Paperbark

Paperbark's art style is gorgeous with a great soundtrack, but there's some odd decisions in the design that held back the experience for me. The soundscapes and music often cut out far too abruptly, stopping gameplay for the VO feels unnecessarily immersion breaking, and the arbitrary collectables damage the experience (I should be concerned about a bushfire but instead I'm looking for Cicadas). Paperbark feels like a beautiful, interactive representation of the Australian Bush that had a "gameplay" crisis. If I could hold down the mouse to move (rather than clicking constantly), remove the collectables, and just have the VO over the movement instead of the 'story book cutscene' stops, it may felt less like a game, but would have made Paperbark a more pleasant experience.

A very short charming story of a wombats journey to find shelter in a very authentic Australian bush with a hand drawn feel. While short and very linear, there is still some collectables, achievements and trading cards to keep the collectors happy. Played on handheld with a touchscreen without issues. Glad to have found this bite sized piece of Aussie culture.

wombat ye

Adorable little game (especially as an Australian). I loved how it gently teaches players about the Australian bush while still being a relaxing and enjoyable experience. The graphics are beautiful with a storybook art style. The sounds are spot on too making the world feel authentic and charming. Plus, you get to play as a wombat, which is an instant win in my book. The achievements are relatively easy to earn, making it a great choice for completionists.

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.

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.