A Tale of Paper: Refolded Review

Originally released as A Tale of Paper back in 2020, A Tale of Paper: Refolded is an enhanced version with extra content and a new playable character. This version — released on PC and Xbox consoles in 2022 — has now made its way to PlayStation 4 and 5 and Nintendo Switch. Having never played either release before, I was looking forward to this puzzle-platformer by developer Open House Games. But, is this one a page-turner, or is it more painful than a paper cut?

If you like intentionally vague stories with no spoken or written dialogue to drive it forward, then you’re already in the right place. Games such as LIMBO and COCOON are great examples of leaving the player to interpret the goings-on within a game's world. Whilst Refolded doesn’t quite reach the heights those games did, it’s still an enjoyable — albeit short — trip into this strange, unsettling world. You play as Line, a magical paper creature with the ability to transform its shape into all manner of useless things. With forms ranging from a high-jumping frog to a soaring paper aeroplane, Line is a fun character to play as, even if they’re a silent protagonist.

Also included in Refolded is a brand-new prequel story that sees you playing as a new, unnamed character. It’s still largely the same as the main game (although a few new abilities are introduced) with another story up for interpretation. It doesn’t add much to the already short playtime of the overall game (I unlocked the Platinum trophy in about three hours, but it can be done much quicker), but it’s still a journey that, whilst I may not have fully understood, was thoroughly enjoyable.

The immediate comparison when glancing at A Tale of Paper: Refolded is how its dark, slightly oppressive atmosphere feels vaguely familiar to the incredible Little Nightmares. It’s certainly not as bleak as that game, but there is just something about this gloomy world that evokes a feeling of unease. It doesn’t help that Line is a small creature, and seeing the world from a miniature character's perspective is always interesting, where everyday things such as vacuums and small bodies of water become deadly obstacles to evade.

The characters themselves are unique and well-animated, with Line and their many transformations being a particular highlight. Despite looking like a cross between a Heartless from Kingdom Hearts and someone's hastily scribbled notes come to life, Line is surprisingly charming, with bright yellow eyes and twitchy antennae.

Suitably, the music and background sounds are fairly muted, fitting with the macabre atmosphere the game is presenting. No sweeping orchestral pieces or guitar-laden riffs here, just slow, creepy tunes to set the scene. In fact, sometimes music is completely absent, with only the sounds of creaking floorboards and your character’s footsteps for company. It’s proof that sometimes less is more, making certain areas feel much more daunting in the process.

Much like the other titles already mentioned in this review, A Tale of Paper: Refolded’s gameplay may be simple to grasp, but that doesn’t make it a dull one to play. You’ll run and jump across various platforms and everyday objects, but that’s only a small part of the gameplay. There are a lot of great puzzles; well-crafted to make you think, but not overly complex to keep you stuck for hours. Still, it doesn’t ever get repetitive, despite the simple control scheme and lack of gameplay variety.

Then there are the transformations. Throughout the game, Line will learn to transform into three different origami-style shapes: A frog, an aeroplane, and… a scrunched up ball. Okay, that last one may not sound impressive, but they all work well mechanically speaking, and each jumping, floating, or rolling section helps to break up the pace of the standard platforming.

There was never a moment where I became frustrated with a poorly made jump due to poor mechanics (only myself to blame this time) and the fixed camera angle, combined with the little light that appears under your character when they’re in the air to indicate where they’ll land, goes a long way in keeping the trickier sections as stress-free as possible.

A Tale of Paper: Refolded certainly doesn’t overstay its welcome, with a brief, yet intriguing journey through a mysterious world. Despite that, I actually wish it would have stuck around just a little bit longer. I can see why some gamers may not be fans of the interpretive nature of the story, and the puzzles and platforming sections are fairly simple, but this is still a title not to be missed if you’re a fan of creepy puzzle-platformers.