Papers, Please

 PC
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1617 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,350 out of 1617
  2. Mixed: 213 out of 1617
  3. Negative: 54 out of 1617

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  1. TitaniumDragon
    Jul 9, 2014
    7
    Papers, Please is a very strange and difficult to rate game. You are an immigration officer, charged with determining who to let into the fictional Eastern European communist country of Arstotzka. Even the genre of the game is rather hard to pin down; ultimately, the game boils down to trying to find inconsistencies in the papers, making it a puzzle game of sorts, but it somehow lendsPapers, Please is a very strange and difficult to rate game. You are an immigration officer, charged with determining who to let into the fictional Eastern European communist country of Arstotzka. Even the genre of the game is rather hard to pin down; ultimately, the game boils down to trying to find inconsistencies in the papers, making it a puzzle game of sorts, but it somehow lends checking people’s paperwork an air of great gravity and tension, even if the actual activity itself is rather boring.

    I don’t know if you can really say that Papers, Please is a fun game; there is a great feeling of tension throughout, and yet also of monotony. Somehow, you feel obligated to keep your faceless family members alive; somehow, you feel like the question of a bribe is a real one that has real weight; somehow, you feel like what you’re doing is important. And yet, ultimately, you’re just checking paperwork and determining whether or not to let people through based on the paperwork and your own feelings about the situation.

    It is definitely an engaging experience, but I'm not sure if I can really say that I had fun playing it, apart from the interactions with Jorji and the tasks I did for EZIC. But I still played all the way through without putting it down.    … Expand
  2. Skulb
    Mar 8, 2015
    7
    This is a depressingly realistic game but not an entirely unrewarding one. In fact it takes a very simple concept; paperwork in increasing quantities and of increasing complexity; and asks that you check it against existing guidelines for mistakes or falsehoods. At first it is about as exciting as it sounds. But then the pressures of getting this tedium out of the way quickly so you canThis is a depressingly realistic game but not an entirely unrewarding one. In fact it takes a very simple concept; paperwork in increasing quantities and of increasing complexity; and asks that you check it against existing guidelines for mistakes or falsehoods. At first it is about as exciting as it sounds. But then the pressures of getting this tedium out of the way quickly so you can service as many people during a shift as possible, in order to pay your bills, and of doing it without mistakes so you won`t be fined start to kick in. The more rules you have to observe and the more papers have to be shown by every person entering your booth the harder it gets to keep things moving along. Rush and you`ll make mistakes and get fined. Be too conscientious and you won`t have time to get enough people through customs, or indeed rejected for some discrepancy. It is a fascinating process to go through, and at the end of it you must necessarily have developed your own system for checking all the facts you need to check in a timely and organized fashion, or it`s just not going to be possible.
    Just listing all the possible mistakes you can make in the sea of papers and procedures this game throws at you would be too long. Wrong gender on the passport, wrong picture, wrong name on the work visa, wrong date on the access pass, wrong city of issue on the passport, bomb strapped to leg which you couldn`t find. It is endless but all just natural and inevitable consequences of the complexity of the concept. Which is basically monotonous paperwork at a border crossing. It should be neither fun or engaging but somehow it manages to be. At least for a while.

    I would score it higher like all the hipsters are doing. But the game suffers from a distinct lack of replayability. Not that it necessarily needs it. It is obviously amongst other things a political and social statement which also forces some stark moral choices on the player as it goes along. But replaying the same days over again becomes less and less alluring with each new start until you just call it a day at some point. I got to day 21 (Out of 30 I believe) before I was arrested on my last game. And I just couldn`t face going through all those days one more time, just so I could see the last week and a half. Call me a quitter!    … Expand
  3. Arkamedius
    Aug 18, 2013
    7
    You can spend hours relaxing and playing this. The only problem I have is the story is short. I would like the game to get additions for paperwork. It leaves me wanting more from the game itself.
  4. TKDAAH
    Aug 11, 2013
    7
    It's simple, but quite entertaining. While you are just checking papers and letting people into the country, more restrictions are added over time which keeps you on your toes a little bit. It wasn't the checking papers that made me like it so much, but the small moral dilemmas of every day life you are presented with during the game. Should you let this person through even if they haveIt's simple, but quite entertaining. While you are just checking papers and letting people into the country, more restrictions are added over time which keeps you on your toes a little bit. It wasn't the checking papers that made me like it so much, but the small moral dilemmas of every day life you are presented with during the game. Should you let this person through even if they have the right papers? Sometimes you simply didn't make enough money to pay for heating in your house. It's interesting, and the most enjoyable part is seeing who you have to check papers for next. Also, the reason why your country gets more strict on security.

