Origament unfolds on Steam

• Announcements by Jack Allin
• Published:

Demo also available for cozy 3D puzzle-platforming "paper adventure" on Windows PC

When you think of modes of transportation, the first thing that leaps to mind most assuredly isn't "piece of paper." But paper is surprisingly versatile when used in clever ways, like players will need to do in Space Sauce Studio's newly released cozy puzzle-platformer, Origament.

One cold winter's night, a young boy writes a very special letter "filled with imagination" and containing an important wish. Just when it seems the letter might be lost en route, it's brought to life by magic in order to complete the journey to its destination across the seas for a reply, accompanied only by an "adorable feline companion" who passively follows its progress. The journey won't be easy, as the wide world is perilous for a defenseless piece of paper. Success depends on players helping the newly sentient letter transform into "a variety of origami shapes," from a simple crumpled ball to "a gliding paper plane to a boat that can cross water." And perhaps it's not so defenseless after all, as its "paper shuriken" form can not only help it "navigate changing terrain" but also ward off any buzzing pests that threaten to bring it down.  

Described as a "cozy, joyful voyage of discovery," Origament is a 3D puzzle-platforming experience that takes players through a wide variety of environments in a "heartfelt tale about connection, courage, and carrying hope across impossible distances." Each substantial level is a like a "tiny world waiting to be explored," with its own distinct atmosphere and "playful quests" filled with "charming oddballs, gentle puzzles, and secrets tucked between the folds." One minute you'll be drifting along a gorgeous Japanese river, the next you'll be riding railcarts in the Wild West, soaring high above "the rooftops of medieval Venice," or making your way through dense and deadly "wild jungles."

The game is very much designed to be a "meditative" experience that doesn't even require players to control the camera, but you can't entirely relax either. Using a gamepad or keyboard (the controls are optimized for both), the challenge here is to utilize your four unique abilities to overcome obstacles as you encounter them in real time, whether crossing large gaps, riding air vents or leaping overtop plants from which you can't escape. Along with some light puzzling such as gears that need turning to open doors or pressure plates that must be activated, this means that in between the many serene moments you'll have to act quickly, often combining abilities in rapid succession as the "surprising gameplay twists" get more complex as you progress. Those who take their time (when possible) to explore will be rewarded with "multiple paths to choose from" and a series of collectibles to search for along the way, as well as some purr-inducing encounters with your cat companion.

The full version of Origament is now available on Steam for Windows PC, with ports to all major consoles planned but not yet complete. For those who think it sounds good on paper but want to see it in practice, you can do that too through the playable demo also on Steam.  

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