Papers, Please

I can't think of any other game like Papers, Please. While the role of lowly bureaucrat in Communist Arstotska doesn't sound like an exciting one, the game managed to completely immerse me in it. This game felt like more of a role playing experience than any rpg I've played. The gameplay itself is also enjoyable and has a steady difficulty curve, so even as I got better I was always one oversight away from having my pay docked. If you're unsure give the free beta a try, though I would point out that the full game has much more content, and changes the penalties so they now outweigh your salary. In the beta you could deny or allow everyone, and through sheer volume you would make more money than you lost. That's fixed in the full game.

This game has sucked me in like few others. The other reviews give a great run down on what it's all about. All I'll say is that I've more than got my $10 worth.

The drab CGA-like graphics compliment the drab 1980s East Bloc setting of this great puzzle game. The premise of checking passports is simple, but the execution has much depth. It is definitely worth the money.

Papers, Please is a gem. Once you get passed the relatively simple mechanics of the game, you're faced with a suprisingly deep game, which will raise fundamental questions regarding governments and simple human behavior. This game will test your cognitive skills as well as your empathy towards your virtual family and the people you meet throughout the game. I can't wait to see what's next in the mind of its developper. In the mean time, if you're into indi games and/or games that'll ask for a little bit more than reflexes, Papers, Please is a must-have.

I had reasonable hopes for this game, it seemed fun enough, and the ratings were good. I managed to get it on sale over at Humble, and to be honest, I would have paid full price now I Have played it. What starts out as reasonably easy, check a few details, grant or deny access, soon turns into a deep and complex game of spotting the slightest discrepancies and being embroiled in politics. It does become slightly tedious when you miss the smallest mistakes, and punishment is harsh. But, buy it. Well worth the time and money invested into playing.