    It's a cheap, simple game that is refreshing. You have to think during the game, but it isn't stressful. It really embraces you into the world and country you have to live and work in.    … Expand
  5. Shahzaky
    Sep 17, 2013
    7
    So, Lets get this out of the day. Papers Please is worth picking up if you want to broaden your horizons, because it is certainly different. Working as a fictional immigration inspector is challenging, somewhat educational and... boring. Yes, just like you would expect, sitting in a booth, looking trough documents and passports trying to find discrepancies becomes dull really fast. But inSo, Lets get this out of the day. Papers Please is worth picking up if you want to broaden your horizons, because it is certainly different. Working as a fictional immigration inspector is challenging, somewhat educational and... boring. Yes, just like you would expect, sitting in a booth, looking trough documents and passports trying to find discrepancies becomes dull really fast. But in a way, having a blast wouldn't fit the games story, nor the artstyle which gloomy portraying fits perfectly. While you need the first couple of playthroughs just to get the hang of everything, you quickly understand that, sadly the story repeats itself with specific events during each working day. This is kind of a letdown since a more Rougelike experience definitely would have benefited Papers Please replay value. As it stands, Papers Please is a refreshing, well-tuned experience with fitting graphics and nostalgic drag and drop controls. The games true strength lies in the concept but it's sadly also its big weakness.… Expand
  6. mrdudu10
    Nov 6, 2013
    7
    Ok, I am gonna be 100% honest with this. I tried the game and at first hated it but I then gave it another try. It's not amazing and probably didn't take much work to make but the gameplay of the game is good and sometimes quite hard to master. Not the best game ever, but for people who don't get bored of the same thing over and over or bad graphics, it's a good game and also addicting atOk, I am gonna be 100% honest with this. I tried the game and at first hated it but I then gave it another try. It's not amazing and probably didn't take much work to make but the gameplay of the game is good and sometimes quite hard to master. Not the best game ever, but for people who don't get bored of the same thing over and over or bad graphics, it's a good game and also addicting at some points.… Expand
  7. Klewer
    Jan 5, 2014
    7
    A very unique game which after a little while can become repetitive offers some very fun times and a bunch of lifes and insight a long the way. Well worth trying at a good price.
  8. Underpants158
    Jan 2, 2014
    7
    Towards the end of the game the gameplay actually starts to feel like monotonous work. I found it annoying but then I realized the game perfectly captured being a desk jockey and I appreciated it for making me annoyed just as you'd appreciate a scary movie for scaring you. The game is about 5 hours long and I probably would not play it again but I did enjoy the experience of playing it theTowards the end of the game the gameplay actually starts to feel like monotonous work. I found it annoying but then I realized the game perfectly captured being a desk jockey and I appreciated it for making me annoyed just as you'd appreciate a scary movie for scaring you. The game is about 5 hours long and I probably would not play it again but I did enjoy the experience of playing it the first time.… Expand
  9. kckkryptonite
    Aug 11, 2013
    7
    It's good for what it is, the worst thing I could say is that it perhaps gets a bit tedious at times. For a game that looks like it does, it does quite well for itself. It's really innovative and I've never played anything like it; as an immigration inspector, you must determine the validity of each person's a passport and supporting documents by comparing them to rules and regulationsIt's good for what it is, the worst thing I could say is that it perhaps gets a bit tedious at times. For a game that looks like it does, it does quite well for itself. It's really innovative and I've never played anything like it; as an immigration inspector, you must determine the validity of each person's a passport and supporting documents by comparing them to rules and regulations given to you you can eye most of the stuff, but if you aren't sure there is an "inspection tool" that allows you to know for sure if a discrepancy is found. Sometimes errors can be easy to spot like and expired passport, sometimes it's a bit trickier like a person's name or weight being incorrect. The game makes things more complex as you progress, but one of the problems I had is that the only way to tell if the gender is correct is by using the inspection tool, no thanks in part to the graphics. Overall, a very well-made game.… Expand
