements.”
graphics
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
43%
3%
The graphics of the game have received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many praising its unique cardboard and paper aesthetic that enhances the overall atmosphere. While the art style is often described as charming and visually appealing, some players noted issues with performance and minor graphical glitches. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing to the game's engaging and fast-paced gameplay, despite some calls for further polishing and optimization.
- “The fast-paced gunplay, combined with a unique cardboard-and-paper aesthetic, delivers a standout experience.”
- “The whole cardboard aesthetic is not just a gimmick—it adds an incredible texture to the environment.”
- “I absolutely adore the visuals and the game itself.”
- “Terrible fake motion, art style that doesn't fit in, boring areas, so many glitches and bugs.”
- “Visuals are shit btw and there's no way these reviews are deadass.”
- “Even with resolution and graphics set to the lowest possible value, it runs like hot garbage.”
story
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
43%
5%
The game's story has received mixed feedback, with many players finding it intriguing and engaging, despite some noting issues with pacing and clarity. While some describe it as a chaotic yet compelling narrative reminiscent of early 2000s animations, others feel it lacks depth and coherence. Overall, the story is seen as a strong point that enhances the gameplay experience, leaving players eager for future developments.
- “Hooked me immediately—amazing visuals, smooth gameplay, and a story that keeps you curious.”
- “The story might seem like a chaotic fever dream at first, and it is—but in the best possible way.”
- “But the beauty of ep.0 lies in how well the atmosphere and storytelling come together, it’s compelling as hell.”
- “The game was cool in terms of gameplay, but it was weak in terms of story.”
- “Identity problem: it's really unclear what this game even wants to be; it seems like it wants to have its 'story' at the forefront, but it also wants to be like Ultrakill with the style and ranking, which makes it lose its personality.”
- “I don't want to overstate it, but the overall experience reminded me of browser web games like Boxhead Zombies because the plot was rather lacking and the gameplay was limited to the 'kill this, kill that' concept.”
music
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
44%
10%
The music in the game has received a mixed response from players, with many praising its intense and energetic blend of genres like breakcore, grind metal, and dark synth, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. While some players found the soundtrack to be fantastic and fitting for the game's chaotic atmosphere, others felt it was underwhelming or forgettable, particularly during quieter moments. Overall, the music is seen as a significant aspect that contributes to the game's appeal, though opinions on its effectiveness vary widely.
- “An amazing mixture of speed and grind metal mixed with pig squeals and dark aggressive synth and electronic music that just elevates the entire game.”
- “The music is hard-hitting, intense, and perfectly complements the madness happening on-screen.”
- “Music was fantastic, really added depth to the game itself and made the boss fights that much more enjoyable.”
- “Also, I really didn't like the soundtrack, and the game seems to freeze every time it loads a boss or when you bounce on an enemy's head.”
- “Soundtrack: so mid I forgot it already (I can recall soundtracks from games I've played less than an hour of more than this).”
- “The music is very, very grating, especially during downtime where you're trying to explore (keyword trying).”
atmosphere
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
61%
13%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of a clean, cardboard aesthetic with dark, immersive horror elements, creating a compelling and sometimes chilling experience. Players appreciate the strong visual and audio design, which enhances the gameplay and storytelling, although some note that certain gameplay mechanics, like lighting and movement, could be improved. Overall, the atmosphere is described as engaging and effective, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “Some parts of this game sent a chill down my spine, and the atmosphere is incredible.”
- “The game's cardboard aesthetic mixed with its dread and gloomy horror atmosphere blend way too well.”
- “Paperhead ep0 is an interesting experience but it feels like something in the middle; it is not really bad but also not very good. The art style and concept are creative and the atmosphere has potential, but the gameplay and pacing can feel a little rough at times. It is worth trying if you are curious, but it may not leave a strong impression.”
- “The darkness also didn't add much to the level atmosphere and felt more like a detriment since the flashlight is pretty weak.”
- “A dark, brooding atmosphere and sound design that are quite immersive, with weapons that have some serious weight and enemy designs that are kind of disturbing.”
optimization
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
55%
30%
Overall, the game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as low frame rates, stuttering, and inconsistent gameplay, even on high-spec systems. While some users noted that the game has potential and runs smoothly at times, the general consensus is that it requires substantial improvements to be fully recommendable.
