Ten years have passed since the release of the critically acclaimed game “Papers, Please”, and in celebration, developer Lucas Pope has launched an official Game & Watch demake. Additionally, the original game is now on sale for 80% off across all platforms.
“Papers, Please” first made its debut on August 8th, 2013, immersing players in the role of an immigration officer on the border of the fictional Eastern Bloc country, Arstotzka. At first glance, the game seems simple, requiring players to crosscheck paperwork with the information provided by each visitor to decide whether to grant or deny their entry through a tactile interface.
However, as the game progresses, complications arise, and individual stories unfold, leaving players to navigate challenging moral decisions. With a family to support and a meager salary, players may face bribes, threats of terrorism, and the weight of life and death resting on seemingly insignificant choices.
In his 2013 review for Eurogamer, Dan Whitehead described “Papers, Please” as “compelling, challenging, and genuinely unnerving”, noting that it forces players to confront their own capacity for evil without relying on traditional role-play or morality meters. He emphasized that the game is not a quick distraction but rather a thought-provoking experience for those interested in exploring the potential of games beyond simple wish fulfillment.
Pope’s recently released demake may not match the depth and emotional impact of the original, but it offers an intriguing distillation of the game’s core ideas. Players will still stamp papers and evaluate visitors’ claims, while “hard” mode introduces additional challenges such as VIP entrants, Wanted posters, and Banned posters. The demake features a charmingly retro LCD aesthetic that adds to its appeal.
While the demake cannot fully replace the original game, it serves as a nostalgic homage. Additionally, for those who have yet to experience “Papers, Please”, the game is currently available with an 80% discount on all platforms. On Steam, it can be purchased for £1.38 instead of the usual £6.99. The discounted price is also available on GOG, the Humble Store, iOS, and Android. Furthermore, Pope’s follow-up game, “Return of the Obra Dinn”, a masterful nautical deduction adventure, is also discounted by 40% on Steam.