  10. Rem
    Sep 21, 2014
    7
    Papers Please smirks an interesting premise, set in a fictional Russian region known as Arstotzka, you assume the role of a border agent. One weakness of this game would be that it doesn't really give you much reason to try and earn as much to keep your family alive. I simply played for the sake of immersion. I also loved how the game always added new challenges and rules, by the end ofPapers Please smirks an interesting premise, set in a fictional Russian region known as Arstotzka, you assume the role of a border agent. One weakness of this game would be that it doesn't really give you much reason to try and earn as much to keep your family alive. I simply played for the sake of immersion. I also loved how the game always added new challenges and rules, by the end of the game, it was one of the most challenging games I've played in a while without having to fire a gun. The game surely isn't superb being that it doesn't drive you any further than your first journey and the ending, while being 20 of them, falls short. Regardless, Papers Please is worthy of Glory to Arstotzka.… Expand
  11. Transcendental
    Sep 13, 2013
    7
    The idea behind this game is brilliant, but the execution isn't perfect. The game tried getting to my feelings multiple times, but usually didn't manage to do so. I managed to keep my family well fed and healthy while still being a pretty decent person. Your actions don't have THAT much effect on the rest of the game, at least not only until the very end of the game. In most cases yourThe idea behind this game is brilliant, but the execution isn't perfect. The game tried getting to my feelings multiple times, but usually didn't manage to do so. I managed to keep my family well fed and healthy while still being a pretty decent person. Your actions don't have THAT much effect on the rest of the game, at least not only until the very end of the game. In most cases your actions only change tomorrow's newspaper titles. And yet, I did manage to enjoy the game and I found it rather addictive, and while the game isn't as amazing as I heard it is, it's still quite spectacular and very refreshing.… Expand
  12. CJ_SCOUT
    Sep 14, 2013
    7
    "Papers, Please" is an interesting experience to be sure. It takes a simple concept and walks more than a mile with it, but it's definitely not for everyone. I enjoyed it for what it was, but that's because I tried it in the free BETA. I probably wouldn't throw in a TON of money for this game, but it's still worth checking out...especially if it goes on sale.
  13. mehican
    Sep 16, 2013
    7
    I think it's a very impressive game and quite interesting though it has obvious limitations on re-playability. The atmosphere is simply astounding, the tense and dark feel is quite unique and unusual in modern games. After several games it becomes too familiar and for some boring and that's definitely an unyielding problem, but nonetheless a wonderful game.
  14. tycarm
    Oct 18, 2013
    7
    A good game with a great atmosphere, but it just gets a little boring after a while. I played it for about an hour really excited and I haven't played it since. It is still a great game and I would definitely recommend it.
  15. silenthunter000
    Aug 13, 2014
    7
    Im Spiel spielen Sie einen Zollwärter des erfundenen Landes Arstotzka, an einem Grenzposten im inneren des Russischen Reiches. Sie sind als Zollwärter für das Abarbeiten der Einreisenden verantwortlich.
    Dabei stehen sie unter Zeitdruck, da sie nur für jede abgearbeitete Person Gehalt bekommen. Außerdem sitzt ihnen ein Geheimdienst im Nacken, wodurch sie immer auf Passfäschungen, Personen    Im Spiel spielen Sie einen Zollwärter des erfundenen Landes Arstotzka, an einem Grenzposten im inneren des Russischen Reiches. Sie sind als Zollwärter für das Abarbeiten der Einreisenden verantwortlich.
    Dabei stehen sie unter Zeitdruck, da sie nur für jede abgearbeitete Person Gehalt bekommen. Außerdem sitzt ihnen ein Geheimdienst im Nacken, wodurch sie immer auf Passfäschungen, Personen ohne Einreiseerlaubnis…. gefasst sein müssen.
    Im Spiel werden auch die Einzelschicksale vieler Reisender beschrieben, wo es oft von ihrer Entscheidung abhängt, wie sich das Leben dieser Personen weiter entwickelt.
    Oft müssen sie dann aufgrund des Geheimdienstes die Wahl treffen, ob sie einer Person an der Grenze helfen wollen, oder ob sie ihre Familie ernähren wollen.
    Diese Dramatik wird aber an Personen, welch sich nicht gut in solche Situationen einfühlen können vorbeigehen, wodurch das Spiel seinen Reiz verliert.

