A role-playing game
Papers, Please is a pay-to-play, role-playing game like no other. You work as an immigration inspector in a Soviet-style imaginary country. The gameplay consists of you checking papers of various immigrants, following the laws, and making tough choices.
The premise of Papers, Please is quite simple: all you need to do is ensure that only people with their papers in order enter your country. You can run this game on your Windows or Mac PC. There is also an iOS version.
Engaging and thought-provoking
The country of this simulation resembles the Cold War-era Soviet Union with city names such as Grestin, Arstotzka, and Kolechia. As a character, you don't earn much, and you need to do your job right to avoid getting even smaller paychecks.
Your tasks as an officer include checking people's documents, considering potential issues, and interrogating the people you encounter. Your main goal is to find inconsistencies, from faked documentation to expired forms.
As you play, the process gets more complicated. Sometimes, people will be smuggling items, and other times, you'll have to deal with families. All sorts of mature themes spice up the otherwise straightforward procedure.
You may receive a bribe or other incentives. Regardless, you´ll have to make the ethical choice of doing what is right or not.
There are two gameplay modes. In the Story Mode, you do paperwork and make moral decisions, balancing the needs of your family with the legality of your work.
Once you finish the Story Mode, you enter the Endless Mode, with Timed, Perfection, and Endurance versions. Here, you face time limits and more challenges.
The explored topics and the uniqueness of this game are unprecedented. You may find a similar experience in titles such as Limbs, the Westport Independent, and the Republic Times.
A unique experience
While the graphics, music, and effects are a bit old-fashioned, the very gameplay of Papers, Please makes it one of the most unique, exciting titles out there. The storytelling aspect ensures that every player has a tailored, personalised experience within the game world.
