Papers, Please
Border Control Simulator
Papers, Please is the kind of game that makes me want to become a game designer. It’s a masterclass in doing a lot with a little, and somehow managed to take something so mundane and turn it into an engaging experience.
You play a border agent in the fictional communist country of Arstotzka, tasked with checking documents and deciding who can enter. The gameplay is simple but expertly crafted, capturing the stress and monotony of bureaucratic work. There are rules to follow, but also room for interpretation and judgment. The decisions you make have real consequences, affecting not just the people in line but your own family as well.
The mechanics are so limited but so effective. You’re just stamping passports and checking documents, but it’s incredibly engaging. The game does a great job of ramping up the difficulty and complexity, adding new rules and requirements as you progress. It’s a real test of your memory and attention to detail.
I found it fascinating how the game uses its mechanics to tell a story. The writing is minimal but excellent. I still think about some of the choices I made and wonder what could have happened if I had done things differently. The game has multiple endings, and I love how it encourages you to replay and explore different paths. I only managed to get 4 of the 20 endings, but I think I’ve stamped enough passports for now.
It’s over 10 years old but it still holds up and feels more relevant than ever. Highly recommended.