    Bewertung:
    (Alle Aspekte ausgenommen Story werden mit einer Auswahl zwischen 1 und 10 Punkten bewertet. Story mit einem Wert zwischen 1 und 20. Aus der Summe durch 10 wird dann der "Score“ ermittelt.)

    Grafik: 6 (zweckmäßig)
    Performance: 10 (sehr gut)
    Story: 16 (nicht für jeden etwas)
    (Spielzeit in Stunden durch Preis in €) mal 10: 10 ((8:8)*10=10, hoher Wiederspielwert)
    Sound: 6 (zweckmäßig)
    Bedienung: 7 (etwas fummelig)
    Balance: 9 (schwer aber nicht unfair)
    Proprietäre Features (weniger =besser): 10 (keine)
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Summe: 74    … Expand
  16. CenkAlp
    Jan 3, 2018
    7
    Hikaye = 8
    Oynanış = 8
    Grafikler = 4
    Sesler = 4
    Keyif = 8
    Atmosfer = 8
    Süre = 8
  17. RogueV
    Dec 5, 2019
    7
    It's fun for a little while but does get old. The idea is cool and it's a good gameplay mechanic, the story is done well. My major gripe with the game is that it's a race against the clock type game and you get paid per person which not only totally goes against the spirit of the game, but it doesn't help the game experience, and it doesn't even make sense. First of all, the dev shouldIt's fun for a little while but does get old. The idea is cool and it's a good gameplay mechanic, the story is done well. My major gripe with the game is that it's a race against the clock type game and you get paid per person which not only totally goes against the spirit of the game, but it doesn't help the game experience, and it doesn't even make sense. First of all, the dev should understand the mindframe one is in when they wanna play a game like this. I want to have a chill time at my desk and take my time reviewing the passports. I don't wanna rush through and get paid per passport I approve. Anyway that's not at all how it works in real life, no one is paid per passport. They are paid a salary and don't really care how slow they are being or how much they inconvenience those waiting in line. I feel like that is not only more realistic it would go a long way to improving the game in tone and the general feel of being an immigration agent in a bureaucracy. Oh well. It's unique, indie, fresh, and fun for a couple hours. I won't let one major complaint let me rate this negatively because it's still worth getting.… Expand
  18. arllda
    Feb 4, 2023
    7
    I used to play it when my pc was bad I don't know how the producers came up with such an original idea
  19. HydrophobikFish
    Jun 9, 2023
    7
    Refreshing and unique game about passport checking. It's basically a matching game mixed with ethical quandary. Making mistakes or choosing to let someone through can have devastating personal consequences. But its a short game and has little to say beyond that.
  20. UnbiasedOne
    Aug 9, 2013
    6
    Refreshing and unique but plagued by some major errors. It's a simple game, deny or allow entry to your country and look for things that do not match up on documents. However as the game progresses it gets more difficult such as more documents, height, weight, etc. this would be okay but there are two huge problems that appear. One your desk will be so crowded you will loose papers and theRefreshing and unique but plagued by some major errors. It's a simple game, deny or allow entry to your country and look for things that do not match up on documents. However as the game progresses it gets more difficult such as more documents, height, weight, etc. this would be okay but there are two huge problems that appear. One your desk will be so crowded you will loose papers and the time limit does not allow the required time to look everything over so after day 10 you are left guessing and taking shots in the dark. It also becomes boring quite fast as you are doing the same thing over and over. It has an art effect to it and it is a unique game, but it's not $10 unique.… Expand
  21. iseeall
    Jan 4, 2016
    6
    The game has a great and novel concept and I must say I enjoyed the setting (working as a border control official in a totalitarian country) a lot. The presentation is great, the music is also very much fun. Still the game lacks in actual gameplay. It is just about matching overwhelmingly large quantities of data, and this is very tiring and leaves you just exhausted and with a headacheThe game has a great and novel concept and I must say I enjoyed the setting (working as a border control official in a totalitarian country) a lot. The presentation is great, the music is also very much fun. Still the game lacks in actual gameplay. It is just about matching overwhelmingly large quantities of data, and this is very tiring and leaves you just exhausted and with a headache rather than provides a fun experience.

