Lucas Pope has only released two full-length games — Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn — but across those two games, Pope has roughly ten billion awards. The man is basically buried under BAFTAs and GOTYs, so it's no wonder that it's been a while since we've heard about what's next, other than a small Playdate game called Mars After Midnight.
Papers, Please — a "dystopian document thriller" that challenges your memory and morality — is one of those games that you wish was on Switch, alongside other easy wins like The Witness and Her Story, but it still hasn't made its way to the diminutive platform.
A mobile version, which has been in the works for a while, will include a few adjustments for the new format, like a new interface, fewer booth upgrades, and adjusted timers, to make it all fit a portrait screen. There won't be any new content, however.
This iOS and Android version finally has a release date: August 5th, which makes it almost nine years to the day since the original PC release of the game in 2013.
Pope acknowledged the nine-year gap between versions with a tongue-in-cheek tweet:
Cheeky. But also, it at least confirms that he's thinking about console versions, right? Plus, the Switch isn't massively different from a phone... Right???
Well, apparently, it won't even take the sacrifice of your most favourite child to get it on Switch:
(Mr Pope, if you are reading this: You are very cool and we like your games. Take all the time you need.)
[source twitter.com]
Comments 22
This has always been one of the most glaring omissions from the library of indie games on Switch. I keep expecting it to pop up every time an indie world presentation happens.
I would love to play this on my switch excellent game I played on PC its so addicting.
Now that I think about it... It's odd how this game still hasn't come to console seeing how "old" it is. Like, sure, he is just one person. But, seeing the success of his game, I thought some published approached him already.
I loved this on PC, and I'm still surprised it hasn't made it to consoles yet...though that would take some major design changes. Maybe someday?
Cool I'll sideload the .apk when it hits mobile then. Not that I'll play it for more than 10 minutes most likely.
Well damn. Guess I'll have to hold myself over with Breath of the Wild 2 until this game comes out. Oh well, what can you do.
Can anyone give me tips on how I can sell the moon? Asking for a vil-er ai mean friend.
Just got a new phone and was shocked that this isn't on the App Store for the iPhone, just iPad. I'd rather play this on my OLED like OBRA DJINN, but I'll be fine just running this on my iPhone. Such a great game.
Would be great to have Papers Please on Switch as well as:
FTL
Half Life 2
Wildermyth
Legends of Heroes: Trails of the Sky trilogy
Noita
Insryption
Vampire Survivors
Then it just leaves the PS5 for first party stuff and sh*t the Switch cannot handle like:
Elden Ring
Returnal
Horizon West
NioH 2
RDR2
Mass Effect Trilology
Destiny 2
GTAV
Diablo 4
God of War Ragnarok
GTV VI
Actually, this the only reason I have a PS5.... for 8 games and 3 that are not yet released. Get rid I think. Lol.
Wait! The guy who made papers also made obra Dinn? (God I hate auto correct sometimes)
So many articles online about this coming to phones.
And so many people (and articles) forgetting it had a Vita release (even a physical one, I have it luckily)
Anyhow great to see it getting released on phones, played the heck out of it on PC and Vita.
@a_brave_new_geek Pretty sure the Switch could run the original Mass Effect trilogy - it’s got Skyrim and The Witcher III. The remastered trilogy, maybe not. The sticking point, however, is almost certainly just EA being EA.
On message, I’m frankly amazed that Lucas Pope has made a mobile version of Papers, Please. I played it on an iPad Mini, and even that felt cramped for screen real estate.
Don’t see why it can’t come to Switch, as a touchscreen only game. TBH, I’d like to see more developers try things like that. Don’t need to be a slave to the joycons.
@Link-Hero The Switch touch screen should work right?
@Krull Agree re: Mass Effect beeing able to run on Switch. Probably google "Mass Effect Trilogy" once a week. Lol
I must be experiencing the Mandela Effect because I swore that this game was already on the Switch.
I already have it on PC and Vita but...yeah, I'd get it on Switch too if it ever makes its way there.
It’s so strange that this has been ported to Vita before anything else. And the Vita version isn’t that great - nothing fits the screen as nicely as it does on PC.
I’m glad the mobile port seems to look a bit easier to play than that Vita version. A console version would be best though…
@imgrowinglegs I mean it's not that weird since it came out when the Vita was a current thing that actually had some decent indie cred. Sony was actively courting Indies for Vita because their big games either sucked or weren't finding an audience.
@RudeAnimat0r Yeah, the Vita was amazing for indies. I love that thing. I just think it’s strange that this very popular indie never ended up anywhere else besides Vita and PC until now.
The perfect game for bureaucrats, census takers, and notaries!
Playing it on iPad since 2016, in my view it’s the best way to play this game for the big screen estate and intuitive controls.
I would never see this game on any console really, as the controls and UI would need a lot of optimising for a button-only setup. On Switch it could work like Vita did, but better due to its bigger resolution and screen, not to mention adding touch support.
As for the console release joke, I think Pope just did a half-reverse of 2013
Console Ports, Please
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