PCGame

Papers, Please

Dystopian document-checking simulation where every stamp carries consequences

Lucas Pope · Published by 3909 · Released Aug 8, 2013

AdventureIndie

Reviews
Overwhelmingly Positive
97% of 80K
Recent reviews
Overwhelmingly Positive
97% of 275 in 30 days
Players
302
daily peak, Nov 7, 2026
Steam Deck
Verified
Last update on Steam
3 years ago
Mar 21, 2023
Minimum PC
OpenGL 1.4
2 GB RAM · 0.1 GB disk
Full requirements

Metacritic: 85/100 (critic reviews)

What is Papers, Please?

A single-player, point-and-click simulation set at an Arstotzkan border checkpoint after a war with Kolechia. As an immigration inspector, you compare travelers’ documents, use inspection, search, and fingerprint tools, then approve entry, deny it, or make arrests as new rules complicate each workday.

For you if...

  • +you enjoy close observation and cross-checking small details
  • +you want morally difficult choices in a dystopian setting
  • +you prefer single-player stories with multiple endings

Not for you if...

  • −you want a relaxed game without time pressure
  • −you find repetitive clerical work tedious
  • −you dislike strict penalties for small mistakes

What players say

97% of 79,855 reviews are positive · 97% of 275 in the last 30 days

Players praise the depth created by steadily expanding rules and the tension between efficiency, family survival, and compassion. Common complaints include constant time pressure, punishing mistakes, clerical repetition, and clunky or nonfunctional handheld controls.

Players over time

▲ +16% vs a month ago

Players online on Steam, one sample a day.

Highest since Sep 2026: 440 players on Sep 21, 2026.

Show the data
DayPlayers
Nov 7, 2026302
Nov 6, 2026282
Nov 5, 2026276
Nov 4, 2026276
Nov 3, 2026298
Nov 2, 2026337
Nov 1, 2026296
Oct 31, 2026284
Oct 30, 2026288
Oct 29, 2026221
Oct 28, 2026280
Oct 27, 2026152
Oct 27, 2026293
Oct 26, 2026310
Oct 25, 2026332
Oct 24, 2026307
Oct 23, 2026255
Oct 22, 2026262
Oct 21, 2026245
Oct 20, 2026256
Oct 19, 2026268
Oct 18, 2026278
Oct 17, 2026244
Oct 16, 2026256
Oct 15, 2026280
Oct 14, 2026259
Oct 13, 2026298
Oct 12, 2026316
Oct 11, 2026286
Oct 10, 2026252
Oct 9, 2026248
Oct 8, 2026240
Oct 7, 2026238
Oct 6, 2026254
Oct 5, 2026258
Oct 4, 2026302
Oct 3, 2026238
Oct 2, 2026271
Oct 1, 2026242
Sep 30, 2026268
Sep 29, 2026289
Sep 28, 2026300
Sep 27, 2026305
Sep 26, 2026254
Sep 25, 2026269
Sep 24, 2026228
Sep 23, 2026212
Sep 23, 2026275
Sep 22, 2026285
Sep 21, 2026440

How many players finish Papers, Please?

10% of Steam players have unlocked «Glory to Arstotzka», the achievement for finishing the main story.

Share of everyone who owns the game on Steam, including those who barely played it. Updated weekly.

Screenshots and trailer

Papers, Please screenshot 1

Papers, Please system requirements

Minimum: OpenGL 1.4, 2 GB RAM, 0.1 GB of disk space.

As published by the developer.

Can my PC run Papers, Please?

Tell us your graphics card once and every game page will answer this for you.

Set up my PC →

Minimum

OS
Windows XP or later
Processor
1.5 GHz Core2Duo
Graphics
OpenGL 1.4 or better
Memory
2 GB RAM
Storage
100 MB available space
Notes
Minimum 1280x720 screen resolution

Recommended

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system

Does Papers, Please have co-op or multiplayer?

No: single-player only, no multiplayer modes declared.

Does Papers, Please run on Steam Deck?

Verified Yes, Verified by Valve: it works on Steam Deck out of the box.

  • All functionality is accessible with the default controller configuration
  • Shows Steam Deck controller icons
  • In-game text is legible on Steam Deck
  • Default graphics settings perform well on Steam Deck

PC version details

DRM
None declared on Steam
Controller
Keyboard and mouse
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux
Achievements
13
Steam features
Cloud saves, Family Sharing, Trading cards
Languages
Text only: English, French, German, Spanish - Spain, Portuguese - Brazil, Russian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Ukrainian, Czech, Simplified Chinese, Turkish, Basque, Korean.

Does Papers, Please use AI-generated content?

No AI-generated content is disclosed on the game's Steam page.

Self-reported by the developer under Steam rules: it covers AI content that ships in the game, not tools used to make it. Steam page checked on Nov 6, 2026. How to filter AI games on Steam

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