PaperKlay is a crafted dreamscape of endless fun

It doesn’t matter when you grew up; playing platformers as a kid on the weekend, on whichever platform was popular at the time, is a surprisingly universal experience. Games like Crash Bandicoot, Croc, and Mario 64 are beloved for a reason, and it can be hard for a new game to capture those nostalgic memories in a way that translates. 

PaperKlay, a 3D platformer by developer WhyKev, manages to do just that. It’s like Paper Mario meets Croc meets Crash Bandicoot, and it’s the perfect combination of all of them. The world, the characters, and the story are all equally as lovable as each other, and if ever there was a game that deserves the spotlight, it’s PaperKlay. 

A 3D craft material world

Stepping into the world of Chick and Nugget is like being absorbed into the imagination of a child with too many crafting supplies and not enough attention span to keep it on one sheet of paper. I should know; I just described my five-year-old and her endless endeavors to craft at random.

Everything around you is made of card, paper, or fabric, and there’s something new to capture your attention everywhere you look. From the paper trees that are hollow inside their ‘leaves’, sometimes hiding secret buttons to collect, to the paper sea that makes you feel like Jesus when you run across it, there’s something endlessly enjoyable about exploring every inch of the world in PaperKlay. 

Instead of coins, there are buttons. Instead of actual birds in the trees, there are convincingly childlike drawings of owls just stuck onto the top side of the curl that makes up the actual tree. Ribbons create walkways above you, while origami springs offer you a boost when you need it most. 

Memorable characters who become friends

In every area of PaperKlay, there are new friends to meet, and all of them seem to be some variation on a sock puppet. Within the main “hub” in the first zone, there’s a giant frog mama who has lost her babies, an owl who wishes he could (he has too many, I don’t blame him), and a smaller frog whose husband has broken his leg and, when you help him, he spends the entire time complaining that he could do it himself if he wanted to. 

Every single sock puppet character that you meet is lovable, and that’s down to both the designs and the voices. Those voices are, at least in part, provided by the likes of Andy Mack, Kevin Miller, and Josh Portillo. Having everything be voice-acted helps to spark the nostalgia from games from our younger years, and drag you into this paper world. 

In the snow area, I came across a particular friend who is clearly just a gloved hand, or perhaps just the glove itself. Each finger has a mouth, and it wants to eat carrots. I’m not sure why; my fingers have never craved carrots, but it doesn’t matter. PaperKlay is set in a world of childlike imagination and wonder, and you can feel it as it pulls you back to that state yourself.

Levels to fall in love with

As you progress through PaperKlay, you’ll enter into different zones and levels that each feel unique and inspired. My personal favorite comes early on, when Chick is sucked into a level that’s entirely made of books. As a book lover, it felt like a stroll through a magical library, with massive arches made of tomes and floating platforms to navigate without falling off the edge. 

Occasionally, you’ll come across a level that’s designed to be completed by Nugget. This little chick can’t jump, so the levels are built in a cubic way, allowing Nugget to rotate the level itself to complete it. These levels are more like puzzles, challenging you to collect everything that it’s possible to collect before you finally complete the level itself. 

The second zone is entirely snow-covered, changing the game and offering up new challenges and new people to meet. There are snowmen, the strange, gloved hand that I mentioned previously, and even some dancing acorns littered around the place.

Wait… There are upgrades?

I have to admit, rather shamefully, that I can be the least observant person ever at times. I played through multiple levels of PaperKlay, content to hop and bounce my way around the levels, before I realized that there are upgrades to unlock and additional levels hidden behind collecting orbs. 

Honestly, I thought that the first “hub” area was the entirety of the game for the longest time, and I wasn’t upset about that. That area alone feels full and impressive, so when I discovered that there were multiple other areas to explore and complete, I’m not ashamed to admit that I saw PaperKlay in a new and even more impressive light. 

One of the things that I didn’t notice was the upgrades that can aid Chick and Nugget in their exploration. These upgrades are purchased using eggs that are littered around the world, and definitely made me more determined to find them than I was before. There are also outfits, purchased with the buttons that you collect. 

PaperKlay has easily earned itself a place on my list of comfort games, and I can see myself going back to it time and time again when I want something that’s challenging enough to feel exciting, but nostalgic enough to bring that sense of warmth that only nostalgia can. 

If you want to play PaperKlay, the full game is available to purchase now through Steam. There’s also a demo, which allows you to play through the complete first chapter, and lets you meet the characters I mentioned earlier (except the glove, you’ll need the full game for that).