Paperbound Reviews

Paperbound is ranked in the 34th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
6 / 10.0
Jul 9, 2015

Missing features and lack of variety may be a let down, but Paperbound is fun, four-player fighter with plenty of heart and a desire to bring back sofa-centered local multiplayer.

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7.5 / 10.0
Apr 29, 2015

In the end, Paperbound is a good game if you enjoy local multiplayer action. The core mechanics provide a good amount of chaos and strategy while remaining fun for players of all skill types. Though the modes don't seem to have much variance, the gameplay is solid enough that few will find the lack of variety to be detrimental, and the presentation is distinct enough to stand out in what is starting to be a rather crowded fighting sub-genre. The lack of a true single-player mode and online multiplayer hurts the game when you compare it to other titles, but if you play lots of local multiplayer anyway, you and your friends will have plenty of fun with Paperbound.

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6 / 10
Apr 26, 2015

All in all, Paperbound is a fun game. It's got a lot of potential to be a staple for anyone who has friends that come over and play games on a regular basis. But if you're not willing or able to play the game as intended — four-player couch versus only — then you're going to be equal measures bored and frustrated, and painfully so, at that.

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6 / 10
Apr 23, 2015

The action can be fierce in Paperbound, but the game should be played in short bursts. The small amount of game modes, and the lack of online multiplayer restricts the longevity of the title. If you are able to gather a few friends, Paperbound will provide an enjoyable old-school arena multiplayer experience for a quick hour or so.

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7 / 10
Apr 18, 2015

The best way to determine whether Paperbound is for you is by answering one simple question: can you assemble a group of people to play video games with on a regular occasion? If the answer's yes, then put this on your watch list; it's a fun and fulfilling casual brawler that will provide solid afternoons of multiplayer action. If not, then you should probably consider closing the book on your interest in this.

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6.5 / 10.0
Apr 16, 2015

When first playing Paperbound you would be forgiven for thinking that the game is a simplistic take on the arena battle genre. Dig a little deeper though and you find a game with solid gameplay mechanics, that delivers rounds of fast paced fun whilst playing solo, or with friends. The quick, frenzied matches of Paperbound can offer hours of fun if the core gameplay appeals to you. It's undoubtedly a mix of solid mechanics that appear simple, but are fiendishly fun to play and can be deviously complex, it's just a shame that Paperbound ends up being paper thin.

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GameSpew
Top Critic
7 / 10
Apr 15, 2015

I've never laughed so much at getting constantly brutalised by my competitors. The game is nothing short of whole-hearted fun

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7 / 10
Apr 8, 2015

Paperbound is a thrilling multiplayer arena game, but too few game modes and lack of an online feature makes it only an occasional party favorite.

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6.3 / 10.0
Apr 6, 2015

When it comes to Smash Bros. clones, Paperbound is, well, paper thin. That's not to say the game isn't fun, because if you get the right group together, it can be. The brawling tactics are good, though not great, and the change-up in certain stages can make for some interesting scenarios. But it all feels a bit one-note, especially when it comes to the presentation and lack of variety. It's worth a try considering its low price, but don't go into this expecting the next great party game.

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7 / 10.0
Apr 6, 2015

Paperbound's restrictions impelled me to seek out my friends and spend time with them and that is a worthy, if comparatively inconvenient, experience for a game to foster. If you can manage to wrangle up enough controllers and in-the-flesh human beings, a jolly experience awaits you. Otherwise—maybe skip buying the game and just go hang out with your friends.

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Daily Dot
Top Critic
Apr 3, 2015

Paperbound does a lot of things well, but mechanically it's a bit too shallow when compared to the more hardcore arena fighters out there. The concept is cool, and has a unique enough twist, but it is a game that will work best in more casual environments.

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Drew Leachman
Top Critic
5.5 / 10.0
Apr 1, 2015

For ten dollars you get a game that really is just a multiplayer game that you can only enjoy with friends at your house. For some that could be a bit of an undertaking in and of itself. But if you can get three friends to play with you, you can have a decent time with it.

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Digitally Downloaded
Brad L.
Top Critic
Apr 1, 2015

Paperbound is an incredibly fun game that gives a gravitational spin on the same kind of competitive insanity that inspires Smash Bros. or Towerfall. Its amazingly simple aesthetics work well, and the simple nature of the game means anybody can pick it up and have a crack at it.

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8 / 10
Apr 1, 2015

If you're looking for a new local multiplayer game for you and your friends, then Paperbound might just be the right one, with its fresh take on the genre and brilliantly inspired aesthetic. If you're not the type for local gaming, then while the AI works well enough, the lack of single player content may get old fast, though the PS4's SharePlay feature could be a welcome solution.

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7.6 / 10.0
Apr 1, 2015

Simply put, if you're in the market for a local multiplayer brawler then you can't do much better than Paperbound with its insanely chaotic matches, ridiculously fun gameplay mechanics, and more variety than you can shake a pencil at.

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Mar 31, 2015

'Paperbound' feels like a game on the wrong platform. As a Vita game, or a mobile title, something to play on the go when you have a half hour to kill waiting for something bigger to download, 'Paperbound's simplicity would be a boon, a perfect slice of hectic mayhem to pull out of your pocket on a whim. As a PS4 game, though, it just feels thin, a delicious bite that makes one pine for the satisfying main course that doesn't come. Still, it's hard to be immune to its charms in the moment. There's nothing to dislike about 'Paperbound' aside from the fact that there's not more of it. That's the best kind of problem to have.

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6 / 10
Mar 31, 2015

While Gamestyle can't confidently state that Paperbound should be in everyone's library, if this is your excuse to call your friends, get the beers in and squeeze everyone on the sofa, we say bring it on.

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Mar 31, 2015

Paperbound taps into our imagination by drilling into the pages of literary classics, fuelling a frenzied brawler that deviates from standard fare through subtle and unique decisions.

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7 / 10.0
Mar 31, 2015

Paperbound isn't all that exciting even for hardcore arena veterans, but the foundation is there for a fast-paced frag-fest. The developers employed a half-measure when it comes to aesthetics and content, but there's plenty of fun to be had once you start flipping out and making gravity your bitch.

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7 / 10.0
Mar 31, 2015

Paperbound is undeniably a fun little game that will be enjoyed the most by groups of four friends with nothing to play. The battles are entertaining enough and the variety of maps will provide different alternatives to suit all tastes, but after playing a couple of rounds, you'll realize just how plain and simple this brawler truly is.

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