Papers, Please | Cheerful Ghost

Papers, Please Is a Depressingly Amazing Slice of Dystopia

Like many of you, I have heard about Lucas Pope's latest game "Papers, Please" and after seeing it in the recent Steam Autumn Sale, I decided to pick it up. The game is very unique and if you are looking for a twitch shooter or MOBA, this ain't it. Papers, Please is a game where you take the role of the immigration inspector on the border reviewing people for entry into the communist state of Arstotzka. You are randomly selected in the state lottery for this job and your family is uprooted and moved to the border. You get money each day by processing people. If you take too long doing your job, you process less people and get less money. If you can't afford heat or... Read All

Papers, Please!

"A Dystopian Document Thriller."

The above words are used to describe the game Papers, Please by Lucas Pope. This game is currently in beta mode and I cannot wait for the full version release.

In Papers, Please, you have "won" the labor lottery and now have to work as border control for the fictional Communist country of Arstotzka. It is your job to allow people entry into the country for meager wages to support your family of 5.

With ever changing immigration laws and your pay being based on each person seen, you have to try to get through as many people as possible without making any mistakes. Each mistake made (after an inital "learning" period) docks your pay and... Read All

jaelte wrote on 12/04/2013 at 09:27am

Yes! I too picked up on a flash sale a couple days ago I've very much enjoyed playing it. It gets quite intense, trying to process people quickly without making too many mistakes in day.

My first couple times trying to play it, I was going too slowly and my family ended up dying from sickness. Border inspectors are expected to lead big, healthy families, so having them die off got me reassigned (ending the game). I had another time where I got arrested for failing to defend the border; yet another where I didn't let the correct diplomat through and my superior charged me with theft. Good times, all.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 12/04/2013 at 04:44pm

Yeah, the game is. Wonder if there is any kind of "win" mode. I know there are a lot of game endings, but curious if anything comes close to something good for you or your family.

jaelte wrote on 12/08/2013 at 07:08am

The happiest ending I got was escaping the country with my son. I didn't have the money/passports to bring the rest of the family, but I bet it's possible.