Unveiling the Essence of Gaming with Paper Trail

The UKIE trade body has been celebrating a UK Game of the Show at Gamescom for several years, with GamesIndustry.biz taking on the task of finding a winner for the past couple of years. Last year, the award went to Shadows of Doubt, but this year, the decision was made to recognize Paper Trail, developed by Newfangled Games, for its innovative perspective-shifting mechanics and striking visual identity. According to Newfangled CEO Henry Hoffman, Paper Trail is a top-down puzzle adventure game where players can fold the level to merge two worlds and solve puzzles in creative ways. The game features a unique paper-based mechanic, with a top-down perspective that creates optical illusions and additional paths. Hoffman, known for creating the color-changing puzzler Hue in 2016, has been working in the indie game industry for 15 years. However, he realized that the traditional model of starting a new company, making a game, and then winding down the studio was not sustainable. He wanted to build a long-term studio, and with his brother, art director Frederick Hoffman, he brainstormed the initial idea for Paper Trail. The idea for Paper Trail was born when Hoffman's brother started folding a piece of paper with random drawings, creating a side-scrolling puzzle game where players could navigate between two worlds. The team experimented with different viewpoints, including a full top-down view, which allowed for more space for gameplay and the creation of paths that redirect the player. Hoffman explains that, in his previous studios, he always partnered with a business person, but with Newfangled, he had to handle the business aspect himself. Although he had picked up business skills over the years, he admits that he didn't really know what he was doing. He recalls starting his first company at university and making a game called Mush, and how someone in the audience told him that, as an indie game developer, he would eventually learn the business side of things. Newfangled has implemented sustainable practices, including an internship program to foster local talent and a visa sponsorship program to attract international talent. The studio has also become a dedicated office in Norwich, with a team that works with freelancers in China and Japan. Hoffman hopes that Norwich will become a hub for game development, with more studios and talent coming to the area. The studio is supported by Astra Fund, a philanthropic venture fund that finances "thinking games," and has partnered with Netflix to release Paper Trail on its platform. The deal with Netflix was made possible after Hoffman met someone from the company at a party at GDC, and the game was showcased at Gamescom, where it won the Best Family Game Award. Hoffman notes that the challenge with mobile games is that premium games don't do well, and the only viable option is through subscription services like Apple Arcade or Netflix Games. He believes that game developers need to think about which audience they are appealing to, rather than just making a game for a general audience. He also emphasizes the importance of having a hook, which can be a unique mechanic, an amazing story, or a distinctive aesthetic. Beyond the folding mechanic, Paper Trail is a game about growth, generational change, and experiencing adulthood. The Hoffman brothers wrote the story together, and the dialogue is voiced. If the game is successful, the studio plans to use the funds to develop its next game, which will be a more ambitious 3D game with puzzle elements. The team is also interested in exploring less hardcore and more experimental puzzles, as well as atmosphere-driven titles, and hopes to grow the team and become a more sustainable AA studio in the future.