Delving into the Core of Games with Paper Trail

For several years, UKIE has upheld a wonderful tradition of celebrating a UK Game of the Show at Gamescom. This year, the task of selecting a winner fell to GamesIndustry.biz, and after careful consideration, the award went to Paper Trail, developed by Newfangled Games. The game's unique mechanic, which involves folding levels to merge two worlds and solve puzzles, caught the attention of the judges. Newfangled CEO Henry Hoffman explains that the game's top-down perspective creates optical illusions and additional paths, making for an intriguing gameplay experience. Hoffman, known for his work on the 2016 puzzle game Hue, decided to establish a long-term sustainable studio after realizing that the traditional indie game development model was unsustainable. He co-founded Newfangled with his brother, Frederick, and began working on Paper Trail, a game that combines puzzle-solving with a unique folding mechanic. The studio's goal is to build a team and create a sustainable work-life balance, with a focus on retaining talent and fostering local growth. Newfangled has partnered with Astra Fund, a philanthropic venture fund, and has signed a deal with Netflix to release Paper Trail on the platform. Hoffman believes that the key to success lies in finding the right hook, whether it's a mechanically interesting game, an amazing story, or a unique aesthetic. He hopes to create games that are defined by their overall experience, rather than just their mechanics. Paper Trail, a game about growth, generational change, and experiencing adulthood, is the studio's first step towards achieving this goal. With a successful launch, Newfangled plans to grow its team, explore new ideas, and create more ambitious games, including a 3D puzzle game with broader appeal.