    Surely, the author tried hard to keep the small portions of fun coming in: here you get a spy, here a corrupt official, here a funny old man who happens to be a terrorist. All these small random events kept me engaged for a while. Still, all in all the game is dull and too difficult (and difficult in bad way, meaning that it strains your attention and patience instead of your intelligence). I was stressed to get all those people's documents checked and had almost no time to read those funny conversations.

    The author's goal was to show how bad the USSR was, and he did it in his own way. While playing this game I kept having this "oppressed" feeling even though I somewhat enjoyed denying entry to people (at first). For fairness sake, I must note (and no one seems to mention this in reviews) that his portrayal of a bureaucrat's life in the USSR is inaccurate to a point where I wonder if this game is a parody of exactly the USSR or just totalitarianism in general or whatever. If you didn't know this, bureaucrats in the USSR were the privileged class. And they were paid a fixed amount which never depended on their performance on their jobs - exactly that made them so inefficient. So, if this game would have to stay realistic, you as the main character would earn your $100 per day even if you'd not process a single person in the waiting line. Let the little people wait, who cares :) Hell, you could just go "to have some coffee" in the beginning of the day, and then come back after lunch or something, or only process people who offer you bribes if they want to get across the border so much. And if someone complains and an inspector from above comes to check up on you, you just share your bribes and so on. In a sense, a bureaucrat is invincible in such corrupt systems, and the game could show that. Then it would be those little people waiting in the line where you'd see the real suffering, while you'd enjoy and exploit the system in your comfortable chair. This would make a completely different game, something closer to Tropico maybe, where the smiles and jokes hide the ugliness of a corrupt society.

    As it is, the game attempts to criticize Russia but ends up being an inaccurate, thought-up presentation of something some people in the West probably want to see in history, but which didn't exist. Or is the author showing the idea of bureaucracy and totalitarianism in general? Can a western bureaucrat recognize himself in the main character, even though Arstotska sounds like a Russian word to a western player? (actually, to me as a Russian it sounds more like Czech or Polish). Anyway, a 6/10 for this novel experiment of a game which sadly fails to be entertaining after 1-2 hours.    … Expand
  22. Zekraviax
    Aug 24, 2013
    6
    Papers, Please is certainly a unique game. But being unique doesn't necessarily mean being good. The entire premise is accepting or rejecting people into your country. It was fun for a while, but there just isn't enough to keep you playing. The difficulty takes a massive spike a few 'days' into the game, and it becomes a rush to check everything for errors against the abysmally short clockPapers, Please is certainly a unique game. But being unique doesn't necessarily mean being good. The entire premise is accepting or rejecting people into your country. It was fun for a while, but there just isn't enough to keep you playing. The difficulty takes a massive spike a few 'days' into the game, and it becomes a rush to check everything for errors against the abysmally short clock counting down until you reach the end of the day. It's an interesting idea, but it could have been done much better.… Expand
  23. joe_mo
    Aug 29, 2013
    6
    I really thought that a game that involves processing paperwork repeatedly might be you know, boring. But so many other reviewers said it didn't, so I gave it a try. And it was sort of like pushing paperwork around which is, for me, boring. Sure, it has a nice art-y point (kafkaesque bureaucracy is terrible), but I knew that without having to pay $10. After about an hour of pushingI really thought that a game that involves processing paperwork repeatedly might be you know, boring. But so many other reviewers said it didn't, so I gave it a try. And it was sort of like pushing paperwork around which is, for me, boring. Sure, it has a nice art-y point (kafkaesque bureaucracy is terrible), but I knew that without having to pay $10. After about an hour of pushing paperwork around and trying to keep track of the rules, I lost interest. I should disclaim that I also kind of push papers for a living myself, so perhaps that's related: too much like real life, which is not what I look for in games.… Expand
  24. ifoughtamudcrab
    Nov 13, 2013
    6
    Papers, Please is certainly a good game, but I would not say it was a great one. In my opinion, the concept and environmental design can only take a game so far. All of this is great, but the gameplay does not hook me. I can't play it in much more than 20 minute bursts every few days without getting bored or frustrated. It may be great for others, but its just pretty good for me!
  25. Aethir
    Nov 17, 2013
    6
    Let me start by saying this is not a game for everyone. If you don't actually remember the Cold War era, it's best you move along. But those who can look past the flaws of its sadly repetitive scripted plot elements and into the soul of the game will find a curious mix of light-hearted humor, compassion and desperation. You hold the power to tear families apart by following the rules, orLet me start by saying this is not a game for everyone. If you don't actually remember the Cold War era, it's best you move along. But those who can look past the flaws of its sadly repetitive scripted plot elements and into the soul of the game will find a curious mix of light-hearted humor, compassion and desperation. You hold the power to tear families apart by following the rules, or conversely to do good things in spite of them. Yes, the difficulty ramps up fast. But old games of the era this game pays were brutal in their learning curves. This is not a game to be beaten easily; it demands attention, organization, prioritizing. You +will+ make mistakes. Learn, take a deep breath, carry on.

