Fold Up! Paper Trail First Impressions (AD)

• Game: Paper Trail
• Developer: Newfangled Games
• Review Platform: Nintendo Switch
• Release Date: 21st May 2024

Author’s Note: A Game Key for Paper Trail was kindly provided by Newfangled Games

Paper Trail is the brand new, exciting top-down puzzle adventure game from Newfangled Games and is definitely a game not to miss in 2024!

What is Paper Trail?

You are about to embark on this foldable journey as Paige, a young academic, leaves home for the very first time to further her studies. On this adventure, players will be able to not only put their puzzle-solving skills to the test but also learn how to fold the world. Who knows, you may also uncover some long-lost secrets along the way.

Don’t be fooled by Paper Trail though, with every fold, you’ll find yourself questioning if that was the right move or not. Maybe you need to refold to truly unfold the different layers of the game.

As you guide Paige on her way to her next stages of education, you’ll be able to explore a vast array of handcrafted environments. Each and every single one is breathtakingly beautiful and full of detail.

Does this sound like your kind of game? Look at the trailer and keep reading to discover my first impressions of the game!

Unfolding A Beautiful Game

Beautiful, outstanding and emotional.

These are just three of the many words that describe my experience with Paper Trail so far.

The first time I saw the trailer for Paper Trail, I was captured by the unique concept of the game. The combination of puzzle game features mixed with origami-like techniques was something I never thought I would personally experience in a game.

As for the story, well, without spoiling too much, the theme is something many of us will relate to and have experienced in our lives. As a player, you can connect and relate with Paige’s character and her passion for reaching university in any way she can. It truly comes alive through the game’s mechanics, in each puzzle segment and the interactive cutscenes.

Playing as Paige and following her on her journey is wonderful, despite the highs and lows she experiences.

As you progress through each aspect of the game, you learn to truly test yourself by figuring out exactly which way to fold the paper to help solve the puzzle. I’ll be honest, there are some that I got straight away, whereas, for others, it took me several attempts before I finally cracked the code. There is an option that allows you to use the hint button if you are truly stuck however, with me being stubborn I was determined to let no puzzle beat me!

At this point in time, I’m just over halfway through Paper Trail, and I’ve loved every single moment of time with the game.

Control-wise, it is easy to pick up and get used to once you’ve nailed your first handful of paper-folding interactions. Just keep in mind that each scene is essentially set on a piece of paper. Of course, this is how you discover more ways to traverse the world and progress through each section and every challenge facing Paige. Folding and unfolding to then refold another piece of the paper to discover more possibilities and surprises.

The soundtrack to the game is also lovely and really does a great job of accompanying the story and gameplay experience overall.

There truly is so much I want to say about Paper Trail, but I don’t want to spoil the mystery of the game. I can honestly say, that even at this point, I highly recommend checking out the game. Even if puzzle games aren’t usually the type of game you go for, Paper Trail is a welcomed and refreshing addition to the genre. It’s magical, wonderful, and a game that I can’t wait to jump back into to continue playing to see how the rest of Paige’s story unfolds.

Paper Trail is out now on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Steam and Netflix.

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