PaperKlay review

3D platformers often tap into a particular kind of wonder, evoking the excitement of exploring an unfamiliar city. From admiring architectural quirks to learning a city’s layout, these games reward curiosity. PaperKlay, developed solely by Kevin Andersson, captures this feeling strikingly and enriches it with a distinctive, handcrafted aesthetic.

The entire world of PaperKlay appears lovingly constructed from paper and cardboard. While other titles like Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Born of Bread, and Sackboy: A Big Adventure have embraced similar styles, PaperKlay feels uniquely organic. Its tactile textures and NPCs, which resemble art-class creations, give the impression that you’ve stepped into a living diorama.

Chick ‘n’ Nugget

At the heart of the adventure is Chick, a spirited little bird, and his ever-loyal sidekick, Nugget. The pair set off on a whimsical quest to recover eggs stolen by a mischievous fox, journeying across four distinct worlds, each containing five levels. Professional voice work featuring talents like Kevin Miller (Sly Cooper) and Kellen Goff (Sword Art Online), injects life into the cast with succinct, charming dialogue that supports exploration without bogging it down with unnecessary exposition.

Thankfully, PaperKlay’s platforming fundamentals are rock-solid. Chick can run, jump, double jump, and glide, making navigation feel satisfyingly responsive. The platforming strikes a balance between accessible and challenging, gradually introducing more complex sections without becoming punishing. With unlimited lives and generous checkpoints, the game sustains a forgiving rhythm that encourages experimentation.

Winging It

Unfortunately, PaperKlay’s combat doesn’t meet the same standard. Chick’s spin attack has an uncomfortably short range, resulting in combat that feels awkward and unsatisfying. With few enemy types, only two boss battles, and rudimentary attack patterns, combat takes a backseat. And that might be for the best.

Instead, the real appeal lies in exploration. Each level invites you to scour every corner in search of collectibles. Beyond the retrieval of eggs to bookend each stage, you’ll also amass glowing orbs. These are often earned by tackling platforming challenges or completing simple side tasks, like helping a mama frog reunite with her scattered children. Gathering these opens new levels.

Gotta Get Them All

The most abundant collectible is the humble button, with hundreds of them scattered throughout each stage. These often serve as breadcrumb trails, nudging players toward unexplored areas. Much like Spyro the Dragon, PaperKlay rewards careful observation. Buttons can be exchanged for gameplay perks like extended gliding, increased health, or cosmetic outfits. Better still, the game tracks your progress per stage, making it ideal for completionists who enjoy revisiting levels to clean up missed items.

Andersson mixes things up with rotating levels, manipulable objects, and unlockable remix stages that reshape the terrain. One standout deviation features Nugget in levels reminiscent of Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. These compact puzzle environments require rotating the world to navigate, but without any jumping. These detours offer a pleasant change of pace from the core platforming. I almost wish there were more of them.

Papercraft Paradise

PaperKlay is a thoroughly enjoyable 3D platformer with inspired visual design and well-crafted level architecture. Its responsive controls and imaginative environments make it a delight to explore. While the lackluster combat doesn’t quite measure up to the game’s other strengths, that shortcoming is easy to overlook for those who prize platforming and charm over fighting finesse. If you’re seeking a whimsical, visually rich adventure filled with secrets to uncover, PaperKlay is a world worth getting lost in.

PaperKlay was played on PC with review code provided by the publisher.