    Is it a 10/10 game? No. With more randomized events and a little interface streamlining, it would (in my opinion at least) add to the replay value of what is otherwise quite a heavily scripted plot; but as it stands now it's not a game you'll play for years to come. Perhaps that's beside the point; some games are made to tell a story, not to be played a million times.

    TL;DR version:
    Is it worth $10? I thought so.
    If you were alive around 1982, add another 2 points.    … Expand
  26. AbstractWB
    Feb 22, 2014
    6
    Ah, Papers Please. What we can say about this little gem? We can say that its just one of my favorite games of all-time (under Half-Life 2). Its a game that DOES NOT get boring after a while. Once you start playing, you'll never stop. This game has 20 finales that will reveal with what you are doing in the game.

    Music: 8. The soundtrack has just three songs: the main menu, the good    Ah, Papers Please. What we can say about this little gem? We can say that its just one of my favorite games of all-time (under Half-Life 2). Its a game that DOES NOT get boring after a while. Once you start playing, you'll never stop. This game has 20 finales that will reveal with what you are doing in the game.

    Music: 8. The soundtrack has just three songs: the main menu, the good endings and the bad endings.
    Graphics: 4. This game has 8 bit graphics, but we dont care.
    Jugability: 7. In this game the only thing you do is approving or denying the entry to Arstotzka,
    FINAL NOTE: 6,3    … Expand
  27. psylife
    Apr 7, 2016
    6
    This is a "find the intruder" game that manages to entertain the player beyond its base mechanic. The remarkable achievement lies in the fact that the morality and message is contained within the mechanic of the game itself and this is a seldom seen virtue in games. The message is not only valuable but highly depending one each player, which makes the concept that much more commendable.This is a "find the intruder" game that manages to entertain the player beyond its base mechanic. The remarkable achievement lies in the fact that the morality and message is contained within the mechanic of the game itself and this is a seldom seen virtue in games. The message is not only valuable but highly depending one each player, which makes the concept that much more commendable. The presentation while being rudimentary, is remarkably effective in conveying a sense of place and time. This game at its core is a blueprint for how games should conceive themselves.… Expand
  28. Perfected
    Mar 28, 2017
    6
    Gaming is TERRIBLY flawed from a logical stand point. After a certain point in the game, the vast majority of people will all not have proper documentation and it just really removes me from the games immersion.

    Encounters are extremely repetitive and dull. The game is clearly meant for the IOS and its just grindy and boring. 6/10 do not recommend, its a flawed boring dull game    Gaming is TERRIBLY flawed from a logical stand point. After a certain point in the game, the vast majority of people will all not have proper documentation and it just really removes me from the games immersion.

    Encounters are extremely repetitive and dull.

    The game is clearly meant for the IOS and its just grindy and boring.

    6/10 do not recommend, its a flawed boring dull game that has tons of logical errors when it comes to customs / border patrol / immigration.    … Expand
  29. Piruz
    Jan 20, 2022
    6
    Has problems with presentation and first class realization of ideas to be standout game
  30. Aiatin
    Jul 17, 2021
    6
    Educational software has come a long way over the years. Papers, Please should be required gaming for every middle school student. It teaches many important life skills. It teaches the importance of attention to detail. It presents difficult, and often no-win, decisions to make. And most importantly, it lets someone know how dreadful of a career a low-level clerical position can be, whichEducational software has come a long way over the years. Papers, Please should be required gaming for every middle school student. It teaches many important life skills. It teaches the importance of attention to detail. It presents difficult, and often no-win, decisions to make. And most importantly, it lets someone know how dreadful of a career a low-level clerical position can be, which should be enough to instill a drive to succeed into any student.

