[balls187]

> makes it clear that he's an excellent game developer and designer..

FWIW, playing Papers Please, you can easily come to the same conclusion. The game is a great game.

[joshschreuder]

It's a fascinating and thought-provoking experience, but I'm not sure I'd call it a great game in the traditional sense (not that it aims to be)

[angersock]

"In the traditional sense"? What does that even mean?

[joshschreuder]

Maybe entertainment value? Traditionally games have been designed for fun and entertainment, whereas the shift in the last 5 years or so has been towards more emotional 'experiences' such as Flower, Journey, Gone Home, The Last of Us, and Papers, Please.

Contrast this with getting high scores, competing with your friends, collecting pickups, etc. that are all what I would call traditional game mechanics.

[balls187]

Certainly to each his own, but in this case, Papers, Please hits everything I want in the type of game it purports to be, and does so in splendid fashion.