Before we dive in, full disclosure: I voiced one of the side characters in this game. It’s a minor quest-giver role, and I was given a review key as compensation. I have no financial stake in how the game performs – no incentives, no obligations. Just my honest thoughts.
The Story: A Simple Setup with Heart
You play as Chick, and occasionally as Nugget.
While daydreaming about adventure, Chick is thrown into one when Nox the Fox steals the village’s eggs. Your job? Get them back.
Thankfully, Nox leaves a trail of eggs behind. As you follow it, you’ll explore a colorful world and meet a huge cast of quirky characters – all fully voiced.
The story is simple, which is exactly what you expect from this genre. And it’s done well. Still, I wish a few character arcs had gone deeper. Blinkey and Midnight in particular stood out as characters I wanted to know more about. Their backstories felt like they were just starting to unfold when the game moved on.
But overall, the tone and simplicity fit the game perfectly.
Gameplay: Smooth Movement and Genius Level Design
At the core of PaperKlay’s gameplay are just a few actions:
Double jump, dive, glide, and punch.
That’s it. And honestly, that’s all you need when it’s done right.
Chick controls beautifully. Everything is smooth and responsive. And as you get more confident, you’ll discover movement chains that let you fly across levels – things like jump, spin attack, second jump, dive into glide. It’s incredibly satisfying once you get the rhythm.
The spin attack is part of the upgrade system. Coins you collect throughout the world can be used to unlock abilities or buy costumes. The upgrades aren’t mandatory, but they definitely enhance your mobility.
Now, none of that would matter if the levels didn’t support it. Thankfully, this is where PaperKlay truly shines. Let me walk you through three standout examples.
1. The Rotating World
There’s one level where the entire environment pivots. At first, you explore one layout. Then you rotate it and discover new paths. Rotate again – new secrets. This single area gets reused in four distinct configurations, each offering its own traversal puzzles.
It’s a brilliant use of space and easily one of the most impressive platforming ideas I’ve seen from a solo developer.
2. Nugget’s Perspective
In this segment, you control Nugget – who can’t jump. Your movement is limited to walking on a flat plane. But at certain points, you rotate the world around you. Add in sliding pieces, buttons, and moving platforms, and suddenly you’re solving some truly complex puzzles. It’s clever, challenging, and refreshingly different.
3. Dense World Design
Even when the world isn’t rotating, it’s packed with stuff to do. Look at any given level and you’ll find hidden corners, side quests, layered secrets, and loads of collectibles. Every space feels intentional. There’s always something to discover or a reason to explore just a little further.
All in all, this is a platformer that respects your time and rewards your curiosity.
Graphics: Charming, Playful, and Clean
The game has a distinct look – everything is made of cardboard, paper, and clay.
When my daughter first saw the game, she said it looked like cardboard.
She nailed it. PaperKlay feels like you're playing in a handcrafted storybook.
It reminded me a lot of Tearaway on the PS Vita, and it carries that same sense of playful creativity.
I tested it on the Steam Deck, and it ran great. In fact, I barely got ten minutes in before my daughter took it from me and started playing it on the couch.
It's not a graphical powerhouse, but it looks great for what it’s doing. Every material and texture fits the game’s aesthetic perfectly.
Sound: Big Talent and Memorable Music
Let’s start with the soundtrack.
The main theme was composed by Grant Kirkhope and Steven Melin – names you might recognize from Banjo-Kazooie, GoldenEye 007, and Perfect Dark. The rest of the soundtrack was handled by Nathan Ross, who did a fantastic job carrying that same spirit through the rest of the game. The music fits every environment, every beat, and elevates the atmosphere throughout.
But the real standout here?
The voice acting.
This game features some truly impressive talent:
Kellen Goff – known for roles in My Hero Academia, League of Legends, and Attack on Titan.
Kevin Miller – the voice of Sly Cooper.
And then there’s Baldin Williams Jr.
He voices Midnight, and the performance is incredible. I legit thought it was Steven Blum at first. He also voiced DogsDay and Harley Sawyer from Poppy Playtime. I’d be shocked if we didn’t see more of his work in upcoming games.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth Your Time?
I finished PaperKlay in around five hours – and that’s with platforming experience. For kids or casual players, it might take closer to ten hours.
If you’re aiming for 100 percent completion, you’re probably looking at 12 to 15 hours total. There’s no new story content for full completion, but you do unlock remix versions of levels that are more difficult than the originals.
At full price, the game is $15.
That works out to around $3 an hour for a vibrant, joy-filled game with clever design, a solid soundtrack, and some outstanding voice acting.
For a solo developer? This is an achievement.
And if you’re looking for a fun platformer to introduce your kids to gaming, I think this is one of the best options out there.
PaperKlay is absolutely worth your time, and my 8 year old agrees!
