Paperbark

Paperbark review Paperbark is a hard game to review. First of all – there is the word “game” to think about. Is this a game? Or is it an interactive art piece, destined for a museum or rural tourism centre on a interactive screen? That’s the question I’ve thought about since completing this title – a point and click adventure starring a cute wombat as he travels through the Australian bush. And what a bush it is. Beautiful to behold with splotches of waterpaints continually beckon you forward, following fairly linear trail as you hunt for food, take heed of the bird cries and then quickly find shelter when the bush inevitably becomes aflame. Paperbark’s best claim to fame is how its presentation really enhances a very short and simple story of a wombat looking for safety in a bush that feels a little sanitised but can still provide some danger. As you click forward, new flora and fauna appear. Adding them to a small gallery definitely presents the game more as an educational experience rather than something to be played for fun, but this is to Paperbark’s advantage. It doesn’t outstay its welcome and it’s a love letter to the Australian bush, unabashedly. The sights, but more importantly, the sounds really draw you in, and the further you continue your little wombats journey the more you see. That bug jumping among the flowers. Those birds pecking for seeds. The sound of hundreds of insects just in the background. Each adds a layer to the landscape. Paperbark overall is hard to decipher. It’s a game in the broadest sense of the word. It’s a simple love letter to the Australian bush, its flora and fauna, and presents a simple point and click game that can be completed in under an hour. And that might not be enough for some. But as a “chill” game, Paperbark presents a wonderful environment to explore and a lovely landscape to play in. And for that, I will give it a thumbs up.

Surprising in many ways, Paperbark is above all a love letter to the Australian bush. It follows the adventures of a wombat amidst the country’s unique flora and fauna (did you know there’s a bird called a spoonbill?). The experience is very short but incredibly enjoyable, despite bugs reported by other players—which, in my opinion, in no way detract from the experience—and despite the game’s age (2018). What makes the game truly endearing is the combination of its watercolor aesthetic and its relaxing music, which, more importantly, perfectly complement the Australian setting. The game’s price might seem a bit steep, but at a 50% discount, it feels much more reasonable. There are very few Australian video games, and even fewer that genuinely explore the country—but this one feels essential for anyone interested in that theme.

Short and beautiful game! I loved to wander as a wombat.

very neat

I zoomed through and missed a lot. Looking forward to playing again and taking it slow and finding all the secrets. Visually beautiful, sound is gorgeous and just all around a really nice short game.

It’s nice hanging out in the bush being a wombat for a bit.

I recommend this very short, less than an hour long game, if you can find it at the right price. Not sure I could say $9 is worth it with all of the games that are in the market, but the story is cute, the wombat is adorable enough to make the basic gameplay worth the adventure.