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Release Date: August 8th, 2013
Developers: Lucas Pope
Publishers: 3909
Platforms: OS X, Linux, Microsoft Windows
Genre: Adventure
Players: Singleplayer
Rating: Not Stated

Synopsis
The communist state of Arstotzka has just ended a 6-year war with neighboring Kolechia and reclaimed its rightful half of the border town, Grestin. Your job as immigration inspector is to control the flow of people entering the Arstotzkan side of Grestin from Kolechia. Among the throngs of immigrants and visitors looking for work are hidden smugglers, spies, and terrorists. Using only the documents provided by travelers and the Ministry of Admission's primitive inspect, search, and fingerprint systems you must decide who can enter Arstotzka and who will be turned away or arrested.

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Plot
Papers, Please offers a story set at a immigration control checkpoint in a socialist, dystopian country named Arstotzka. You play as an unnamed border control officer, a job which you won in the October labor lottery hosted by the government of Arstotzka. You are tasked with inspecting passports, searching suspecting immigrants, and arresting smugglers, terrorists, and spies trying to make their way into the country. You will be given choices to betray your government, accept bribes from wanted criminals, and allowing or turning away immigrants with heart-wrenching storys.
Story
I absolutely loved the story this game offered. At some points in the game it was incredibly dark and depressing, but at others it was cheerful and comedic. The story immersed me into what it would be like as someone working in this time. The story can trigger your emotions, and even make you feel sad or scared for the immigrants trying to pass through. You have to carry this all on your shoulders while providing for your family. This game was definitely worth the buy for me because of the story mode.

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Gameplay [Single & Multiplayer]
Papers, Please offers a unique type of gameplay. You have the scripted story mode (which includes over 20 endings), and you have the procedurally generated endless mode. It is unlocked after achieving a certain ending in story mode. In story mode you have to allow or turn away eager immigrants based on their legitimacy of required information. Without real passports, entry tickets, work permits, or entry permits you cannot allow them access into the country(or face fines doing so). You could stumble across people fleeing their country, a husband bribing you to let his wife get through with a fake passport, or rebels with a cause. The day to day could also include terrorist attacks, illegal weapons smugglers, bribery, executions, and several reoccurring faces. If you do not process enough people, you put your family at risk of starving, sleeping without heat, or homelessness.

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Graphics
Papers, Please shows a simple, yet intriguing 8bit graphics style. The developers did a great job illustrating this type of future while still making it believeable. You can see pixelated faces of immigrants attempting to cross that show sadness, anger, and happiness which really add on to the story. It's almost hard to believe that this game was developed by one man. I could not have picked a better style for a game like this.

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Controls
The controls for Papers, Please were fantastic, and I got a hold of them quick. The booth upgrades made my play experience feel more efficient, while still giving me a challenge. I think the small amount of controls really simplifies the game and makes it easier to learn for less experienced players. Every action you want to do in the game is just a click away, and I really enjoyed that.

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Rating
Plot 9/10
Story 8/10
Gameplay 7.5/10
Graphics 9/10
Controls 8.5/10
Overall 8.3/10