Before we dive in, full disclosure: I voiced one of the side characters in this game. It’s a minor quest-giver role, and I was given a review key as compensation. I have no financial stake in how the game performs – no incentives, no obligations. Just my honest thoughts.
The Story: A Simple Setup with Heart
You play as Chick, and occasionally as Nugget.
While daydreaming about adventure, Chick is thrown into one when Nox the Fox steals the village’s eggs. Your job? Get them back.
Thankfully, Nox leaves a trail of eggs behind. As you follow it, you’ll explore a colorful world and meet a huge cast of quirky characters – all fully voiced.
The story is simple, which is exactly what you expect from this genre. And it’s done well. Still, I wish a few character arcs had gone deeper. Blinkey and Midnight in particular stood out as characters I wanted to know more about. Their backstories felt like they were just starting to unfold when the game moved on.
But overall, the tone and simplicity fit the game perfectly.
Gameplay: Smooth Movement and Genius Level Design
At the core of PaperKlay’s gameplay are just a few actions:
Double jump, dive, glide, and punch.
That’s it. And honestly, that’s all you need when it’s done right.
Chick controls beautifully. Everything is smooth and responsive. And as you get more confident, you’ll discover movement chains that let you fly across levels – things like jump, spin attack, second jump, dive into glide. It’s incredibly satisfying once you get the rhythm.
The spin attack is part of the upgrade system. Coins you collect throughout the world can be used to unlock abilities or buy costumes. The upgrades aren’t mandatory, but they definitely enhance your mobility.
Now, none of that would matter if the levels didn’t support it. Thankfully, this is where PaperKlay truly shines. Let me walk you through three standout examples.
1. The Rotating World
There’s one level where the entire environment pivots. At first, you explore one layout. Then you rotate it and discover new paths. Rotate again – new secrets. This single area gets reused in four distinct configurations, each offering its own traversal puzzles.
It’s a brilliant use of space and easily one of the most impressive platforming ideas I’ve seen from a solo developer.
2. Nugget’s Perspective
In this segment, you control Nugget – who can’t jump. Your movement is limited to walking on a flat plane. But at certain points, you rotate the world around you. Add in sliding pieces, buttons, and moving platforms, and suddenly you’re solving some truly complex puzzles. It’s clever, challenging, and refreshingly different.
3. Dense World Design
Even when the world isn’t rotating, it’s packed with stuff to do. Look at any given level and you’ll find hidden corners, side quests, layered secrets, and loads of collectibles. Every space feels intentional. There’s always something to discover or a reason to explore just a little further.
All in all, this is a platformer that respects your time and rewards your curiosity.
Graphics: Charming, Playful, and Clean
The game has a distinct look – everything is made of cardboard, paper, and clay.
When my daughter first saw the game, she said it looked like cardboard.
She nailed it. PaperKlay feels like you're playing in a handcrafted storybook.
It reminded me a lot of Tearaway on the PS Vita, and it carries that same sense of playful creativity.
I tested it on the Steam Deck, and it ran great. In fact, I barely got ten minutes in before my daughter took it from me and started playing it on the couch.
It's not a graphical powerhouse, but it looks great for what it’s doing. Every material and texture fits the game’s aesthetic perfectly.
Sound: Big Talent and Memorable Music
Let’s start with the soundtrack.
The main theme was composed by Grant Kirkhope and Steven Melin – names you might recognize from Banjo-Kazooie, GoldenEye 007, and Perfect Dark. The rest of the soundtrack was handled by Nathan Ross, who did a fantastic job carrying that same spirit through the rest of the game. The music fits every environment, every beat, and elevates the atmosphere throughout.
But the real standout here?
The voice acting.
This game features some truly impressive talent:
Kellen Goff – known for roles in My Hero Academia, League of Legends, and Attack on Titan.
Kevin Miller – the voice of Sly Cooper.
And then there’s Baldin Williams Jr.
He voices Midnight, and the performance is incredible. I legit thought it was Steven Blum at first. He also voiced DogsDay and Harley Sawyer from Poppy Playtime. I’d be shocked if we didn’t see more of his work in upcoming games.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth Your Time?
I finished PaperKlay in around five hours – and that’s with platforming experience. For kids or casual players, it might take closer to ten hours.
If you’re aiming for 100 percent completion, you’re probably looking at 12 to 15 hours total. There’s no new story content for full completion, but you do unlock remix versions of levels that are more difficult than the originals.
At full price, the game is $15.
That works out to around $3 an hour for a vibrant, joy-filled game with clever design, a solid soundtrack, and some outstanding voice acting.
For a solo developer? This is an achievement.
And if you’re looking for a fun platformer to introduce your kids to gaming, I think this is one of the best options out there.
PaperKlay is absolutely worth your time, and my 8 year old agrees!
ABOUT US
We wanted to play games that were worth our time. From work to family and kids, and other hobbies, game time was scarce. Our goal is to help you know which game to spend your time playing.
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