Papers, Please - The Short Film

16 Narrative games like Papers, Please - The Short Film that you should try

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We filtered the 24 games similar to Papers, Please - The Short Film down to the 16 that fit the “Narrative” category. Papers, Please, 911 Operator and Do Not Feed the Monkeys top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Papers, Please - The Short Film.

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GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

Tags

NarrativeDarkSolo

Year 2013Dev Lucas Pope

Stores

Steam ↗GOG ↗PS ↗itch.io ↗

Quick answer

Within the “Narrative” category, the closest game to Papers, Please - The Short Film is Papers, Please — scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. 911 Operator and Do Not Feed the Monkeys follow close behind.

#1Papers, Please97 #2911 Operator96 #3Do Not Feed the Monkeys96 #4Beholder95 #5Observation95

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The best narrative games like Papers, Please - The Short Film

16 similar games foundUpdated July 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Papers, Please - The Short Film. Each one has been evaluated across 11 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Papers, Please

97

Papers, Please

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeDarkCasualHardcoreFirst PersonPixel Art2D

Steam👍 97%· 79KRAWG👍 91%· 1.8KMC85IGDB82· 5

Year 2013Dev Lucas Pope · 3909Playtime ~4hOn PC · PS · iOS

✓ Nearly identical: deep simulation, adventure storytelling and puzzle design.

96

911 Operator

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloCasualNarrativeDark2D

Steam👍 89%· 19KIGDB76· 1OC57· 14

Year 2017Dev Jutsu Games · SONKAOn PS4 · Linux · Android

✓ If you enjoyed Papers, Please - The Short Film, expect deep simulation, vibe casual and strong narrative focus

≠ Its own twist: combat tactical, setting modern and resource management, while skipping adventure storytelling

Steam Epic Xbox

#3Do Not Feed the Monkeys

96

Do Not Feed the Monkeys

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeDark2DPixel ArtFirst Person

Steam👍 93%· 12KIGDB75· 1OC77· 21

Year 2018Dev Fictiorama Studios · BadLand PublishingOn PS4 · Linux · Android

✓ Like Papers, Please - The Short Film, it's known for deep simulation, puzzle design and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with resource management, while skipping vibe casual

95

Beholder

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeDark2DStealth

Steam👍 92%· 30KIGDB80· 3OC76· 27

Year 2016Dev Warm Lamp Games · Alawar EntertainmentOn Linux · Android · PC

✓ If you enjoyed Papers, Please - The Short Film, expect deep simulation, adventure storytelling and puzzle design

≠ Where it differs: brings deep RPG systems, stealth mechanics and visual 3d, while skipping vibe casual

95

Observation

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeDarkFirst PersonHorror

Steam👍 78%· 5.1KIGDB82· 11OC76· 81

Year 2019Dev No Code · Devolver DigitalOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ If you enjoyed Papers, Please - The Short Film, expect deep simulation, adventure storytelling and puzzle design

≠ Stands apart with horror tension, horror setting and setting scifi, while skipping vibe casual

#6Cultist Simulator

95

Cultist Simulator

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeDarkProceduralFantasy

Steam👍 80%· 14KIGDB85· 2OC78· 22

Year 2018Dev Weather FactoryOn Linux · Android · PC

✓ Like Papers, Please - The Short Film, it's known for deep simulation, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings deep RPG systems, card game strategy and turn-based strategy, while skipping puzzle design

#7There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension

95

There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloCasualNarrativePixel Art2D

Steam👍 98%· 25KRAWG👍 90%· 143MC88OC88· 18

Year 2020Dev Draw Me A PixelPlaytime ~5hOn PC · iOS · Android

✓ If you enjoyed Papers, Please - The Short Film, expect deep simulation, adventure storytelling and puzzle design

≠ Its own twist: deep RPG systems and melee combat, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

Steam GOG Nintendo

#8This Is the Police

95

This Is the Police

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeDarkManagementIsometric

Steam👍 82%· 11KIGDB61· 14OC64· 58

Year 2016Dev Weappy Studio · EuroVideo MedienOn PS4 · Linux · Android

✓ Shared with Papers, Please - The Short Film: deep simulation, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Stands apart with visual novel storytelling, resource management and visual isometric, while skipping puzzle design

#9Gnomes Garden

94

Gnomes Garden

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloCasualNarrative2DFantasy

Steam👍 88%· 326

Year 2015Dev 8Floor · 8Floor GamesPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Like Papers, Please - The Short Film, it's known for deep simulation, puzzle design and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: horror tension, fantasy world and horror setting, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

#10Always Sometimes Monsters

94

Always Sometimes Monsters

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeCasualPixel ArtIsometric

Steam👍 75%· 2.4KRAWG👍 26%· 76MC73IGDB81· 5OC73· 30

Year 2014Dev Devolver DigitalPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · iOS

✓ Like Papers, Please - The Short Film, it's known for deep simulation, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Stands apart with deep RPG systems, visual isometric and visual third person, while skipping puzzle design

93

Loom

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativePixel ArtMagicFantasy

Steam👍 89%· 699

Year 1990Dev Lucasfilm GamesOn Linux · PC · Mac

✓ Like Papers, Please - The Short Film, it's known for deep simulation, adventure storytelling and puzzle design

≠ Its own twist: combat magic, fantasy world and historical setting, while skipping dark, oppressive atmosphere

#12The Graveyard

93

The Graveyard

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeThird Person

Steam👍 61%· 621RAWG👍 63%· 24

Year 2009Dev Tale of TalesPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Android · Apple Macintosh

✓ If you enjoyed Papers, Please - The Short Film, expect deep simulation, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings roguelike runs and visual third person, while skipping puzzle design

#1313 Sentinels: Aegis Rim

92

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrative2DTacticalSci-Fi

IGDB84· 9OC86· 121

Year 2019Dev Vanillaware · AtlusOn PS4 · Switch

✓ Like Papers, Please - The Short Film, it's known for deep simulation, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings combat tactical, setting scifi and post-apocalyptic world, while skipping puzzle design

92

Uplink

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrative2DProceduralOpen World

Steam👍 91%· 2.4KRAWG👍 56%· 145MC75IGDB70· 1

Year 2001Dev Introversion SoftwarePlaytime ~1hOn PC · iOS · Apple Macintosh

✓ If you enjoyed Papers, Please - The Short Film, expect deep simulation, puzzle design and strong narrative focus

≠ Stands apart with roguelike runs, procedural generation and open world exploration, while skipping adventure storytelling

92

Golf Story

GenreSimulationSubgenreJob Sim

SoloNarrativeLootSkill TreeIsometric

IGDB83· 7OC81· 45

Year 2017Dev Sidebar GamesOn Switch

✓ Shared with Papers, Please - The Short Film: deep simulation, adventure storytelling and strong narrative focus

≠ Where it differs: brings sports simulation, deep RPG systems and loot and gear systems, while skipping puzzle design

Complete list of narrative games like Papers, Please - The Short Film

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Papers, Please - The Short Film, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.

Yakuza

Yakuza

Simulation · Sports

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