Origami Lovers seeks a lost friend on a papercraft island. It might be hard to search a whole island normally, but being able to fold yourself into animals makes it easier.
In Origami Lovers you are a human at first, exploring a world made of cardboard and paper. Sometimes it crumbles and you have to find new paths. I love this style of artwork, which feels so unique and captivating. Everything works like your average platformer game, with you exploring the island and searching for the right paths that will lead to your missing loved one. As you go further in the game, however, signs tell you how to fold yourself. You don’t have to physically fold your character – they do this automatically – but the thing that you become often helps you get to the next area.
The first animal I ended up near was the paper swan, which allowed me to glide over big areas. Becoming a swan instead of a person is as simple as pushing a button while jumping, and then you can fly across short distances. The next character I bumped into was a goat, which could ram the environment to break through obstacles and create new paths. Using these different abilities to interact with the world adds a puzzle element to the game, especially as you acquire more animal forms to switch between.
I was able to play a short demo of Origami Lovers at Gamescom, where I was drawn in by the art style. It got me very excited to play in this lovely world. I loved the idea of being able to become different paper animals and how they would help you find your love.
Origami Lovers is currently in development, but in the meantime, you can grab an early demo from itch.io.