Paper Trail
Genres: Puzzle, Atmospheric, Adventure
Play modes: singleplayer
Release Date: 21-5-2024
Developer: Newfangled Games
Our verdict
8/10
- Difficulty: Medium
- Players: 1
- Playtime: 6–10 h
Paper Trail is a top-down puzzle adventure where the world is a sheet of paper you fold. Student Paige leaves home for university, and you fold the edges of each screen over to join paths on the front and back and reach new areas. It suits solo players who like calm, clever puzzlers such as Carto, and the watercolour and printmaking art fits the theme.
Steam reviews are very positive (500 of 528). Players love the folding idea, how each chapter adds new elements and the art, and some went back for all the collectables. Difficulty is debated: some call it short and easy, others say it gets hard and lean on the hint system.
The main complaints are repetition and the music. One reviewer got tired of the many boulder-pushing puzzles, and another found the single soundtrack loop wearing over long sessions. The story is light. Expect around eight to ten hours. It is easy to recommend to puzzle fans, at full price or on sale.
Pros
- Folding the paper world to join paths is a fresh puzzle idea
- Watercolour and printmaking art style
- New mechanics each chapter, plus hints and collectables
Cons
- Boulder-pushing puzzles get repetitive
- One music loop that wears thin over time
- Light story
About
Paper Trail is a top-down puzzle adventure about leaving home, set in a foldable, paper world. You play as Paige, a budding academic, leaving home for the first time to pursue her studies. On the journey, you learn to fold the world, merging two sides to solve puzzles, explore new areas and uncover long-lost secrets.Fold the world, one page at a time
What feels simple at first, folding and joining paths together to explore and progress, quickly becomes devilishly tricky! Alter the fabric of your world, contorting, spinning, rotating, twisting around - as you try to untangle the puzzle of the Paper Trail.Engaging puzzles, intriguing people
Solve puzzles that challenge your wits and bring you through the world of Paper Trail. Travelling through the folds will introduce Paige to a unique cast of characters, who tell their stories and enlighten Paige about the wider world.Handcrafted beautiful environments
From deep dark caves that have been untouched for years to the tallest treetops buffeted by rain. Explore a variety of handcrafted environments as Paige makes her journey to University, taking in the sights and wonders as she goes.An enchanting art style
Experience the art of Paper Trail which draws heavily from flat aesthetic styles, like printmaking and watercolour, blended together to create a uniquely styled game that compliments the paper theme.
