Paper Trail Reviews

Paper Trail is ranked in the 83rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
May 14, 2024

Paper Trail is a beautifully crafted adventure that utilises origami techniques to create a unique puzzle game with cosy vibes, stunning illustrations, and a captivating storyline. It had my attention from the first fold to the final destination, and the journey was beautiful.

Read full review

7 / 10
May 24, 2024

A charmingly illustrated, perspective-shifting puzzle game about paper folding, that has just enough intricacy to keep you engaged without ever making you feel stumped.

Read full review

7 / 10
May 14, 2024

When you think about it, that’s kind of the inherent pro and con to puzzles, though. Paper Trail benefits a lot from its distinct mechanics, because they help it stand out among a sea of similar games with similar gameplay hooks. But distinct doesn’t always mean approachable, and Paper Trail ends up being quite complex in a lot of ways that could be awesome for one player and super obstructive to another. And that’s fine! The style, which includes the colorful visuals, silly sound direction, genuine writing, and emotive music, all elevate the experience and aid in that sense of approachability. It’s a little too much for me, but I’m mostly a Tetris guy at the end of the day.

Read full review

9 / 10.0
May 30, 2024

Paper Trail is a fabulous puzzle game with a unique paper folding central mechanic, some seriously clever ideas and a wholesome story.

Read full review

9 / 10
May 22, 2024

Paper Trail is one of the finest puzzle games you can buy for the Switch right now. The storybook narrative, compelling visuals, and cleverly designed conundrums, all come together to make for a chill and enjoyable experience that you shouldn't miss, and you'd do well to keep an eye on what Newfangled Games does next. We'd give this one a high recommendation to anyone looking for a low-stakes yet sufficiently challenging new addition to their puzzle library.

Read full review

Unscored
May 14, 2024

A beautiful paper-folding puzzler that screwed up the last remaining scraps of my self esteem and yeeted them into the bin.

Read full review

VGC
Top Critic
May 14, 2024

Charming yet challenging, Paper Trail is a beautifully designed game that will have you perplexed by its page-folding puzzles. A generous hint system ensures players won't get so stuck that they get frustrated, while collecting all the origami is a task that will likely turn even the most ardent puzzle fan's brain to pulp.

Read full review

Recommended
May 14, 2024

Paper Trail is a pretty game that, while not too difficult, is definitely worth checking out for fans of puzzle games.

Read full review

9.5 / 10.0
May 14, 2024

For what Paper Trail sets out to do - it does so with a clear passion and mastery of craft that is rarely seen in the industry today. While not everyone might resonate with the story in the same way that I have, those who do will feel every fold and every step of Paige's journey through a whimsical and wonderfully designed world that manages to mix an inventive new twist on top-down puzzling with a heartening premise that will sit with me for a long time.

Read full review

8 / 10
May 14, 2024

Paper Trail is a charming game with an interesting and unique puzzle mechanic. The story doesn’t quite reach the emotional highs that we were expecting but it’s still a sweet coming-of-age tale set in a gorgeous world complemented by a beautifully atmospheric soundtrack.

Read full review

80%
May 14, 2024

Sustaining its paper-folding hook across reams of compelling 2D levels, Paper Trail is a pretty unique puzzling adventure, with endearing characters, an engaging fairy tale look, and a procession of smartly executed paper conundrums. This is some good sheet.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
May 20, 2024

In Paper Trails, you help a girl, Page, follow her dream of attending university awaits. The player helps Page avoid obstacles by folding papers into paths on which she can travel. It's a fun, challenging mechanic that provides hours of clever gameplay for puzzle enthusiasts.

Read full review

9 / 10.0
May 22, 2024

Paper Trail is a series of gratifying problem solving that challenges the player to think differently by bending their brain with every page turn. It isn't often I run across a game that's so thematically cohesive, but between the puzzle structure, storytelling, and crisp and colorful world, this is an experience that feels like every detail was considered in its development, especially for those who get regularly stymied by thought exercises. Paper Trail is a present that's just as much fun to unwrap as it is to play with, and ranks in some of the better gaming experiences I've had this year.

Read full review

GameSpew
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
May 21, 2024

Brought to life with gorgeous hand-drawn art, Paper Trail is beautiful to look at. Its puzzles, centring around folding and unfolding paper, are an acquired taste, however, and can quickly grow tiresome. As well-designed and clever as they are, we'd wager some players will struggle to digest more than a couple of levels at a time.

Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
May 20, 2024

Paper Trail is an indie game with plenty of soul that mixes successfully the narrative and gameplay parts into an immersive experience. While the story is interesting enough, what will keep you most invested in the game is figuring out how to fold and slide in order to solve the puzzles.

Read full review

Jun 10, 2024

I had a solid time with Paper Trail but it definitely becomes tedious once you realise that its core gameplay is actually rather simplistic.

Read full review

9 / 10.0
Jun 11, 2024

If you like games with zen vibes and a charming story that is rich with puzzles, Paper Trail is likely a game for you. Don’t let its difficulty level scare you away, as there are resources to help you succeed. With this being Newfangled Games’ first game, I’m thrilled to see what they produce next.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Jun 4, 2024

Paper Trail stands out as an innovative puzzle game that challenges players to think creatively through its unique paper folding mechanics. Paige's journey in pursuit of her dreams is engaging, full of beautiful scenery, charming stories and well-crafted challenges. The combination of unique art direction, a warm soundtrack, and intuitive gameplay makes for a rewarding and memorable gaming experience.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
May 27, 2024

Paper Trail folds together a captivating story, intricate puzzles, and a unique art style to create a standout experience in the puzzle adventure genre. The innovative foldable mechanics are truly the highlight, turning each challenge into a finely crafted origami of creativity and cleverness. Paige’s journey through this beautifully rendered, paper-crafted world is not just about solving puzzles but about unfolding new perspectives and experiences. From the initial crease to the final fold, Paper Trail offers a refreshing and delightful adventure that will keep players engrossed page after page.

Read full review

May 14, 2024

Paper Trail had set high expectations, and Newfangled Games meets and exceeds them, combining inspired puzzle design with gorgeous art and atmosphere to leave me very excited for what it turns its talent to next.

Read full review