Papers, Please

Papers, Please is a video game simulating the life of a border agent in a People's Republic of Tyranny. After receiving a letter the player character finds themselves assigned to the recently reopened Grestin Border Checkpoint as a result of the October 1982 labor lottery. From there the player character is tasked with inspecting entry documents to ensure only the correct people enter.

It was released as an Indie Game by Lucas Pope in 2013. It has a website here. Users of Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, and Linux can buy it on on Steam here, on GOG.com here, and on the Humble Store here. Android users can pick it up on Google Play here. iOS, iPad OS, and Apple Vision users can get it on the App Store here.

A short film adaptation was released in 2018.

Tropes used in Papers, Please include:
  • Black Market: The headline news of the November 26th, 1982 in The Truth of Artsotzka is about black market activity, with lax border controls being blamed by The Government.
  • Blatant Lies: One applicant on day 3 will claim a passport is not needed for entry.
  • Checkpoint Charlie: The Grestin Border Checkpoint is a fortified border Checkpoint with armed security, and is where the player character works.
  • Color-Coded for Your Convenience: A few examples:
    • Entry visas are colored based on the country.
    • Normal people are colored black on the upper screen, but the guard is colored blue.
  • Fictional Document: The player gets to read headlines from The Truth of Artsotzka, as well as their handbook and entry documents of perspective entrants.
  • Forgot to Pay the Bill: If the player fails to earn enough money, they may have to go without heat or food.
  • Government Agency of Fiction: The player character is assigned to work for the Artsotzka Ministry of Admission.
  • People's Republic of Tyranny: Arstotzka determines the life of its inhabitants, such as where they work and live.
  • Run for the Border: Near the end of day two, someone hops the wall and attacks the armed guard, resulting in the death of both.
  • Strip Club: The player character is sometimes slipped adverts for "The Pink Vice" in East Gerstin by applicants crossing the border.
  • Tagline: "A Dystopian Document Thriller"
  • Timed Mission: There is a limited amount of time each day to allow applicants in
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