    Papers, Please's game-play is centered around faces versus the faceless. You, a border entry agent of a vaguely totalitarian state, are a faceless character working for the glory of a faceless nation, and between days at work, you get a spartan budget sheet accented with the current maladies afflicting your faceless family members. Wife, Son, Mother-in-law, and Uncle will probably be indicated as living in your state-assigned dwelling, and till you play enough to know what to do and quickly, also probably be indicated progressively as cold, hungry, sick, and so on. Between these intermissions, you're doing the gig: Looking at the faces of entry applicants, their paperwork in the manner prescribed by your faceless superiors, and hopefully determining correctly if everything is in order. If not, you'll get a citation while the next applicant enters your booth. In addition to the regulations stacking up, so do also complications in the forms of spies, guards, authorities, and revolutionaries all looking to use you to achieve their personal goals. Meanwhile you're fundamentally just wanting to know if you should use the green stamp or the red one. Citation rates, with whom you do and don't cooperate among those who would manipulate you, and which applicants you admit, rebuff, or entrust to the border guards determines the fate of you and yours, and perhaps the whole nation.

    Most of the playtime is in your checkpoint booth, which is presented in three sections: A first-person look at the applicant, a cramped workspace for examining documents, and an exterior camera showing the line of applicant silhouettes, a few guards, and maybe something exciting once in a while. Graphics are deliberately low-fidelity, and usefully so. It limits the amount of variation in appearances that are possible, preventing tiny details from becoming suspicious beyond what's warranted, and serves as a good stand-in for grainy and terrible passport photos. The mechanisms for interrogation, such as inquiring why an applicant's stated duration of stay and duration granted by a permit differ is quick and effective, though a few circumstances aren't as clear about where the player must click to activate the right comparison, and some things that seem comparable simply aren't. Given that the game is presented in the form of a series of days on the job, having a first timer's "training week" option as a non-consequential prelude to the story mode would've saved a new player a lot of familiarization fumbling, and after the initial mechanics shock, the game then falls into a pattern of adding one complication a day, so it seems like starting with one instead of starting with a half dozen would've both fit the game design strategy and smoothed introduction to the game. Instead, you'll just have to trial-and-error the first session or two and work through it like certain 8-bit classics.

    And work it is. I believe this game will be either a big hit or a big miss for a given player depending on how much entertainment that person finds in being challenged by "spot the difference" kinds of puzzles. If that's your flavor, Papers should offer hours, if not limitless, enjoyment. But otherwise, it's quite a chore. It feels like amusing classwork, which is why I see it as a great educational game, or as a paper-thin slice of an actual job, a job that should pay actual money for being done. There seems to be an interesting story of political intrigue and human suffering that the player only sees through the one square meter window of the visa check booth. Profound, and I somewhat want to watch that movie. Instead I'm wondering if a nine-character passport serial is a discrepancy to investigate as all the others I remember were ten, and I operate knowing that what I'm seeing is important outside of my booth but ultimately all I'm here to do is to stamp red or green. And when one of my decision paths led to my agent being arrested, I felt liberated. Perhaps there should be a second part to the game in that case, of breaking rocks in a gulag. It could then rival Desert Bus for retelling the punishment of Sisyphus.

    For smart kids with time for non-mindless gaming, or if you dig scrutiny puzzles and/or choose your own adventure games, for you I stamp this green. But if you already work a tedious job, have real life bureaucratic paperwork to deal with using your "free" time, or aren't amused by "gotcha!" game mechanics, consider stepping away from this booth. The glory of Arstotzka might not be for you.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

29
#29 Best PC Game of 2013
28
#28 Most Discussed PC Game of 2013
56
#56 Most Shared PC Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 40 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 40
  3. Negative: 0 out of 40
  1. Gamer.nl
    Jan 2, 2014
    85
    Papers, Please gives you a simple task that doesn't ask a lot of you. The game outgrows its mechanics though, by appealing to your moral compass and emotions. This indie game will get under your skin, will have you feeling uncomfortable and have you think about yourself, as a person.
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  2. GameFront
    Oct 14, 2013
    90
    An incredibly impressive little game, from its understated old-school art style to its ability to make you feel uncomfortable with how much you enjoy catching criminals trying to trick their way into your country.
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  3. Pelit (Finland)
    Oct 5, 2013
    89
    Papers, Please is not only original but fun, too. More papers, please! [Sept 2013]
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