- “Cherry on the cake, looks great and it's really well optimized as it only uses 20% of GPU at high settings.”
- “If the developers can refine the movement, performance, lighting, and level direction, this could easily stand alongside other modern retro shooters as a must-play.”
- “Game runs smoothly: 10 out of 10.”
- “It's so unoptimized, bruh . I don't know why I can only run it at 30 fps, and the only 144 fps option is 640 x 480 or something. Doing that changes all of Windows' resolution for some reason.”
- “Definitely has potential to be better with optimization and mechanics, but I can't recommend it right now.”
- “Very nice but unoptimized; it keeps stuttering even though my PC has way better specs than the ones recommended.”
humor
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its quirky and absurd elements, blending funny visuals with unexpected moments, such as flying chairs and humorous cardboard characters. Players appreciate the unique art style and the incorporation of memes, which contribute to a lighthearted yet creepy atmosphere. While some find the humor to be a mix of goofy and bizarre, others note that it may not resonate with everyone, indicating a divide in comedic taste.
- “Art design is unique, well executed and effective, very moody, funny and horrifying all in one.”
- “Paperhead ep.0 really surprised me — it’s weird, funny, and a bit creepy in the best way.”
- “The hidden memes in the game were extremely funny.”
monetization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for being misleading, as it primarily serves as an advertisement rather than a full game. Users express frustration over the presence of such content, which they feel wastes time and detracts from legitimate developers, suggesting that these ads masquerading as games are harmful to the gaming community. Overall, the monetization strategy is viewed as exploitative and detrimental to the gaming experience.
- “If you enjoy advertisements, you can consume them for free on the web or on YouTube without needing to add them to your game library, download them, and then launch the advertising.”
- “While it might seem like an innocuous mistake, publishing demos and advertisements as if they are full games is misleading and in some ways harmful.”
- “It's impossible for me to recommend this incorrectly published advertising spam to gamers; you deserve better than adverts.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with players reporting numerous glitches and bugs that disrupt gameplay, such as character movement issues and getting stuck in the environment. While some find the experience enjoyable despite these problems, the overall consensus highlights a significant lack of polish and stability, making it feel like a "buggy mess."
- “Terrible fake motion, art style that doesn't fit in, boring areas, so many glitches and bugs.”
- “Sliding is fun but it is rather buggy; sometimes slightly unstable (launches you up more than it should into the air if you hit a slope at weird angles, etc.).”
- “Character moves too fast, levels feel large and empty; I hit a few glitches (getting stuck in walls, behind doors, etc.), and bosses are bullet sponges.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The game offers moderate replayability through a scoring system and multiple playable characters, encouraging players to revisit it. While some users express a desire to replay after their initial playthrough, others criticize the level design, suggesting it may limit long-term engagement. Overall, the potential for replay exists, but its effectiveness may vary among players.
- “It's a shame it's only a few hours long, but it does have a scoring system and multiple playable characters, adding replay value.”
- “The replayability is great! I haven't replayed yet since I just finished my first playthrough minutes ago, but I'm planning to soon with the new unlocked features.”
- “Shame it's only a few hours long, but it does have a scoring system and multiple playable characters adding replay value.”
- “It has some replay value.”
- “+ replayability (haven't replayed yet as I just finished the first playthrough minutes ago, I'm planning to soon with the new unlocked feature).”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the grinding aspect of the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of effort akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be heartwarming and uplifting, highlighting its wholesome nature and the sweet experiences it offers through its cardboard movement mechanics.
- “The game is actually wholesome.”
- “It's a cardboard movement game that is super sweet and wholesome.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is enhanced by its unique handcrafted art style and engaging character designs, reminiscent of "The Binding of Isaac." Players appreciate the satisfying gameplay and responsive movement, alongside strong voice acting and a captivating theme, which collectively heighten their anticipation for future episodes.
- “This game has a unique handcrafted art style with character designs that remind me of 'The Binding of Isaac.' The gameplay is satisfying, featuring fast, floaty, yet responsive movement, and a theme that truly interests me. I can't wait for the future episodes to release!”
- “The music was amazing, and the enemy, art, and character designs were great; the voice acting was pretty good too!”