On the surface resembling a time management minigame, "Papers, Please" goes much deeper. Biting commentary on bureaucracy is only the first layer to unpeel. Already tangled in red tape, always new regulations keep things interesting. Take them by the letter, check for expired documents, forged seals, or whether those extra kilos are due to contraband, or just a beer gut. But soon, deeper questions come up. Yourself part of the totalitarian regime, how do you react to families torn apart, boiling rebellion—people's lives depending on your stamps? Here, the game shows its true colours as way more than a satire on communism. You're thinking not just about regulations and stamps, but the fates your decisions seal. Maybe the best way to keep your family safe is to be obedient and hope your loyalty is rewarded. But what if your conscience reminds you that this security is built on the suffering of others? Do you make use of your position to help bring about change, then? Don't risk enough, and your half-hearted efforts may be exposed. Risk too much and raise suspicion—you're of no use to anyone in a labour camp. 20 different outcomes and the ability to replay from any point in the story help you explore those what-ifs. In addition, 3 free-play modes allow you to process randomly generated immigrants without a storyline. "Papers, Please" is brilliantly thought-out and written, gripping, and stylistically pleasing. Also: find the Flash game "The Republia Times"!
